DRISHTI Challenges - Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs)
by Defence Public Sector Undertakings
DPSU-led defence innovation challenges for deeptech and hardware startups
India's state-owned defence firms (HAL, BEL, and others), sourcing startup innovation through the DRISHTI challenges and iDEX.
Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) are government-owned enterprises under the Department of Defence Production in the Ministry of Defence. The major ones include Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, and Goa Shipyard, and together they form the backbone of India's indigenous defence manufacturing.
These firms have become important demand-side players in the startup ecosystem. Through structured innovation challenges and procurement programmes, they create market openings for startups developing defence and dual-use technologies, and they co-founded the Defence Innovation Organisation, which runs iDEX and connects startups directly to military procurement.
Their flagship effort is the DRISHTI Challenges, a large programme built around 101 problem statements drawn from major DPSUs, covering artificial intelligence, robotics, embedded systems, aerospace components, naval systems, electronic warfare, materials engineering, and manufacturing. Funding ranges from about Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 crore depending on the complexity of a solution. Through iDEX, co-founded by HAL and BEL, DPSUs also back startups via the Defence India Startup Challenges and Open Challenges, with SPARK grants up to Rs. 1.5 crore and up to Rs. 10 crore under iDEX Prime, plus access to domain experts, testing environments, certification routes, and potential procurement contracts.
Deep-tech startups in aerospace, defence electronics, naval systems, advanced materials, robotics, autonomous systems, electronic warfare, and manufacturing benefit most, especially validation- and early-revenue-stage teams with working prototypes that fit specific DPSU problem statements. By publishing clear problems and funding development, DPSUs offer a path from prototype to procurement that lowers market uncertainty for founders and advances India's self-reliance goals in defence. They are online at ddpmod.gov.in.
Defence Public Sector Undertakings currently has 1 program listed in this directory, including DRISHTI Challenges - Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). Each program page covers the funding amount, eligibility and application process.
Yes. Defence Public Sector Undertakings is listed under the government category. Its programs follow official government processes, and applications are submitted through official channels in your own name.
Start with the stages and sectors shown on this profile, then open the program pages for eligibility conditions and document checklists. If you want a structured view, send an enquiry below and an IncorpX advisor will walk you through fit and readiness.
No. Applications are always submitted in your own name with the respective program authority. IncorpX is independent of Defence Public Sector Undertakings and provides assistance for application preparation, document organisation and prerequisite registrations such as incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST.
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IncorpX is a private platform operated by a private company. It is not a government department, agency or official portal, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government body or of any organisation, incubator, accelerator, investor or partner listed in this directory. All program names, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only.
This directory is compiled from publicly available official sources and is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Funding amounts, eligibility criteria, required documents, deadlines and availability are determined by each program authority and change with every cycle, so the details shown here may be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm the current terms on the official program source before you apply or take any decision.
IncorpX charges no fee for the information in this directory and does not collect, process, lodge or submit any application on your behalf. Applications are made by you, in your own name, directly with the respective program authority. IncorpX provides assistance only for application preparation and for related registrations such as company incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME (Udyam) and GST. Eligibility, approval, disbursement and selection rest solely with the respective program authority, and IncorpX makes no representation or guarantee as to any outcome.
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