<span style="color: #222222;">Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the enhancement of funding under Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme to 50 crore rupees per project from ten crore rupees. The TDF scheme supports indigenous development of components, products, systems and technologies by MSMEs and start-ups.<br />''<br />''The enhanced funding is in line with the Union Budget announcement and it will give further boost the vision of 'Aatmanirbharta in Defence'. In Union Budget 2022-23, 25 per cent of defence R&D budget was earmarked for private industry, start-ups and academia. <br />''<br />''The TDF Scheme aims to provide a major fillip to the defence manufacturing sector by encouraging the industry to innovate and develop defence technologies to place India on the self-reliance trajectory.<br />''<br />''The scheme facilitates up to 90 per cent of the total project cost and allows the industry to work in consortium with another industry and academia.<br />''<br />''With the enhanced funding, the industry and startups will be able to develop more complex technologies for existing and future weapon systems and platforms. Till date, 56 projects have been sanctioned under the TDF scheme. </span><br />