Centre relaxes norms for start-ups to avail funds from DSIR

The Center on Sunday, January 4, 2026, relaxed the norms for deep-tech start-ups to receive financial assistance from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).

On the 42nd foundation day celebrations of DSIR, Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh announced the removal of three-year viability criteria for deep-tech start-ups to avail financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore under the department’s Industrial Research and Development Promotion Program (IRDPP).

DSIR provides financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore to start-ups under IRDPP only if they prove that they are sustainable and viable for a period of at least three years.

Describing the move as an incentive to accelerate and sustain start-ups, Mr Singh said: “Removing the three-year existence requirement is a significant incentive that will help deep tech start-ups scale faster, even before they become completely on their own.” he said. However, the Minister said that start-ups must maintain appropriate evaluation standards based on technological maturity.

The move is expected to provide early impetus to projects, promising innovators and entrepreneurs.

Addressing the meeting, the Minister said that although the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) fund has created unprecedented enthusiasm across the country, it is designed to support start-ups that have reached a certain level of technological maturity.

“A wide basket of programs is already available across departments like DST, CSIR, TDB (Technology Development Board) and others for early-stage innovators or start-ups,” Mr. Singh said.