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Startup grants and government schemes in India: where to start

By the CreditBase team · · 2 min read

India runs more support schemes for startups than almost any other country, but they are spread across ministries, incubators and portals, and the order you approach them in matters. This guide covers the main central government programs. State governments run their own schemes too, which are worth checking for where you are registered.

Step one: DPIIT recognition

Recognition by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is the gateway to most of the rest. It is free, done online through the Startup India portal, and many central schemes, including the Seed Fund Scheme, expect it. It also opens the door to the income tax holiday under section 80-IAC, which needs a separate certificate from the Inter-Ministerial Board.

Seed money through incubators

Two of the main early grants are not paid by a ministry directly but through incubators selected to run them, so the first step is finding an incubator that runs the scheme and applying to it.

  • The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme funds proof of concept, prototypes and market entry for DPIIT-recognised startups incorporated less than two years ago.
  • NIDHI-PRAYAS funds hardware and deep-tech prototypes through its host incubators, and is open to individual innovators as well as early-stage startups.
  • Startup India Seed Fund SchemeUp to ₹20 lakh grant + ₹50 lakh debt/convertibleGrant · DPIIT, Government of India · India
  • NIDHI-PRAYASUp to ₹10 lakh prototype grantGrant · DST, Government of India · India

Sector programs

Some of the larger grants are for specific fields:

  • BIRAC BIG is for biotech and medtech proof of concept, open to startups and individual innovators.
  • MeitY SAMRIDH is an accelerator program for software product startups, with matching funding, run through selected accelerators.
  • The IndiaAI Compute Portal gives Indian startups, researchers and MSMEs subsidised GPU compute through empanelled Indian cloud providers.

Tips before you apply

  1. Get recognised first, and keep your incorporation documents, PAN and a short pitch deck ready: most schemes ask for the same papers.
  2. Pick the incubator carefully. For incubator-run schemes, the incubator reviews your application and disburses the money, so its focus area and track record matter.
  3. Read the latest guidelines on the official portal. Limits and conditions change with each budget; the amounts below are "up to" figures.
  4. Combine grants with credits. Indian startups can also claim the global cloud, AI and software programs, which need far less paperwork.

Every Indian program on CreditBase

For the full picture, including the global credits and perks available to Indian startups, see startup programs in India, and the investors active in India.

Values are “up to” amounts and terms change: confirm on the provider’s page before you rely on them.