UpScheme: Government Money for Indian Startups

All 25 schemes

Central and Karnataka. Answer a question or two to sort them.

CentralStart here 5open central schemes here need itDPIIT

Start with DPIIT recognition

DPIIT recognition doesn’t pay you anything by itself. It’s the key most of the central schemes below check for.

Apply on the Startup India portal

CentralHiringup to₹1,500a month, per apprenticeNAPS
NAPS
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
The government pays back a quarter of each apprentice’s stipend, capped at ₹1,500 a month per apprentice.
Open all year. Claim every quarter.
What you get
25% of the prescribed stipend back, capped at ₹1,500 per apprentice per month.
Minimum stipends went up on 11 September 2025, to ₹6,800–₹12,300 a month. A quarter of even the lowest is more than ₹1,500, so expect the full ₹1,500.
Separately, up to ₹7,500 per apprentice towards basic training, paid to the training provider.
Who it’s for
?4 or more on payroll
?EPFO registered
?With 30 or more people (including contract staff), apprentices aren’t optional. You have to take 2.5% to 15% of your workforce every year.
How to apply
1.Register your company on the Apprenticeship India portal with its EPFO or ESIC number.
2.Post openings and sign the apprenticeship contract online.
3.Pay each apprentice at least the minimum stipend every month.
4.Claim the government’s share at the end of each quarter.
Go to Apprenticeship India
Where this comes from
Apprenticeship FAQs, including NAPS (PDF)
DGT: revised stipend rates, 15 Sep 2025 (PDF)
Cabinet continues Skill India Programme, 7 Feb 2025
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralHiringup to₹3,000a month, per new hirePM-VBRY
PM-VBRY
Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (Employment Linked Incentive)
Ministry of Labour and Employment, through EPFO
Hire people above your current headcount and the government pays you for each of them for two years. Four years if you manufacture.
Open for jobs created 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2027.
What you get
₹1,000, ₹2,000 or ₹3,000 a month per new hire, depending on their EPF wage: up to ₹10,000, ₹10,000–₹20,000, or above ₹20,000.
Paid every six months, straight to your company’s PAN-linked bank account.
Manufacturing companies get it for four years instead of two.
Who it’s for
?EPFO registered
?Add at least 2 people above your baseline headcount if you have under 50 employees, or 5 if you have 50 or more.
?Each new hire has to stay at least 6 months.
?Only for salaries up to ₹1 lakh a month.
How to apply
1.Make sure you’re registered with EPFO, and your PAN, GST and bank details are up to date.
2.Hire above your baseline headcount.
3.Keep filing your monthly ECR. The portal works out your headcount from it.
4.The incentive is calculated and paid automatically every six months.
Go to PM-VBRY portal (EPFO)
Where this comes from
PIB: PM-VBRY comes into effect, 25 Jul 2025
EPFO: PM-VBRY FAQ
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralHiring 50%of each apprentice’s stipend, paid backNATS
NATS
National Apprenticeship Training Scheme
Ministry of Education
Take graduates or diploma holders as apprentices for 6 to 12 months. For a graduate, half the stipend comes to about ₹6,150 a month.
Open all year.
What you get
50% of the prescribed stipend back.
Minimum stipends from 11 September 2025: ₹12,300 a month for graduates, ₹10,900 for diploma holders, ₹9,600 for vocational.
So roughly ₹6,150 a month back per graduate apprentice.
Who it’s for
?4 or more on payroll
How to apply
1.Register your company on the NATS portal and get an establishment ID.
2.Post openings, pick candidates and create the contract on the portal.
3.Pay at least the minimum stipend every month.
4.Claim the government’s half through the portal.
Go to NATS portal
Where this comes from
NATS: about the scheme
PIB: NATS 2.0 launch, 30 Jul 2024
DGT: revised stipend rates, 15 Sep 2025 (PDF)
The NATS site confirms the 50% but doesn’t print rupee amounts. The stipend minimums come from the Apprentices Act table that NATS says it follows.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
KarnatakaHiring ₹3,000a month per new job, for two yearsPF/ESI refund
Karnataka PF/ESI refund
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30: reimbursement of PF/ESI
Government of Karnataka, Dept. of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T
Karnataka pays towards PF/ESI for every new job you create, up to ₹12 lakh in total.
Open all year. The policy runs until 2030.
What you get
₹3,000 per employee per month, for the first two years of each new job.
Up to ₹12 lakh per company over the policy period (2025–30).
Who it’s for
?Registered in Karnataka
?Register with the Karnataka Startup Cell first
?Only new jobs count, not people you already employ.
How to apply
1.Register with the Karnataka Startup Cell.
2.Create the new jobs and register them for PF/ESI.
3.Claim through the Startup Cell.
Go to Karnataka Startup Cell
Where this comes from
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30 (PDF)
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralGrantup to₹20lakhgrant, then up to ₹50 lakh as debtSeed Fund
Seed Fund
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)
DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Money to build and test a prototype. You apply through an incubator, which pays it out in milestones.
Status unclear: sources disagree on whether it’s open.
What you get
A grant of up to ₹20 lakh for proof of concept, prototype or product trials.
Up to ₹50 lakh as convertible debentures or debt for market entry.
Released in milestones by the incubator that picks you.
Who it’s for
?DPIIT recognised
?Under 2 years old
?Technology has to be core to your product, business model or distribution.
?You haven’t already had more than ₹10 lakh from other central or state schemes.
?Indian promoters hold at least 51%.
How to apply
1.Get DPIIT recognition.
2.Apply to up to 3 incubators on the Seed Fund portal.
3.The incubator’s committee decides within 45 days.
4.Sign with the incubator. Money comes in instalments.
Go to Seed Fund portal
Where this comes from
DPIIT: Seed Fund guidelines (PDF)
PIB: Seed Fund, Fund of Funds and CGSS, 25 Jul 2025
The official guidelines say applications are rolling. Several 2026 websites say it closed to new applications on 31 May 2026, and others say it was extended to March 2028. Neither is on a government page.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
KarnatakaGrantup to₹50lakhgrant for a proof of conceptELEVATE
ELEVATE
ELEVATE: Idea2PoC grant
Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society
Karnataka’s grant for turning an idea into a working proof of concept. There’s one call a year.
Opens in rounds. ELEVATE 2026 shows “coming soon” on the official site.
What you get
A one-time grant of up to ₹50 lakh, released in milestones.
10% of the money is set aside for deep tech, assistive tech and sustainability startups.
There are separate tracks too: Unnati, Shakti, Aspire, Minorities and NxT.
Who it’s for
?Registered in Karnataka
?Company, LLP or partnership
?Under 10 years old
?Register with the Karnataka Startup Cell first. There’s no fee.
?Turnover under ₹200 crore in every year since incorporation.
How to apply
1.Register with the Karnataka Startup Cell.
2.Apply when a call opens.
3.Pitch to the evaluation panel. Winners get the grant in milestones.
Go to ELEVATE portal
Where this comes from
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30 (PDF)
ELEVATE portal
Elets: 146 ELEVATE 2025 winners (secondary source)
The old site, missionstartupkarnataka.org, now redirects to an unrelated website. Don’t use it. The links here go to the government’s own pages.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralGuaranteeup to₹20croreof loans guaranteedCGSS
CGSS
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups
DPIIT, run by NCGTC
Borrow without putting up collateral. The government guarantees the loan to your lender.
Open all year. Apply through your lender.
What you get
Covers working capital, term loans and venture debt.
The guarantee covers 85% of a default on loans up to ₹10 crore, and 75% above that.
The annual guarantee fee is 2%, or 1% in 27 ‘champion sectors’.
Who it’s for
?DPIIT recognised
?Your loan account can’t be an NPA.
?The lender has to be a member institution: a scheduled bank, an eligible NBFC or a SEBI-registered AIF.
How to apply
1.Ask a member bank, NBFC or venture debt fund for a loan.
2.The lender checks you’re eligible and applies to NCGTC for the guarantee.
Go to Startup India: CGSS
Where this comes from
PIB: CGSS expanded to ₹20 crore, 9 May 2025
Startup India: CGSS
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralTax 100%of profits deducted, three years runningTax holiday
Tax holiday
Startup tax holiday (Section 80-IAC, now reportedly Section 140)
CBDT, Ministry of Finance, with DPIIT’s Inter-Ministerial Board
Deduct all your profits from taxable income for any 3 years in a row, within your first 10.
Open all year. Incorporate before 1 Apr 2030.
What you get
A 100% deduction on profits, for 3 consecutive years you choose.
The years can be any 3 in a row within your first 10.
Who it’s for
?DPIIT recognised
?Company or LLP
?Under 10 years old
?Incorporated on or after 1 April 2016, and before 1 April 2030.
?Turnover under ₹100 crore in every year. That’s lower than DPIIT’s own ₹200 crore limit.
?You need a separate certificate from the Inter-Ministerial Board. DPIIT recognition alone isn’t enough.
How to apply
1.Get DPIIT recognition.
2.Apply to the Inter-Ministerial Board through Form 80-IAC on the Startup India portal.
3.Once certified, claim the deduction in your tax return.
Go to Startup India: Form 80-IAC
Where this comes from
Startup India: 80-IAC
TaxGuru: Budget 2025 extends to 1 Apr 2030 (secondary source)
BVACA: 80-IAC is now Section 140 (secondary source)
The Startup India page for this still shows the old rules. The 2030 cut-off and the new Section 140 number come from tax advisers, not from a government page.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralTenders ₹0earnest money on government tendersTenders
Government tenders
Public procurement benefits for DPIIT startups
Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, through GeM
Bid for government tenders without the usual past-turnover or experience requirements, and without an earnest money deposit.
Open all year.
What you get
Exemption from prior turnover and prior experience criteria.
No earnest money deposit (bid security).
New products can get trial orders through GeM’s Startup Runway.
Who it’s for
?DPIIT recognised
?You still have to meet the tender’s quality and technical specs.
?If you win, a performance bank guarantee is still needed.
How to apply
1.Register as a seller on GeM with your DPIIT number.
2.Upload your DPIIT certificate when you bid to claim the exemptions.
Go to GeM
Where this comes from
Startup India: public procurement
Invest India: easing procurement for startups
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralGuaranteeup to₹10croreof loans guaranteedCGTMSE
CGTMSE
Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises
CGTMSE, Ministry of MSME and SIDBI
Collateral-free loans for micro and small businesses. A government trust covers 75% to 90% of the loan for the lender.
Open all year. Apply through your lender.
What you get
The guarantee covers 75% to 90% of the loan, depending on who you are. Women entrepreneurs get 90%.
No collateral or third-party guarantee.
An annual fee of 0.37% to 1.20%, which lenders usually pass on to you.
Who it’s for
?Udyam registered
?Micro and small enterprises only. Medium enterprises aren’t covered.
?Loans above ₹50 lakh need the lender’s internal rating to be investment grade.
How to apply
1.Ask a member bank or NBFC for a collateral-free loan.
2.The lender applies to CGTMSE for the guarantee.
Go to CGTMSE
Where this comes from
CGTMSE scheme document, 1 Apr 2025 (PDF)
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralLoanup to₹20lakhcollateral-free loanMUDRA
MUDRA
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana
MUDRA, Department of Financial Services
Small business loans from any bank, NBFC or microfinance lender, in four sizes.
Open all year.
What you get
Shishu: up to ₹50,000.
Kishore: ₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh.
Tarun: ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
Tarun Plus: ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh, once you’ve repaid a Tarun loan.
Who it’s for
?Proprietorship or partnership
How to apply
1.Apply at any bank, small finance bank, NBFC or MFI, with a business plan.
Go to MUDRA
Where this comes from
MUDRA
PIB: limit raised to ₹20 lakh, 29 Oct 2024 (PDF)
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralGrantup to35%of a new unit’s cost, as subsidyPMEGP
PMEGP
Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme
KVIC, Ministry of MSME
Starting a new small unit? The government pays part of the project cost as a subsidy on your bank loan.
Open all year. Subject to yearly targets.
What you get
15% of the project cost in cities, 25% in rural areas.
25% and 35% for special categories, including women, SC/ST, OBC, minorities and ex-servicemen.
Projects up to ₹50 lakh in manufacturing, ₹20 lakh in services.
Who it’s for
?A new unit
?You put in 10% of the project cost yourself, or 5% in special categories.
?Class 8 pass for projects above ₹10 lakh in manufacturing, or ₹5 lakh in services.
?Not if you’ve already had a subsidy under another government scheme.
How to apply
1.Apply on the PMEGP e-portal with a project report.
2.A district committee interviews you and sends your application to a bank.
3.The subsidy is released after the bank disburses the loan and checks the unit.
Go to PMEGP e-portal
Where this comes from
KVIC: revised PMEGP guidelines, 7 Dec 2023 (PDF)
Moneyview: PMEGP explained (secondary source)
The KVIC site wouldn’t open. These numbers match across several sources that quote the December 2023 guidelines, but the original hasn’t been checked.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
KarnatakaRefund 75%of patent costs back, up to ₹15 lakh a yearPatent refund
Karnataka patent refund
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30: patent subsidy
Government of Karnataka, Dept. of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T
Karnataka pays back most of what you spend filing patents, in India or abroad.
Open all year. The policy runs until 2030.
What you get
75% of actual costs, up to ₹15 lakh a year and up to 5 filings a year.
Indian and international patents both count.
60 of the 75 points are paid on proof of filing. The rest follows once documents are checked.
Who it’s for
?Registered in Karnataka
?Register with the Karnataka Startup Cell first
How to apply
1.File the patent.
2.Send proof of filing to the Startup Cell for the first part.
3.Send the supporting documents for the rest.
Go to Karnataka Startup Cell
Where this comes from
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30 (PDF)
You’ll see older figures online (₹2 lakh per Indian patent, ₹10 lakh per foreign one). Those were from the 2022–27 policy and no longer apply.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
KarnatakaRefund 50%of your state GST back, for seven yearsSGST refund
Karnataka SGST refund
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30: reimbursement of State GST
Government of Karnataka, Dept. of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T
Karnataka refunds half the state GST you pay each year, up to what you’ve put into fixed capital.
Open all year. The policy runs until 2030.
What you get
50% of the net SGST you pay, for 7 years from when you start commercial production.
Capped at 100% of your fixed capital investment.
Who it’s for
?Registered in Karnataka
?Register with the Karnataka Startup Cell first
How to apply
1.Register with the Karnataka Startup Cell.
2.Claim through the Startup Cell.
Go to Karnataka Startup Cell
Where this comes from
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30 (PDF)
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralGrantup to₹1.5croregrant, more on bigger tracksiDEX
iDEX
Innovations for Defence Excellence
Defence Innovation Organisation, Ministry of Defence
Grants to build tech the armed forces have asked for, going up to ₹25 crore on the ADITI track. No equity taken.
Opens in rounds. Last round closed 4 May 2026.
What you get
SPARK: up to ₹1.5 crore, in milestones.
iDEX Prime: up to ₹10 crore for bigger projects.
ADITI: up to 50% of your development budget, capped at ₹25 crore.
Who it’s for
?Defence or dual-use tech
?You need to be a DPIIT-recognised startup, an MSME or an individual innovator.
?Majority Indian ownership.
?You put in at least 50% of the project cost: cash, past spending or in kind.
How to apply
1.Answer a problem statement when a challenge round opens.
2.If you’re picked, sign a grant agreement and get paid by milestone.
Go to iDEX
Where this comes from
iDEX FAQ
Department of Defence Production: ADITI
The 4 May 2026 closing date for DISC 14 and ADITI 4.0 comes from the Ministry’s own social post and search summaries. The call page itself wouldn’t open.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralGrantup to₹50lakhgrant over 18 monthsBIRAC BIG
BIRAC BIG
Biotechnology Ignition Grant
BIRAC, Department of Biotechnology
Money to take a biotech idea to proof of concept, if you’re at a recognised incubator.
Opens in rounds. Last call closed 30 Nov 2025.
What you get
A grant of up to ₹50 lakh.
Spread over up to 18 months.
Who it’s for
?Biotech or life sciences
?You have to be incubated at a recognised incubator, with a letter from them.
?Indian citizens only.
How to apply
1.Wait for a call to open.
2.Apply through your incubator on the BIRAC portal.
Go to BIRAC: BIG
Where this comes from
BIRAC: BIG scheme
BIRAC: calls for proposals
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralLoanas low as0%interest on long R&D loansRDI Fund
RDI Fund
Research, Development and Innovation Scheme
Department of Science and Technology, through ANRF
Long, cheap loans for R&D that’s close to market, from a ₹1 lakh crore government fund. Startups can get equity instead.
Opens in rounds. Each fund manager runs its own.
What you get
Long-term loans at low or no interest.
Startups can get equity instead.
You apply to a fund manager, not the government. So far that’s BIRAC and TDB.
Who it’s for
?R&D in a strategic sector
?Your project should be well past the lab stage, close to commercialisation.
How to apply
1.Pick the fund manager that fits your sector.
2.Apply under that fund manager’s own call.
Go to RDI Fund
Where this comes from
PIB: Cabinet approves RDI scheme, 1 Jul 2025
ANRF: RDI Fund
TDB as fund manager
Only two fund managers are running so far, with about 193 more applications under review. There’s very little public detail yet on what a startup actually submits.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralComputefrom about₹65per GPU-hour, as reportedIndiaAI GPUs
IndiaAI compute
IndiaAI Mission: subsidised compute
MeitY, IndiaAI Mission
Rent GPUs through the government’s AI compute portal at subsidised rates.
Open all year.
What you get
More than 38,000 GPUs from 14 providers, including Jio, Tata Communications and Yotta.
Reported rates run from about ₹65 to ₹150 per GPU-hour, depending on the GPU.
A handful of foundation-model builders get their compute fully paid for.
Who it’s for
?Building with AI
How to apply
1.Register on the IndiaAI compute portal.
2.Pick a provider and GPU, and request hours. The bill shows your subsidy.
Go to IndiaAI compute portal
Where this comes from
PIB: IndiaAI compute and startup support, 25 Mar 2026
IndiaAI: compute capacity
Rates vary a lot between sources, and the official rate cards are behind a login. Check the portal for today’s price.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralEquity ₹20,000croreput into VC funds that back startupsFund of Funds
Fund of Funds
Fund of Funds for Startups, and Fund of Funds 2.0
DPIIT, run by SIDBI
You can’t apply to this. It puts money into VC funds, which must invest at least twice what they get into startups.
Open all year. Depends on when a backed fund is investing.
What you get
The first fund: ₹10,000 crore, committed to 141 VC funds by June 2025.
Fund of Funds 2.0: another ₹10,000 crore, notified on 13 April 2026, for deep tech, early growth and tech-led manufacturing.
Who it’s for
?DPIIT recognised
?You raise from a SEBI-registered fund that has Fund of Funds money. There’s no separate government form.
How to apply
1.When you raise, ask investors whether their fund is backed by SIDBI’s Fund of Funds.
Go to SIDBI: Fund of Funds
Where this comes from
PIB: Fund of Funds 2.0 notified, 13 Apr 2026
SIDBI: Fund of Funds
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
KarnatakaRefund 40%of trade-show costs back, up to ₹5 lakh a yearTrade shows
Karnataka trade-show refund
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30: Global Karnataka marketing support
Government of Karnataka, Dept. of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T
Exhibiting at an international event? Karnataka pays back part of the cost.
Open all year. The policy runs until 2030.
What you get
40% of what you spend on international events, conferences and trade shows, up to ₹5 lakh a year.
At state-supported events, half the exhibiting cost is paid upfront.
Who it’s for
?Registered in Karnataka
?Register with the Karnataka Startup Cell first
How to apply
1.Take part in the event.
2.Claim with proof of spend through the Startup Cell.
Go to Karnataka Startup Cell
Where this comes from
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30 (PDF)
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
KarnatakaRefund 40%of cloud bills back, plus help with internsCloud + interns
Karnataka cloud, intern and R&D help
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30: cloud, internship and R&D support
Government of Karnataka, Dept. of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T
Three smaller Karnataka refunds: cloud bills, interns’ stipends, and R&D projects with a university.
Open all year. The policy runs until 2030.
What you get
Cloud: 40% back, up to ₹1 lakh a year. You can claim it once, within your first 5 years.
Interns: up to ₹5,000 a month each, for up to 3 interns, for up to 6 months. Usable 3 times.
R&D: up to 50% of an industry–academia–startup project, capped at ₹1 crore. Only the first 25 projects.
Who it’s for
?Registered in Karnataka
?Register with the Karnataka Startup Cell first
?The intern subsidy can’t be combined with the Yuva Nidhi scheme.
How to apply
1.Register with the Startup Cell.
2.Claim each one separately through the Startup Cell.
Go to Karnataka Startup Cell
Where this comes from
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30 (PDF)
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
KarnatakaRefund 50%of certification fees back, up to ₹6 lakhCertification
Karnataka certification refund
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30: quality certification reimbursement
Government of Karnataka, Dept. of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T
Karnataka pays back half of what you spend on quality certifications.
Open all year. The policy runs until 2030.
What you get
50% of the certification fee.
Up to 5 certifications and ₹6 lakh over the policy period.
Who it’s for
?Registered in Karnataka
?Register with the Karnataka Startup Cell first
How to apply
1.Get the certification.
2.Claim half the fee through the Startup Cell.
Go to Karnataka Startup Cell
Where this comes from
Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30 (PDF)
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralLoanup to₹1crorebank loan for a new businessStand-Up India
Stand-Up India
Department of Financial Services, through SIDBI and banks
Bank loans from ₹10 lakh for a brand-new business, for women and SC/ST founders.
Status unclear: its original period ended in March 2025, and a revamp is awaited.
What you get
A composite loan: term loan plus working capital.
Backed by a government credit guarantee, so no third-party collateral.
Who it’s for
?Woman or SC/ST founder
?A brand-new business
?In a company or partnership, a woman or SC/ST founder must hold at least 51%.
?You put in up to 15% as margin money.
How to apply
1.Register on the Stand-Up Mitra portal.
2.Your application goes to a nearby bank branch.
Go to Stand-Up Mitra
Where this comes from
Stand-Up Mitra portal
Business Standard: revamp coming, 16 Mar 2026 (secondary source)
The scheme’s original period ended on 31 March 2025. On 16 March 2026 the Finance Minister said a revamped version would follow Cabinet approval. The portal still shows no closure notice.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
Not open right now
Follow one to hear if that changes.
CentralFees 80%off patent filing feesSIPP
Patent fee rebate (SIPP)
Scheme for Startups Intellectual Property Protection
DPIIT and the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks
Cheaper patents and trademarks for DPIIT startups, with the government paying your patent agent.
Reportedly lapsed 31 Mar 2026.
What you get
An 80% rebate on patent filing fees.
A 50% rebate on trademark filing fees.
The empanelled facilitator’s fee was paid by the government.
Who it’s for
?DPIIT recognised
How to apply
1.Find an empanelled facilitator on the IP India site.
2.They file for you. You pay only the reduced fee.
Go to IP India
Where this comes from
Startup India: IPR benefits
Chambers and Partners: what SIPP’s expiry means (secondary source)
S.S. Rana & Co.: SIPP’s expiry (secondary source)
Two IP law firms report the scheme lapsed on 31 March 2026 with no renewal. The Startup India page still lists it. Follow it to get an email if it comes back.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.
CentralHiring ₹9,000a month, paid to the internPM Internship
PM Internship
Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Interns aged 18 to 25 whose stipend the government pays. Big companies only, for now.
Not open to startups yet. Announced for smaller companies, not live yet.
What you get
The intern gets ₹9,000 a month, plus ₹6,000 when they join, paid by the government and company CSR money.
You don’t receive money. You get an intern whose stipend you don’t pay.
Who it’s for
Nothing the quick check can test.
How to apply
1.If it opens to startups, you’d register as a host on the PMIS portal.
Go to PM Internship portal
Where this comes from
ThePrint: scheme expanded to MSMEs (secondary source)
ThePrint: round 3 response, 18 Aug 2026 (secondary source)
Smaller companies were announced as hosts from April 2026. On 18 August 2026, ThePrint reported that none were hosting interns yet. Neither is confirmed on a government page.
Last checked 26 Sept 2026.

Government money for your startup, and a nudge before you miss it.

All 25 schemes

Start with DPIIT recognition

Not open right now