NIDHI Entrepreneur in Residence (NIDHI EIR)

Open all year Department of Science and Technology (NIDHI), with NCL Venture Centre All of India

Fellowship

₹10,000 to ₹30,000 a month for up to 12 months

Apply on the official site

What it funds: Monthly fellowship so a graduate can work full time on a startup idea
Who can apply: Graduate student or recent graduate, Indian citizen
Works full time on the venture at a NIDHI EIR centre
No company needed; cannot be combined with NIDHI PRAYAS
When you can apply: Open all year
How to apply: Apply to a NIDHI EIR centre (selected incubators) when it opens a call
Best for: Idea stage
Run by: Government of India

NIDHI Seed Support Programme (NIDHI SSP)Up to ₹1 crore per startup Open all year
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)Up to ₹20 lakh: Shishu ₹50,000, Kishor ₹5 lakh, Tarun ₹10 lakh, Tarun Plus ₹20 lakh Open all year
Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)15% to 35% of a project up to ₹50 lakh (₹20 lakh for services) Open all year
Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Startups and MSMEs (PRISM)Up to ₹20 lakh (Phase I); up to ₹50 lakh (Phase II) Open all year
Rice Business Plan Competition$950 to $25,000 in cash prizes; top places win investment Opens 9 Nov 2026
Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (SCLCSS) for SC/ST Enterprises25% of machinery cost, up to ₹25 lakh Open all year
Atal New India Challenge (ANIC)Up to ₹1 crore over 12 to 18 months Closed

Starter opens 30 grants in full. Pro opens every one.