Testing Fee Reimbursement Scheme

The Testing Fee Reimbursement Scheme, operated by the National SC-ST Hub, is designed to lower the financial burden of product testing and certification for entrepreneurs from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. Under this subsidy, eligible micro and small enterprises can claim back 80% of the testing fee they pay, subject to a maximum of ₹1,00,000 per financial year. The program does not cover GST or other taxes.

Testing must be carried out at laboratories accredited by NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) or BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). It can also be done at labs run by any Central or State Government Department or Public Sector Undertaking. Additionally, expenses related to BIS licences or certifications are included. The goal is to help SC/ST-owned MSEs improve product quality and gain better market access by making certification more affordable.

Applications are accepted year-round with no fixed deadline. Founders must submit a comprehensive set of documents, including Udyam Registration, GST certificate (if applicable), PAN card, caste certificate of the proprietor or all partners/directors, shareholding pattern proof, partnership deed or MoA/AoA, payment receipt, system-generated GST invoice, a stamped and signed test report, proof of any prior reimbursement under this scheme in the same financial year, and a cancelled cheque from the enterprise's current account.

• Subsidy covers 80% of product testing fees up to ₹1,00,000 per year.
• Applicable to testing at NABL/BIS accredited labs or Government/PSU labs.
• Also includes BIS licences and certification costs.
• Open year-round – rolling applications with no deadline.
• Exclusively for SC/ST-owned MSEs with more than 51% shareholding.

This scheme is exclusively for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) where SC/ST entrepreneurs hold more than 51% of the share capital. The enterprise must have a valid Udyam Registration (MSME registration) to apply. Founders must belong to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe communities.

Testing Fee Reimbursement Scheme is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Testing Fee Reimbursement Scheme 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.

Successful applicants receive a cash reimbursement covering 80% of the testing fee, up to a maximum of ₹1,00,000 per financial year. The subsidy can be used for testing at NABL/BIS accredited laboratories or labs of any Central/State Department/Public Sector Undertaking. It also covers costs for BIS licences or certifications. GST and other taxes are not included in the reimbursement.

Testing Fee Reimbursement Scheme is offered by National SC-ST Hub, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Before you apply to Testing Fee Reimbursement Scheme, 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.

Testing Fee Reimbursement Scheme is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹1L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.