Quick answer: STPI (Software Technology Parks of India) is an autonomous society set up in 1991 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It registers export-focused software units under the Software Technology Park (STP) scheme and acts as their single-window regulator. Since 1 October 2026, software exporters report exports on an Export Declaration Form instead of SOFTEX.
- STPI opened its 68th centre, at Darbhanga in Bihar, in 2025.
- STP units exported an estimated ₹7,73,898.97 crore (US$87.57 billion) in FY 2025-26.
- The number of STP units rose to 2,125 in FY 2025-26, from 2,042 a year earlier.
- STPI also runs the Electronics Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) scheme.
What does STPI registration give a software exporter?
A single-window regulator and a cleaner export paper trail. Mostly that, now.
An stpi registration makes your Indian entity an STP unit. STPI then handles approvals, import clearances for equipment and export certification that would otherwise run through several offices. For a GCC or development centre exporting software services, that saves time with banks and auditors.
STP status carries no income-tax holiday for new units today. So don’t register expecting one.
What changed for STPI units on 1 October 2026?
SOFTEX is gone. Under the FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, software exporters now file an Export Declaration Form (EDF) within 30 days after the end of the month of invoicing.
| Item | Before 1 October 2026 | From 1 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Export declaration | SOFTEX form | Export Declaration Form |
| Filing window | Per earlier rules | Within 30 days of month-end, one EDF can cover the month |
| Who certifies software exports | STPI or SEZ authorities | An AD bank or STPI in the DTA, or the SEZ Development Commissioner |
| Realisation of proceeds | Per earlier rules | 9 months from invoice (12 if invoiced in INR) |
The RBI notification on the 2026 export regulations sets this out. The shift is real. Your AD bank can now act as the specified authority, so STPI certification is no longer the only route.
Expect STP registration to be judged on its other services from here on.
Do you need STPI if your India team is on an EOR?
No. STPI registration belongs to an Indian entity that exports software, and an EOR team has no entity of yours to register.
Under an EOR, the EOR invoices you for employment services. Its export compliance, such as zero-rating under GST on EOR services, sits with the EOR. STPI starts to matter once you set up your own Offshore Development Center or a full GCC. Our guide to GCC setup in India covers that step.
How does Remunance fit with an STPI plan?
Remunance can employ your engineering team from day one, with IT and laptop provisioning and workspace coordination bundled in. You learn what your India operation looks like before you commit to an entity and an STP unit. When you’re ready, we form the subsidiary and move the team across. To pressure-test an STPI route against staying on EOR, request a GCC set-up costing.
What else do people ask about software technology parks of India?
What is the full form of STPI?
STPI stands for Software Technology Parks of India. It’s an autonomous society under MeitY, set up in 1991.
Is STPI registration mandatory for IT companies?
No. It’s optional. A software company can export without STP status, though some still register for the single-window support and export certification.
What replaced SOFTEX?
The Export Declaration Form replaced SOFTEX from 1 October 2026. Software exporters file it within 30 days after the end of the invoicing month.