NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
A monthly fellowship for graduates who want to build a technology business instead of taking a job. It runs through selected Technology Business Incubators and is open to any sector. Fellows get a stipend, co-working space, mentoring and advice while they turn an idea into a business proposal.
What you can get
₹10,000 to ₹30,000 a month for up to 12 months
Do you repay it?
No
Type
Grant
Where
All of India
Current status
The NIDHI portal, updated 11 October 2026, keeps the programme live and says applicants go through selected centres. Calls are announced locally by each centre, so there is no national date.
Who can apply
- Indian citizen
- At least 4 years of full-time undergraduate or postgraduate education, or a 3-year degree or diploma plus 2 years of work
- A promising technology business idea
- Cannot take NIDHI-PRAYAS support for the same idea at the same time
How to apply
- 1Find a NIDHI-EIR Centre on the official list
- 2Watch for that centre's local announcement
- 3Apply to the centre in its prescribed format
The catch
This is a small living stipend for one person, not capital for a company. Selection sits with each incubator, and which centres have open seats changes, so you must check them one by one.
We read this on the official page on 4 November 2026. Rules and dates change, so confirm there before you apply. Founders Wing is not connected to this scheme, does not help with applications and never charges for access to it.