§1Who it is for

  • Global, domestic and MSME makers of telecom & networking equipment

Useful if

Telecom/IoT hardware MSMEs with ₹10 crore+ revenue, if a new round opens.

Do not spend time on it if

Software-only telecom startups.

§2Eligibility

  1. Companies manufacturing goods in India under the target segments; foreign investment must comply with FDI Policy 2020.
  2. Global companies: global manufacturing revenue above ₹10,000 crore in base year.
  3. Domestic companies: above ₹250 crore.
  4. MSMEs (registered with Ministry of MSME): above ₹10 crore.
  5. Minimum investment ₹10 crore for MSME, ₹100 crore for non-MSME; land and building not counted.
  6. Ineligible if applied/availed another central PLI for the same product.
  7. MSME status fixed at selection for the whole scheme.

§3Benefits

  • MSME rates 7%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%; others 6%, 6%, 5%, 5%, 4% on incremental sales over base year.
  • Additional 1% for products designed and manufactured in India (design-led), with priority in shortlisting.

§4Norms — pattern of assistance

  1. MSME allocation raised from ₹1,000 crore to ₹2,500 crore (PIB design-led release).
  2. No carry-over of incentive for a year when thresholds are missed.
  3. Non-refundable application fee, paid electronically.
  4. Eligible investment from 01.04.2021 (original) — later from 1 Apr 2022 up to FY2025-26 after extension.

§5Documents

Not published

The guideline does not list the documents. Ask the portal or bank before you apply — we do not make up lists.

§6How to apply

  1. 1

    No open window found. Check DoT PLI page.

§7Pros and cons

Merits

  • MSME entry at ₹10 crore revenue and ₹10 crore investment — lowest among large-sector PLIs (DoT guidelines).
  • Higher rate for MSMEs (7%) and +1% for design-led products.
  • PIB (Feb 2026): sector sales up six-fold over base year; exports ₹21,033 crore.

Demerits

  • Investment window ends FY2025-26; no new round confirmed.
  • PLI pays only on incremental sales over a base year, so a new or small firm with no base-year sales or below the thresholds gets nothing (scheme design, PIB 2026).

→Related schemes

Need help with PLI Telecom?

Eligibility check, DPR and application file — ask us on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp usServices

Our interestHelp is our paid service. You can also apply for the scheme yourself.

Sources

  1. PIB Cabinet, 11 Nov 2020: PLI for 10 key sectors (outlay table)
  2. DoT: PLI Scheme Guidelines for Telecom and Networking Products
  3. PIB: Design-led manufacturing under PLI for Telecom and Networking Products
  4. DoT press release: PLI Scheme for Telecom extended by one year
  5. PIB, Mar 2025: PLI Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products
  6. PIB, 20 Feb 2026: PLI with ₹1.91 lakh crore outlay, 836 applications, 14 sectors

Checked on 18 October 2026. For information only — confirm with the department or bank. Spotted a mistake? Report it.