Science, Tech & Research Schemes

Biotechnology Ignition Grant is a BIRAC scheme that gives up to Rs 50 lakh as grant-in-aid for 18 months to take an early-stage biotech idea to proof of concept. Calls open twice a year on 1 January and 1 July and stay open about 45 days. Only startups, LLPs and incubatees apply, not individuals seeking personal benefit.

INSPIRE is a Department of Science & Technology programme that funds science talent from school to faculty level. It awards 12,000 SHE scholarships of Rs 80,000 a year, 1,000 PhD fellowships a year at Rs 37,000 to Rs 42,000 a month, and 100 Faculty Fellowships a year at Rs 1,25,000 a month with a Rs 35 lakh research grant.

NM-ICPS is a Department of Science & Technology mission approved in 2018 with an outlay of Rs 3,660 crore for five years. It runs 25 Technology Innovation Hubs at institutes such as IIT Kharagpur and IISc Bangalore, each a Section-8 company holding one technology vertical. Researchers and startups apply to hub calls, not to DST directly.

National Supercomputing Mission is a Rs 4,500 crore programme of DST and MeitY that has deployed 37 supercomputers with about 40 petaflops of combined capacity across Indian institutions. Researchers, students, startups and MSMEs can request compute time on PARAM systems free of charge through the NSM user creation portal.

Prime Minister's Research Fellowship pays PhD scholars at IISc, IITs, IISERs, NITs and select central universities Rs 70,000 a month rising to Rs 80,000, plus a research grant of Rs 2 lakh a year. Scholars enter through the Direct Entry or Lateral Entry channel and must already hold admission to a PhD programme.

PLI for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing is a MeitY scheme notified on 1 April 2020 that pays companies 4% to 6% of incremental sales of mobile phones and specified electronic components made in India, over the base year 2019-20. It is a corporate scheme to 32 companies were approved and the application window has closed.

Semicon India Programme is a MeitY programme with an original outlay of Rs 76,000 crore that funds up to 50% of project cost for semiconductor and display fabs, extended by Semicon 2.0 with Rs 1,27,500 crore across six pillars. It is a corporate scheme to 10 projects worth Rs 1.60 lakh crore were approved and individuals cannot apply.

BioNEST is BIRAC's scheme that funds bioincubators, not individuals. BioNEST gives grant-in-aid for capital and operational costs to Indian institutions setting up bioincubation facilities of about 10,000 sq ft for at least 25 start-up teams, for up to 5 years. Private applicants must contribute at least 20% of capex. Institutions apply online at birac.nic.in.

BIPP is BIRAC's advanced technology scheme that co-funds high-risk, late-stage biotech development by Indian companies, with no cap on project funding. BIPP grants cover up to 70% of an established company's budget and up to Rs 50 lakh plus 70% of the excess for eligible start-ups. Companies and LLPs apply online during 2 calls a year at birac.nic.in.

The Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme of MeitY reimburses up to 50% of eligible semiconductor design expenditure, capped at Rs 15 crore per application, plus 4-6% of net sales for five years capped at Rs 30 crore. Indian-owned startups, MSMEs and companies apply online to C-DAC at chips-dli.gov.in. Individuals cannot apply.

The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) is a Rs 22,919 crore Ministry of Electronics and IT scheme, notified in April 2025, that gives companies turnover-linked, capex-linked or hybrid incentives over six years to make electronic components and capital equipment in India. Firms apply online at ecms.meity.gov.in; individuals cannot apply.

FIST is a Department of Science & Technology programme that funds research infrastructure in university departments and PG colleges, giving Rs 1.50 crore at Level A up to Rs 20 crore under FIST-SHAKTI for 5 years. Departments, not individuals, apply online at onlinedst.gov.in when DST issues a call.

FutureSkills Prime is a MeitY and NASSCOM digital skilling platform offering 2,800+ courses in AI, cloud, cybersecurity and other emerging technologies, with government incentives of up to Rs 12,000 per eligible learner. More than 15.78 lakh candidates have benefitted. Learners register free at futureskillsprime.in and claim incentives after certification.

NIDHI-PRAYAS is a DST prototyping grant that gives individual innovators and early-stage startups up to Rs 20 lakh at a PRAYAS Centre and up to Rs 40 lakh at an Advance PRAYAS Centre, for a 15-month project. Applicants must be 18-plus Indian citizens and apply through the NIDHI PRAYAS portal to a chosen Centre.

The National Programme on Nano Science and Technology is the DST programme that succeeded the Nano Mission launched in May 2007 and completed on 31 March 2017. It funds research groups, shared nano facilities and trained manpower through 4 components. Scientists in recognised institutions submit proposals online at onlinedst.gov.in against DST calls.

PURSE is a Department of Science & Technology scheme that gives a performing university up to Rs 30 crore for 4 years to build research capacity, based on its NIRF rank, H-index and i10 index. Universities, not individual researchers, submit one consolidated proposal online at onlinedst.gov.in when DST issues a call.

Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PM-ECRG) is an Anusandhan National Research Foundation programme that gives newly appointed faculty a research grant of up to Rs 60 lakh plus overheads for three years. Up to 700 grants are awarded a year to researchers under 42 who joined an institution on or after 1 February 2023. Apply online at anrfonline.in.

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware is a Ministry of Electronics and IT programme with a budget outlay of Rs 17,000 crore that pays manufacturers an incentive on incremental sales of laptops, tablets, servers, all-in-one PCs and ultra small form factor devices for six years. Only companies apply, through the MeitY portal.

SATHI is a Department of Science and Technology scheme that funds shared, professionally run analytical and prototyping centres on a 75:25 cost-sharing basis with host institutions. Five SATHI centres operate at IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, BHU, IIT Hyderabad and BITS Pilani, serving over 32,000 users. Researchers, startups and MSMEs book instruments on the I-STEM portal.

SBIRI is a BIRAC funding programme of the Department of Biotechnology that backs early-stage, pre-proof-of-concept biotech research in Indian companies through a mix of grants-in-aid and soft loans across two phases. SBIRI has committed about Rs 576 crore to 337 projects since 2005. Only companies and LLPs apply, online at birac.nic.in.

Vigyan Jyoti is a Department of Science and Technology programme started in December 2019 that encourages meritorious girl students of Classes 9 to 12 to take up under-represented STEM subjects. Vigyan Jyoti has reached over 102,976 students through 633 science camps and 1,224 counselling sessions. Girls register through their school on vigyanjyoti.dst.gov.in.

WISE-KIRAN is the Department of Science and Technology umbrella for women in science and engineering, running fellowships such as WISE-PhD at Rs 37,000 a month plus HRA and WISE-PDF at Rs 67,000 a month plus HRA, along with WISE-SCOPE, WIDUSHI, WISE-IPR, WINGS, CURIE, GATI and Vigyan Jyoti. Women apply online at onlinedst.gov.in.

ASEAN-India Research Training Fellowship (AI-RTF) is a Department of Science and Technology programme that lets researchers from ten ASEAN countries work in an Indian R&D institution for two to six months. Fellows receive Rs 60,000 a month plus round-trip airfare and a Rs 40,000 research contingency. Apply online at aistic.gov.in.

Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship recognised up to 10 engineers a year in public-funded institutions for translational research, paying Rs 25,000 a month plus salary and a Rs 15 lakh annual research grant for up to five years. It was administered by INAE with SERB/DST but is no longer taking fresh nominations after SERB became the ANRF.

Cognitive Science Research Initiative is a Department of Science and Technology programme started in 2008 that funds cognitive science research in India. CSRI supports individual and multi-centric R&D projects and a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship paying Rs 55,000 a month plus Rs 2 lakh a year contingency. Researchers apply online through the DST e-PMS portal during a call.

Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana is a Department of Posts scholarship that pays school students Rs 6,000 a year (Rs 500 a month) for pursuing philately, the hobby of stamp collection. It awards 920 scholarships nationwide to students of classes 6 to 9 with at least 60% marks. Apply through the Philately Bureau of your postal circle.

E-YUVA is a BIRAC fellowship scheme for student innovators in biotechnology. E-YUVA pays Innovation Fellows Rs 30,000 or Rs 50,000 a month for 18 months with up to Rs 5 lakh a year research grant, and undergraduate E-YUVA Fellow teams Rs 7,500 per student per quarter for 12 months plus Rs 2.5 lakh a year. Students apply online at birac.nic.in during a call.

E-YUVA Innovation Fellows is a BIRAC programme under the Department of Biotechnology that pays post-graduate innovators about Rs 30,000 a month plus a research grant of around Rs 3,00,000 a year to build biotech solutions. Post-doctoral fellows get about Rs 50,000 a month. Fellows apply through an E-YUVA Centre, not directly to BIRAC.

High Risk - High Reward Research is a scheme of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (formerly SERB) that funds bold, conceptually new research ideas that could reshape a field of science if they succeed. There is no fixed budget ceiling, support runs for up to 3 years, and only scientists holding a regular research position apply online at anrfonline.in.

The INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship of the Department of Science and Technology gives early-career PhD holders (age 27–32) a consolidated fellowship of Rs 1,25,000 a month plus a research grant of Rs 7,00,000 a year for five years at an Indian research institution. Around 100 fellowships are offered each year; applicants apply online with a host institute.

PROWIS, the Indo-French Visiting/Mobility Programme for Women in Science, funds collaborative research visits for women scientists between India and France. Run by CEFIPRA, it supports Indian women with a PhD and a tenured post to work in French institutions, and French women postdocs to work in India. It is a competitive call, not an open individual benefit.

Recognition of In-House R&D Units is a scheme of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) that formally recognises the R&D units of companies registered under the Companies Act 2013. Recognition unlocks fiscal incentives and is a prerequisite for many R&D funding schemes. Companies apply online through the DSIR e-portal; there is no fee.

Mobility Scheme is a Department of Science and Technology programme under KIRAN that helps women scientists already in permanent research jobs continue their work after relocating for marriage, a spouse's transfer or family care. It supports scientists up to 50 years of age with a research grant and fellowship, and is applied for online when a call is open.

The National Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Awards are a biennial recognition run by the National Innovation Foundation under the Department of Science and Technology. Cash prizes range from a Rs 10,000 consolation award to a Rs 5,00,000 National First award, with a Rs 7,50,000 Lifetime Achievement Award. Indian citizens above 14 with unaided innovations enter free.

National Post Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) is an Anusandhan National Research Foundation scheme that pays motivated young PhD holders Rs 80,000 a month plus HRA for two years, with a Rs 2,00,000 annual research grant and Rs 1,00,000 overhead. Indian citizens under 35 apply online with a mentor at anrfonline.in.

National Science Chair is an Anusandhan National Research Foundation award that keeps eminent superannuated Indian scientists in active research. Each chair pays Rs 1,50,000 a month for an initial three years, extendable by two, with a research grant of up to Rs 25,00,000 a year. There is no self-application; it runs entirely by nomination.

The National Science Chair honours outstanding superannuated Indian scientists, letting them keep doing research with institutional support. The Scientific Excellence mode carries about Rs 1.5 lakh a month fellowship plus a research grant, for an initial 3 years extendable to 5. There are up to 30 such chairs. Entry is by nomination only, not self-application.

The National Technology Awards are conferred every year on National Technology Day, 11 May, by the Technology Development Board under the Department of Science and Technology. They recognise the successful commercialisation of indigenous technology across three categories, and each awardee receives a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a trophy. Companies, MSMEs and start-ups are nominated, not individual citizens.

Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship (OVDF) sends registered Indian PhD students abroad for up to 12 months of research training, paying USD 2,000 a month plus a Rs 60,000 contingency grant and round-trip economy airfare. It is run by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (erstwhile SERB) under the Department of Science and Technology. Applications are made through SERB/ANRF calls with a host-institution invitation.

PACE is a BIRAC grant scheme that helps Indian academic institutions convert biotech research into products. PACE has 2 components - Academic Innovation Research, capped at Rs 50 lakh for up to 24 months, and Contract Research, which funds industry validation with no ceiling. Institutions, not individuals, apply online at birac.nic.in during one of about 3 calls a year.

The PLI Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products, run by the Department of Telecommunications, pays incentives on incremental sales of India-made telecom gear like 4G/5G equipment, routers and switches. Approved with a Rs 12,195 crore outlay, it is a company incentive needing minimum investment of Rs 10 crore for MSMEs or Rs 100 crore for others.

PRISM Category-2 is a grant of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) that funds innovators to turn a proven idea into a working model, secure a patent or transfer technology. It supports up to 50% of project cost, reported up to about Rs 50 lakh, for Indian citizens with an original innovation. You apply through a DSIR-affiliated partner.

Prime Minister Professorship is an Anusandhan National Research Foundation programme that places retired eminent scientists and senior industry professionals aged 55 and above in emerging state universities for up to 5 years, with Rs 30 lakh fellowship and Rs 24 lakh research grant a year. Proposals are submitted jointly online at anrfonline.in.

Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is India's top set of science awards, given in four categories; Vigyan Ratna (up to 3), Vigyan Shri (up to 25), Vigyan Yuva-SSB (up to 25, for scientists up to 45) and Vigyan Team (up to 3). Scientists of Indian origin are nominated online through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal; the award is a medal and citation, not a cash benefit.

SATYAM is a Department of Science & Technology research programme, started in 2015 under the Cognitive Science Research Initiative, that funds scientific studies on how yoga and meditation affect physical health, mental health and cognition. Projects run for up to 3 years and are proposed by scientists in regular positions, not by individuals seeking a personal benefit.

SERB-POWER Research Grants fund women scientists in India through two levels of support, with Level I giving up to Rs 60 lakh and Level II up to Rs 30 lakh over three years, administered by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (formerly SERB). Women faculty in Indian institutions apply online when a call for proposals is open.

SERB International Research Experience (SIRE) sends Indian researchers under 40 with a PhD and a permanent Indian institutional position to a leading overseas lab for up to 6 months. Fellows get about US $3,000 a month, economy airfare, Rs 75,000 contingency and Rs 20,000 medical insurance. Apply on serbonline.in; individuals in institutions only.

The SERB Research Scientist Scheme, run by ANRF (formerly SERB) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, gives INSPIRE Faculty and Ramanujan Fellows finishing their tenure a consolidated fellowship of Rs 1,20,000 a month for 2 years, extendable to 3, plus a research grant of Rs 7,00,000 a year. Applications are made online through the SERB portal.

SERB-STAR is a recognition award of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (formerly SERB) for scientists who have completed a SERB project with an "Excellent" grade. It gives a fellowship of Rs 15,000 a month, a research grant of Rs 10 lakh a year and Rs 1 lakh a year overheads for 3 years. Up to 30 awards are made each year to PIs aged 40 to 50.

SERB-POWER Fellowship is a scheme of the Science and Engineering Research Board (now under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation), Ministry of Science and Technology, that recognises established women scientists in regular positions. Selected fellows receive a monthly fellowship over salary plus a research grant for 3 years. Around 25 fellowships are awarded a year to eligible women scientists.

SERB-TETRA is a research grant that helps academic scientists translate patented laboratory breakthroughs into working technology at Technology Readiness Level 5 and beyond. It gives up to Rs 15 lakh per year for two years to a Principal Investigator with an ongoing or recent SERB grant and a patent. Applications are made online at serbonline.in.

SITARE is a BIRAC programme for student innovators in biotechnology, awarding up to Rs 15 lakh each to about 15 postgraduate and doctoral projects a year under SITARE-GYTI, and up to Rs 1 lakh appreciation grants to students at Biotech Innovation Ignition School workshops. Students apply online during BIRAC's annual call with an institutional NOC.

STUTI is a Department of Science & Technology programme that runs 7-day hands-on training courses for researchers on advanced laboratory equipment, using a hub-and-spoke model built on existing FIST, PURSE, CURIE, SAIF and SATHI facilities. Institutions apply to become Project Management Units for up to 12 months; researchers register free for individual training programmes.

SUPREME is a Department of Science & Technology scheme launched in 2023 that gives institutions up to Rs 4 crore to repair, upgrade, retrofit or maintain existing DST-supported research instruments that are not more than 8 years old and are listed on the I-STEM portal. Institutions apply online at onlinedst.gov.in when a call opens.

Swarnajayanti Fellowships is a Department of Science and Technology scheme for outstanding young scientists aged 30 to 40 doing frontier basic research. A Swarnajayanti Fellow receives Rs 25,000 per month for five years on top of their regular salary, plus a research grant to cover equipment, consumables and travel. Selection is through an annual DST call.

The TEC Internship Scheme lets engineering students and fresh post-graduates intern with the Telecommunication Engineering Centre, the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications. It pays a token remuneration of Rs 15,000 a month for 6 months, extendable to 12, for up to 25 interns in ICT-related fields, and applications are made online in the prescribed format.

TARE is a research scheme of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (formerly SERB) that lets regular faculty in state universities and colleges do research at a well-equipped host institution. It pays a fellowship of Rs 60,000 a year plus a research grant of Rs 5 lakh a year for three years. Faculty under 45 apply online at anrfonline.in.

The Technology Development and Utilization Programme for Women is a Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) programme under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It funds organisations to demonstrate, adapt and transfer proven technologies to women and to run technology-based training. Institutions apply with a project proposal; individual women are the beneficiaries, not the direct applicants.

The Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme funds full-time PhD candidates in Electronics System Design and IT with a fellowship of Rs 38,750 per month for the first two years and Rs 43,750 for years three to five, plus Rs 1,20,000 a year contingency. Candidates apply through a participating institute, not directly to the government.

The Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme, run by MeitY, supports part-time PhD candidates in Electronics and IT with a one-time incentive of Rs 3,00,000 on successful completion of the doctorate. Around 150 part-time seats were sanctioned across participating institutions. Working professionals apply through their host academic institution, not directly to the government.

The Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) under the Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT supports 225 post-doctoral researchers in Phase II, each for one year with a monthly fellowship and research contingency grant. Funded by MeitY and run by Digital India Corporation, it is applied for through participating academic and research institutions, not by direct citizen application.

The Young Faculty Research Fellowship (YFRF) under the Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme gives bright young faculty in Electronics and IT a top-up of Rs 20,000 per month over their salary plus a research grant of Rs 5,00,000 a year, for up to five years. It is awarded through participating institutes, not by individual application.

WISE Fellowship for Ph.D. is a Department of Science and Technology scheme that pays unemployed women aged 27 to 45 a fellowship of Rs 37,000 a month, plus HRA and a research grant of Rs 1,00,000 a year, to pursue a PhD in science or engineering. The fellowship runs up to 5 years and is applied for online at onlinedst.gov.in.

WISE-SCOPE is a Department of Science and Technology fellowship for women scientists, part of the WISE-KIRAN umbrella. It supports women with a science or technology background, typically returning after a career break, to work on societal-challenge projects. The 2024-25 call closed on 28 February 2025. Apply online through the DST e-PMS portal at onlinedst.gov.in.