Government Schemes & Bodies

MeitY

In short

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology — a Government of India ministry that funds technology startups, with a particular focus on AI, cybersecurity, electronics, semiconductor design, and digital governance. MeitY administers schemes such as SAMRIDH (which provides funding up to ₹1 crore for IT product startups), the TIDE (Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs) scheme supporting 50+ incubators, and the Digital India R&D initiatives. MeitY grants are open to startups working on national-priority tech stacks, and the ministry runs challenge-based funding calls that combine equity-free grants with mentorship from government technology departments.

How It Works

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is a Government of India ministry that funds technology startups with a specific focus on electronics, IT, AI, cybersecurity, semiconductor design, and digital governance. MeitY administers several flagship programmes: SAMRIDH (Start-up Accelerator Programme of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development, and Growth) provides funding up to ₹1 crore for IT product startups through a network of accelerators; the TIDE (Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs) scheme supports 50+ incubators specialising in ICT, IoT, AI, and blockchain; and the Digital India R&D initiatives fund startups working on national-priority technology stacks like Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. MeitY grants are open to startups working on applied technology solutions that address national priorities. The ministry runs challenge-based funding calls that combine equity-free grants with mentorship from government technology departments and access to sandbox environments for testing with real government data. MeitY also supports the Electronics Development Fund (EDF) for semiconductor and electronics startups.

Application Process

1. Monitor MeitY's challenge-based funding calls on the Digital India portal and Startup India portal. 2. Prepare a proposal that clearly connects your technology solution to a national priority — digital governance, cybersecurity, AI for social good, or electronics manufacturing. 3. Demonstrate technical readiness — MeitY prefers startups with a working prototype or MVP. 4. For SAMRIDH, apply through one of MeitY's recognised accelerators. 5. For TIDE, connect with a TIDE-supported incubator near you. 6. Show scalability and replicability — MeitY funds solutions that can be deployed at scale across states or central government departments.

Real-World Example

An AI startup develops a natural language processing platform that can automatically translate government scheme documents from English into 12 Indian languages while preserving technical accuracy. The startup applies for a ₹75 lakh SAMRIDH grant through a MeitY-recognised accelerator. The proposal demonstrates a working prototype with 85% translation accuracy on a sample of 500 Pradhan Mantri Yojana documents. The MeitY review team sees potential for wide deployment across state government portals and awards the grant. The funds are used to improve accuracy to 95%, build a dashboard for government users, and pilot with three state government departments.

Key Takeaway

MeitY funding is ideal for startups building technology solutions that address national digital priorities. Challenge-based calls, SAMRIDH, and TIDE provide multiple entry points depending on your stage and technology focus.

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Frequently asked questions

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Related Terms in Government Schemes & Bodies

DPIIT Recognition

Registration with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade that certifies an entity as a recognised startup under the Startup India initiative. DPIIT recognition is a prerequisite for most central government grant programmes, provides access to the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, and offers benefits like self-certification under nine labour and environmental laws, tax exemption under Section 80-IAC, and fast-track patent examination. To qualify, a company must be incorporated as a Private Limited, LLP, or Partnership, be less than 10 years old, have annual turnover below ₹100 crore, and work towards innovation, development, or improvement of products or processes. More than 100,000 startups are now DPIIT-recognised as of 2025.

Startup India

A flagship Government of India initiative launched on January 16, 2016 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country. The initiative operates through three pillars: simplified compliance and hand-holding (self-certification, easy exit), funding support (the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme of ₹945 crore and the Fund of Funds for Startups of ₹10,000 crore), and incubation and mentoring (a network of incubators, innovation hubs, and academic partnerships). Startup India has recognised over 100,000 startups, and the initiative continues to evolve with new schemes, state partnerships, and sector-specific programmes.

BIRAC

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council — a Government of India body under the Department of Biotechnology. BIRAC is India's primary funder of biotech and life sciences startups, offering a ladder of grant programmes from early-stage proof-of-concept (Biotechnology Ignition Grant, up to ₹50 lakh) through to translational and commercialisation support (SPARSH, BIG-BIRAC, and LEAP). BIRAC also runs fellowship programmes, innovation challenges, and international collaborations. Its grants are milestone-based and typically cover R&D costs, consumables, salaries, and equipment. Since inception, BIRAC has supported over 3,000 startups and played a central role in India's COVID-19 vaccine and diagnostic development.

DST

The Department of Science and Technology — a Government of India ministry that funds deep-tech, science, and engineering startups through a portfolio of grant programmes. Key schemes include the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI, which runs incubator support and seed funding through a network of 50+ Technology Business Incubators), the Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST), and the PURSE scheme for university research. DST grants are competitive and milestone-based, typically ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹2 crore for early-stage tech ventures. DST also co-funds innovation challenges in strategic areas like quantum computing, clean energy, and AI with industry partners.

MoFPI

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries — a Government of India ministry that grants and subsidies for startups in food processing, cold chain logistics, agri-processing, and value-added food products. MoFPI administers the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), which includes component schemes for infrastructure development, quality assurance, and entrepreneurship in food processing. Startups in the agri-food value chain can access grants of up to ₹5 crore for processing units, cold storage, and testing labs. MoFPI also partners with state governments to run food processing incubation centres and innovation challenges.

NABARD

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development — a development bank that funds startups and enterprises in agriculture, rural development, and allied sectors through a mix of grants, venture capital, and subsidised credit. NABARD runs the Rural Innovation and Startup Promotion Scheme (RISPS) that supports rural and agri-startups with grants of up to ₹1 crore, as well as the Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) programme in partnership with universities and ICAR institutions. NABARD's funding is particularly relevant for startups working in farm technology, supply chain, dairy, fisheries, rural fintech, and handicrafts.