Skip to content
All schemes

Startup-specific scheme · Ministry of Defence / Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO)

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)

Between callsChecked 3 October 2026

All iDEX calls are closed as of 3 Oct 2026: DISC 14 (82 problem statements), ADITI 4.0 and the new DRISHTI track (101 DPSU problem statements, grants up to ₹10 crore) closed 4 May 2026; DISC 12 re-open closed 15 Jul 2026; the iDEX Open Challenge (up to ₹1.5 crore) closed 30 Sep 2026. Watch idex.gov.in/challenges for DISC 15.

Amount
Grants up to ₹25 crore
Type of support
Grant, Incubation
Best for
Prototype / PoC, Market Access & IP
Who can apply
DPIIT-recognised startups, MSMEs, Early-stage startups, Aspiring founders
Go to the official portalSource: DPIIT playbook p. 54

iDEX is a government initiative that supports startups and innovators in building defence solutions so the military can access advanced, homegrown technologies and reduce reliance on imports.

Who can apply?
  • DPIIT recognised startups.
  • Any company incorporated under the Companies Act, primarily a MSME as defined under the MSME Act 2016.
  • Individual innovators can also apply.
What do you get?
  • Beneficiaries are provided grants/funding and other support to carry out R&D development.
  • Innovation activities like accelerator programs, challenges etc., are carried under the initiative, by the iDEX Partner Incubators.
  • Grants of up to ₹1.5 crore (DISC and Open Challenge), ₹10 crore (iDEX Prime and DRISHTI) or ₹25 crore (ADITI), depending on the challenge.
How to apply

Visit https://idex.gov.in/challenges for more information on Challenges organized under iDEX.

Objectives

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) is the operational framework of the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), a special purpose vehicle under the aegis of the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. The iDEX framework was launched in 2018 to support the attainment of self-reliance in the fields of defence and defence production. iDEX partners with incubators, i.e. Partner Incubators (PIs) to facilitate mentoring and access to infrastructure/test facilities to innovators, including amongst the smaller enterprises, startups and MSMES, to foster innovation in the defense sector in an integrated manner.

Key links

Deadlines, amounts and windows change. Check the official portal before you apply.

Related schemes