UPJA
A programme by Pusa Krishi, ICAR-IARI
Incubation programme for agri startups with a product already at minimum viable product stage, carrying Pusa Krishi's largest grant support.
At a glance
| Best for | Agri startups with a solution at minimum viable product stage |
|---|---|
| Stage | MVP – Early revenue |
| Duration | Online mentoring phase, then a one-year incubation programme. The page gives the mentoring phase as both one month and two months. |
| Format | Hybrid |
| Cost | Free |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
About UPJA
UPJA is the track for startups that have got past the prototype and have something working. It offers technology validation, mentoring, pilot opportunities, go-to-market support and industry linkage, and follows the same two-phase route as ARISE into a year of incubation at Pusa Krishi. Registration was closed when this was written; the 2026 cycle ran 17 April to 17 May, results on 10 June, cohort start 15 June to 15 July.
What you get
- Technology validation and technical, business and IP assessment
- Mentoring and coaching from technical experts and business leaders
- Pilot opportunities, field trials and industry linkage
- Go-to-market support
- For teams selected at the jury pitch, a year of incubation with grant support released in tranches
Who can apply
- Startups with an innovative solution in agriculture or an allied sector at minimum viable product stage
- Indian citizens
- Applicants who have previously received grant funding under any state or central government scheme are not eligible
- No incorporation requirement is stated on the programme page
How selection works: The same route as ARISE — panel scoring against the stated parameters, a selection committee interview, the online mentoring cohort, then a jury pitch that decides who enters the year of incubation with grant support.
How to apply: Through the open call on the Pusa Krishi site. Applications can be saved and completed later but not edited once submitted. Applying is free.
Where to apply
Other Pusa Krishi, ICAR-IARI programmes
- ARISEPusa Krishi's entry-level incubation programme for idea and prototype-stage agri innovations, which opens into a year of incubation with grant support.
- SHITIJA year-long incubation programme that opens with fifteen days of in-person training and mentoring at Pusa Krishi.
- ICAR SHITIJ 2.0An ICAR-wide incubation programme delivered hub-and-spoke across the ICAR Agribusiness Incubation Centre network, with a two-month online phase.
- BEEJA fourteen-day online pre-incubation masterclass series for students and first-time founders in agri-tech, ending in a certificate.
- Her HarvestA five-day online workshop series with women entrepreneurs and changemakers, charged as a one-time fee.
- MAITRIPusa Krishi's international collaboration programme, whose India-Brazil editions brought startups and incubators together in 2019, 2021 and 2025.
- SAMARTHA capacity-building programme for agri-incubators and incubation managers in the RKVY-RAFTAAR network — not a startup intake.
- Agripreneurship development trainingsShort, paid, hands-on courses at the Pusa campus run with ICAR-IARI's subject divisions — the one thing usually open to register for between intakes.