DSIR Relaxes Three-Year Rule to Boost Deep-Tech Startups

Marking the 42nd Foundation Day of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), the Union government announced a major reform to accelerate India’s deep-tech startup ecosystem. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh declared the removal of the mandatory three-year existence condition for startups seeking recognition under DSIR’s Industrial Research and Development Promotion (IRDP) programme.

Key Reform to Support Early-Stage Innovators

The relaxation allows deep-tech startups to access DSIR recognition and related benefits without proving three years of operational existence. The move is aimed at providing early momentum to first-generation innovators and technology-driven entrepreneurs. The minister said the reform reflects the government’s confidence in India’s startup community and is intended to help promising ventures scale faster while maintaining evaluation standards linked to technological maturity.

Complementing the ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Fund

Dr. Singh clarified that while the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund is designed for startups that have reached a certain level of technological readiness, early-stage innovators are supported through schemes run by agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Technology Development Board. Removing the three-year requirement ensures that deep-tech startups are not delayed in accessing institutional support.

DSIR–CSIR Synergy and Global Shift

Highlighting the close relationship between DSIR and CSIR, the minister described it as an “intergenerational symbiosis” that enables technology transfer, industry partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration. He noted that India has moved beyond the phase of Atmanirbhar Bharat and is increasingly becoming a global provider of technologies, citing progress in vaccines, medical devices and indigenous innovations.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• DSIR functions under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• The three-year existence condition for deep-tech startup recognition has been removed.
• The ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund supports advanced-stage innovation.
• DSIR promotes industry–R&D collaboration and technology transfer.

New Initiatives, MoUs and Strategic Focus

The Foundation Day event also saw the launch of four initiatives, including new DSIR guidelines for deep-tech startups, the PRISM Network Platform–TOCIC Innovator Pulse, Creative India 2025, and the DSIR Disaster Management Plan. Several agreements were exchanged, including technology transfer deals under the CRTDH programme and a women-focused skill satellite centre in Chhattisgarh. Senior leaders such as N Kalaiselvi and Ajay Kumar Sood underscored the importance of technology sovereignty, private-sector R&D and scaling innovations from laboratory to market.