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In early February 2026, the SAMRIDH programme, run by India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), marked a key milestone by supporting 373 startups with over Rs 93.75 crore in funding.
About SAMRIDH programme
The SAMRIDH programme (Startup Accelerator of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development, and Growth) is launched to support startups with funding, mentorship, and accelerator partnerships. It has already supported over 370 startups across India with more than ₹93 crore disbursed.
Key Highlights
- Launched by: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Objective: To accelerate startups in high-impact sectors like Health-tech, Ed-tech, Agri-tech, Fintech, Consumer-tech, SaaS, and Sustainability.
- Funding Support:
- Up to ₹40 lakh per startup as matching funds.
- ₹2 lakh per accelerator for operational support.
- Accelerator Network: 43 accelerators selected across 16 states (out of 186 applicants).
- Startups Supported: 373 startups incubated so far.
- Total Disbursement: Around ₹93.75 crore in the last five years.
Programme Goals
- Scale India’s digital economy by nurturing innovative startups.
- Provide mentorship, market access, and investor connections.
- Build globally competitive solutions from India in emerging tech sectors.
- Focus on social impact and sustainability-driven innovation.
Challenges & Considerations
- Limited reach: While 373 startups have been supported, India has thousands of early-stage startups needing similar help.
- Dependence on accelerators: Success depends heavily on the quality of accelerator partners.
- Funding cap: ₹40 lakh per startup may be insufficient for scaling in capital-intensive sectors like deep-tech or hardware.
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