Capital Investment Subsidy for Goan Diaspora — Up to ₹1 Cr, Goa IT Units
A Goa IT Policy subsidy that rebates up to 20% of the capital an IT unit invests in office space, capped at ₹1 crore, with extra incentives for Goan Diaspora owners and for units that hire locally.
- Funding amount
- ₹10L – ₹1Cr (subsidy)
- Funding type
- Subsidy
- Provider
- Department of Information Technology, Government of Goa (Government)
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
This is a capital expenditure rebate run by the Department of Information Technology, Government of Goa, and it forms part of the state's IT Policy framework introduced in 2018. It exists to pull technology employers into Goa and to keep the ones already there growing, by softening the cost of building out office space inside the state.
It is not a milestone-linked grant. Eligible IT units can claim up to 20% of what they spend on developing office space, and certain categories of unit — those owned by the Goan Diaspora, units setting up as Mega Business Units, and units located in sectors the Government has marked as priority — can layer additional percentage points on top of that base rate. Existing Mega Units have a route in too, against capital investment made over the previous three years.
The design leans heavily on local employment. How much a unit actually receives is pro-rated against the proportion of its staff who are of Goan origin or are Goan Graduates, so payroll composition matters as much as spending. There are also hard ceilings tied to the size of the business unit, and every rupee released depends on the department's budgetary allocation for the year.
There is no single application window to race for — units can file on a quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis after the relevant expenditure has been incurred. In exchange, they must stay compliant: the department re-checks eligibility at the close of every financial year.
Highlights
- Up to 20% capital investment subsidy, capped at ₹1 crore for Mega Business Units
- Ceilings of ₹10 lakh for Smaller Business Units and ₹50 lakh for Other Business Units
- Extra 10% each for Goan Diaspora ownership, Mega Business Units and key-focus industries
- Minimum 15 employees with at least 60% of Goan Origin, on rolls for one year
- Rolling applications — file quarterly, bi-annual or annual after incurring expenditure
- Approval and disbursement targeted within 90 days of application receipt
Who can apply
The scheme is open to new and existing IT units that operate in Goa, with the entity registered in the state.
Eligible legal forms are:
- Proprietorship Firms
- Private Limited Companies
- Public Limited Companies
- Registered Partnership Firms
- Limited Liability Partnerships
Ownership test: the unit's CEO or Head, or its majority stakeholder(s), must be Goan Diaspora.
Employment test: a minimum of 15 employees must be hired, of whom at least 60% are of Goan Origin. Those employees need to have been on the company's rolls for a minimum of one year.
Office space test: for any given office space, a company can claim the subsidy only if it has operated from that space for more than one year.
Banking requirement: the bank accounts of the unit and/or of its partner(s) or director(s) must be linked to Aadhaar.
Eligibility is not a one-time check. Units are evaluated at the end of every Fiscal Year to confirm they still qualify.
Capital Investment Subsidy for Goan Diaspora — Up to ₹1 Cr, Goa IT Units is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
Capital Investment Subsidy for Goan Diaspora — Up to ₹1 Cr, Goa IT Units accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.
What the funding covers
Base capital investment subsidy — up to 20%. A new unit developing office space can claim up to 20% of its capital investment during the scheme's tenure. An existing unit that qualifies as a Mega Unit can claim the same 20% rate against capital investment incurred over the last 3 years.
Three additional 10% top-ups — each worth an extra 10% investment subsidy on capital investment:
- Establishing a Mega Business Unit
- Office space falling within industries the Government identifies as key focus areas
- Units owned by the Goan Diaspora
Disbursement is pro-rated against local hiring. The incentive released depends on the share of employees of Goan origin or Goan Graduates on the rolls:
- 50% of the eligible incentive — up to 30% Goan employees
- 75% — between 30% and 60% Goan employees
- 100% — more than 60% Goan employees
Rebate ceilings by unit size:
- Smaller Business Units: ₹10 lakh
- Other Business Units: ₹50 lakh
- Mega Business Units: ₹1 crore
Expansion support: units that satisfy the criteria of an Expansion Unit can claim the investment subsidy for expansions, provided the new employees hired for that expansion have been on the rolls for at least one year before the application.
Capital investment here excludes land and building costs, and all benefits remain subject to budgetary allocation.
About the provider
Capital Investment Subsidy for Goan Diaspora — Up to ₹1 Cr, Goa IT Units is offered by Department of Information Technology, Government of Goa, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Once an incentive application is received, it goes through scrutiny against a defined checklist. The department targets completing this scrutiny within 30 days.
The application then goes to the Empowered Committee, which is responsible for approving it. That approval step is targeted for completion within 60 days of the application being received.
After clearance, a Sanction Order is issued and the subsidy disbursement is processed — typically within 90 days from the date the application was first received.
Two conditions sit on top of this timeline: all benefits are subject to budgetary allocation, and units are evaluated at the end of each Fiscal Year to verify that they continue to be eligible.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Capital Investment Subsidy for Goan Diaspora — Up to ₹1 Cr, Goa IT Units, keep the following documents ready:
- A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
- Company registration documents and PAN
- Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
- Recent financial statements or projections
- Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available
Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.
Who this is best for
Capital Investment Subsidy for Goan Diaspora — Up to ₹1 Cr, Goa IT Units is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹10L – ₹1Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding can an IT unit actually receive under this scheme?
The subsidy covers up to 20% of eligible capital investment, and the ceiling depends on the size of the business unit: ₹10 lakh for a Smaller Business Unit, ₹50 lakh for Other Business Units and ₹1 crore for Mega Business Units. Beyond that base rate, a unit can add 10% for establishing a Mega Business Unit, another 10% if its office space sits in an industry the Government treats as a key focus area, and a further 10% if the unit is owned by the Goan Diaspora. The amount finally released is also pro-rated against the Goan share of your payroll.
Who is eligible to apply?
Any new or existing IT unit operating in Goa, registered in the state, and set up as a Proprietorship Firm, Private or Public Limited Company, Registered Partnership Firm or LLP. The unit's CEO or Head, or its majority stakeholder(s), must be Goan Diaspora. It must employ at least 15 people, with a minimum of 60% of them of Goan Origin and on the rolls for at least one year, and its bank accounts (or those of its partners/directors) must be Aadhaar-linked.
Is there an application deadline?
No. This is a rolling scheme that stays open, and applicants can file on a quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis after the relevant expenditure has been incurred. That makes the timing flexible and tied to your investment cycle rather than to a fixed window.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration?
Neither DPIIT recognition nor MSME registration appears among the scheme's stated eligibility conditions. What the scheme does ask for is registration of the company or firm in Goa, Aadhaar-linked bank accounts for the unit and/or its partners or directors, a Goan Diaspora CEO, Head or majority stakeholder, and the required local hiring.
Does the scheme take equity in my company?
No. This is a capital investment subsidy — a cash rebate on eligible capital expenditure — not an equity investment. It does not dilute founder or shareholder ownership, and no stake is handed over in return for the money.
What are the hiring conditions I have to keep meeting?
You need a minimum of 15 employees, and at least 60% of them must be of Goan Origin, with those employees on the company's rolls for a minimum of one year. Beyond eligibility, the Goan share of your workforce also decides how much of the sanctioned incentive is paid out: 50% of it if up to 30% of employees are Goan, 75% if that share is between 30% and 60%, and the full 100% if more than 60% of employees are of Goan origin. Eligibility is re-verified at the end of each Fiscal Year.
Can existing units and expansion projects apply?
Yes. Both new and existing units with operations in Goa are covered. Existing units that qualify as Mega Units can claim up to 20% against capital investment incurred over the last 3 years. Units meeting the criteria of an Expansion Unit can also claim the investment subsidy for an expansion, as long as the new employees hired for it have been on the rolls for at least one year before applying.
What do I need in place before I apply?
You apply through the Goa Online portal, filling in the mandatory fields of the application form and uploading the supporting documents it asks for. Practically speaking, you will need the unit's registration in Goa and a bank account — belonging to the unit and/or its partner(s) or director(s) — that is linked to Aadhaar, since Aadhaar seeding of those accounts is a stated eligibility condition. On submission, a unique registration number is generated for future reference.
How do I submit the application?
Register on the official Goa Online web portal, verify your email ID and mobile number with the OTP, complete the registration form with all mandatory fields, create your login credentials and accept the declaration and terms. Then log in, go to "Services" and then "IT Services", click the name of the scheme to open the application form, fill in every mandatory field, upload the required documents and submit. You can then apply on a quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis as expenditure is incurred.
How long does approval and disbursement take?
Scrutiny of the application against the department's checklist is targeted within 30 days. The Empowered Committee's approval is targeted within 60 days of the application being received. After approval a Sanction Order is issued and disbursement is typically processed within 90 days of the initial application receipt. All of this remains subject to the budgetary allocation available.
Who offers Capital Investment Subsidy for Goan Diaspora — Up to ₹1 Cr, Goa IT Units?
Capital Investment Subsidy for Goan Diaspora — Up to ₹1 Cr, Goa IT Units is offered by Department of Information Technology, Government of Goa, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
How do I apply for Capital Investment Subsidy for Goan Diaspora — Up to ₹1 Cr, Goa IT Units?
Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.
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