Bengal start-up policy soon after industry policy: Swapan
Times of India | 26 July 2026
Kolkata: Bengal govt is working on a start-up policy which will be announced after the govt introduces its new industry policy, state finance minister Swapan Dasgupta said on Sunday. Dasgupta was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the state’s first Atal Incubation Centre, set up by AIC Techno under NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission.
“We are working on the start-up policy, but the industry policy will be announced first,” said Dasgupta. Asked if the start-up policy could be announced before Puja, the finance minister said the govt would attempt that. He had earlier mentioned that the industry policy would be announced by Aug 15.
NITI Aayog vice-chairperson Ashok Lahiri, who was also present at the inauguration, said Bengal had a successful entrepreneurship culture in the mid 20th century. Martin Burn, Bengal Chemicals, Calcutta Chemicals, Deys Medical, Bengal Immunity, Bengal Waterproof, Bengal Lamps, Sen-Raleigh and a host of other companies existed at the time, Lahiri said.
“The Marwaris who had roots in Bengal did a remarkable job. We have this culture and we need to take it forward,” Lahiri added.
Meghdut Roychowdhury, chief mentor, AIC Techno, said the Centre has already received nearly 200 start-up applications and aims to incubate over 500 start-ups over the next five years.