West Bengal Tourism Incentive Scheme — Up to ₹7.5L Grant

The West Bengal Incentive Scheme is a tourism-focused support programme run by the Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal. It was launched on 22 February 2021 and stays open until 31 December 2025, with the twin aims of nurturing entrepreneurship and generating employment across the state's tourism economy.

Its State Capital Investment Subsidy gives entrepreneurs a non-repayable grant of up to ₹7.5 lakh, equal to 50% of eligible project costs, whether they are setting up a fresh tourism unit or expanding one that already exists.

Alongside the cash support, the Capacity Utilisation component offers a planning advantage. Mega tourism projects that win approval can build beyond the normally permitted ceiling by receiving additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR), with the exact extra allowance determined by the competent authorities.

Taken together, the scheme addresses both the money a tourism venture needs at the outset and, for larger projects, the physical capacity it needs in order to grow.

• Grant of up to ₹7.5 lakh, covering 50% of eligible project costs
• Non-repayable capital subsidy for tourism projects and units
• Open to new units set up on or after 22 February 2021 and to expansion projects
• Approved mega projects receive additional Floor Area Ratio beyond the permitted maximum
• Applications close on 31 December 2025
• Apply online through the West Bengal Shilpasathi portal

Eligibility is built around the tourism sector and the timing of your project.

• New tourism projects and units, as well as expansion projects of existing units, qualify if they were set up on or after 22 February 2021.
• A separate window exists for hotel units that began commercial operations between 7 January 2015 and 31 December 2020 but could not apply under the earlier 2015 scheme because they held no bar licence.
• Promoters may come from the private sector, co-operative sector or joint sector, or be companies and undertakings owned or managed by the State Government.
• The proposal must be supported by a detailed feasibility report or project report prepared for the purpose.
• The project must be approved and sanctioned by a Central Financial Institution, a Commercial Bank or a State Financial Institution.
• Before incentives can be claimed, the unit must hold a Registration Certificate, a Date of Commencement Certificate and an Eligibility Certificate issued by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited on satisfactory arrangement.

West Bengal Tourism Incentive Scheme — Up to ₹7.5L Grant is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for West Bengal Tourism Incentive Scheme — Up to ₹7.5L Grant closed on 31 Dec 2025. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

The headline support is a grant of up to ₹7.5 lakh, which covers 50% of eligible costs. It is non-repayable — a subsidy rather than a loan — and is available both to new tourism ventures and to existing units that are expanding.

Approved mega projects receive a separate regulatory benefit: additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) above the maximum otherwise permissible. This headroom permits larger construction and greater operational capacity for big-ticket tourism infrastructure, with the final determination resting with the competent authorities.

West Bengal Tourism Incentive Scheme — Up to ₹7.5L Grant is offered by Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal, a government body. As a government-backed grant, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.

Applications move through the Common Application Form (CAF) on the Shilpasathi portal, and the first step is a screening of that form together with the supporting documents uploaded with it. This check establishes that the application is complete and satisfies the basic criteria.

The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited then carries out the substantive evaluation. It assesses whether the project qualifies and issues the three certificates every applicant requires — Registration, Date of Commencement and Eligibility.

Incentives are granted only after these certification steps are completed successfully and the competent authority gives final approval. Units that clear both the eligibility assessment and the approval stage are the ones that receive benefits under the scheme.

Before you apply to West Bengal Tourism Incentive Scheme — Up to ₹7.5L Grant, 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.

West Bengal Tourism Incentive Scheme — Up to ₹7.5L Grant is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹7.5L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.