ADITI scheme

About ADITI Scheme

• Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) is a scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.
• Aim: It aims to develop about 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies in the proposed timeframe.
• Eligibility: Under this scheme start-ups are eligible to receive grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore for their research, development, and innovation endeavours in defence technology. 
• Time period: This scheme worth Rs 750 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26.
• It falls under the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) framework of the Department of Defence Production ,Ministry of Defence. 
• It also envisages to create a ‘Technology Watch Tool’ to bridge the gap between the expectations and requirements of the modern Armed Forces and the capabilities of the defence innovation ecosystem.
• In the first edition of ADITI, 17 challenges – Indian Army (3), Indian Navy (5), Indian Air Force (5) and Defence Space Agency (4) - have been launched.
• To motivate young innovators, iDEX was expanded to iDEX Prime, with the assistance increasing from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 10 crore.
• The idea behind the schemes/initiatives such as ADITI, iDEX, iDEX Prime is to also transform India into a knowledge society.
• The scheme will nurture the innovation of youth, and help the country leap forward in the field of technology.

Q1) What is iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence)?

It is the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), launched in April 2018.It aims to achieve self-reliance and foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, 

Source: DefConnect 2024: Raksha Mantri launches ADITI scheme to promote innovations in critical & strategic defence technologies