The Ministry of Science & Technology issued a clarification regarding the closure of the Call for Proposal under the Research Development & Innovation (RDI) Scheme by the Technology Development Board (TDB). The statement refutes media reports from September 30, 2026, that claimed fund shortage as the reason for the closure, emphasizing that this is incorrect. TDB closed the running call purely for "Administrative Reason" as notified on its website, due to a massive influx of project proposals that necessitated a temporary "PAUSE" in the process.
The call will reopen shortly after the assessment of all projects received until September 30, 2026, with the Investment Committee (IC) and TDB working overnight to complete the evaluation process expeditiously. The clarification explicitly states there is absolutely no shortage of funds for disbursement to Eligible Technology Enterprises (ETEs). Additionally, the DST/ANRF is in the process of assigning several other Seed Loan Fund Managers (SLFMs) in the very near future, indicating continued support for innovation funding.