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Defence Public Sector Undertakings
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Defence Public Sector Undertakings

Defence Public Sector Undertakings

Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India

New Delhi, Delhi, India

The Defence Public Sector Undertakings, administered by the Department of Defence Production. DRISHTI problem statements come from the DPSUs; iDEX is run by DIO.

1Program
Official website

DPSU at a glance

Full nameDefence Public Sector Undertakings
Part ofDepartment of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India
AddressNew Delhi, Delhi, India
Programmes2 standing programmes
Official websitewww.ddpmod.gov.in

Programs by Defence Public Sector Undertakings

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Past programs

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Programmes they run

Standing programmes at Defence Public Sector Undertakings, separate from the funding calls above.

The DRISHTI route is the DPSUs' own and has closed. iDEX is run by the Defence Innovation Organisation, which two DPSUs co-founded, so it is listed here for context.

DRISHTI Challenges

Competition

Problem statements set out by the DPSUs for design-led innovation, with each project managed and funded by its DPSU. Applications closed on 4 May 2026.

  • Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to apply

DRISHTI Challenges is a closed call. The DPSUs set out problem statements for design-led innovation, and the iDEX listing shows 101 of them. Applications closed on 4 May 2026, and the public pages do not say whether the challenge reopens.

What you get

  • Each project is managed and funded by the DPSU that set its problem statement

Who can apply

  • The public DRISHTI pages do not say who may apply. Check the listing for each problem statement before you plan around it.
See the latest call

iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence)

Grant scheme

SPARK grant support for start-ups and MSMEs, run by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), not by the DPSUs.

Best for: Recognised start-ups and Indian companies, mainly MSMEs

  • Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to apply

iDEX is run by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), a not-for-profit company formed under the Department of Defence Production. It is not a DPSU programme. It supports prototype and research work through SPARK grants, awarded through Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC) and Open Challenges.

What you get

  • SPARK grant support for prototype and research projects
  • A higher grant ceiling under iDEX Prime

Who can apply

  • Start-ups recognised by the Department of Industrial Policy Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • Indian companies incorporated under the Companies Act, mainly micro, small and medium enterprises
  • Individual innovators, who must form a start-up before they sign the SPARK Grant Agreement. Research and academic institutions can use the individual route.

The scheme was launched in May 2021 with a stated funded period of 2021-22 to 2025-26. The pages read do not say whether it runs beyond that period.

Full iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) guide

How to apply to Defence Public Sector Undertakings

Choosing the right route

  • DRISHTI is for the DPSU problem statements, and it has closed. Each listing names a nodal DPSU, so read the ones that match your technology.
  • iDEX is the route the public pages describe for start-ups and MSMEs. Its grants run through DISC and Open Challenges.

How applications work

  • The public pages do not describe the iDEX application steps. Check the scheme page before you apply.
  • Individual innovators must form a start-up before they sign the SPARK Grant Agreement.

What to check first

  • Confirm iDEX is still open. Its stated funded period ran from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
  • The DRISHTI pages do not say who may apply. Check the listing for each problem statement before you plan around it.

About Defence Public Sector Undertakings

Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) are administered by the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The department says it administers 16 DPSUs, including seven newer ones formed out of 41 erstwhile Ordnance Factories. This page covers the two startup-facing routes the public pages describe, and says which body runs each one.

How the programmes work

DRISHTI Challenges is the DPSUs' own route. It lists 101 problem statements set out by the DPSUs for design-led innovation, and each problem statement names a nodal DPSU. The projects under DRISHTI are managed and funded by the respective DPSUs. Applications closed on 4 May 2026.

iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) is not run by the DPSUs. The Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), a not-for-profit company formed under DDP, runs it. DIO funds projects through Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC) and Open Challenges, using SPARK grants. The grant ceiling is higher under iDEX Prime.

Who can apply

iDEX takes start-ups recognised by the Department of Industrial Policy Promotion, Indian companies incorporated under the Companies Act, mainly MSMEs, and individual innovators. Individual innovators must form a start-up before they sign the SPARK Grant Agreement. The DRISHTI pages do not say who may apply.

Who runs it

DIO has two founder members, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Both are DPSUs. The scheme was launched in May 2021 with a stated funded period of 2021-22 to 2025-26. The pages read do not say whether it continues beyond that period.

Scale

The iDEX listing for DRISHTI was last updated on 13 October 2026 and shows 101 problem statements.

Who they work with

Stage

Sectors

Technology

Tags

Frequently asked questions about Defence Public Sector Undertakings

What is the full form of DPSU?

DPSU stands for Defence Public Sector Undertakings.

What is Defence Public Sector Undertakings?

Defence Public Sector Undertakings is a government body based in New Delhi, Delhi.

What does Defence Public Sector Undertakings do?

Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) are administered by the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The department says it administers 16 DPSUs, including seven newer ones formed out of 41 erstwhile Ordnance Factories.

Where is Defence Public Sector Undertakings located?

Defence Public Sector Undertakings is based in New Delhi, Delhi, India.

What programs does Defence Public Sector Undertakings run?

Defence Public Sector Undertakings runs DRISHTI Challenges and iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence).

Does Defence Public Sector Undertakings provide funding?

Selected startups in some Defence Public Sector Undertakings programmes can receive grant support, including DRISHTI Challenges and iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence). Grant amounts are set per programme and cohort, and selection into a programme does not guarantee a grant — check the programme's own page for current terms.

What sectors does Defence Public Sector Undertakings support?

Defence Public Sector Undertakings works with startups in DeepTech and SpaceTech.

What stage of startup does Defence Public Sector Undertakings support?

Defence Public Sector Undertakings supports startups at the Validation, Early Revenue and Growth stages.

How do I apply to Defence Public Sector Undertakings?

- DRISHTI is for the DPSU problem statements, and it has closed. Each listing names a nodal DPSU, so read the ones that match your technology. - iDEX is the route the public pages describe for start-ups and MSMEs. Its grants run through DISC and Open Challenges. - The public pages do not describe the iDEX application steps. Check the scheme page before you apply.