Now, it is easier for startups to avail of intellectual property rights-related benefits

To improve ease of doing business, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said a start-up would now need only a certificate of recognition from the government to avail IPR-related benefits.

Earlier, a budding entrepreneur had to go through an elaborate process of approaching an inter-ministerial board to procure the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) benefits.

"A start-up would now require only a certificate of recognition from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and would not be required to be examined by the inter-ministerial board, as was being done earlier. This is one rapid change that we have brought in," she said here at the 'Start-up India States' Conference'.

Under the 'Start-up India' action plan, the government has announced three-year tax holiday and other benefits to these entrepreneurs.

She also said that the ministry has lined up a series of meetings with different stakeholders, including investors to resolve start-up issues. She will also meet investors, industry and journalists soon.

Commenting on views of some critics about interference of government in implementing the action plan for start-ups, particularly on extending tax holiday, Sitharaman said the government is committed to facilitate young entrepreneurs.

"many questions are being raised about 'minimum government and maximum governance'. I want to ensure that the government is only facilitating you," she said.

However, she said, "As and when money has to be spent, it will have to be looked into. All of us are duty-bound to be accountable and transparent...Accountability and transparency warrants that if tax breaks have to be given, in cases when the government defers, postpones or foregoes, we have to have some kind of accountability system. Therefore, there has to be an inter-ministerial board".

The Minister also said that seven proposals for research parks, 16 for TBIs (Technology Business Incubators) and 13 proposals for Start-up Centres have been recommended by the National Expert Advisory Committee formed by the Human Resource Development Ministry.

"These proposals will be implemented in the current financial year itself," she added.

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