Atal New India Challenge (ANIC) 2.0

ANIC is the one AIM programme that startups apply to directly. It asks for technology-based solutions that already work as a prototype and answer a sector challenge, and it supports selected startups through to commercialisation. Calls are phase by phase and each phase has its own challenge areas.

What you get

• Grant-in-aid, released in three tranches over the project
• Mentorship and support through to commercialisation
• A project period of 12 to 24 months under the May 2026 guidelines (older AIM pages say 12 to 18 months)

Who can apply

• The who-can-apply page lists MSMEs, startups, R&D organisations, academicians and innovators
• The guidelines set the entity rules: an Indian company recognised as a startup by DPIIT
• A working prototype relevant to the challenge area
• The majority stake in the applicant must be held in India

Challenge areas listed for ANIC 2.0: e-mobility, road transportation, space technology and applications, medical devices and equipment, sanitation technology, waste management, agriculture, post and telegraph, drinking water and sanitation, renewable energy and clean-tech, education and open innovation.

On equity: AIM's awards page describes part of the award as a small government equity stake, while the ANIC 2.0 guidelines describe the support only as grant-in-aid. We could not reconcile the two, so check the current call before applying.

How to apply: Applications are received only through the online portal on the AIM website during a call. We did not find an open call or deadline when we checked, so confirm on the AIM website. Questions go to anic-aim@gov.in.