• Promotes self-reliance in Defence Technology under ‘Make in India’.
• Executed by DRDO to meet needs of Indian military and defense production.
• Encourages participation of public/private industries, especially MSMEs and startups.

Funding Support:

• Up to ₹50 crore project cost considered.
• Up to 90% funding of total project cost.
• Collaboration with academia allowed (max 40% project cost).
• Milestone-based funding (advance or reimbursement).
• Maximum project duration: 4 years.

• Indian-registered companies (public/private, MSMEs, startups).
• Must be majority-owned and controlled by Indian citizens.
• No entities with >49% foreign investment.
• Startups must be DPIIT-recognized (Government of India).
• Nascent startups (<3 years old) require government-assisted incubation.
• Startups cannot have received similar government grants for the same technology.
• Startups must be majority-owned and controlled by a resident Indian citizen (min 51% shareholding).