UPJA 2026 — Pusa Krishi Incubation Program

UPJA 2026 is a flagship grant track under the Pusa Krishi Incubation Program, an initiative of the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) that operates with support from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The program targets registered agri-startups that have already validated their idea and are beyond the prototype stage — meaning they must have a minimum viable product (MVP) or a fully market-ready product.

Selected ventures receive a non-dilutive grant of up to ₹25 lakh, which the program does not convert into equity. In addition to financial support, grantees benefit from incubation support tailored to agri-innovation, direct mentorship from IARI scientists, and hands-on access to the institute's research laboratories and infrastructure at the Pusa campus in Delhi.

Eligible sectors include agritech, food processing, agricultural supply chain, and rural innovation enterprises. The final deadline for submissions is 17 May 2026 at 11:59 PM.

• Equity-free grant of up to ₹25 lakh for agri-startups with an MVP or market-ready product.
• Run by ICAR–IARI under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare – by and for agri-innovation.
• Mentorship from IARI scientists and access to their research labs and campus infrastructure.
• Focuses on agritech, food processing, agri supply chain, and rural innovation ventures.
• Applications must be submitted by the founder directly — no agents or third parties allowed.
• Deadline: 17 May 2026 (11:59 PM).

UPJA 2026 is open to registered Indian startups that are structured as a private limited company or a limited liability partnership (LLP). The applicant must be a founder of the startup, and their name as per the application must match the name on their Aadhaar card. The startup must have developed either a minimum viable product (MVP) or a full market-ready product — this grant is not for ideation-stage ventures. The business must operate in one of these sectors: agriculture, food processing, agri supply chain, or rural innovation. Applications must be submitted directly by the founder; third-party applications are not accepted.

UPJA 2026 — Pusa Krishi Incubation Program is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for UPJA 2026 — Pusa Krishi Incubation Program closed on 17 May 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

Successful applicants receive a grant-in-aid of up to ₹25 lakh, disbursed in milestones tied to project progress. Because the grant is non-dilutive, the program takes no equity in the startup. Besides capital, selected startups gain admission to the Pusa Krishi Incubation Program, which provides structured incubation support. This includes one-on-one mentorship from IARI scientists specialising in agriculture and allied fields, and access to the institute's research laboratories, testing equipment, and infrastructure located at the Pusa campus in Delhi.

UPJA 2026 — Pusa Krishi Incubation Program is offered by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, a government body. As a government-backed grant, 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 UPJA 2026 — Pusa Krishi Incubation 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.

UPJA 2026 — Pusa Krishi Incubation Program is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹25L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.