New Delhi: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with job networking platform Apna to support hiring needs for startups registered under its BHASKAR platform.
Partnership Details
The initiative aims to ease recruitment challenges faced by startups by providing hiring credits worth ₹2,000 on Apna’s platform. These credits allow startups to post job openings and access tailored talent pools for efficient hiring, according to an official statement.
The BHASKAR platform currently has over 7 lakh registered startups, and the initiative is estimated to have a total value of ₹140 crore. As the startup ecosystem continues to grow, the initiative’s value is expected to increase to ₹300 crore, DPIIT officials noted.
Impact on Startup Employment
Joint Secretary Sanjiv Singh stated that the collaboration would boost employment in the startup sector by connecting skilled professionals with emerging businesses. Apna will facilitate this process using AI-driven job-matching tools and other hiring features.
Apna, founded in 2019 by Nirmit Parikh, connects 5.9 crore job seekers with 7 lakh employers across India. It counts companies like Zomato, Paytm, Flipkart, and Axis Bank among its clientele. The platform will now expand its focus to serve government-registered startups.
Broader Context
This partnership comes as India’s startup ecosystem reports significant growth. According to government data from October 2024, DPIIT-registered startups have created over 16.67 lakh direct jobs across more than 55 sectors, including IT services, healthcare, and education.
The collaboration between DPIIT and Apna reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to address employment challenges and streamline hiring processes within the startup sector.
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