Economy GS 3 In the news 6 times

iDEX

Innovations for Defence Excellence

iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) was launched in 2018 under the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence. It is a startup and MSME-focused innovation ecosystem that funds, mentors, and procures solutions for defence and aerospace challenges through a competitive challenge mechanism.

Key details

As of February 2025: 549 problem statements opened, 619 startups and MSMEs involved, 430 iDEX contracts signed
iDEX provides non-dilutive grants of up to ₹1.5 crore per startup for early-stage development, scaling to ₹10 crore+ for advanced development
Operates under the DISC (Defence India Startup Challenge) framework; DISC rounds have addressed problems from naval radars to drone swarm technology
iDEX winners receive direct procurement pathways, circumventing the longer DAP process
Complemented by the Technology Development Fund (TDF) for SMEs and academia

In the news

● Tracked since March 10, 2026 · last seen May 23, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes

23 May '26

India to become major defence exporter in 25-30 years: Rajnath Singh

Internal Security

20 May '26

Indian Navy awards ADITI 3.0 contract for HPM system to Tonbo Imaging

Internal Security

17 May '26

Experts Explain | Make in India in defence sector: Challenges, bottlenecks, and the way forward

Internal Security

23 Apr '26