DoT launches scheme for reimbursement of testing, certification costs for start-ups, MSMEs

The Telecom Department has launched a scheme for reimbursement of testing and certification charges for startups as well as micro and small enterprises. Announcing the new initiative, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, while announcing the initiative, termed it as a “seminal moment" for MSMEs. Under this scheme, 75% of testing and certification costs of start-ups, 60% for micro enterprises and 50% for small enterprises will be reimbursed by DoT.

A corpus of ₹25 crore have been allocated for it, and each start-up or MSE can get up to ₹50 lakh. Applications can be made online.

“A child in its infancy needs all the support it can get. And in the start-up environment, where every cent and every paisa counts the difference between today and tomorrow, the government has committed to stand with our MSMSEs and start-ups. We will not only help them through the process of certification but also financially stand by them,” he said while announcing the scheme.

Scindia also stressed on the importance of cybersecurity in today’s world where wars are also “fought in clouds”.

After the launch, Scindia said that DoT has set up a project management unit with representatives from BSNL, TCS, Tejas and C-DoT to monitor progress of 4G rollout in BSNL.

He said that he and telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal monitor the progress on a daily basis.