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ActiveCentral Sector SchemeLaunched January 2020Verified: 2026-10-12

BIRAC SPARSH (Social Innovation Programme: Maternal & Child Nutrition)

BIRAC targeted social innovation challenge funding affordable fortified foods, micronutrient delivery, and non-invasive malnutrition screening devices.

Audited by Eligo Public Policy Research Desk•Official Gazette & Nodal Portal Verification•Read Verification Standards →
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Official Nodal Portal:birac.nic.in

Quick Eligibility Snapshot

👤 Age 21–55 yrs💰 Income ≤ ₹18,00,000⚖ All genders🏛 All categories📍 All India
Government Levelcentral Government
Administering BodyMinistry of Science and Technology
Beneficiary Sector
Applicable Jurisdiction

₹Benefits & Entitlement Breakdown

Milestone grant-in-aid up to ₹35 Lakh for 18 months, covering recipe formulation, stability testing, clinical nutritional trials, and community pilot rollouts.

📊Budget Allocation & Beneficiary Reach

Fiscal Budget Allocation

Funded under Central DeepTech & Biotechnology Innovation Development Outlay

Official Budget Document ↗
Verified Beneficiary Reach

Over 4,000 startups, innovators, and research engineers supported nationwide

As of: 2026-01-20PIB / Official Citation ↗

Verified Eligibility Criteria

Age Requirement:21 to 55 years
Annual Family Income Ceiling:₹18,00,000 per annum
Target Occupations:innovator, researcher, nutritionist, entrepreneur
Eligible Gender:all
Social Category / Reservation:all
Specific Operational Conditions & Exclusions:

Targeted at technology innovators, biotech researchers, startup founders, and engineering scholars with verifiable projects.

📄

Required Documents Checklist

Verify readiness before applying for BIRAC SPARSH (Social Innovation Programme: Maternal & Child Nutrition). Check off your papers or print this list before visiting your local CSC / Cyber Cafe.

Mandatory Documents(3)

Check off as ready
💡

Keep self-attested photocopies and clear digital scans (100 KB – 200 KB, PDF/JPG format) ready to avoid portal upload timeouts.

🛡️Civic Research Desk • Rejection Prevention

Worried About Application Rejection for BIRAC SPARSH (Social Innovation Programme: Maternal & Child Nutrition)?

Over 30% of applications on official portals get delayed or rejected due to minor certificate authority mismatches or unseeded bank accounts. Our civic research desk compiles a verified 1-page Scheme Blueprint tailored to your state and profile.

  • ✓Valid issuing authority rules (Tehsildar/SDM)
  • ✓Aadhaar-DBT bank seeding verification
  • ✓Direct official portal guide (no middlemen)
  • ✓Email delivery in 1–2 hrs during desk hours
Civic Research Fee:₹49One-time
Get Scheme Blueprint (₹49)→

🔒 Secure Razorpay Checkout • 100% Independent

Application Effort & Process Friction

Readiness assessment derived from official prerequisites, mandatory documentation, and submission channels.

Moderate Process (2/10)
•100% digital online application process
•3 mandatory supporting documents required
•Income certificate / income verification ceiling applied

Effort scores reflect portal accessibility, mandatory document burden, and physical verification requirements.

How to Apply

🌐 Online Portal Route
🛡️
Government Application Safety Advisory:Application for this welfare program is processed exclusively on official government infrastructure (birac.nic.in). Never pay registration charges or advance processing fees to unauthorized third-party agents. Central and State welfare scheme applications do not require paying private intermediaries.
  1. 1

    Review guidelines and eligibility criteria on https://birac.nic.in.

  2. 2

    Register and submit application or proposal through the designated web portal.

  3. 3

    Upload mandatory institutional endorsements, project DPR, and identity credentials.

  4. 4

    Applications undergo screening, technical expert evaluation, and committee approval.

✅Before You Begin — Pre-Application Checklist

✓Ensure Aadhaar is linked with active mobile number
✓Bank account is NPCI-mapped (Aadhaar-seeded) for DBT
✓Check if you already receive a similar Central scheme benefit
✓Keep documents ready: income/caste/domicile certificates as applicable

⚠️Common Rejection Reasons — Avoid These

Incomplete technological proposal, lack of working prototype or incubation endorsement, or exceeding income thresholds.

Official Government Application Portal

You will be redirected to the secure official portal: birac.nic.in

Apply on official government website
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Frequently Asked Questions (Officially Sourced)

Verified answers sourced directly from official circulars, gazettes, and portal FAQs. Never AI-invented.

What solutions are eligible under this SPARSH track?

Fortified ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), micronutrient bio-availability enhancers, and low-cost stadiometers/MUAC tools.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Can college faculty lead a SPARSH nutrition project?

Yes, faculty can lead projects in collaboration with social work organizations or community health trusts.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Does the scheme facilitate FSSAI certification?

Yes, regulatory mentoring for food safety standards and ethical clearance is provided by BIRAC.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Can I track my BIRAC SPARSH (Social Innovation Programme: Maternal & Child Nutrition) application status?

Application status for BIRAC SPARSH (Social Innovation Programme: Maternal & Child Nutrition) can typically be tracked through the official portal at birac.nic.in using your Aadhaar number, application reference number, or registered mobile number. Alternatively, contact the scheme helpline or visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).

What should I do if my BIRAC SPARSH (Social Innovation Programme: Maternal & Child Nutrition) payment is delayed or rejected?

First, verify your Aadhaar-bank account seeding status on the NPCI mapper (npci.org.in). If seeding is confirmed and payment is still pending, register a complaint on the Central Public Grievance Redressal System at pgportal.gov.in. You may also file an RTI application at rtionline.gov.in to obtain official rejection reasons within 30 days.

Is there an income tax implication for receiving BIRAC SPARSH (Social Innovation Programme: Maternal & Child Nutrition) benefits?

Agricultural income and certain welfare subsidies may be exempt from income tax under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Tax treatment varies by scheme type and beneficiary income level. Consult a certified tax practitioner or visit incometax.gov.in for scheme-specific tax guidance.

Common Rejection Reasons & Warnings

Incomplete technological proposal, lack of working prototype or incubation endorsement, or exceeding income thresholds.

Editorial Verification & Change Log

Scheme verification and change history
DateFieldDescription / UpdateSource Citation
2026-10-19scheme_typecsOfficial Source ↗
2026-09-28initial_verificationBaseline verification of guidelines, innovation grant brackets, and official portal links.Official Source ↗
2026-09-28initial_verificationBaseline verification of guidelines, innovation grant brackets, and official portal links.Official Source ↗

⚖Compare with Similar Schemes

Side-by-side eligibility, benefit, and effort comparison:

Application Window & Deadlines

Regular milestone cohorts announced on official portal

Scheme Intelligence

How is this calculated? ↗
Data ConfidenceFully Verified (95%)

Verified 7d ago from .gov.in source

Access FrictionModerate Process

Requires documentation or office visit

How to Apply🖥Apply Online
Scale & Impact
👥Over 4,000 startups, innovators, and research engineers supported nationwide (as of 2026-01-20)
₹Funded under Central DeepTech & Biotechnology Innovation Development Outlay budget allocation
📅Running since 2020
🔄3 verified updates — actively maintained

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📅Scheme Milestone Timeline

2026-10-19scheme_type

cs

Official Source ↗
2026-09-28initial_verification

Baseline verification of guidelines, innovation grant brackets, and official por...

Official Source ↗
2026-09-28initial_verification

Baseline verification of guidelines, innovation grant brackets, and official por...

Official Source ↗
⚡

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Official Helpline & Nodal Offices

SPARSH Nutrition Mission, BIRAC, New Delhi 110003

SPARSH Nutrition Mission, BIRAC, New Delhi 110003

Helpline: 011-24389600

Jurisdiction: National

Notice a Discrepancy?

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Verification Metadata

Last verified by Eligo researchers on 2026-10-12 against official government documentation.

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