Central government schemes for startups
Schemes run by the Government of India and open across the country. Many reach you through an incubator or a bank, so each page says who you actually apply to.
Checked on official pages, last on 4 November 2026. Founders Wing does not run these schemes or help with applications.
Seed funding · All of India
Open nowGENESIS: Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups
Ministry of Electronics and IT, through MeitY Startup Hub
Up to ₹10 lakh for early-stage, average ₹40 lakh up to ₹50 lakh for pilots or matched investment, up to ₹1 crore for select deep tech
Prize · All of India
Open until 20 November 2026NSA 6.0: National Startup Awards
DPIIT, Government of India
₹25 lakh per category for winning startups, subject to award guidelines
Credit guarantee · All of India
Open all yearCGSS: Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups
DPIIT, operated by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC)
Guarantee cover up to ₹20 crore per borrower. This protects the lender and is not cash to you.
Credit guarantee · All of India
Open all yearCGTMSE: Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises
Ministry of MSME and SIDBI
Guarantee cover up to ₹10 crore per borrower, covering 75% to 90% depending on category and loan size
Loan · All of India
Open all yearPradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana
Ministry of Finance, through MUDRA and lending institutions
Shishu up to ₹50,000, Kishor up to ₹5 lakh, Tarun up to ₹10 lakh, Tarun Plus up to ₹20 lakh
Subsidy · All of India
Open all yearIndiaAI Compute Portal
IndiaAI Mission, Ministry of Electronics and IT
Up to 40% off the cost of AI compute
Incubation support · All of India
Open all yearWEP: Women Entrepreneurship Platform
NITI Aayog, Government of India
Amount varies, see the official page
Loan · All of India
Open all yearVCF-SC: Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, managed by IFCI Venture Capital
₹10 lakh to ₹15 crore, with total assistance not above two times the company's net worth
Loan · All of India
Open all yearTDB: Technology Development Board Core Funding
Technology Development Board, Department of Science and Technology
Soft loan at 5% simple interest for 50% of the project cost not yet incurred. Equity up to 25% of approved cost.
Seed funding · All of India
Opens in roundsNIDHI-SSP: NIDHI Seed Support Program
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
Up to ₹1 crore per startup in exceptional cases. Incubators have typically invested ₹10 to 25 lakh.
Seed funding · All of India
Opens in roundsSAMRIDH: Startup Accelerator of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development and Growth
Ministry of Electronics and IT, through MeitY Startup Hub
Up to ₹40 lakh from the scheme, matched by up to ₹40 lakh from the accelerator or investor
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsMSME Idea Hackathon: MSME Innovative Scheme, Incubation component
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Up to ₹15 lakh per idea, covering 85% of approved cost. The money goes through the Host Institute.
Prize · All of India
Opens in roundsIndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Program
IndiaAI Mission, Ministry of Electronics and IT
Programme fee covered, plus up to ₹5 lakh prize money per startup
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsNIDHI-EIR: NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
₹10,000 to ₹30,000 a month for up to 12 months
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsADITI: Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX
Defence Innovation Organisation, Ministry of Defence
Up to 50% of the product development budget, capped at ₹25 crore
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsiDEX: Innovations for Defence Excellence
Defence Innovation Organisation, Ministry of Defence
Up to ₹1.5 crore under Defence India Startup Challenge, up to ₹10 crore under iDEX Prime
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsIN-SPACe Seed Fund Scheme
IN-SPACe, Department of Space
Grant of ₹1 crore on a milestone basis
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsBIG: Biotechnology Ignition Grant
BIRAC, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
Up to ₹50 lakh as grant-in-aid for up to 18 months
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsNIDHI PRAYAS 2.0
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
Up to ₹20 lakh through a PRAYAS Centre, or up to ₹40 lakh through an Advance PRAYAS Centre
Incubation support · All of India
Check official pageTIDE 2.0: Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs 2.0
Ministry of Electronics and IT, through MeitY Startup Hub
Up to ₹4 lakh for proof of concept, up to ₹7 lakh grant for prototypes, up to ₹40 lakh investment for product and market
Incubation support · All of India
Check official pageNGIS: Next Generation Incubation Scheme
Software Technology Parks of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and IT
Seed funding up to ₹25 lakh. Pre-incubation interns get ₹10,000 a month for 6 months.
Incubation support · All of India
Check official pageAIC: Atal Incubation Centres
Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog
Amount varies, see the official page
Subsidy · All of India
Check official pageSIPP: Scheme for Facilitating Start-ups Intellectual Property Protection
DPIIT and the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks
Facilitator fees paid by the government, and an 80% rebate on patent filing fees
Grant · All of India
Check official pagePRISM: Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Start-ups and MSMEs
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India
Up to ₹2 lakh or ₹20 lakh at up to 90% of cost in Phase I. Up to ₹50 lakh at 50% in Phase II.
Subsidy · All of India
Check official pagePMEGP: Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme
Ministry of MSME, implemented by Khadi and Village Industries Commission
Subsidy of 15% to 35% of project cost, on projects up to ₹50 lakh in manufacturing and ₹20 lakh in services
Loan · All of India
Check official pageRDI Fund: Research, Development and Innovation Fund
Anusandhan National Research Foundation, Department of Science and Technology
Up to 50% of total project cost as loans, equity or hybrid instruments. No grants.
A grant can help. Paying customers keep you going.
Founders Wing is India’s community for people building with AI: weekly live sessions, a private group, and people who help you reach paying customers.
Questions people ask
Is the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme still open?
No, not for new startups. The official portal gave 31 May 2026 as the last date for startups to apply. Money already approved is still being paid out, and we found no replacement scheme when we last checked.
Do I need DPIIT recognition to get a grant?
Many central and state schemes ask for it, but not all. Each page here lists that scheme's conditions, so check before you apply for recognition just for one scheme.
Can a SaaS or AI startup get a grant?
Yes, but fewer schemes suit it than the headlines suggest. Some are for deep tech or hardware, and NIDHI PRAYAS, for example, leaves out pure software and app projects. Start with our list for software startups.
What is the difference between a grant, a loan and a credit guarantee?
You are not expected to repay a grant if you meet its conditions. You repay a loan with interest. A credit guarantee is not money for you at all: it protects the bank, which may make the bank more willing to lend to you.
Should I pay an agent to get a government scheme?
Be careful with anyone who promises approval for a fee. Nobody outside the selection process can promise it. MUDRA, for example, says on its own site that it uses no agents.
How current is this list?
Each page shows the date we read the official source. Schemes change and close without much notice, so confirm the amount and dates on the official page before you apply.