Tool · Directory / ongoing

Startup India, Government Schemes for Startups

DPIIT, Government of India · Startup India (startupindia.gov.in) Free Beginner India

This is the single official directory of central and state government schemes for Indian startups, the primary source, not a blog summarising it. If you only bookmark one page for non-dilutive funding, make it this one and filter by your sector, stage, and state.

  • Aggregates central schemes (Seed Fund, Fund of Funds 2.0, Credit Guarantee Scheme) plus state and ministry-specific programmes in one searchable place.
  • Links out to the partner desks that actually run the money, BIRAC, Atal Innovation Mission, MeitY Startup Hub, DST NIDHI.
  • Most listed schemes require DPIIT recognition first, so treat recognition as prerequisite step zero.
  • Filter by stage and sector rather than scrolling, the wrong-desk application is the most common reason founders get rejected.
Open on startupindia.gov.in ↗

It answers 6 questions

  1. What exactly is non-dilutive funding, and why should an early founder chase it before raising VC?
  2. What is DPIIT / Startup India recognition, and what do I actually get from it?
  3. How do I apply to the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), and how much can I get?
  4. What government schemes and grants can an early Indian startup actually get?
  5. What startup grants and competitions can a student in India apply to?
  6. Are there grants, funds, and networks specifically for women founders in India?

Read with it

  1. SISFS is the most accessible non-dilutive cheque for early Indian startups, and this is where you actually apply. It's... Seed Fund Portal (seedfund.startupindia.gov.in) Tool · Application portal Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), Official Portal DPIIT, Government of India
  2. For anyone building in biotech, healthtech, agritech, or life sciences, BIRAC is the single most important non-dilutive funder... BIRAC (birac.nic.in) Tool · Scheme directory BIRAC, Non-Dilutive Grants for Biotech & Life-Sciences Startups (BIG, E-YUVA, SITARE) Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Dept. of Biotechnology
  3. NIDHI is the DST umbrella that funds ideas and prototypes through campus incubators, the most realistic path for student and... NIDHI, DST (nidhi.dst.gov.in) Tool · Programme directory NIDHI, DST's Umbrella for Student & Early-Stage Grants (PRAYAS, Seed Support, EIR) Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India
  4. The official source for DPIIT recognition, the free registration that unlocks tax benefits, self-certification, and scheme... startupindia.gov.in Article · Official portal page DPIIT Startup Recognition & Tax Exemption (Startup India) Startup India / DPIIT
  5. WEP is the official government front door for women founders, a single platform aggregating incubation, mentorship, funding... Women Entrepreneurship Platform (wep.gov.in) Tool · Platform + directory Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), NITI Aayog NITI Aayog, Government of India
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