GrantDRDO / Ministry of DefenceVerified 11 May 2026Official source

DRDO Dare to Dream — Defence Innovation Contest

Cash grants for innovators and startups solving Indian defence and security technology challenges. Individual innovators can win up to ₹10L; startups can receive grants up to ₹1.5 Cr. Unlike iDEX, Dare to Dream accepts open innovation proposals without mandatory problem statement alignment — making it more accessible for early-stage defence-tech ideas.

Maximum amount

₹12.0L

Typical payout

₹7.0L

Processing time

4–12 weeks

Application window

Cohort-based; opens quarterly. D2D 5.0 application window was 1–15 April 2026. Monitor drdo.gov.in for next cohort announcement.

Check if your startup qualifies for DRDO Dare to Dream — Defence Innovation Contest

Answer a few questions about your company and get a free, personalised eligibility report across all active government schemes — including DRDO D2D.

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Eligibility criteria

Company type: Private Limited, LLP, One Person Company, Proprietorship
Stage: Idea Stage, Pre-Revenue, Early Stage (Revenue < ₹1Cr)
States: All India (nationwide)
Sectors: deeptech, aerospace, defence, robotics, cybersecurity, electronics

Documents required

Aadhaar Card

Aadhaar card of the individual innovator or team leader for identity verification.

Tip: Ensure the Aadhaar matches the name on the PAN card — discrepancies flag during prize disbursement KYC.

PAN Card

PAN card mandatory for cash prize disbursement and tax declarations.

Tip: Keep a self-attested copy ready; TDS is deducted on prize amounts above ₹10,000.

DPIIT Startup Recognition Certificate

Valid DPIIT recognition certificate required for entities applying under the Startup category (conditional — not needed for individual innovators or MSE track applicants).

Tip: Certificate must be current and not expired; download the latest copy from startupindia.gov.in before submitting.

Udyam / MSME Registration Certificate

Udyam registration certificate required for entities applying as Micro or Small Enterprises (conditional — not needed for individual innovators or DPIIT startup track applicants).

Tip: The Udyam certificate must show Micro or Small status; Medium enterprises are not covered under this track.

Technical Proposal Write-Up

Comprehensive technical concept proposal addressing the selected DRDO defence or aerospace challenge statement. Must be submitted as an un-branded PDF under 5 MB using the official ERRB-12 form downloaded from the portal.

Tip: Proposals must carry no identity markers (name, institution logo, etc.) inside the file — the portal flags branded submissions as non-compliant. Download ERRB-12 from drdo.gov.in before starting.

No-Anonymity Declaration / Undertaking

Signed undertaking confirming that no identity markers (name, affiliation, logo) are embedded inside the proposal PDF itself, as required by the blind evaluation process.

Tip: A standard compliance declaration — failure to submit this or embedding identity markers in the proposal are the two most common disqualification reasons.

Lab Authority Signature (CSIR / DRDO / IIT / NABL / STQC)

Signature of a recognised lab authority on official letterhead, validating the technical design. Accepted authorities include: CSIR or DRDO labs (e.g. CAIR, LRDE), centrally funded academic institutions (IIT, NIT, IISc, UGC/AICTE-approved universities via HOD or PI), NABL-accredited testing labs, or STQC/MeitY labs. No canonical key exists for lab authority signatures.

Tip: Approach the lab authority early — processing times at IIT/NIT departments can take 1–2 weeks; NABL labs may charge a nominal validation fee.

Team Composition Form

Profiles of up to four co-innovators for joint team applications, submitted via the portal's team form (conditional — only for multi-member submissions). No canonical key exists for team composition forms.

Tip: All team members must be Indian citizens; include their Aadhaar numbers and roles in the innovation in the form.

Patent / IP Registration Certificate

Existing patent grant or provisional IP filing certificate related to the proposed concept (conditional — only if IP has already been registered or filed).

Tip: A provisional patent application receipt is acceptable; full grant not required at submission stage.

Technical Schematics / Data Sheets

Supplementary PDFs with system architecture diagrams, simulation models, or component data sheets expanding on the proposal (conditional — optional supporting material, each file under 5 MB). No canonical key exists for technical schematic documents.

Tip: Keep supplementary files concise — evaluators prioritise the ERRB-12 proposal; overly large attachments are sometimes dropped during upload.

How to apply for DRDO D2D

Monitor the DRDO official website for the active Dare to Dream cohort portal link. The application window is typically only 2–4 weeks.Open portal

Click 'Register' on the active portal, select either the Individual or Startup/MSE track, input contact details, and complete mobile/email OTP authentication.Open portal

Review the DRDO engineering challenge themes and select up to five challenge statements to address in your proposal.

Download the ERRB-12 proposal form, complete your technical write-up as an un-branded PDF under 5 MB (no name, institution, or logo inside the file), and upload alongside all mandatory documents.Open portal

Digitally sign the no-anonymity compliance undertaking, submit the final file package, and record the generated application reference ID for tracking.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for DRDO D2D?

DRDO D2D is available to Private Limited, LLP, One Person Company, Proprietorship companies at the Idea Stage, Pre-Revenue, Early Stage (Revenue < ₹1Cr) stage, across all Indian states (nationwide).

How much funding does DRDO D2D provide?

DRDO D2D provides up to ₹12.0L. Most applicants receive around ₹7.0L.

How long does DRDO D2D approval take?

The typical processing time from submission to disbursement is 4–12 weeks.

Is DRDO D2D currently accepting applications?

Yes, DRDO D2D is currently active and accepting applications. Application window: Cohort-based; opens quarterly. D2D 5.0 application window was 1–15 April 2026. Monitor drdo.gov.in for next cohort announcement..

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Information is based on publicly available scheme guidelines. Last verified 11 May 2026. Always verify with official sources before applying.