Government Removes Three-Year Eligibility Rule for Deep-Tech Startups

In a significant policy boost for India’s deep-tech ecosystem, the Centre has relaxed key eligibility norms under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), removing the mandatory three-year existence requirement for startups seeking recognition under its Industrial Research and Development Promotion Programme.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said the move would provide early momentum to deep-tech innovators, many of whom struggle to access institutional support in their formative years. By easing the entry barrier, the government aims to accelerate innovation at a stage when capital, credibility and validation are hardest to secure.

Singh noted that while the ₹1-lakh-crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund has generated strong interest nationwide, it is primarily designed for startups that have already achieved a certain degree of technological maturity. The latest relaxation is meant to bridge the gap for early-stage deep-tech ventures that are still proving their concepts.

Earlier, DSIR—through CSIR—had offered financial assistance to startups, including loans of up to ₹1 crore, but access was tied to a minimum three-year operational track record to demonstrate sustainability. That requirement has now been removed, although startups will continue to be assessed against evaluation benchmarks linked to technological readiness and innovation depth.

Describing the relationship between DSIR and CSIR as an “intergenerational symbiosis,” the minister said the reform strengthens India’s innovation pipeline by aligning science, industry, R&D and technology transfer. He added that India is moving beyond Atmanirbhar Bharat into a phase where global ecosystems increasingly depend on Indian capabilities.

The minister also highlighted rising inclusivity in the innovation landscape, noting that more than 10,000 women beneficiaries— including over 55 women-led self-help groups—have availed DSIR schemes. During the event, four initiatives were launched, including revised DSIR guidelines for in-house R&D recognition, the PRISM Network Platform–TOCIC Innovator Pulse, Creative India 2025, and the DSIR Disaster Management Plan, alongside multiple MoUs and technology transfer agreements.