10 Startup Grants and Funding Programs Newly Listed This Week Mizoram, Sikkim, and UNNATI — September 2026

This week, 10 new startup grants, incubation programs, and investment incentives have been added, offering significant support across various sectors and regions. Notable among these are several schemes from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the UNNATI 2024 initiative, alongside targeted industrial policies from the Governments of Mizoram and Sikkim. These programs aim to boost manufacturing, services, and local entrepreneurship.

Newly Listed This Week

UNNATI Programs (DPIIT)

The UNNATI MSLI (Net GST Incentive) offers a Manufacturing & Services Linked Incentive for eligible new units established in Zone A and Zone B of the North-Eastern Region. This incentive amounts to 100% of the net GST payment (GST paid less input tax credit) for a maximum period of 10 years from the commencement of commercial production or operation, or until the scheme's validity ends. The total incentive is capped at 75% of eligible investment for Zone A units and 100% for Zone B units. Units must possess a valid GSTIN and have invested in plant and machinery for manufacturing, or in building and other durable physical assets for services.

Under UNNATI Capital Interest Subvention, new and expanding manufacturing and service sector units in the North-Eastern Region can receive an interest subvention. This applies to loans obtained from Scheduled Commercial Banks or RBI-registered financial institutions. Units in Zone A blocks receive an annual subvention rate of 3%, while those in Zone B blocks receive 5%, each for a maximum of 7 consecutive years starting from any date after the application for scheme registration. The subvention applies to loans up to a principal amount of ₹250 crore.

The UNNATI Capital Investment Incentive provides financial support to new and expanding units in the North-Eastern Region based on their eligible investment. Manufacturing units qualify for this incentive based on investment in plant and machinery, while service units qualify based on investment in building construction and other durable physical assets. Units located in Zone A blocks are eligible for 30% of their eligible investment, up to a maximum of ₹5.00 crore. Units in Zone B blocks can receive 50% of their eligible investment, with a ceiling of ₹7.50 crore. For sectors where GST is not applicable, the incentive ceiling increases to ₹10.00 crore in both zones.

Mizoram MSE Incentives (Government of Mizoram)

Under the Industrial and Investment Policy of Mizoram 2025, eligible Micro and Small Enterprises are exempted from paying Earnest Money Deposits. This Mizoram MSE EMD Exemption helps free up working capital that would otherwise be tied up during the tender process. To qualify, enterprises must be registered and operational within Mizoram and employ at least 70% local workforce.

Similarly, the Industrial and Investment Policy of Mizoram 2025 provides a Mizoram MSE Tender Fee Exemption. This exemption from tender fees benefits eligible Micro and Small Enterprises, reducing the cumulative costs associated with bidding across multiple government departments. Eligibility requires the enterprise to be registered and operational within Mizoram and to employ at least 70% local workforce.

The Mizoram MSE Price Preference policy, part of the Industrial and Investment Policy of Mizoram 2025, grants eligible Micro and Small Enterprises a price preference of up to 12% over the lowest out-of-state bid in Government of Mizoram tenders. This mechanism enables local MSEs to secure contracts even if their bid is slightly higher than external competitors. Qualification is contingent on being registered and operational within the State, with at least 70% local workforce employment.

Through the Industrial and Investment Policy of Mizoram 2025, the Government of Mizoram implements a Mizoram MSE Procurement Reservation. This policy reserves a minimum of 25% of the government's annual procurement for Micro and Small Enterprises registered and operational within the State. The primary qualifying condition is the employment of at least 70% local workforce by the enterprise.

Sikkim Industrial Incentives (Government of Sikkim)

The Sikkim Industrial and Investment Policy 2024 introduces the Sikkim Frontier Zone Lease Waiver. This waiver provides for lease rental on government land to be free of cost for the initial 5 years. It applies to industries establishing plants or units in the designated Frontier Economic Zones, which include Mangan, Soreng, Gyalshing, and Namchi districts, counted from the date of commencement of production.

Under the Sikkim Industrial and Investment Policy 2024, registered companies are eligible for the Sikkim Patent Registration Incentive. This incentive reimburses the actual cost of filing patents, with limits of up to ₹2 lakh for a domestic patent and up to ₹10 lakh for an international patent, provided the patent is filed or granted within the policy period. Eligible expenses encompass filing fees, attorney fees, search fees, and maintenance fees. Companies can claim up to 75% of eligible expenses (or 75% of the ceiling) once the patent is filed, with the remaining 25% released upon grant; alternatively, 100% of eligible costs can be claimed after the patent is granted. A single company can claim a maximum of five reimbursements, whether domestic or international, during the policy period.

The Sikkim Stamp Duty Reimbursement 2024 is offered to all eligible new industrial units under the Sikkim Industrial and Investment Policy 2024. Units are reimbursed or exempted from stamp duty up to 50% of the duty, subject to a monetary ceiling of ₹25.00 lakh. This relief specifically applies to the parcel of land used exclusively for establishing the industrial unit. Notably, units operated by women entrepreneurs receive a 100% exemption from stamp duty, with a higher ceiling of ₹50.00 lakh.

Before Applying

Several concrete eligibility constraints are present across these programs. The UNNATI schemes target the North-Eastern Region, requiring units to be located in specific Zone A or Zone B blocks. The Mizoram and Sikkim policies are state-specific, with Mizoram's Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE) incentives further requiring enterprises to be registered and operational within the state and maintain at least 70% local workforce employment.

All listed programs currently operate with rolling or not-specified deadlines, indicating ongoing availability for applications. For the Mizoram MSE incentives, prospective applicants should ensure prior registration as an MSE and adherence to the local employment criteria, as these are prerequisites for accessing benefits such as EMD and tender fee exemptions, price preference, and procurement reservation.