With reference to the programme "NIDHI", which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? 1. The programme of "NIDHI" was started for students to begin start-ups. 2. Its aim is to financially support 20 students for start-up in each year. Select the correct answer from the codes given below.
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Correct — C, Both 1 and 2 (per the official key). NIDHI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations) is an umbrella programme launched in 2016 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), through its National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), to scout, support and scale knowledge- and technology-driven ideas into start-ups. It deliberately targets young innovators and students: component schemes such as NIDHI-EIR (Entrepreneur-in-Residence) give fellowships to students who opt for entrepreneurship, and NIDHI-PRAYAS funds young innovators to convert ideas into prototypes — so statement 1 (started to help students begin start-ups) is treated as correct. The key also accepts statement 2. Honesty note: the precise figure of '20 students each year' is not a published NIDHI headline number and could not be independently confirmed from DST sources — the marked answer stays (c) per the official key, but treat that specific count as exam-stated rather than verified.
- (a)1 only — Understates the key — the official answer accepts statement 2 as well, so restricting the answer to statement 1 alone is marked wrong.
- (b)2 only — Statement 1 (NIDHI supports students / young innovators to launch start-ups) is correct, so limiting the answer to statement 2 only is wrong.
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2 — Both statements are accepted as correct in the official key, so rejecting both is wrong.
NIDHI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations) is DST's umbrella programme (launched 2016, run through the NSTEDB) for building a science-and-technology-based start-up ecosystem. Rather than being a single scheme, it bundles several components that carry an idea from campus to company — with an explicit focus on students and first-time young innovators.
The trap is confusing NIDHI with the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). Both promote innovation and start-ups, but NIDHI sits under the Department of Science and Technology while AIM sits under NITI Aayog. Anchor NIDHI to DST and to its student-facing components (PRAYAS, EIR) to answer statement 1 with confidence.
- NIDHI = National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations; launched 2016 by DST via the NSTEDB
- Purpose: scout, support and scale S&T-based innovations into start-ups, with a strong student / young-innovator focus
- Key components: NIDHI-PRAYAS (prototype grant for young innovators), NIDHI-EIR (fellowships for students turning entrepreneur), NIDHI-Seed Support, NIDHI-TBI (Technology Business Incubators), NIDHI-Accelerator
- Run by DST — distinct from the Atal Innovation Mission, which is under NITI Aayog
- Confusing NIDHI (DST) with the Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog)
- Treating NIDHI as one scheme rather than an umbrella of several components
UPPSC and UPSC test government start-up/innovation schemes by their parent body and target group — match the scheme (NIDHI) to its ministry (DST) and its beneficiaries (students / young innovators).
Atal Innovation Mission is set up under the
- (a) Department of Science and Technology
- (b) Ministry of Labour and Employment
- (c) NITI Aayog
- (d) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Answer(c) NITI Aayog
Same theme — government start-up/innovation-ecosystem bodies. This tests that the Atal Innovation Mission is under NITI Aayog; note its option (a), the Department of Science and Technology, is precisely the ministry that runs NIDHI, the classic point of confusion.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The NIDHI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations) programme is an initiative of which of the following?
- (a)Department of Science and Technology
- (b)NITI Aayog
- (c)Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
- (d)Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Answer(a) Department of Science and Technology — NIDHI is run by DST through the NSTEDB; the Atal Innovation Mission is the one under NITI Aayog.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which component of NIDHI provides a fellowship to encourage students to take up entrepreneurship instead of a job?
- (a)NIDHI-EIR (Entrepreneur-in-Residence)
- (b)NIDHI-Seed Support
- (c)NIDHI-Accelerator
- (d)NIDHI-TBI
Answer(a) NIDHI-EIR — the Entrepreneur-in-Residence component gives a fellowship to students opting for entrepreneurship.