Top 10 Startup Grants in India for 2026

Raising funding is one of the biggest challenges for an early-stage startup. While venture capital and angel investment can provide significant capital, government-backed grants and funding schemes can offer another route to develop a prototype, validate a product, enter the market or scale a technology.

India has several startup-support programmes covering areas such as technology, biotechnology, defence, AI, robotics, healthcare, agriculture and deep tech.

However, not every scheme is a pure grant. Some programmes provide grants, while others offer debt, convertible instruments, matching investment or incubation support. Founders should therefore check the latest scheme guidelines and the specific application call before applying.

Key Highlights

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme can provide up to ₹20 lakh as a grant and up to ₹50 lakh as investment support.
BIRAC BIG provides up to ₹50 lakh for biotech innovations and proof-of-concept development.
NIDHI-SSP supports the commercialisation of technology-driven startups through incubators.
NIDHI-PRAYAS provides up to ₹10 lakh for developing innovative prototypes.
iDEX provides grants of up to ₹1.5 crore, while ADITI can provide up to ₹25 crore for eligible defence technologies.
MeitY TIDE 2.0 supports technology startups working with emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, blockchain and robotics.
SAMRIDH provides matching funding of up to ₹40 lakh through selected accelerators.
DRDO's Technology Development Fund can provide up to ₹50 crore per project for eligible defence technologies.
State-level programmes can provide additional grants and seed support to startups registered in those states.
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• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)*

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The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme is one of the major central government programmes for early-stage startups.

It is designed to support startups at stages such as proof-of-concept development, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialisation.

Grant Amount

Eligible startups can receive

Up to ₹20 lakh as a grant for proof-of-concept validation, prototype development or product trials.
Up to ₹50 lakh as investment support through convertible debentures, debt or debt-linked instruments for market entry, commercialisation or scaling.

The support is provided through eligible incubators.

Eligibility

Generally, the startup must

Be recognised by DPIIT.
Have been incorporated not more than two years before applying.
Be developing an innovative and scalable product or service.
Have a viable commercialisation plan.
Meet the scheme's government-support and promoter-shareholding requirements.
Apply through the Startup India Seed Fund process and eligible incubators.

The scheme is sector-agnostic, although preference is given to several innovation-intensive and socially relevant sectors.

2. BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG)

For biotech and life-sciences startups, the Biotechnology Ignition Grant is one of India's important early-stage funding programmes.

The scheme is operated by BIRAC under the Department of Biotechnology and focuses on helping innovators move promising ideas toward proof of concept.

Grant Amount

Successful applicants can receive up to ₹50 lakh as grant-in-aid for projects with commercialisation potential, generally for a period of up to 18 months.

Eligibility

The programme is designed for innovators and startups working in areas such as:

Biotechnology
Healthcare
Diagnostics
Medical devices
Drugs and drug delivery
Vaccines
Agriculture
Industrial biotechnology
Bioinformatics
Other related biotech applications

Eligibility requirements can vary by call, so founders should check the latest BIG guidelines before applying.

3. NIDHI Seed Support Program (NIDHI-SSP)

The NIDHI Seed Support Program is designed to help promising technology startups move from technology development toward commercialisation.

Unlike a conventional grant directly given to every startup, the programme provides financial support to incubators, which then support eligible startups through their incubation ecosystem.

Funding Scope

The programme can provide financial support of up to ₹10 crore to an incubator, released in phases according to its requirements, capacity and capabilities.

Startup-level support depends on the implementing incubator and the applicable programme guidelines.

Eligibility

The programme is primarily relevant to technology-driven startups with promising innovations that are ready to move toward commercialisation.

Founders should therefore approach eligible NIDHI-supported incubators and check their specific startup-selection criteria.

4. NIDHI-PRAYAS

NIDHI-PRAYAS is designed for innovators who want to convert an innovative technology idea into a working prototype.

The programme is particularly useful for founders who are still at the idea, prototype or proof-of-concept stage.

Grant Amount

Eligible innovators or startups can receive up to ₹10 lakh in support.

The programme also provides access to incubation infrastructure, mentoring, technical guidance and industry connections.

Eligibility

The programme is intended for young innovators developing technology-based products and prototypes.

The specific eligibility requirements, including age, company status and other conditions, should be checked against the current NIDHI-PRAYAS guidelines and the implementing incubator's call.

5. iDEX and ADITI

Startups working on defence and aerospace technologies have access to specialised government funding through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).

The programme supports innovators working on challenges identified by India's defence ecosystem.

Grant Amount

Under standard iDEX DISC and Open Challenges, selected winners can receive grants of up to ₹1.5 crore.

Under the ADITI scheme, the grant ceiling can reach ₹25 crore for eligible critical-technology projects.

Eligibility

The programme is relevant to

Indian startups
MSMEs
Individual innovators, where permitted under the challenge
Defence technology developers

Projects generally need to address specific defence requirements or challenge statements and demonstrate potential for deployment in the defence ecosystem.

6. MeitY TIDE 2.0

TIDE 2.0 is focused on technology entrepreneurship and supports startups working with emerging technologies.

Relevant areas include

Artificial intelligence
Internet of Things
Blockchain
Robotics
Digital technologies
Other emerging technology applications
Funding

The programme has different support components depending on the startup's stage.

Examples include

Up to ₹4 lakh for Entrepreneur-in-Residence support at the idea/PoC stage.
Up to ₹7 lakh for prototype development.

TIDE 2.0 is implemented through supported incubation centres, and exact opportunities can differ between centres and calls.

Eligibility

Applicants generally need to be Indian citizens or eligible Indian startups working on technology-driven solutions.

The startup's stage and technology focus must match the requirements of the particular TIDE 2.0 incubation centre.

7. Atal Innovation Mission and Atal Incubation Centres

The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under NITI Aayog, is the Government of India's flagship initiative for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.

Through Atal Incubation Centres, startups can gain access to incubation, mentoring, infrastructure, networks and other forms of entrepreneurial support.

Funding and Support

Unlike schemes with one universal startup-level grant amount, AIC support can vary depending on the centre and programme.

Founders should therefore evaluate individual AIC programmes rather than assuming that every AIC provides the same direct grant.

Eligibility

AICs can be relevant for startups working across areas such as

Social impact
Clean technology
Agriculture
Healthcare
Technology
Other innovation-led sectors

The specific eligibility and financial support depend on the individual incubation programme.

8. Technology Development Fund (TDF)

The Technology Development Fund is a DRDO initiative designed to encourage Indian industry, particularly startups and MSMEs, to develop defence technologies.

It focuses on indigenous technology development, advanced defence systems, import substitution and technologies with defence or national-security applications.

Grant Amount

Funding can reach up to ₹50 crore per project.

The scheme can facilitate funding of up to 90% of the total project cost, subject to the applicable guidelines and approvals.

Eligibility

The scheme is relevant to Indian startups and MSMEs developing

Defence technologies
Critical components
Advanced systems
Indigenous technologies
Defence prototypes
Dual-use technologies

The technology should address a relevant defence or national-security requirement.

9. SAMRIDH Scheme

The Startup Accelerator of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development and Growth, or SAMRIDH, is designed to help technology startups accelerate and scale.

The programme works through selected accelerators that provide startups with mentoring, market access, investor connections and other support.

Funding Amount

SAMRIDH provides matching funding to eligible startups of up to ₹40 lakh through selected accelerators.

As of 2026, the programme continues to operate through selected accelerators, with MeitY Startup Hub monitoring the programme and supported startups.

Eligibility

The programme is particularly relevant to product-focused technology startups with potential for growth and scale.

Startups generally need to be selected through a participating accelerator and satisfy the programme's applicable conditions.

10. State-Specific Startup Grants and Seed Funds

Founders should not limit their search to central government schemes.

Several Indian states have their own startup policies, grants, seed funds and incubation programmes.

For example, Karnataka's ELEVATE programme provides a one-time grant-in-aid of up to ₹50 lakh to eligible startups under its current programme structure.

Kerala Startup Mission also operates state-backed funding programmes, including seed and scale-up support for eligible technology startups. Its current Scaleup Seed Fund provides support up to ₹25 lakh, primarily through financial instruments such as collateral-free debt or convertible instruments.

Eligibility

State schemes generally require startups to

Be registered in the relevant state.
Meet the state's startup-policy requirements.
Have the required DPIIT or state startup recognition where applicable.
Match the scheme's sector and stage requirements.

Some programmes also have dedicated tracks for women-led startups, SC/ST founders, startups outside major cities and other priority groups.

How to Choose the Right Startup Grant

Not every startup should apply for every scheme.

The right programme depends on your

Startup stage
Sector
Technology
Prototype status
Revenue or traction
Location
Funding history
Ownership structure
Intended use of funds

For example, a biotech startup may be better suited to BIRAC BIG, while a defence-tech startup could explore iDEX or TDF.

Similarly, an early-stage technology startup could consider SISFS, NIDHI-PRAYAS or TIDE 2.0 depending on its development stage and eligibility.

What Founders Should Prepare Before Applying

Before applying for a government grant, founders should prepare their basic legal and business documentation.

This may include

Certificate of Incorporation
DPIIT recognition certificate
PAN and GST documents, where applicable
Pitch deck
Business plan
Product or prototype details
Founder information
Cap table/shareholding details
Financial statements
Bank details
Intellectual-property documents, where applicable
Project budget and fund-utilisation plan

The exact documents vary by scheme, so founders should always follow the latest application guidelines.

Summary Takeaway

💡 Key Takeaway:

• India offers multiple government-backed funding options for startups, but there is no single grant that fits every business. The right scheme depends on your startup's stage, sector, technology, location and funding requirements. Before applying, verify the latest eligibility criteria, funding structure and application window on the official scheme portal.