# Defence innovation schemes move 58 prototypes towards procurement 2026-08-06T21:52:35+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet India’s defence innovation programmes have moved 58 prototypes towards acquisition, with an estimated procurement value of Rs 3,853 crore, the Economic Times Government reports. Forty-five procurement contracts worth nearly Rs 2,326 crore have been concluded. Since iDEX began in 2018, 676 start-ups, MSMEs and individual innovators have joined the ecosystem, while 566 challenges were opened and 548 design and development contracts signed, as of February 2026. The iDEX platform links military problem statements with private developers, offering funding, mentoring, testing and access to users. Support has risen from up to Rs 1.5 crore under the original scheme to Rs 10 crore through iDEX Prime. ADITI, launched in 2024 with a Rs 750 crore outlay, offers grants of up to Rs 25 crore for critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum systems and anti-drone equipment. ## Coverage - government.economictimes.indiatimes.com Tags: ADITI, defence, iDEX, military technology, startups Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/defence-innovation-schemes-move-58-prototypes-towards-procurement/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/defence-innovation-schemes-move-58-prototypes-towards-procurement/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.