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

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

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

The DSIR extends financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore to start-ups under the IRDPP only if they prove to be sustainable and viable for a minimum period of three years.

Describing the move as an incentive to accelerate and sustain start-ups, Mr. Singh said, “The removal of the three-year existence requirement is a significant incentive to help deep-tech start-ups scale faster, even before they are fully on their own.” However, the start-ups will have to maintain appropriate evaluation standards linked to technological maturity, the Minister said.

The move is expected to provide early momentum to projects as well as promising innovators and entrepreneurs.

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

“For early-stage innovators or start-ups, a wide basket of schemes already exists across departments such as DST, CSIR, TDB (Technology Development Board) and others,” Mr. Singh said.