Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years)
A West Bengal government subsidy that waives electricity duty for five years on eligible tourism projects and hotel units approved under the state's 2021 incentive scheme.
- Funding amount
- Varies by program
- Funding type
- Subsidy
- Provider
- Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal (Government)
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
The Waiver of Electricity Duty is one of the sub-schemes grouped under The West Bengal Incentive Scheme, which the state's Department of Tourism brought into force on February 22, 2021. The parent scheme exists to promote self-employment and job creation by giving entrepreneurs financial assistance, and this particular component channels that support into tourism and hospitality.
Under it, qualifying tourism ventures and hotel units stop paying electricity duty on the power consumed at their approved project. The relief runs for five years, counted from the day the unit begins commercial operations.
The sub-scheme remains available until December 31, 2025. Its aim is to pull down running costs for tourism businesses in West Bengal, improve how well they compete, and encourage sustainable growth of tourism infrastructure across the state.
Highlights
- Electricity duty waived for 5 years from the date of commercial operation
- Open to tourism projects and hotel units in West Bengal
- Rolling deadline — the sub-scheme stays valid until December 31, 2025
- No fixed payout; savings depend on the unit's power consumption
- Run by the Department of Tourism under The West Bengal Incentive Scheme
- Applications filed online through the Shilpasathi portal
Who can apply
Eligibility turns on when the project was set up, how it is financed, and what certificates it holds.
- Tourism projects, individual units and expansion projects set up on or after February 22, 2021 are generally covered.
- Hotel units that began commercial operations between January 7, 2015 and December 31, 2020 also qualify, provided they could not apply under an earlier scheme because they had no Bar.
- The owning entity may sit in the private sector, the co-operative sector or the joint sector, or be a company or undertaking owned or managed by the State Government.
- The project must be backed by a detailed feasibility report.
- It must be approved and sanctioned by a Central Financial Institution, a Commercial Bank, or a State Financial Institution.
- The unit must hold a Registration Certificate, a Date of Commencement Certificate and an Eligibility Certificate, all issued by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited.
Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years) 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
Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years) 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
The benefit is relief from electricity duty on the electricity consumed by the approved project for five years from the date of commercial operation.
- The duty otherwise payable on consumption at the approved project is waived for the full five-year window.
- Operating costs come down, which helps tourism and hospitality businesses stay competitive.
- The savings flow into the sustainable growth of the unit within West Bengal's tourism sector.
- The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited facilitates the Registration, Date of Commencement and Eligibility Certificates so that the incentive can be drawn without friction.
No fixed sum is paid out. Because the value depends on how much power a unit consumes, the amount is shown simply as varies — the total benefit equals the electricity duty the project would have paid over those five years.
About the provider
Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years) is offered by Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal, 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
Applications are handled online through the Shilpasathi portal and clear several checks before any benefit is released.
- Document and eligibility screening: an initial review confirms that every required document has been submitted and that the unit satisfies the eligibility conditions.
- Certificates issued by WBTDCL: the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited studies the project's arrangements and compliance, and on being fully satisfied issues the Registration Certificate, the Date of Commencement Certificate and the Eligibility Certificate.
- Final approval: only after the applicant holds all of the prerequisite certificates does the competent authority approve the electricity duty waiver.
This staged verification is designed to make sure that only genuinely eligible and compliant tourism projects ever receive the incentive.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years), 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does this scheme actually give me?
There is no fixed cash amount. The support comes as a subsidy in the form of a waiver on the electricity duty charged for power consumed at your approved project. Since the saving depends on how much electricity your unit uses, the value is described simply as 'varies'. Over the five-year window, your total benefit is whatever duty you would otherwise have had to pay.
For how long does the waiver run, and when does the clock start?
The waiver applies for a period of five years. It is counted from the date your project begins commercial operation, not from the date you file the application.
Which projects and units are eligible?
The scheme generally covers eligible tourism projects, individual units and expansion projects set up on or after February 22, 2021. Hotel units that commenced commercial operations between January 7, 2015 and December 31, 2020 are also eligible if they could not apply under a previous scheme because they lacked a Bar.
Can an older hotel that never applied before still come in?
Yes, subject to the stated conditions. A hotel unit that started commercial operations between January 7, 2015 and December 31, 2020 qualifies provided the reason it missed the earlier scheme was the absence of a Bar. Everything else — financing approvals and the three certificates — still has to be in place.
Who can own or operate an eligible unit?
The unit may belong to the private sector, the co-operative sector, or the joint sector. Companies and undertakings that are owned or managed by the State Government are also covered.
Do I need a feasibility report or a bank sanction to qualify?
Yes. The project has to be supported by a detailed feasibility report, and it must be approved and sanctioned by a Central Financial Institution, a Commercial Bank, or a State Financial Institution.
Which certificates are required, and who issues them?
Three certificates are needed: the Registration Certificate, the Date of Commencement Certificate, and the Eligibility Certificate. All three are issued by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited, and an eligible unit applies for the electricity duty waiver only after securing them.
How do I apply for the waiver?
Everything happens online on the Shilpasathi portal. First register by clicking 'Create New', choosing your entity type (Industry, Business, Commercial, Charitable Society or Government entity) and entering the relevant registration number, then complete the User Registration form and click 'Register'. Existing users simply sign in with their User ID, password and Captcha. Once logged in, open 'ALL SERVICES' from the dashboard, tick the service named 'Tourism Incentive', click 'Create CAF' to generate a CAF ID, then choose 'Apply Online'. Fill in the common application form, attach the documents needed for the certificate, click 'Save & Continue', review the entries, tick the declaration box and hit 'Submit'. Updates at submission, approval or rejection stages arrive by SMS and email, and the approved Registration certificate can be downloaded from the system using 'Download Certificate'.
Is there a last date to apply?
No specific cut-off date is set — the deadline is rolling, meaning applications can be filed at any time. The sub-scheme itself, however, remains valid only until December 31, 2025.
Does the scheme take equity in my company?
No. This is a subsidy in the form of an electricity duty waiver, so it is non-dilutive. You do not give up any stake or ownership in return for the benefit.
What documents should I keep ready?
You will need the registration number of the entity being registered, a detailed feasibility report for the project, proof of approval and sanction from a Central Financial Institution, Commercial Bank or State Financial Institution, and the documents required for issue of the Registration, Date of Commencement and Eligibility Certificates. The completed common application form and the declaration must also be submitted on the portal.
Is DPIIT recognition required for Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years)?
No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years), though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.
Who is eligible to apply for Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years)?
Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years) is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
Who offers Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years)?
Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years) is offered by Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
More funding from Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal
Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal runs another program listed on startupfunds — compare them before you decide where to apply.
Alternatives to Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years)
Not sure Waiver of Electricity Duty — West Bengal Tourism Incentive (5 Years) is the right fit, or already applied? These are other subsidies open to Indian startups that founders shortlist alongside it.
Questions from founders
Ask anything about eligibility, documents or the process — answered by the community.
No questions yet — be the first to ask.