Applications for selection of PRAYAS Centres are open from 1 Apr 2026, 12:00 am to 30 Apr 2026, 11:59 pm IST
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An initiative of Technology, Translation and Innovation (TTI) Division, Department of Science & Technology - Government of India
Bridging the Gap from
Idea to Real-World Impact
- PRAYASEEs Supported
- 0
- Women Participation
- 0 %
- Patents Filed
- 0 %
- States & UT
- 0
Reach
Inclusion
Innovation
Coverage
NIDHI PRAYAS, a flagship initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, aligned with Viksit Bharat @ 2047, supports innovators in transforming ideas into validated prototypes and progressing towards commercialization.
Building on the outcomes of NIDHI PRAYAS 1.0, which enabled innovators to develop functional prototypes and transition into startups, the programme has evolved into NIDHI PRAYAS 2.0, with enhanced support for both technology-based and deep-tech innovations.
The programme addresses the critical gap between ideation and prototyping and also enables innovators to experiment without the risk of failure; by providing financial support, mentorship, and access to infrastructure, enabling innovators to design, develop, test, and validate their solutions.
NIDHI PRAYAS 2.0 is implemented through PRAYAS Centres (PCs) and Advance PRAYAS Centres (APCs). PCs serve as the primary entry point, supporting early-stage, technology-based ideas in developing functional prototypes. APCs are designed for a narrower set of deep-tech or advanced prototypes requiring higher levels of validation, specialized infrastructure, and readiness for progression towards commercialization. Applicants are encouraged to align with the stage and complexity of their innovation.
Aligned with the AtmaNirbhar Bharat mission, the programme promotes indigenous innovation and strengthens India’s pipeline of high-quality, technology-driven startups.
Click here for the scheme document.
Enabling Early-Stage Prototype Development
Selected incubators under NIDHI PRAYAS function as dedicated innovation hubs, designated as PRAYAS Centres (PCs) and Advance PRAYAS Centres (APCs).
PRAYAS Centres (PCs) focus on enabling early-stage, technology-based innovations by providing access to infrastructure, mentorship, IP support, and prototype funding to develop functional prototypes.
Advance PRAYAS Centres (APCs) support a more advanced category of innovations, particularly deep-tech solutions that require specialized infrastructure, rigorous technical validation, and progression towards higher stages of development.
Funding Support By DST To Incubators
Capital Support
DST NIDHI Maker Bhavan (Fab lab + Co-working)
Prototyping Grant
Grant funding for early-stage prototypes
Operational Support
Annual running expenses
From Idea into Prototype
NIDHI PRAYAS addresses the critical early-stage funding gap by supporting innovators in developing and validating prototypes. Innovators and startups may receive funding of up to ₹20 lakhs through PRAYAS Centres (PCs) for early-stage prototype development. For more advanced requirements, Advance PRAYAS Centres (APCs) provide support of up to ₹40 lakhs for deep-tech innovations or advanced prototypes that require higher levels of validation and are closer to commercialization.
Applicants who receive support through a PRAYAS Centre (PC) may subsequently apply to an Advance PRAYAS Centre (APC) for additional funding, subject to the overall limit of ₹40 lakhs. However, applicants who receive support through an APC will not be eligible to apply again under PRAYAS Centres.
Applicants are encouraged to align their applications with the stage and complexity of their innovation.
Priority areas for supporting innovations
DST has priority areas for supporting innovations under the PC. The current focus areas are: Energy security and transition, and climate action; Deep Technology including quantum computing, robotics and space; Hardware-based Artificial Intelligence and its application to Indian problems; medical devices; healthcare; digital agriculture; advance defense technologies; assistive devices; manufacturing; technologies whose indigenization is vital for Economic Security and Atmanirbharta; sectors or technologies deemed necessary in the public interest; and other emerging technology areas.
Objectives of NIDHI-PRAYAS
Bridging the gap from ideation to prototype with a dedicated ecosystem designed for the next generation of Indian innovators.
Prototype Development
To enable and facilitate the translation of innovative ideas into functional prototypes.
Rapid Experimentation
To provide a platform for rapid experimentation and iterative development to refine ideas in the journey from concept to market.
Indigenous Solutions
To enable and facilitate the development of indigenous solutions addressing both local and global challenges.
Startup Encouragement
To encourage young innovators with a problem-solving mindset to pursue technology-driven and knowledge-based startups.
Quality Pipeline
To strengthen the pipeline of high-quality, innovative startups, to demonstrate their ideas in real-time environment.
Dynamic Ecosystem
To build a dynamic innovation ecosystem by establishing a strong network of innovators, academia, and mentors.
Ministry Catalyst
To serve as a catalyst for addressing problem statements identified by various government ministries through technological interventions.