Scheme for Reimbursement of Testing and Certification Charges for Start-ups and Telecom MSEs 2026

This government scheme aims to boost the use of millets and promote value-added millet products by giving Read More... financial incentives on increased sales to eligible manufacturers. Read less

Details

In a move to promote healthy eating and support Indian agriculture, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has rolled out the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Millet-Based Products (PLISMBP). This initiative is designed to encourage companies to manufacture and sell more millet-based food items, both within India and abroad.

What Is This Scheme?

The PLISMBP scheme is a special program by the Indian government to make millet-based foods more popular and widely available. It works by giving financial rewards to businesses that increase their sales of eligible millet products. The goal is simple: get more millets into our diets and encourage innovation in making tasty, healthy millet foods.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This scheme is for companies and manufacturers who are involved in creating millet-based food products. Whether you are a large corporation or a small or medium-sized enterprise (MSME), if you are making or plan to make packaged Ready-to-Cook or Ready-to-Eat foods with a good amount of millets, you can potentially benefit.

Why This Scheme Is Important

Millets are nutritious grains that have been a staple in India for centuries. This scheme aims to bring them back into the mainstream food supply. By providing incentives, the government hopes to encourage businesses to invest in millet processing and product development, leading to more options for consumers and better opportunities for farmers.

Objective

This government scheme aims to boost the use of millets and promote value-added millet products by giving financial incentives on increased sales to eligible manufacturers.

Benefits

Financial Assistance:

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

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).

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).

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

Your total sales of all food products in the Base Year (FY 2020-21) must be above the minimum sales amount specified in Appendix B of the scheme guidelines.
If you are an MSME applicant, a Udyam Registration Certificate is a must.
You must be manufacturing or planning to manufacture eligible products in India and sell them.
You need to achieve a minimum 10% CAGR on the sales of your eligible products compared to the base year. If this growth isn't met in any year, no incentive will be given for that year, unless a Force Majeure event affects industry growth, which might be reviewed by the EGoS.
You can apply for incentives on products you plan to manufacture during the scheme tenure, even if you haven't started yet. However, these intended products and their millet content must be declared when you submit your application. No new products can be added after the application is submitted.
The entire manufacturing process, from raw materials to the finished product, must happen in India. However, this condition doesn't apply to the use of additives, flavours, and edible oil in millet products.
Your name, or the names of your promoters, should not appear on lists of wilful defaulters (₹25 lacs and above), defaulters (₹1 crore and above) from CIBIL, or SEBI debarred lists as of your application date. You'll need to provide an undertaking confirming this.

How To Apply

Keep an eye out for the Expression of Interest (EOI) announcement from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
Once the EOI is released, eligible applicants can apply online through the designated official portal.
Ensure you have all the required documents ready before starting the application process.
Submit the completed application form along with all supporting documents through the online portal.
Pay the applicable application fee online: ₹1,00,000/- for Large Entities and ₹10,000/- for MSMEs.

The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries through a Project Management Agency (PMA), currently IFCI Limited. For detailed guidelines and application links, please refer to the official website of the Ministry or IFCI.

Documents Required

A duly filled Application Form (Annexure-1).
Memorandum And Articles Of Association / Partnership Deed / Equivalent Registration Documents (as applicable).
Shareholding Pattern / Details Of Partners (as applicable).
Audited Financial Statements for the last 3 years, including Balance Sheet and its schedules.
Profit Before Tax (PBT) and Profit After Tax (PAT) details for the last 3 years.
Permanent Account Number (PAN).
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Registration Certificate.
Udyam Registration Certificate (mandatory for MSME applicants).
FSSAI License for the eligible products.
A certificate from a Statutory Auditor or Independent Chartered Accountant regarding sales of all food products and eligible products.
Details of sales, both domestic and export, for food products and eligible products.
Product details with a declaration of the percentage of millet content.
Front and back photographs of eligible products, showing the millet content on the label.
Credit History / Commercial CIBIL Report.
An Undertaking for Integrity Compliance (Annexure-7).
Consent for Audit of Manufacturing Sites/Offices (Annexure-6).
Details of manufacturing facilities, including own and contract manufacturing units.
Details of Promoters, CEO, Directors, and Key Managerial Personnel (along with PAN/DIN).
External Credit Rating details (if available).

Official Sources

For the latest forms and detailed guidelines, please visit:PLI-Millets Guidelines.pdf

FAQ’s

What is the main goal of this Production Linked Incentive scheme?

The primary aim of this scheme is to boost the use of millets in food items and encourage value addition to millet-based products by providing financial incentives to manufacturers for increased sales in both local and international markets.

Who is eligible to apply for this scheme?

Companies such as Proprietorship Firms, Partnership Firms, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), Companies registered in India, Cooperatives, and MSMEs are eligible to apply if they meet the specified criteria.

What kind of products can get benefits under this scheme?

The scheme covers packaged and branded Ready-to-Cook (RTC) and Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food products that contain more than 15% millet content by weight or volume.

Are there any specific products that are not included in this scheme?

Yes, products that are primarily processed millets, such as de-husked grains, polished grains, and simple millet flour/atta, are not covered under this incentive scheme.

For how long will this scheme be in effect?

The scheme is planned to be implemented over a period of 5 years, starting from the Financial Year 2022-23 and concluding in FY 2026-27.

How is the incentive amount calculated for eligible companies?

The incentive is calculated based on the incremental sales of eligible products achieved over the base year, using the specific incentive rates defined by the scheme for different financial years.

Is there a minimum sales growth requirement to qualify for the incentive?

Yes, applicants must achieve a minimum Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10% in their sales of eligible products. Failure to meet this growth target in any given year means no incentive will be payable for that year.

What is the minimum percentage of millet required in the products for them to be eligible?

Products must contain more than 15% millet content, measured by weight or volume, to be considered eligible for the incentive under this scheme.

What is the process for an applicant to apply for this scheme?

Applicants can apply online through the designated portal after the Ministry of Food Processing Industries releases an Expression of Interest (EOI). Ensure all required documents are ready before applying.

Is there a fee to apply for this scheme?

Yes, there is an application fee. Large Entities are required to pay ₹1,00,000/-, while MSMEs need to pay ₹10,000/-. These fees are payable online.

Can a company apply under both the MSME and Large Entity categories?

No, an applicant must choose to apply under either the MSME category or the Large Entity category; they cannot apply under both simultaneously.

How are the applications for this scheme chosen?

Applications are assessed and ranked based on a set of defined evaluation criteria. The selection of applicants is made in descending order of the marks they receive.

How will the awarded incentives be paid to the applicants?

The incentive amount will be disbursed directly to the applicant's bank account through Direct Bank Transfer via the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).