**Executive Summary**
This document outlines various Central Sector schemes implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology to promote R&D, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology dissemination, and socio-economic development across India. These schemes are implemented through a competitive, proposal-based mechanism. The document includes information about the schemes, the benefits, and a state-wise breakdown of direct beneficiaries.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Overall Objective:** Promote research and development (R&D), innovation, entrepreneurship, technology dissemination, and inclusive socio-economic development.
* **Implementation:** Schemes are implemented nationwide through a competitive, proposal-based mechanism, with eligibility extending to institutions, researchers, startups, and innovators across all States and Union Territories.
**Major Schemes:**
* **Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme:** Operational under DST, aims to enhance private sector participation in R&D by supporting low-interest, long-term financing for high-risk, high-impact projects and startups in areas like energy security, quantum technologies, AI, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, digital economy, and other technologies critical for strategic and economic security.
* **National Quantum Mission (NQM):** DST supports development of indigenous capabilities in quantum computing, communication, sensing, and materials, and an ecosystem with strong R&D and skilled manpower.
* **Research Infrastructure Schemes:** DST supports schemes like FIST, PURSE, SAIF, and SATHI to strengthen research facilities in academic and R&D institutions.
* **National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI):** Supports innovation-driven and technology-based startups through prototyping, incubation, seed funding, and entrepreneurship development. Includes NIDHI PRAYAS (mentoring and financial assistance for innovators and entrepreneurs) and NIDHI EiR (entrepreneurial mentoring and financial support for students).
* **Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE):** Supports meritorious youth through scholarships and fellowships in basic and natural sciences.
* **Climate, Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST):** Supports R&D in renewable energy and related technologies.
* **National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS):** Establishes Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) in AI, Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, cybersecurity, and related areas.
* **Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE):** DBT supports R&D across the country in biotechnology, covering Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D), Industrial and Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED), and Biomanufacturing &Biofoundry.
* **Government Initiatives for Smooth Implementation:**
* Establishment of STI Hubs for SC and ST communities.
* Technology awareness, demonstration, and adoption programs.
* Establishment of Technology Enabling Centres (TECs) in universities.
* Capacity building, skill development, and entrepreneurship training.
* NIDHI Inclusive Technology Business Incubators (NIDHI – iTBI) Program.
* **Annexure-I:** Contains state-wise details of direct beneficiaries under specific DST programs, including NIDHI-EiR, NIDHI-PRAYAS, and INSPIRE.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Institutions, researchers, startups and innovators across all States and Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Eligible to apply for Central Sector schemes promoting R&D, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
* **Action Required:** Review the prescribed guidelines for each scheme and submit proposals.
**Stakeholder: Students**
* **Impact:** Eligible for mentoring and financial support through NIDHI EIR.
* **Action Required:** Pursue entrepreneurship, create ventures and employment.
**Stakeholder: Meritorious youth**
* **Impact:** Can avail scholarships and fellowships through the INSPIRE programs.
* **Action Required:** Take up research careers in basic and applied science disciplines.
**Stakeholder: SC and ST communities**
* **Impact:** Benefit from STI Hubs for livelihood creation and quality-of-life improvement.
* **Action Required:** Participate in supported programs and activities.
**Stakeholder: Universities**
* **Impact:** Can establish Technology Enabling Centres (TECs).
* **Action Required:** Promote industry-academia-government collaboration, translational research, and local innovations.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Science & Technology (DST): Implementing agency for various schemes to enhance research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
NIDHI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations) program: A program of DST supporting innovation-driven and technology-based startups.
INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) program: Programs to support meritorious youth through scholarships and fellowships.
Central Sector schemes: Various schemes implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Ministry of Science & Technology: Primary ministry responsible for promoting research and development in science and technology.
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: S&T RELATED
SCHEMES AND EMPLOYMENT/SELF-
EMPLOYMENT VENTURES
Posted On: 11 FEB 2026 1:35PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Science and Technology is implementing various Central Sector schemes across the
country with the objective of promoting research and development (R&D), innovation,
entrepreneurship, technology dissemination, and inclusive socio- economic development.
These schemes are implemented through a competitive, proposal- based mechanism, and do not have
State or district-wise budgetary allocations. Institutions, researchers, startups and innovators across all
States and Union Territories, including Dadra and Nagar Haveli, are eligible to apply as per the
prescribed guidelines of the schemes. Following are the major schemes being implemented.
The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme is operational under the Department of
Science & Technology (DST), with an objective to enhance private sector participation in R&D. The
scheme supports low-interest &long-term financing in high-risk, high-impact R&D projects and
startups. The Scheme covers sunrise sectors such as energy security and climate action; deep
technologies such as quantum, robotics and space; artificial intelligence applications; biotechnology
and biomanufacturing; pharmaceuticals and medical devices; digital economy, and other technologies
critical for strategic and economic security of the country.
DST, under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) has supported the development of indigenous
capabilities in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing, and quantum
materials, along with the creation of an ecosystem with strong R&D and skilled manpower base in
quantum technologies.
DST has supported research infrastructure schemes such as the Fund for Improvement of S&T
Infrastructure (FIST), Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE),
Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF), and Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help
Institutes (SATHI) to strengthen advanced research facilities in academic and R&D institutions.
The National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) program of DST has
supported innovation-driven and technology-based startups through prototyping, incubation, seed
funding, and entrepreneurship development activities. Under NIDHI PRAYAS program, mentoring and
financial assistance is provided to innovators and entrepreneurs, including women entrepreneurs, for
proof of concept and prototype development, helping them to create their own ventures and
employment. Under NIDHI EiR (Entrepreneur in Residence) program, entrepreneurial mentoring and
financial support is
provided to students to pursue entrepreneurship, create ventures and employment.Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programmes, including INSPIRE–
Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge (MANAK), INSPIRE Scholarship for
Higher Education (SHE) and Vigyan Jyoti, has been supporting meritorious youth, through
scholarships and fellowships, to pursue studies in basic and natural sciences at the college and
university levels and to take up research careers in basic and applied science disciplines, including
engineering, medicine, agriculture, veterinary sciences etc.
Climate, Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST) program has supported R&D in renewable
energy, hydrogen and fuel cells, advanced energy storage, carbon capture and utilisation, methane
mitigation, and technologies for hard-to-abate sectors.
National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM- ICPS), has established
Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) in leading institutions with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI),
Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, cybersecurity, and related areas.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) supports research and development across the country through
the Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme,
covering Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D), Industrial and Entrepreneurship
Development (I&ED), and Biomanufacturing &Biofoundry.
The State-wise details of the number of persons who have directly benefited under the specific schemes
during the last two years are placed at Annexure-I.
The Government has taken several positive steps to ensure smooth implementation, effective outreach,
and equitable access, particularly in rural, aspirational, and underserved regions. Following activities
have been supported:
Establishment of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs for holistic development of Scheduled
Caste (SC) and
Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, aimed at livelihood creation and quality-of-life
improvement.
Technology awareness, demonstration, and adoption programmes at the grassroots level to enhance the
outreach of R& D schemes.
Establishment of Technology Enabling Centres (TECs) in universities to promote industry–academia–
government collaboration, translational research, and local innovations.
Capacity building, skill development, and entrepreneurship training to enable participation from diverse
socio-economic backgrounds.
NIDHI Inclusive Technology Business Incubators (NIDHI – iTBI) Program to promote entrepreneurship
in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, with a focus on inclusiveness in terms of geographies, gender, persons with
special abilities, etc.
Annexure-I
State-wise number of direct beneficiariesS. Name of States/UTs Number of direct beneficiaries of the
specific program (DST)
No.
Entrepreneur- in- NIDHI– INSPIRE
Residence PRAYAS
Programme
(NIDHI–EiR)
Programme (Scholarship,
Programme Fellowship &
Faculty
Fellowships)
1. Andhra Pradesh 1 21 288
2. Arunachal -- -- 15
Pradesh
3. Assam -- 10 691
4. Bihar -- 13 1270
5. Chhattisgarh -- 2 2360
6. Goa 3 1 95
7. Gujarat 11 52 745
8. Haryana -- 21 734
9. Himachal 2 2 888
Pradesh
10. Jharkhand -- 2 194
11. Karnataka 5 81 964
12. Kerala 3 41 3093
13. Madhya -- 9 3401
Pradesh
14. Maharashtra 11 71 1797
15. Manipur 2 -- 63616. Meghalaya -- -- 143
17. Mizoram -- -- 51
18. Nagaland -- -- 73
19. Odisha 3 32 920
20. Punjab -- 5 535
21. Rajasthan 3 23 13052
22. Sikkim -- -- 10
23. Tamil Nadu 23 99 762
S. Name of States/UTs Number of direct beneficiaries of the
specific program (DST)
No.
Entrepreneur- in- NIDHI– INSPIRE
Residence PRAYAS
Programme
(NIDHI–EiR)
Programme (Scholarship,
Programme Fellowship &
Faculty
Fellowships)
24. Telangana 5 44 490
25. Tripura -- -- 42
26. Uttarakhand -- 4 2089
27. Uttar Pradesh 12 29 29246
28. West Bengal 3 11 3875
29. Andaman and -- -- 4
Nicobar Islands
30. Chandigarh -- 1 13631. Dadra and -- -- 2
Nagar Haveli
and Daman and
Diu
32. Jammu and -- 4 284
Kashmir
33. Delhi 2 14 775
34. Pondicherry -- -- 20
This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology
and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and
Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on
Wednesday.
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