The Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit concluded at IIT Bombay on March 22, 2026 with Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan addressing the concluding special session. The two-day event held on March 21-22, 2026 at the IIT Bombay Research Park brought together 137 promising deep-tech startups carefully selected from over 1,186 applications received from across the country. Around 175 investors and industry leaders participated in a roundtable chaired by the Union Education Minister. The pre-Summit served as a national precursor to the Bharat Innovates 2026 global showcase scheduled in France, and was organised by the Ministry of Education through its Innovation Cell in partnership with IIT Bombay. The initiative is conceived as a global accelerator for Indian deep-tech, building enduring bridges between India's higher education innovation ecosystem comprising startups, research laboratories, and research parks and global stakeholders such as corporates, investors, incubators, universities, and governments. The selected startups showcased innovations across thirteen critical technology domains including Advanced Computing, Healthcare and MedTech, Space and Defence, Energy and Sustainability, Semiconductors, Biotechnology, Smart Cities and Mobility, Blue Economy, Next-Generation Communications, Agri and Food Technologies, Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, and Disaster Management. Minister Pradhan said Bharat Innovates reflects India's rise as a Global Innovation Hub and emphasised that India is poised to meet the technology needs of the Global South in the coming decade.
Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit Concludes at IIT Bombay; 137 Startups Showcase India Deep-Tech Strength
The Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit concluded at IIT Bombay on March 22, 2026. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the event, where 137 deep-tech startups selected from 1,186 applications showcased innovations across 13 domains. It is a precursor to the Bharat Innovates 2026 global showcase in France.
Key facts
- Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit held at IIT Bombay Research Park on March 21-22, 2026; concluded on March 22
- 137 promising deep-tech startups selected from over 1,186 applications received from across India
- Around 175 investors and industry leaders participated in roundtable chaired by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
- Organised by Ministry of Education Innovation Cell in partnership with IIT Bombay; precursor to Bharat Innovates 2026 global showcase in France
- Innovations showcased across 13 critical technology domains including Advanced Computing, Space & Defence, Semiconductors, Biotechnology, Blue Economy, Agri-Tech
- Minister Pradhan stated India is poised to meet technology needs of Global South in the coming decade
PYQPrelims/PYQ angle
- RAS 2021 Objective of Startup India Scheme — This PYQ asks about the Startup India Scheme's objectives, directly relevant to the Bharat Innovates summit showcasing 137 deep-tech startups from the innovation ecosystem.
Mains angle
Q: Discuss the significance of the Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit at IIT Bombay in positioning India as a global deep-tech innovation hub and its linkage to higher education.
Answer (50 words):
The Bharat Innovates Pre-Summit concluded at IIT Bombay on March 22, 2026, showcasing 137 startups selected from 1,186 applications across thirteen domains including computing, healthcare, and semiconductors. Education Minister Pradhan addressed 175 investors, positioning the event as a precursor to the global showcase in France connecting Indian innovation with international stakeholders.
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How many deep-tech startups participated in the Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit held at IIT Bombay on March 21-22, 2026?
As per the Press Information Bureau release, the Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit brought together 137 promising deep-tech startups, selected from over 1,186 applications received from across the country. Around 175 investors and industry leaders participated in a separate roundtable chaired by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Source: Press Information Bureau
Frequently asked questions
Where and when was the Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit concluded?
The Pre-Summit concluded at IIT Bombay Research Park on March 22, 2026 after a two-day programme held on March 21-22, 2026.
How many startups participated and from how many applications were they selected?
A total of 137 promising deep-tech startups participated, selected from over 1,186 applications received from across India.
Who chaired the investor roundtable and how many investors participated?
Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan chaired the roundtable, in which approximately 175 investors and industry leaders participated.
What is the relationship of this pre-summit to a future global event?
The Pre-Summit served as a national precursor to the Bharat Innovates 2026 global showcase scheduled in France, where Indian deep-tech strengths will be presented internationally.
Across how many technology domains did the startups showcase innovations?
Innovations were showcased across 13 critical technology domains including Advanced Computing, Healthcare & MedTech, Space & Defence, Semiconductors, Biotechnology, Blue Economy, Smart Cities & Mobility, Agri-Tech, and Disaster Management.
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