Social & Impact Startup Grants and Funding Programs in India — November 2026

As of November 2026, 10 distinct programs are actively seeking applications from social and impact startups across India. These opportunities encompass direct grants, comprehensive incubation support, and competitive challenges designed to identify and scale innovative solutions.

The funding landscape for social and impact ventures in India includes initiatives from international consulates, government-backed schemes, and institutional incubation centres. These programs aim to foster solutions in areas such as community development, environmental sustainability, human rights, and livelihoods, often leveraging technology.

Active Social & Impact Grants and Programs

German Consulate Kolkata Small Projects (German Consulate General Kolkata)

The German Consulate Kolkata Small Projects programme, supported by Germany's Federal Foreign Office, offers funding for NGOs operating in eastern and north-eastern India. Projects focusing on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are eligible.

Funding typically ranges from EUR 15,000 to EUR 20,000, equivalent to approximately ₹16.35 lakh to ₹21.8 lakh. Projects should last about six months and conclude by 31 December of the calendar year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

TFD International Grants 2027 (Taiwan Foundation for Democracy)

The TFD International Grants 2027 programme provides financial support to non-profit organisations outside Taiwan engaged in projects that promote democracy and human rights. While a hard cap of US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh) is set, most grants typically fall between US$3,000 and US$20,000 (approximately ₹2.85 lakh to ₹19 lakh).

The next deadline for projects commencing in 2027 is 15 December 2026 for the second round, with a subsequent third round closing on 15 April 2027. Applicants are generally expected to secure additional funding, as TFD does not typically cover full project costs.

Czech Local Transition Projects 2027 (Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi)

The Czech Local Transition Projects 2027 initiative is a small-grants call from the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi. It supports local non-governmental organisations in India and five neighbouring countries working on human rights, democracy, and free media.

Project budgets must be between CZK 100,000 and CZK 500,000, which translates to about ₹4.2 lakh to ₹21 lakh. Projects are expected to run for up to eight months, with implementation scheduled from 1 March 2027 to 31 October 2027. The application deadline for this program is 20 November 2026.

Balmer Lawrie Startup Fund 2026 (IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre)

The Balmer Lawrie Startup Fund 2026, offered by the IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre (IIML EIC) in partnership with Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd., is a Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) initiative. It aims to invest up to ₹1 crore in innovative ventures with significant potential for industry impact.

This program supports startups that align with the Government of India's emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly through Public Sector Enterprises. The collaboration focuses on identifying and scaling promising startups across India. Applications for this fund close on 15 November 2026.

Australia Direct Aid Program Kolkata 2026-27 (Australian High Commission, New Delhi)

The Australia Direct Aid Program Kolkata 2026-27 is a small-grants scheme from the Australian Consulate-General in Kolkata. It funds not-for-profit development projects in east and north-east India that contribute to poverty reduction and community strengthening.

Grants typically extend up to ₹10 lakh per project, with some flexibility for justified expenses. The majority of the funding must be allocated to direct project costs, covering activities and materials. The application deadline for this program is 21 November 2026.

IVCA–EarthON Greenovation Challenge 2026 (EarthON Foundation)

India's climate transition is the focus of the IVCA–EarthON Greenovation Challenge 2026. This initiative, part of the IVCA Climate Capital Summit, seeks to identify and support high-potential enterprises developing climate solutions.

The program focuses on five areas: Renewable Energy, Sustainable Agriculture & Agroecology, Circular Economy & Waste Management, Industrial Decarbonisation, and Climate Adaptation. Participants can receive funding up to ₹4 lakh. The final date for applications is 12 November 2026.

T-Hub Social Impact Challenge 2026 (T-Hub)

The T-Hub Social Impact Challenge 2026 invites Indian startups to develop innovative solutions for critical real-world problems. The challenge supports ventures leveraging technologies like AI and IoT for tangible positive impact.

Participants can address one of three areas: Early Disaster Awareness (using GeoAI for flash floods), Precision Crop Health (AgriTech and computer vision for crop stress), or Zero-Waste Communities (WasteTech, AI, IoT for waste segregation). Up to ₹5 lakh in funding is available, with applications closing on 15 November 2026.

TISC Telangana Innovation Startup Challenge 2026 (Government of Telangana)

The TISC Telangana Innovation Startup Challenge 2026 is a flagship initiative by the Government of Telangana. It connects startups, innovators, academic researchers, and student teams to co-create solutions for public service challenges across the state.

This competition offers participants a platform to develop and validate solutions in real-world environments, providing access to government stakeholders and domain experts. Funding amounts vary based on the specific challenge and proposed solution. The deadline for applications is 20 November 2026.

Maruti Suzuki Nurture Cohort 5 (IIM Calcutta Innovation Park)

The Maruti Suzuki Nurture Cohort 5 is a pre-incubation program focusing on innovation within the Indian mobility sector. This collaboration between Maruti Suzuki and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park targets early-stage startups passionate about solving real-world challenges, including those with social impact.

The program supports ventures in areas such as mobility convenience, manufacturing processes, AI/digital solutions, technological advancements, and sustainable products. Up to ₹13 lakh is available for selected startups, with applications accepted on a rolling basis.

AI For Livelihoods Hackathon 2026 (IIMA Ventures)

The AI For Livelihoods Hackathon 2026 is part of IIMA Ventures' AI Accelerator for Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) program, supported by the Gates Foundation. It fosters the co-creation of practical AI solutions for women entrepreneurs, optimized for vernacular languages, low literacy, and limited digital access.

The hackathon addresses four challenges: Business Operations, Enterprise Productivity, and more. Selected participants can receive up to ₹5 lakh in funding. The deadline for this hackathon is 19 November 2026.

Before Applying

Careful review of eligibility criteria is necessary before applying. The German Consulate Kolkata Small Projects and Australia Direct Aid Program Kolkata are specifically for NGOs in eastern and north-eastern India, while the TFD International Grants and Czech Local Transition Projects target non-profit or local non-governmental organisations in India or neighbouring countries. The TISC Telangana Innovation Startup Challenge focuses on solutions for Telangana government and public services.

Several programs have approaching deadlines. The IVCA–EarthON Greenovation Challenge closes on 12 November 2026, followed by the Balmer Lawrie Startup Fund and T-Hub Social Impact Challenge on 15 November 2026. The AI For Livelihoods Hackathon closes on 19 November 2026, with the TISC Telangana Innovation Startup Challenge and Czech Local Transition Projects closing on 20 November 2026, and the Australia Direct Aid Program on 21 November 2026. In contrast, the German Consulate Kolkata Small Projects and Maruti Suzuki Nurture Cohort 5 accept applications on a rolling basis, while TFD International Grants has further rounds in December 2026 and April 2027.