Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme

DLI provides incentives and access to advanced design infrastructure for domestic startups and MSMEs.

The Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme is a key instrument under the Semicon India Programme to catalyze a strong, self-reliant chip design ecosystem by providing financial incentives and access to advanced design infrastructure for domestic startups and MSMEs.

• Domestic companies, startups and MSMEs engaged in semiconductor design or semiconductor-linked design.
• Target areas include ICs, chipsets, SoCs, systems, IP cores and semiconductor-linked designs.
• Applicants claiming incentives must retain domestic status, i.e., more than 50% beneficial ownership by resident Indian citizens / Indian companies ultimately owned and controlled by resident Indians, for 3 years after claiming incentives.

• Chip Design Infrastructure Support: Access to EDA tools, IP cores, MPW prototyping and post-silicon validation support.
• Product Design Linked Incentive: Reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible expenditure, capped at ₹15 crore per application.
• Deployment Linked Incentive: Incentive of 6% to 4% of net sales turnover over 5 years, capped at ₹30 crore per application.

1. 01Visit the official DLI portal and register/login.
2. 02Submit the online application with required project and applicant details.
3. 03Track application status online; approvals/certificates are issued electronically

• Official DLI Portal: chips-dli.gov.in (opens in a new tab)
• India Semiconductor Mission — DLI Scheme: ism.gov.in (opens in a new tab)