Technology Development and Utilization Programme for Women

Technology Development and Utilization Programme for Women (TDUPW) is a central government scheme run by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It helps women play a bigger role in technology by funding projects on technology development, training and enterprise growth, with financial support and technical guidance given to eligible organizations. Fresh guidelines for 2026 are now available on the official DSIR website and proposals are open round the year.

The scheme focuses on meeting the specific technical needs of women and improving their contribution to technology capability building. Under this scheme, DSIR supports projects that promote indigenous technology development, its use and its transfer. In 2026 the programme continues to cover areas like food processing, health and hygiene, nutrition and waste management, and it now also explores setting up Skill Satellite Centres to train local women self help groups.

Technology Development and Utilization Programme for Women - Introduction

The main aim of the scheme is to help women adopt new technologies, get training on technology related issues, and upgrade the tiny, small and medium enterprises run by women entrepreneurs. The scheme also promotes showing appropriate technologies through demonstration programmes and supports the design and development of products and processes that directly benefit women.

An important point in the 2026 guidelines is that projects in the area of ICT are not supported under TDUPW. The focus stays on location specific appropriate technologies that reduce drudgery, build capacity and help women earn a better living. The objectives of the programme are:

• Promoting the adoption of new technologies by women across different sections of society.
• Creating awareness and giving training on technology issues that are specific to women.
• Supporting technology upgradation of micro, small and medium enterprises run by women self help groups and entrepreneurs.
• Showing appropriate technologies developed by scientific establishments through demonstration programmes.
• Designing and developing products and processes, including those that use waste, that help women.
• Giving support to women who want to set up their own enterprise.

Key Information

Benefits

Project proposals should be time-bound, and a project duration of less than 2 years is preferred. The support can be partial or full financial support along with technical guidance, and the type of support required should be clearly stated in the proposal.

Financial support is given only for costs like manpower, consumables, basic equipment and travel within the country. The scheme does not cover basic infrastructure or building construction. Support is released in instalments that are linked to the big steps defined in the proposal, so progress reports and use certificates must be submitted regularly to keep the funds flowing.

Eligibility

Organizations in the government and non-government sectors working on development or spread of technologies for women, with enough experience in the field, can apply. The applying organization must fall under one of these categories:

• Institutions that get regular annual grants from Central or State government agencies, including Indian universities, academic institutions, R&D institutions and public sector undertakings.
• Institutions registered under the Societies Registration Act.
• Trusts registered under the Indian Trusts Act.

Eligible projects include technology development that lowers drudgery and builds capacity of women, and use of technology to improve the competitiveness of women. Projects are supported in areas like food processing, health and hygiene, nutrition and waste management, while ICT projects are not covered.

Application Process

Applications can be filed online through the service portal or offline, and they stay open throughout the year. STEP 1 - Visit the Service Plus Portal and register the organization using the parent legal entity name. Voluntary organizations should include their NGO Darpan Portal unique ID.

STEP 2 - Log in with the registered credentials once the registration is done.

STEP 3 - Go to the apply section, select the available services, and search for 'TDUPW'.

STEP 4 - Fill the online form, upload all the required PDFs and submit, then note the application reference number for tracking. The Technical Advisory Committee reviews all proposals, and once accepted a sanction letter lists the budget heads and conditions. After signing an agreement on a ₹10 stamp paper, the first instalment of funds is released.

Documents

These documents have to be ready when applying through the service portal:

• A forwarding letter and undertaking from the institution head (Format A).
• A certificate of responsibility from the investigators (Format B).
• Detailed technical and financial information (Format C).
• For non-government organizations, a copy of the registration certificate, annual reports for the last 3 years and auditor reports for the last 3 years.

References

For complete details and the latest formats, refer to these official resources:

• 2026 TDUPW Guidelines and Project Proposal Format
• Official TDUPW Current Programmes Page
• Service Plus Online Application Portal

FAQ's

What Is The Full Name Of The TDUPW Scheme?

The full name of the scheme is Technology Development and Utilization Programme for Women (TDUPW).

Are ICT Projects Supported Under This Scheme?

No, as per the latest guidelines ICT projects are not supported under TDUPW. The scheme focuses on location specific appropriate technologies for women.

What Types Of Organizations Can Apply?

Institutions getting regular grants from government agencies, universities and R&D bodies, societies registered under the Societies Registration Act, and trusts registered under the Indian Trusts Act can apply.

How Long Should The Project Last?

Projects should be time-bound, and a project duration of less than 2 years is generally preferred.

What Costs Does The Scheme Cover?

The financial support covers manpower, consumables, basic equipment and travel within the country. It does not cover basic infrastructure or building construction.

How Is The Financial Support Released?

The support is released in instalments linked to the big steps of the project, after signing an agreement on a ₹10 stamp paper and submitting progress reports and use certificates.

Is There A Deadline For Applying?

There is no fixed deadline. Applications remain open throughout the year through the online service portal.