Why in news?
In a Rajya Sabha reply on 20 December 2025, the Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, stated that the government has supported 1,706 start‑ups under the TIDE 2.0 scheme since its launch in 2019. The scheme aims to foster technology‑driven entrepreneurship.
Background
TIDE 2.0 is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It builds on the earlier TIDE programme to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in information and communication technology (ICT). The scheme is implemented through 51 incubators situated in institutes of higher learning and R&D organisations. The government has approved an outlay of ₹264.62 crore over five years to support around 2,000 tech start‑ups working in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics and other emerging technologies.
Main features
- Holistic incubation: TIDE 2.0 centres provide co‑working space, mentoring, networking and infrastructure support to address issues of accessibility for start‑ups. They also encourage entrepreneurship models that generate both financial and social value.
- EIR and grant programmes: The Entrepreneur‑in‑Residence (EiR) component offers grants of up to ₹4 lakh to individuals or start‑ups at the idea stage to develop and validate proof‑of‑concepts. The Grant component provides up to ₹7 lakh to start‑ups with a proof‑of‑concept to build a minimum viable product and move towards market readiness.
- Technology standards and IPR: TIDE 2.0 promotes adherence to relevant technology standards and facilitates increased intellectual‑property filings. Dedicated Centres of Excellence on Intellectual Property provide services, awareness and training.
- Lifecycle support: Start‑ups are supported from ideation through prototype development, product development and market testing. The scheme has helped more than 150 incubated start‑ups expand abroad and has seen 1,672 patents filed by 638 start‑ups.
- Revenue models: TIDE centres adopt multiple revenue models, including equity exits, to ensure long‑term sustainability.
Significance
By nurturing deep‑tech start‑ups and providing early‑stage funding, TIDE 2.0 strengthens India’s innovation ecosystem. The scheme complements other government initiatives such as GENESIS, SAMRIDH and Start‑Up India in building a robust start‑up pipeline.
Sources: PIB
