In a move to strengthen innovation and global competitiveness, India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched a new scheme to reimburse testing and certification charges for telecom startups and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). The initiative is intended to reduce the financial barriers to product certification, helping smaller companies meet national standards and improve their chances of success in both domestic and international markets.
Who’s Eligible for Support?
To qualify for reimbursement, startups and MSEs must meet specific eligibility criteria. The goal is to ensure support goes to early-stage and small-scale businesses that stand to benefit most from financial assistance.
- Startups must be registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
- MSEs must be registered with the Ministry of MSME in either the Micro or Small category.
- Applicants must be incorporated within India.
- Annual revenue should not have exceeded INR 5 crores in any financial year since incorporation.
- Startups must not have raised more than INR 10 crores in funding.
This makes the program especially attractive to smaller-scale telecom innovators working on hardware, IoT devices, or communication infrastructure tools looking to certify their products for market readiness.
What Does the Scheme Cover?
The scheme reimburses a percentage of the testing and certification charges incurred at designated laboratories across India. Reimbursement rates are structured based on the business type:
- Startups – up to 75%
- Micro Enterprises – up to 60%
- Small Enterprises – up to 50%
These reimbursements apply to tests conducted at Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) or National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) designated labs, or at NABL-accredited labs when a TEC-designated Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) is not available for a required test.
Additional Details
- Only products that have been certified under the Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) or voluntary certification schemes by TEC will be considered.
- Certifications must have been issued after the scheme’s official start date.
- Applications must be submitted within three months of receiving the product certificate.
- The total reimbursement for any single applicant is capped at INR 50 lakhs over the scheme’s duration.
- Reimbursements do not apply to R&D testing activities or control tests unrelated to product certification.
Duration and Application Process
The scheme became active on March 5, 2025, and will remain in effect for two years or until the allocated INR 25 crore fund is exhausted, whichever comes first. All applications must be submitted through the official portal: https://tec.gov.in/tcrs, which opened on March 10, 2025.
Applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis, with only those submitted by the 20th of the last month in each quarter considered for that cycle’s reimbursement.
Oversight and Administration
The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) will serve as the nodal authority overseeing the program, while the Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE) has been appointed as the implementing agency responsible for operational management. A technical evaluation committee will be established to review applications, assess supporting documentation, and approve disbursements.
For this article’s source information and any product certification guidance, please contact Global Validity.
Quick Country Facts
India
Certification Body: Ministry of IT and Communications, Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing
Certification Type: Mandatory
License Validity: Indefinite
Application Language: English
Legal License Holder: Local Representative
In-Country Testing Requirement: Testing Not Required
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