National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations - PRomoting and Accelerating Young and ASPiring innovators & Startups (NIDHI-PRAYAS)

NIDHI-PRAYAS is a specialized grant-in-aid program launched by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. It specifically targets young innovators working on hardware-based product development to bridge the gap between an idea and a prototype. The program provides financial support to individual innovators and startups to build proof-of-concept models, helping them navigate the high-risk pre-incubation phase where traditional funding is scarce. By providing access to PRAYAS Centers and technical mentorship, the scheme aims to convert innovative ideas into tangible prototypes. The grant enables innovators to test their ideas, mitigate technical risks, and prepare for further commercialization through business incubators. It focuses exclusively on physical product innovations rather than software-only solutions.