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India’s IT Push in Smaller Cities Pays Off: Nearly 3 Lakh Jobs, ₹10.64 Lakh Cr Exports from STPI Units
New Delhi- In a bold stride towards decentralizing India’s digital economy, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has showcased the transformative impact of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) initiative in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. Backed by focused funding, policy reforms, and new incubation hubs, India’s IT sector has not only surged in terms of revenue but has also successfully bridged the innovation gap between metros and smaller towns.
Over the last five years, India’s IT industry has shown a remarkable upturn, with total revenues reaching $282.6 billion by the fiscal year 2024–25, as per projections by NASSCOM. This includes export earnings of $224.4 billion and domestic earnings of $58.2 billion. The growth trajectory highlights a consistent increase year-on-year, underscoring India’s resilience and adaptability in the global tech ecosystem.
The STPI network has played a pivotal role in this transformation. With 68 centres across the nation—60 of which are strategically located in smaller towns—the initiative has become a cornerstone of regional tech growth. As of March 2025, nearly 2.98 lakh jobs have been created in non-metro locations through STPI-registered units. An additional 9,800 employment opportunities have emerged from startups nurtured under the Centres of Entrepreneurship and the Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS).
Government data reveals that 1,121 startups have been supported through STPI-led schemes with a total fund allocation of ₹445.77 crore. Of this, ₹39.86 crore was disbursed as direct financial assistance to 590 startups over the past three financial years. These investments have culminated in software exports touching ₹10.64 lakh crore in FY 2024–25 alone, further strengthening India’s footprint as a digital powerhouse.
Launched in 2019, the National Policy on Software Products has reshaped India’s IT identity from a services-led model to a product-driven innovation hub. The policy’s ambitious goal to turn India into a global leader in software products has found resonance through various initiatives including Future Skills Prime, NGIS, SAMRIDH, and GENESIS. These programmes collectively aim to skill the workforce, foster inclusive entrepreneurship, and scale startups from every corner of the country.
A surge in intellectual property filings also reflects this shift. Patent applications skyrocketed from just over 4,000 in 2019 to a staggering 90,000 by 2024. Meanwhile, the number of tech startups in India has grown nearly fivefold, rising from around 7,200 to more than 32,000 in just six years.
On the ground, this push towards innovation has taken physical form through incubation centres and thematic Centres of Entrepreneurship. In the last five years alone, nine new STPI incubation hubs have been established in states like Bihar, Odisha, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh, bringing essential infrastructure and mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs in emerging tech hubs. Simultaneously, 15 new CoEs have been launched, with specializations ranging from blockchain, AI, fintech, and agritech to drone technology and gaming.
These CoEs are now acting as regional catalysts, equipping youth-led ventures with the tools to compete globally. From Gangtok to Vishakhapatnam and from Agartala to Akola, India’s innovation frontier is expanding in every direction.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while presenting this comprehensive progress report in the Lok Sabha today, emphasized that India’s IT growth story is not just a metro-centric narrative anymore. With an ecosystem that now thrives equally in smaller towns, the government’s digital inclusion strategy is proving to be a model for tech-led grassroots empowerment.
As India moves forward into a future increasingly shaped by technology, initiatives like STPI, NGIS, and CoEs are not only fueling job creation and entrepreneurship—they’re also ensuring that innovation knows no postcode.
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