The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is a central government department, an institution under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It serves as the nodal authority for the formulation and promotion of industrial policy at the national level. The department was originally established in 1995 as the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and was reconstituted in 2000 with the merger of the erstwhile Department of Industrial Development.
The name was officially changed to DPIIT on January 27, 2019, to reflect its expanded mandate, which now includes the promotion of internal trade (including retail trade) and the welfare of traders, a function previously under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. This change was made to address the problem of a fragmented approach to domestic commerce and to bring internal trade into the economic mainstream.
DPIIT's mechanism involves formulating policies for industrial development, promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by administering the Consolidated FDI Policy, and leading the government's agenda on Ease of Doing Business. It is the nodal department for the Startup India initiative, which provides DPIIT Recognition to eligible startups, granting them access to benefits like tax exemptions under Section 80-IAC of the Income Tax Act and exemption from Angel Tax. DPIIT also handles matters related to the protection and promotion of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), including patents, trademarks, and designs. Key initiatives it connects to include Make in India and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. The department also coordinates with international bodies like the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and domestic industry associations.