Ministry of Defence / Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO)

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)

GRANTSTARTUP-SPECIFIC

Stage: Prototype to procurement
Indicative amount: ₹1.5 cr (SPARK) up to ₹10 cr

Note

Original 5-year budget window (2021-22 to 2025-26) is nearly exhausted; Ministry of Defence has requested additional funds. Operationally still active as of 2026. Recheck at next sweep.

What it is for

Connects the Armed Forces and defence PSUs directly with startups, MSMEs, and innovators to solve specific defence and aerospace problem statements.

Who can apply

DPIIT-recognised startups, MSMEs, and individual innovators with a proof-of-concept relevant to a currently open Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC) or Open Challenge.

What you get

SPARK grants up to ₹1.5 crore; iDEX Prime grants up to ₹10 crore for advanced projects.

How to apply

Create an innovator profile on the iDEX portal, browse open challenges, and submit against a specific problem statement.

Best suited for

A deep-tech startup or MSME with a working prototype relevant to a specific, currently open defence problem.

Official links

iDEX official portal https://idex.gov.in
iDEX application portal https://portal.idex.gov.in

Summarised from official sources, last reviewed 2026-09-07. Amounts and eligibility are indicative — always confirm against the live scheme guideline before acting. This entry is flagged for early re-verification.