Find the right Indian government scheme for your startup or MSME.
54+ central, state, sectoral and demographic schemes — DPIIT, MUDRA, CGTMSE, SISFS, PMEGP, Section 80-IAC, BIRAC, Stand-Up India and more — matched to your stage, sector, geography and founder profile in 60 seconds. Free. No signup.
Built for founders who don't have time to read 54 PDFs.
Most founders don't know which schemes they qualify for. The official Startup India portal has 600+ entries. State portals duplicate central schemes. Eligibility rules contradict each other. This cuts through that.
- Step 1
Tell us your profile
Four questions: stage (idea → scaling), sector (tech or traditional), geography (India or state), and founder profile (women, SC / ST, NRI / OCI, first-time).
- Step 2
Get matched schemes
A ranked list of schemes you actually qualify for, with funding amounts, eligibility details, and why each one matches.
- Step 3
Apply on the official portal
Every scheme links to the official government application portal. No middlemen, no fees, no signup with us.
Essential for every founder.
Free credentials and high-ROI schemes most founders should file day one.
DPIIT Recognition
The gateway credential. Itself free, but unlocks 80-IAC tax holiday, IP fee rebates, labour self-cert, GeM access, SISFS eligibility. First filing post-incorporation.
SISFS
Up to ₹20 L grant for PoC/prototype + up to ₹50 L convertible/debt for market entry. Apply to up to 3 incubators. ₹605+ Cr deployed to 3,400+ startups.
CGSS
Credit guarantee on loans up to ₹20 Cr (doubled from ₹10 Cr in May 2025). Cover 85% up to ₹10 Cr, 75% above. AGF reduced to 1% p.a. for 27 Champion Sectors.
MUDRA / PMMY
Collateral-free working-capital ladder. 4 tiers from Shishu (≤₹50K) to Tarun Plus (₹10-20L). 8-12% p.a., 0.25% concession for women. ~67% of loans go to women.
PMEGP
New-unit setup loan with 15-35% margin money subsidy. Special category (women, SC/ST, OBC, NER, hilly) gets 25% urban / 35% rural. Works for shops, manufacturing, services.
Udyam
Free, online MSME credential. De facto mandatory for accessing CGTMSE, PMEGP, public procurement, delayed-payment protection. File alongside DPIIT.
What's covered.
Founder-grade coverage across central, sectoral, state and demographic schemes. Every entry is checked for current eligibility, funding tiers, NRI / OCI status, and DPIIT requirements.
Central schemes
DPIIT Startup India Recognition, Section 80-IAC, Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), SISFS, CGSS, SAMRIDH, NIDHI-PRAYAS, NIDHI-EIR, MeitY TIDE 2.0, AIM AIC.
MSME schemes
MUDRA (PMMY), PMEGP, CGTMSE, Udyam Registration, ZED Certification, SFURTI, Stand-Up India, SIDBI SMILE / STAR / SRIJAN.
Sectoral programmes
BIRAC BIG (biotech), ISM DLI (semiconductors), iDEX SPARK / Prime (defence), IN-SPACe Seed / TAF (space), Agri Infrastructure Fund, PLI Schemes, PM E-Drive (EV), Green Hydrogen Mission.
Demographic schemes
Stand-Up India (SC / ST + women), Mahila Udyam Nidhi, VC Fund for SC / ST Entrepreneurs, WE Hub Telangana, MUDRA women preference rates.
State schemes
Karnataka ELEVATE, Telangana T-Fund, Maharashtra MahaFund / MSInS, Tamil Nadu TANSEED, Gujarat SSIP, Kerala KSUM, Odisha OSGF, MP Startup Policy, Rajasthan iStart, UP FoF.
Regulatory sandboxes & tax regimes
RBI Regulatory Sandbox, SEBI Innovation Sandbox, IRDAI Sandbox, IFSCA FinTech Sandbox, GIFT IFSC 20-year tax holiday, SIPP, SIP-EIT.
Who this is for.
Dedicated guides for each audience segment with the schemes most relevant to them, plus the specific eligibility nuances that catch people out.
Tech founders
SaaS, AI, fintech, hardware, deep tech — the central and sectoral schemes that fit your stage.
MSMEs & traditional businesses
Manufacturing, retail, services. Credit guarantees, working-capital loans, certification subsidies.
NRI & OCI founders
Which schemes accept your entity, which exclude OCI holders, and how GIFT IFSC changes the math.
Women entrepreneurs
Stand-Up India, Mahila Udyam Nidhi, MUDRA preference rates, WE Hub Telangana.
SC / ST founders
Stand-Up India composite loans, VC Fund for SC / ST Entrepreneurs, special-category subsidies.
Essential government portals.
The official portals every Indian founder should bookmark. Everything below is free and government-run — applications happen here, not on third-party sites.
- National Single Window (NSWS)One portal for DPIIT recognition and business registrations.
- Udyam RegistrationFree MSME registration. Required for CGTMSE, PMEGP, public procurement.
- JanSamarthUnified credit portal — MUDRA, Stand-Up India, PMEGP in one place.
- GeM MarketplaceSell to government. ₹2+ lakh crore annual run-rate.
- PSB Loans in 59 MinutesIn-principle approval for MSME loans in under 59 minutes.
- IP IndiaPatents and trademarks. DPIIT startups get 80% rebate.
Frequently asked questions.
Common questions about Indian government schemes for startups and MSMEs.
Which Indian government scheme is best for a new startup?+
For a brand-new startup, the typical sequence is: DPIIT Startup India Recognition (free, gateway to other benefits) → Udyam Registration (free, MSME credential) → SISFS (up to ₹70 L grant + convertible at idea / prototype / MVP stage). Add Section 80-IAC for tax holiday once revenue starts.
Do I need DPIIT recognition to apply for government schemes?+
Not all schemes require it, but the high-value ones do — SISFS, Section 80-IAC, CGSS, FFS, SAMRIDH, SIPP all require DPIIT recognition. MSME-focused schemes like MUDRA, PMEGP, CGTMSE, Stand-Up India do not.
Can NRI or OCI founders apply for Indian government schemes?+
It depends on the scheme. Most central schemes (DPIIT, SISFS, FFS, CGSS) accept Indian-incorporated entities even with NRI / OCI shareholders. BIRAC BIG hard-excludes OCI / PIO holders. GIFT IFSC is purpose-built for cross-border founders with 100% NRI ownership allowed.
How long does it take to get scheme approval?+
Varies widely. DPIIT recognition: 1-2 weeks. Udyam: instant. MUDRA: 7-15 days. SISFS: 2-3 months via incubator. Section 80-IAC: highly competitive, ~1.8% approval rate, can take 6+ months. CGTMSE: bank-led, typically with loan sanction.
Are these schemes free to apply for?+
Application is free for almost every scheme listed on StartupIndi. Some require DPIIT recognition first (which is also free). Beware of intermediaries charging large fees to "facilitate" what you can do yourself in 30 minutes on the official portals.
Ready to find your scheme?
Four questions. 60 seconds. A ranked list of schemes you actually qualify for.
Start the Finder