Is this actionable now?

unknown. Participating incubators publish local fellow intakes; no single permanent national deadline.

An Indian technology innovator must be prepared to pursue the venture full time, work through a participating incubator and meet employment, education and duplicate-support rules.

What burden and restrictions apply?

Monthly or milestone fellowship release depends on incubator attendance, progress and utilization reporting. Subsistence support enables the innovator to work full time; it is not a project-equipment grant.

What evidence exists?

NIDHI-EIR is designed to help Indian innovators leave other commitments and pursue technology entrepreneurship full time. No comparable current application denominator, award count and acceptance rate are published.

NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence

Monthly subsistence fellowship, historically up to INR30,000 per month for up to 12 months · Indian Department of Science and Technology · rolling applications

NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence is a fellowship programme from Indian Department of Science and Technology for Indian citizen technology innovators seeking to pursue a startup full-time through a participating NIDHI incubator Current lifecycle: unknown. Real economics: Monthly subsistence fellowship, historically up to INR30,000 per month for up to 12 months.

Tier 3governmentindiafellowshipnon-dilutive

Apply Official site Open in the live directory

Key facts

Funder	Indian Department of Science and Technology
Amount	Monthly subsistence fellowship, historically up to INR30,000 per month for up to 12 months
Deadline	Rolling — apply anytime
Decision time	No universal application-to-decision interval is published for the currently verified route.
Eligibility	An Indian technology innovator must be prepared to pursue the venture full time, work through a participating incubator and meet employment, education and duplicate-support rules.
Restrictions	Monthly or milestone fellowship release depends on incubator attendance, progress and utilization reporting. Subsistence support enables the innovator to work full time; it is not a project-equipment grant.
Status	rolling

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

Find a participating NIDHI-EIR incubator call
Submit innovator, technology and venture plan
Complete incubator screening and pitch
Accept residency and full-time commitments
Report monthly progress toward company creation

Background

Indian Department of Science and Technology operates NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. NIDHI-EIR is designed to help Indian innovators leave other commitments and pursue technology entrepreneurship full time.

How the application really works

Find a participating NIDHI-EIR incubator call → Submit innovator, technology and venture plan → Complete incubator screening and pitch → Accept residency and full-time commitments → Report monthly progress toward company creation

Tips

Show direct fit with technology innovation.

Watch out for

Current lifecycle is unknown.
Monthly or milestone fellowship release depends on incubator attendance, progress and utilization reporting.
Subsistence support enables the innovator to work full time; it is not a project-equipment grant.

Track record

NIDHI-EIR is designed to help Indian innovators leave other commitments and pursue technology entrepreneurship full time.

No comparable current application denominator, award count and acceptance rate are published.

Frequently asked questions

Is this actionable now?: unknown. Participating incubators publish local fellow intakes; no single permanent national deadline.
What is the real economic value?: Monthly subsistence fellowship, historically up to INR30,000 per month for up to 12 months
Who is eligible?: An Indian technology innovator must be prepared to pursue the venture full time, work through a participating incubator and meet employment, education and duplicate-support rules.
How does selection work?: Find a participating NIDHI-EIR incubator call; Submit innovator, technology and venture plan; Complete incubator screening and pitch; Accept residency and full-time commitments; Report monthly progress toward company creation. No universal application-to-decision interval is published for the currently verified route.
What burden and restrictions apply?: Monthly or milestone fellowship release depends on incubator attendance, progress and utilization reporting. Subsistence support enables the innovator to work full time; it is not a project-equipment grant.
What evidence exists?: NIDHI-EIR is designed to help Indian innovators leave other commitments and pursue technology entrepreneurship full time. No comparable current application denominator, award count and acceptance rate are published.

Sources

nidhi.dst.gov.in/nidhieir — Official fellowship, applicants and incubator delivery model (checked 2026-08-10)