ADITI Scheme : Defence Tech Startups Get Rs 750 Cr

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched the ADITI scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies, during DefConnect 2024 in New Delhi. The scheme will provide grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore to start-ups for their research, development, and innovation endeavours in defence technology.

The ADITI scheme, which stands for Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX, is worth Rs 750 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26. It falls under the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) framework of Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence. It aims to develop about 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies in the proposed timeframe. It also envisages to create a ‘Technology Watch Tool’ to bridge the gap between the expectations and requirements of the modern Armed Forces and the capabilities of the defence innovation ecosystem.

In the first edition of ADITI, 17 challenges – Indian Army (3), Indian Navy (5), Indian Air Force (5) and Defence Space Agency (4) – have been launched. The start-ups are expected to propose innovative solutions that can enhance the country’s defence capabilities and contribute to national security.

The Raksha Mantri stated that the idea behind the schemes/initiatives such as ADITI, iDEX, iDEX Prime is to also transform India into a knowledge society. “As times are changing, new technologies are coming into existence. To become a developed country, it is necessary for us to achieve a technological edge. We have to transform our country into a knowledge society,” he said.

The event also witnessed the launch of the 11th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC), heralding a new chapter in the collaboration between the defence establishment and the start-up ecosystem. The DISC 11 introduces 22 problem statements – Indian Army (4), Indian Navy (5), Indian Air Force (5), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (7) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (1) – aimed at addressing critical defence challenges.

The ADITI scheme is a welcome step to boost the defence innovation ecosystem in India and foster self-reliance in defence technology.

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