NIDHI-PRAYAS
PRomoting and Accelerating Young and ASpiring Innovators and Startups
NIDHI-PRAYAS provides up to ₹10 Lakhs in direct grant support to innovators and hardware tinkerers to convert creative technological ideas into tangible, working physical prototypes.
📋Scheme Overview & Core Objectives
NIDHI-PRAYAS (Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring technology innovators) is DST’s premier prototype grant specifically designed to encourage hardware and physical engineering innovation.
The grant tackles the "idea-to-prototype" chasm where banks refuse credit and venture capitalists find the technology too unproven to back.
Beneficiaries are assigned to recognized PRAYAS Centers (PC) at premier institutions (IITs, IISERs, CSIR labs) with free access to 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters, and testing equipment.
🌟Key Financial & Strategic Benefits
🎯Eligibility Criteria Checklist
🚀Step-by-Step Sanction & Disbursal Process
PRAYAS Center Selection
Selecting an authorized PRAYAS Center (e.g. SINE IIT Bombay, Venture Center Pune, IIT Madras, etc.).
Proposal & BOM Submission
Submitting technical design schematics, milestones, and itemized Bill of Materials (BOM).
PRAYAS Monitoring Committee (PMC) Pitch
Presenting technical feasibility and fabrication plan before the expert scientific committee.
Sanction & Tranche Disbursals
Disbursement of prototype funds in milestone installments over 12-18 months.
📑Mandatory Documents Checklist
❓Frequently Asked Questions about NIDHI-PRAYAS
Apply for NIDHI-PRAYAS
Verify your eligibility and receive complete DPR drafting and grant submission assistance.
Need Immediate Assistance?
Speak directly with our National Subsidies Advisory Cell:
+91 6357 250 668 (Direct Helpline)Other Government Grants & Subsidies
Grant Funding
Government and institutional grant funding provides non-repayable, non-dilutive capital to ambitious Indian entrepreneurs, MSMEs, and research ventures tackling high-impact problems.
Seed Fund (Startup India SISFS)
The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) provides financial assistance to early-stage DPIIT-recognized startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, and market entry.
NIDHI-SSS
NIDHI-SSS provides substantial financial support up to ₹1 Crore to technology-driven startups incubated at DST-supported Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) to take their innovation to commercial scale.