Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches Defence India Startup Challenge- DISC 5.0

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC) 5.0 under Innovations for Defence Excellence – Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO) initiative, on August 19, 2021 in New Delhi.
DISC is a platform wherein the Government, Services, think tanks, industry, startups and innovators can work together to help the defence & aerospace sectors reach full potential by creating a strong, modern & well-equipped military and an equally capable & self-reliant defence industry.
Through the medium of DISC, Ministry of Defence is able to utilise the strong science, technology and research talent base of the country to develop new capabilities in defence innovation.
The Ministry of Defence has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for domestic procurement through iDEX initiative for the financial year 2021-2022.
The Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence has approved a budgetary support of Rs. 498.80 crore for iDEX for the next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
The objective of iDEX intiative is to provide financial support to nearly 300 Startups/ MSMEs/ individual innovators and about 20 Partner incubators through Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).