Regulatory

Different authorities handle different questions. The body that registers an entity may not be the body that issues a food licence, collects tax or administers a funding programme. Start with the activity, location and decision you need to make, then verify the relevant rules with the authority. Not every organisation below is a regulator: some administer support or provide a public service.

Business formation and intellectual property

• Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA): company and LLP incorporation and filings go through MCA systems. A sole proprietorship is not incorporated as a company. See business registration and the MCA SPICe+ instructions.
• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Startup India: DPIIT recognition is a separate process relevant to certain startup benefits; it does not itself incorporate a company or guarantee support. Check Startup India recognition guidance and our registration guide.
• Intellectual Property India and the Copyright Office: patent, trade mark and copyright services address different rights. Search and filing are not interchangeable and ownership depends on the facts. Start with IP India's e-services and our intellectual property guide.

Tax, food and trade rules

• Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Income Tax Department: income tax questions depend on the entity, income and relevant year. Use the Income Tax Department and our tax guide.
• Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), state GST authorities and the GST portal: check the rules and jurisdiction for the actual supply. The GST registration guide and CBIC rate information are starting points. The Department of Revenue explains the central boards' responsibilities. State taxes and local requirements vary; our state guide includes an example from Maharashtra.
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): food business operators should check the applicable registration or licence and conditions for their activity. See FSSAI licensing and industry guidance.
• Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry: works on external trade policy and market access. Its department website is a starting point for trade policy; product-specific procedures and destination rules still need checking.
• Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and customs authorities: the DGFT IEC guide explains the Importer Exporter Code. Customs, product standards, origin and destination-country requirements may also matter. See export considerations.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI): where an investor or intermediary is required to be registered, check the applicable category against SEBI's recognised-intermediary lists. A listing is not a recommendation. See investment due diligence.

Support, finance and public markets

• Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME): the ministry publishes scheme information; the Udyam portal handles MSME registration, which is distinct from incorporation and licences. Check the Udyam guide.
• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), state Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs), district industries centres and the Coir Board: these bodies have roles in PMEGP implementation for applicable cases. A bank also assesses the loan. Review the programme guide and MSME ministry scheme information; confirm the responsible local office and current application terms.
• Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI): publishes PMFME information for eligible food-processing businesses and groups; state implementation and current availability should be checked separately. Compare individual support and group support with the ministry's group information.
• Department of Financial Services and CGTMSE: the department's PMMY information describes micro-enterprise credit. CGTMSE provides eligible guarantee cover to member lenders; it is not a grant to the borrower. Read our MUDRA and credit guarantee guides and discuss terms with a lender.
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO): GeM is a procurement marketplace, while ITPO runs trade-promotion and exhibition facilities. These are market channels, not an assurance of orders. See our GeM and Bharat Mandapam entries.

State and local starting points

State industries departments, district industries centres, rural livelihoods missions and local licensing authorities may be relevant depending on the activity and location. Our current examples include Kerala Startup Mission, Startup Bihar under Bihar's Industries Department, and StartupTN's village programme. These are support organisations or programmes, not substitutes for the applicable regulators. See state opportunities for the limited coverage and questions to ask locally.

Official statistics

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and its National Statistical Office publish surveys such as ASUSE. These help describe the landscape but cannot determine demand for one business. Our small business data guide explains the coverage and limitations; explore the official data catalogue.

Source review: 28 October 2026. This is a starting map of organisations discussed in Arthana's durable guidance, not a complete list of regulators or a substitute for checking current rules. Some official sites may be unavailable temporarily; if a link fails, locate the authority's current page independently.