What Happened

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with PhonePe and Shell India Pvt. Ltd. on August 19, 2026. These agreements aim to strengthen support for DPIIT-recognized startups and promote innovation across key economic sectors in India.

Key Facts

  • The partnerships are designed to enhance access to technology, digital infrastructure, mentorship, market opportunities, and industry networks for startups.
  • PhonePe's collaboration with DPIIT will provide recognized startups with benefits including transaction credits via its Payment Gateway, access to the Indus AppStore, dedicated onboarding and support services, and opportunities for enhanced brand visibility.
  • PhonePe will also conduct masterclasses and webinars on topics such as fintech, sales, go-to-market strategies, and business scaling.
  • The MoU with Shell India focuses on supporting startups in the energy and climate-tech sectors.
  • Shell India will provide mentorship, strategic guidance, investor and incubator connections, and participation opportunities in the Shell E4 Smart Energy Track.
  • Shell India's collaboration will also promote knowledge-sharing and ecosystem development through the preparation of sectoral success stories, white papers, policy briefs, industry landscape reports, and case studies.

Why It Matters

These partnerships are expected to strengthen access to digital infrastructure, industry knowledge, mentorship, market linkages, and investment opportunities for startups. This initiative supports the goal of enabling startups to scale sustainably, drive innovation, and contribute to India's economic growth and technological advancement.

What To Watch

The implementation of these MoUs will define the practical support extended to DPIIT-recognized startups. Observers will track the rollout of PhonePe's credit and access benefits, and Shell India's mentorship and growth opportunities within the energy and climate-tech sectors.