ADITI Scheme with Rs 750 Crore to Boost India’s Defence Tech Innovation: Explained in 10 Key Points

New Delhi: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh recently revealed ‘acing’ development of innovative technologies with iDEX (ITI) scheme, which Defense Ministry launched with purpose of encouraging innovation in critical and strategic defence technologies. launch took place during DefConnect 2024 in New Delhi on March 4. 

This specific initiative falls under iDEX (Innovations for Defense Excellence) framework of Department of Defense Production (DDP) and MoD has been allocated  a budget of Rs 750 crore till 2026. ITI scheme is designed to support start-ups involved in research, development, and innovation ventures in defence technology, an official statement said. 

Under scheme, eligible start-ups can receive grant-in-aid. goal of new scheme, as MoD puts forth, is to nurture innovation of youth and propel country forward in field of technology.

Here are Top 10 Points About ITI Scheme

• Launch and purpose: ITI Scheme was launched by Defense Minister with aim of promoting innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.
•  Grant-in-Aid: Start-ups will now be  eligible to receive grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore for ir research, development, and innovation endeavours in defence technology under ITI Scheme.
• Duration and Budget: scheme is worth Rs 750 crore for period 2023–24 to 2025–26, falling under iDEX framework of Department of Defense Production (DDP), Ministry of Defense.
• Objective: primary objective of ITI Scheme is to nurture innovation of youth and propel country forward in field of technology, particularly in defence.
•  Technological focus: It also has aim of developing about 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies within proposed time frame. This is being done to encourage vancements in defence capabilities.
•  Challenges launched: In its first edition, ITI Scheme has launched 17 challenges across various branches of Indian Armed Forces, including Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Defense Space Agency.
• Expansion of iDEX: ITI Scheme comes as an expansion of iDEX (Innovations for Defense Excellence) initiative, which, as per MoD, reflects government's ‘commitment’ to encourage innovative ideas among youth.
•  Encouragement for innovators: To motivate young innovators, iDEX initiative was expanded to iDEX Prime, with assistance increasing from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 10 crore.
• Transformation into a knowledge society: ITI Scheme, along with or initiatives like iDEX and iDEX Prime, also has objective of transforming India into a knowledge society by leveraging technological vancements, official statement from MoD ded.
• National security and self-reliance: scheme also aligns with government's vision of Atmanirbharta, or a way to attain self-reliance in defence production, reby increasing national security and sovereignty by reducing dependency on imports.