Cold Chain Rebate for Non-Horticulture Products: 50% Up to ₹5 Cr

The Cold Chain Rebate for Non-Horticulture Products is a capital subsidy offered by the Department of Industries, Government of Himachal Pradesh, delivered through Startup Himachal and the State Food Mission. It is built for businesses that create cold chain capacity inside the state for perishable goods other than fruits and vegetables.

Perishables like dairy, meat and fish lose value quickly when they cannot be stored or moved at controlled temperatures. Himachal Pradesh loses a good deal of that value every year, and this scheme is the state's answer to it. By covering half of the eligible project cost, it softens the large upfront outlay that cold storage units and temperature-controlled transport normally demand.

The benefit is capped at ₹5 crore per applicant. Because the support takes the form of a rebate rather than a loan or an equity investment, the promoter's ownership of the business stays untouched and the project's overall economics improve considerably.

There is no closing date to chase. Applications run on a rolling basis, so a promoter can move whenever the project plan, land and cost estimates are ready. Read alongside the state's wider food processing push, the programme is meant to diversify industry beyond horticulture and give farmers and processors a dependable way to hold their produce in good condition until it reaches the market.

• 50% rebate on the eligible cost of cold chain infrastructure
• Maximum rebate capped at ₹5 crore
• Meant for non-horticulture products such as dairy, meat and fish
• Run by the Department of Industries, Himachal Pradesh under the State Food Mission
• No deadline — applications accepted on a rolling basis
• Non-dilutive: it is a subsidy, so no equity is taken

The scheme is open to any entity that establishes cold chain infrastructure for non-horticulture products in Himachal Pradesh. The FAQ accompanying the incentive spells that out as private limited companies, LLPs, one person companies, partnership firms and proprietorships.

Two things carry the real weight here. First, the project must serve non-horticultural perishables — dairy, meat, fish and similar goods. Second, the facility must be set up within Himachal Pradesh. The published criteria do not impose a separate condition around DPIIT recognition or Udyam registration, although business registration papers (a Certificate of Incorporation, or Udyam Registration where it applies) form part of the usual documentation pack.

Eligibility wording is deliberately broad, so it is worth reading the official Incentives Guide issued by the State Food Mission before finalising a project design.

Cold Chain Rebate for Non-Horticulture Products: 50% Up to ₹5 Cr is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Cold Chain Rebate for Non-Horticulture Products: 50% Up to ₹5 Cr 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.

Approved applicants get a rebate covering 50% of the eligible cost of building cold chain infrastructure for non-horticulture products, subject to a ceiling of ₹5 crore.

• The support is a direct cash benefit, not a loan, so there is no interest to service.
• It applies to capital expenditure such as cold storage units, refrigerated transport and other temperature-controlled logistics assets.
• The rebate reduces the heavy front-loaded cost of advanced cold chain systems, which is what makes these projects bankable for smaller operators.
• Better preservation and longer shelf life translate into stronger market access for the dairy, meat and fish sectors the scheme targets.

Because the money comes as a rebate rather than an investment, no equity changes hands and the promoter retains full ownership of the venture. Disbursement follows the scheme's own terms, generally after the project is finished and the expenses have been verified.

Cold Chain Rebate for Non-Horticulture Products: 50% Up to ₹5 Cr is offered by Department of Industries, Government of Himachal Pradesh (Startup Himachal), a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.

• Eligibility check — go through the official incentive document published by the State Food Mission, Himachal Pradesh, and confirm that both the applicant entity and the proposed cold chain project meet the stated criteria.
• Project proposal — put together a detailed proposal describing the facility, its components, the product categories it will handle and the financial estimates behind it.
• Documentation — collect the paperwork the guidelines call for: business registration certificates such as a Certificate of Incorporation or Udyam Registration, financial statements, land ownership or lease records, itemised cost estimates, and the relevant permits and licences.
• Application submission — complete the prescribed form and file it with the concerned department, most likely the Department of Industries or the food processing department, either physically or through the designated online portal.
• Scrutiny — the State Food Mission or its delegated authority examines the application and supporting documents to verify eligibility and assess whether the project is feasible.
• Site inspection — where applicable, a team visits the proposed or completed facility to check the details given in the application.
• Approval and disbursement — on clearing review, the rebate is processed and released as per the scheme's disbursement terms, usually once the project is complete and the expenditure has been verified.

Before you apply to Cold Chain Rebate for Non-Horticulture Products: 50% Up to ₹5 Cr, 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.

Cold Chain Rebate for Non-Horticulture Products: 50% Up to ₹5 Cr is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹5Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.