NIDHI-EIR Fellowship 2026: Eligibility, ₹10,000–₹30,000 Monthly Support and How to Apply
The NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence (NIDHI-EIR) programme is a Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, fellowship designed to encourage graduate students and budding technology entrepreneurs to pursue entrepreneurship as a career. The programme combines monthly financial support with incubation, mentoring, technical and financial advice, infrastructure and industry connections [1].
The current DST programme page states that an NIDHI-EIR recipient may receive between ₹10,000 and ₹30,000 per month for a maximum period of 12 months [1]. This is a fellowship-style support programme, not a commercial loan, equity investment or automatic startup grant. Students and innovators apply through selected NIDHI-EIR Centres at technology business incubators (TBIs), and the relevant centre’s call determines the current application window and detailed conditions [1].
Direct answer: NIDHI-EIR is a sector-agnostic DST fellowship for graduate students and budding technology entrepreneurs. The current official DST page states monthly support of ₹10,000–₹30,000 for up to 12 months, plus access to selected TBI infrastructure, mentoring and business guidance. Applicants apply through selected NIDHI-EIR Centres, not through one universal direct-to-founder deadline [1].
NIDHI-EIR at a glance
| Field | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Opportunity name | NIDHI – Entrepreneur-in-Residence (NIDHI-EIR) |
| Provider | Department of Science and Technology, Government of India |
| Programme partner | NCL Venture Centre, Pune, according to the DST page [1] |
| Country | India |
| Funding type | Fellowship-style monthly financial support and incubation support |
| Monthly support | Minimum ₹10,000; maximum ₹30,000 [1] |
| Maximum period | 12 months [1] |
| Broad focus | Technology-based entrepreneurial ideas and early venture development |
| Sector | Sector-agnostic on the DST programme page [1] |
| Intended beneficiaries | Students, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs [1] |
| Application route | Selected NIDHI-EIR Centres at selected TBIs [1] |
| Current universal deadline | None verified; check the official PMU and selected centre notice |
| Official programme page | DST NIDHI-EIR |
What is the NIDHI-EIR programme?
NIDHI-EIR aims to reduce the personal and professional risk associated with pursuing a technology-based business idea. The DST page describes it as a fellowship that gives deserving and budding entrepreneurs a structured forum to develop a nascent idea into a fuller business proposal [1].
The programme is more than a monthly payment. The official description includes guidance from experienced entrepreneurs, exposure to business concepts and strategy, professional networking and co-working space for developing an idea into a marketable product [1]. This makes NIDHI-EIR particularly relevant to a founder who is still validating an idea, shaping a technology venture or preparing a business proposal rather than seeking a large growth-stage loan.
NIDHI-EIR is different from NIDHI-PRAYAS. PRAYAS is focused on translating an innovation into a prototype, while EIR is a fellowship and incubation pathway intended to help an entrepreneur develop the venture and business proposition. FundRight’s NIDHI-PRAYAS 2.0 guide covers the separate prototype-support programme.
How much support does NIDHI-EIR provide?
The current DST page states that the fellow may receive financial support of at least ₹10,000 per month and up to ₹30,000 per month, for a maximum period of 12 months [1]. The exact amount within that range is not an automatic entitlement; applicants should follow the current centre call and selection decision.
| Support component | Verified position |
|---|---|
| Minimum monthly fellowship support | ₹10,000 [1] |
| Maximum monthly fellowship support | ₹30,000 [1] |
| Maximum support period | 12 months [1] |
| Incubation support | TBI infrastructure and co-working access, subject to the selected centre [1] |
| Mentoring | Business, technical and financial guidance [1] |
| Industry support | Industry connections and venture insight [1] |
The monthly fellowship should not be confused with the separate grant that may be available to an incubator acting as a programme executing partner. The India Science and Technology portal describes a possible annual grant for the TBI/Programme Executing Partner, while the individual fellow’s support remains ₹10,000–₹30,000 per month for 12 months [2]. These are different recipients and should never be combined in an applicant’s funding claim.
Who can apply for NIDHI-EIR?
The DST page identifies students, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs as beneficiaries [1]. Its introduction specifically describes the programme as encouraging graduate students to consider entrepreneurship as a prospective career. An applicant should therefore assess whether they are genuinely developing an entrepreneurial, preferably technology-based venture rather than seeking funding for unrelated academic research or a conventional personal expense.
The programme is sector-agnostic on the DST page, but sector-agnostic does not mean proposal-agnostic. A credible application should explain the technology or knowledge basis, the problem being addressed, the proposed product or venture, the current stage, the next 12-month plan, the market or user need and the route toward commercialisation.
The selected NIDHI-EIR Centre may publish additional requirements around academic background, full-time participation, incubation, intellectual property, business idea maturity, residence, documents or interview. These centre-level requirements must be checked in the active call and should not be inferred from a general scheme summary.
What support does a fellow receive besides money?
The official DST description lists several non-financial elements:
- Access to TBI infrastructure and co-working facilities.
- Mentoring and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs.
- Technical and financial advice.
- Industry connections and professional networking.
- Help developing a nascent idea into a fuller business proposal [1].
For a founder at the idea or pre-incubation stage, these inputs can be as important as the monthly support. The applicant should select a centre that can provide relevant technical facilities, mentors and market connections rather than applying solely because it offers a fellowship.
How does the NIDHI-EIR application process work?
Step 1: Define the entrepreneurial idea
Prepare a concise explanation of the problem, proposed technology or product, target user, differentiator, current evidence, intellectual-property position and commercialisation plan. The programme is designed to nurture a pipeline of entrepreneurs, so the proposal should show why the idea could become a venture.
Step 2: Check the official programme information
Start with the DST NIDHI-EIR page. Read the linked guidelines and the official list of NIDHI-EIR Centres. The DST page states that individual applicants apply through selected centres at selected TBIs [1].
Step 3: Identify a suitable NIDHI-EIR Centre
Review the official centre list and compare each centre’s technical facilities, mentor network, location, application status and thematic fit. A centre may have its own form, document checklist, screening process and schedule.
Step 4: Read the current centre call
Do not rely on an old social-media post or a third-party directory for the deadline. The current NIDHI-EIR page is dated April 24, 2024, and the official application model is centre-led. No current nationwide individual deadline was verified for this article. Check the official NIDHI-EIR PMU site and selected centre notice before preparing a final submission [1].
Step 5: Prepare the application package
A practical package may include an applicant profile, academic or professional details, idea note, product or technology description, market problem, development roadmap, IP information, venture plan, budget, declarations and identification documents. The exact checklist is centre-specific, so treat this as preparation guidance rather than a universal official list.
Step 6: Submit through the official centre route
Use the application link, email or portal named in the active centre notice. Keep the acknowledgement and a copy of the submitted materials. Never pay an unofficial agent for a promised NIDHI-EIR selection.
Step 7: Plan the fellowship period
Build a 12-month work plan with technical, customer-discovery, prototype, validation, incorporation, IP, pilot or investment milestones as appropriate. The DST objectives include creating new startups and enabling progress toward future funding or investment [1].
What is the NIDHI-EIR deadline?
There is no single universal individual applicant deadline verified in the current DST programme summary. The official page says that students and innovators apply through selected NIDHI-EIR Centres [1]. The India Science and Technology portal describes an annual call model and says the evaluation cycle starts in January, but its page carries older metadata and should not be treated as proof of a currently open call [2].
The safest approach is to check three things before applying: the official DST NIDHI-EIR page, the NIDHI-EIR PMU website and the selected centre’s current notice. Record the notice date, closing time, submission method and contact details in FundRight’s funds tracker.
NIDHI-EIR compared with other FundRight opportunities
| Funding need | Relevant FundRight route | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| Fellowship while developing a technology venture | NIDHI-EIR | ₹10,000–₹30,000 monthly support for up to 12 months, through selected centres [1] |
| Build and validate a prototype | NIDHI-PRAYAS 2.0 | PC/APC prototype support with separate rules and ceilings |
| Biotechnology proof of concept | BIRAC BIG | Biotechnology-focused grant route |
| DPIIT startup seed support | SISFS | Startup seed instruments for eligible DPIIT-recognised startups |
| Discover grants, loans and subsidies | FundRight directory | Compare opportunities by stage, sector, location and funding type |
FundRight’s eligibility checker can help organise stage, sector, company type and state. It does not replace the official centre’s eligibility decision.
Frequently asked questions
What is NIDHI-EIR?
NIDHI-EIR is a DST fellowship programme for graduate students and budding technology entrepreneurs. It provides monthly financial support and incubation-related mentoring, infrastructure and industry connections [1].
How much is the NIDHI-EIR monthly support?
The current DST page states a minimum of ₹10,000 and a maximum of ₹30,000 per month for a maximum period of 12 months [1]. The exact award is subject to selection and the applicable centre rules.
Is NIDHI-EIR a loan?
No. The DST describes it as financial and non-financial support in the form of a fellowship [1]. It is not a commercial loan or an equity investment.
Can students apply without a registered startup?
The DST page identifies students among the beneficiaries and says the programme encourages graduate students to pursue entrepreneurship [1]. The selected centre may require specific proof, participation or venture conditions, so applicants should read the active call.
Is NIDHI-EIR sector-specific?
The DST programme page describes NIDHI-EIR as sector-agnostic [1]. The applicant still needs a credible technology or knowledge-based entrepreneurial proposal, and a centre may have its own thematic or facility focus.
Where do I apply for NIDHI-EIR?
Students and innovators apply through selected NIDHI-EIR Centres at selected TBIs. The official DST page links to the NIDHI-EIR website and centre list [1].
Is there a current NIDHI-EIR deadline?
No current nationwide individual deadline was verified for this article. Check the official NIDHI-EIR PMU website and the selected centre’s current notice before applying.
Is the incubator grant the same as the fellow’s support?
No. Any grant described for a Programme Executing Partner or TBI is separate from the individual fellow’s ₹10,000–₹30,000 monthly support. Do not add the two figures together [1] [2].
Conclusion
NIDHI-EIR is best suited to a graduate student, researcher, innovator or budding entrepreneur who needs structured time, mentorship and incubation support to turn a technology-based idea into a serious venture proposal. The official headline is straightforward: ₹10,000–₹30,000 per month for up to 12 months, plus access to selected TBI support [1].
The application is not a single nationwide form with a permanent deadline. Applicants apply through selected NIDHI-EIR Centres, so the practical next step is to find a centre with relevant facilities and verify its active call, conditions and submission route. Always use official sources, keep a record of the notice and do not treat the maximum support as guaranteed approval.
Explore the FundRight directory, organise your profile with the eligibility checker, and track official centre notices in the funds tracker. FundRight does not guarantee selection, funding, rankings, traffic or AI citations.