Deadline Date: December 30, 2025
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 focus of the challenge includes Rural Development Technologies, Advanced Drone Systems, Affordable solutions for healthcare access in rural areas, Waste management solutions in rural areas, Digital education solutions in rural areas, Anti-Drone Systems, Swarm Drone Technologies, Mentorship, Incubation support, Investor connect, and Access to world-class facilities at the Sri Sairam Techno Incubator Foundation. The Bharat Startup Grand Challenge 2025 brings together innovators, startups, researchers, and student teams from across India to develop practical, scalable, and high-impact solutions. The Rural Technology track encourages participants to create affordable innovations for healthcare, waste management, and digital education in rural areas, while the Drone Technology track focuses on advancing Anti-Drone Systems and Swarm Drone Technologies to enhance national security, disaster response, and technological sovereignty.
The initiative promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat by providing selected participants with mentorship, incubation support, investor networking, and access to state-of-the-art facilities. It bridges social innovation with deep-tech development, fostering sustainable rural futures and securing technological advancements, driving India’s vision of becoming a Global Innovation Hub.
Funding under the challenge includes a total prize pool of INR 3 Lakhs, with INR 1,00,000 awarded to the best solution under the Rural Tech category from three problem statements, INR 1,00,000 awarded to the best solution under the Drones Tech–Swarm category from three problem statements, and INR 1,00,000 awarded to the best solution under the Drones Tech–Anti Drones category from three problem statements.
Incentives include a total prize pool of INR 3 Lakhs divided across Rural Tech, Drones Tech – Swarm, and Drones Tech – Anti-Drones categories, as well as non-fiscal support such as 12–18 months of incubation, mentorship of a minimum of 4 hours per month, investor connections, single-seater space support, and access to the Sri Sairam Techno Incubator Foundation facilities.
The challenge is open to final-year undergraduate or postgraduate students, DPIIT-recognised startups, and registered MSMEs across India with a working prototype or functional MVP addressing the listed problem statements. Participants must submit original and indigenous solutions, provide a detailed proposal demonstrating innovation, feasibility, scalability, and impact, and be available for prototype demonstration and final evaluation.
For more information, visit Startup India.
