Meristems Student Grant-in-Aid Program

The Meristems Student Grant-in-Aid Program, operated by ANGRAU Poshan Incubator under the RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubation Scheme, aims to build a pipeline of student agripreneurs. It is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. The program targets students from Andhra Pradesh with innovative ideas or proof-of-concepts in agriculture and allied sectors, helping them launch agri-startups as a career path.

Participants undergo a structured one-month training and hands-on internship alongside startups in the incubator ecosystem. After completing the training and performance evaluation, students become eligible for a grant-in-aid of up to ₹4 lakhs to develop prototypes or market-ready products.

Beyond funding, the program offers mentoring, access to research laboratories, shared office space, intellectual property support, and product testing facilities. It nurtures young innovators into full-fledged entrepreneurs in Andhra Pradesh's agri-sector.

• Up to ₹4 lakh grant-in-aid for student agripreneurs.
• One-month structured training plus hands-on internship.
• Access to research labs, shared office, IP & testing support.
• Open to Andhra Pradesh students; no DPIIT registration required.
• Funded by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare via RKVY-RAFTAAR.

• Applicants must be students from Andhra Pradesh with innovative ideas or proof-of-concept in agriculture or allied sectors, interested in launching an agri-business.
• Only full-time agripreneurs are accepted.
• After completing a mandatory one-month training at the ANGRAU Poshan Incubator, all incubatees become eligible for grant support, subject to consistent performance evaluation.
• Startups previously supported under any other RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubator are not eligible for subsequent rounds under the student category.
• Applicants are not required to be registered under DPIIT guidelines.

Meristems Student Grant-in-Aid Program is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for Meristems Student Grant-in-Aid Program closed on 17 Jan 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

• Grant-in-aid up to ₹4,00,000 for converting ideas or proof-of-concepts into prototypes or market-ready products.
• Access to research laboratories for product development and testing.
• Shared office facilities within the incubator.
• Intellectual property (IP) support to protect innovations.
• Product testing facilities to validate and refine products.
• One-month training and internship program with hands-on experience alongside other startups in the ecosystem.
• Mentoring throughout the program.

Meristems Student Grant-in-Aid Program is offered by ANGRAU Agri Innovation Foundation, an academic institution. It is delivered directly by ANGRAU Agri Innovation Foundation as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Applications are screened by the ANGRAU Poshan Incubator team. Shortlisted candidates must participate in a compulsory one-month training and internship program. After training, their performance is evaluated by the RKVY-RAFTAAR Incubation Committee. Upon recommendation, approval for grant-in-aid is sought through RC-KP and the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare. Funds are then disbursed based on milestone achievement.

Before you apply to Meristems Student Grant-in-Aid Program, 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.

Meristems Student Grant-in-Aid Program is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹4.0L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.