Scheme for Reimbursement of Testing and Certification Charges for Start-ups and Telecom MSEs

The scheme “Scheme for Reimbursement of Testing and Certification Charges for Start-ups and Telecom MSEs” has been launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India. It aims Testing and certification of telecom equipment are key enablers for Start-ups and Telecom MSEs, to ensure acceptance at both national and international deployment. Certificated products/solutions build consumer confidence and drive business growth, fostering adoption in domestic and global markets. To support start-ups and Micro & Small Enterprises (MSE’s), the competent authority has decided to reimburse testing and certification charges for Start-ups and MSEs in respect of testing and certification in the field of telecom under the mandatory/voluntary testing certification scheme. Through this Scheme Department of Telecommunication (DoT) will reimburse a part of testing charges incurred by Start-ups & MSE’s at Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) designated/ recognized labs or at NABL accredited Lab(s) [in case there is no TEC designated Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) for a particular test facility] and certification charges under mandatory/voluntary testing certification scheme.

Objectives:

• To reimburse a part of the testing and certification charges for Start-ups and MSEs in the field of telecom/ICT incurred by them at Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC)/ National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) designated/ recognized labs or at NABL accredited Lab(s) [in case there is no TEC designated CAB for a particular test facility] under mandatory/voluntary testing certification scheme.
• To increase the competence of Start-ups/ MSE’s and create a conducive ecosystem in Telecom product development, thereby promoting their competitiveness in the domestic and export markets.

Duration of the Scheme:

• In order to catalyse the ecosystem, this scheme will be operational for a period of two years from the date of implementation or until the allocated funds of ₹25,00,00,000/- are fully utilised, whichever occurs earlier.

Financial Assistance:

1. The reimbursement of testing and certification charges will be provided as follows:

• Start-Ups: Up to 75% of testing and certification charges
• Micro Enterprises: Up to 60% of testing and certification charges
• Small Enterprises: Up to 50% of testing and certification charges

1. The reimbursement is applicable for testing conducted at:

• Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) / National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) designated or recognised labs; or
• NABL-accredited labs (in case the TEC-designated Conformity Assessment Body is not available).

1. The maximum reimbursement is capped at ₹50,00,000/- per applicant during the scheme duration.

Conditions:

• The product certificate (MTCTE/Voluntary Certification) must be issued after the scheme implementation guidelines or the notified date.
• The reimbursement claim must be submitted within 3 months from the date of issue of the product certificate by TEC.
• Reimbursement is applicable only for testing and certification related to Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE) or voluntary certification.
• Reimbursement will not be provided for control tests related to product research and development (R&D).

1. The applicant should be a Start-up registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India.
2. The applicant should be a Micro or Small Enterprise registered under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
3. The applicant should be incorporated within Indian territory.
4. The applicant’s annual revenue should not exceed ₹5,00,00,000/- in any financial year since incorporation.
5. The applicant (Start-up) should not have raised funds exceeding ₹10,00,00,000/-.

• The applicant will not be eligible for reimbursement of testing related to product research and development (R&D).
• The applicant should not have received reimbursement for the same testing/certification from any other government scheme.

Online

Step 1: Application for the reimbursement of testing and certification charges can be submitted through the online portal https://tec.gov.in/tcrs.
Step 2: Applicants should submit their applications in online mode along with the following essential documents:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Annual Audited Financial Statements (since incorporation)
• DPIIT Registration or Udyam Registration Certificate, as the case may be
• Lab’s TEC/NCCS Designation Certificate or NABL Accreditation Certificate, as the case may be
• Test reports and Product certificate (MTCTE/Voluntary Certification)
• Invoice/Receipt issued by TEC/NCCS designated Lab(s) or NABL Accredited Lab
• Payment Receipt of certification fees paid to TEC/CB
• An Undertaking that Start-up/ MSEs annual revenue should not have crossed INR 5 crores in any financial year (since incorporation), and the Start-up should not have raised funds more than INR 10 crores.
• Bank account details along with a copy of a cancelled cheque.
• Self-declaration confirming that the applicant has not received any reimbursement under any other government scheme for the product testing & certification charges applied under this scheme.
• Copy of PAN card
• Any other required documents
  Step 3: Application for the reimbursement of testing and certification charges can be submitted through a defined process/format, as mentioned in Annexure-I.

Notes:

• Submit the application online before the prescribed quarterly deadline.
• The application is screened by Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE) for completeness.
• Eligible applications are forwarded to the Technical Evaluation Committee for evaluation and due diligence.
• Recommendations are sent to the Administrative Committee for approval.
• Final approval is granted by the competent authority.
• Funds are released by Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) to TCOE.
• TCOE disburses reimbursement to the applicant within 7 days.