Applications Invited for Bharat Startup Grand Challenge in Rural development technologies and Advanced Drones Technologies

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About the Organization

Startup India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, intended to catalyse startup culture and build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in India.

Launched on 16th January, 2016, the Startup India Initiative has rolled out several programs with the objective of supporting entrepreneurs, building a robust startup ecosystem and transforming India into a country of job creators instead of job seekers. These programs are managed by a dedicated Startup India Team, which reports to The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

About the Grant

The Bharat Startup Grand Challenge 2025, presented by Sairam Institutions and the Sri Sairam Techno Incubator Foundation, in collaboration with Startup India and DPIIT, is a national innovation initiative designed to identify, support and scale indigenous technologies that address the critical challenges of rural India while strengthening the nation’s defence and drone technology ecosystem.

The challenge focuses on two transformative domains — Rural Development Technologies and Advanced Drone Systems — bringing together innovators, startups, researchers and student teams from across the country to develop practical, scalable and high-impact solutions.

Under the Rural Technology track, participants are encouraged to develop affordable solutions for healthcare access, waste management and digital education in rural areas. The Drone Technology track calls for advanced innovations in Anti-Drone Systems and Swarm Drone Technologies, contributing to India’s national security, disaster response and technological sovereignty.

The initiative aims to foster Atmanirbhar Bharat by empowering innovators with the right ecosystem — mentorship, incubation support, investor connect and access to world-class facilities at the Sri Sairam Techno Incubator Foundation.

By bridging social innovation with deep-tech development, the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge serves as a powerful platform to build sustainable rural futures and secure technological advancements, driving India’s vision of becoming a Global Innovation Hub.

Total cash Prize: 300000

Eligibility

For Students

• Must be final-year undergraduate or postgraduate students (individual or team).
• Must have a working prototype of the proposed solution.
• Solutions should be practical, feasible and implementable within the challenge scope.
• A demonstration video of the working prototype is mandatory.
• 5. Teams can represent engineering, technology, or multidisciplinary domains relevant to the problem statements.

For Startups / Companies

• Must be a DPIIT-recognised startup or a registered MSME in India.
• Should have a functional prototype or minimum viable product (MVP) ready for demonstration.
• The solution must address a specific challenge theme under either Rural Development Technologies or Advanced Drone Technologies.

How to Apply

30 DEC, 2025: Application End Date

Apply now

For more information please check the Link

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