Department of Telecommunications signs MoU with Telecommunications Standards Development Society India (TSDSI)

In a significant step towards strengthening India’s global leadership in telecommunications standardization and advancing the vision of the Bharat 6G Mission, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI) during the 9th TSDSI Technical Deep Dive (TTDD) 2026, in the gracious presence of the Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.

The MoU has been signed under the Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme to strengthen India’s participation in global Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), promote indigenous innovation, facilitate the contribution of Indian technologies to international standards, and enhance the participation of Indian startups and MSMEs in global standardization activities.

Speaking at the occasion, Union Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “We all are fostering a spirit of collaboration and sense of trusted partnership by bringing together the most intelligent and exceptional minds and reflecting India’s decade old journey of being the labyrinth of innovation and laboratory of exponential growth. Today, India has become the centre of emerging technology and this continued process of discussion and thought formulation will help in laying the foundation of how communication technology will evolve not for India alone but for all of humanity.”

He added that, “Throughout history, we have learned that human civilization has been always shaped by the networks it has created. In today’s time, telecommunications has been that invisible force that has exponentially lead to multiple dividends for citizens across the world. It has expanded the boundaries of human possibilities which no innovation in the history of mankind has been able to do.”

Salient Features of the MoU

The MoU aims to promote a robust telecom standards ecosystem through the following initiatives:

• Financial support for participation in Global Standards Development Organizations, including 3GPP, ITU and oneM2M, enabling greater Indian representation in international standardization activities.
•  Subsidy for TSDSI Membership Fee:
•  Up to 98% financial support for eligible DPIIT-recognized Startups and MSMEs with annual turnover up to ₹10 crore.
• Up to 80% financial support for eligible MSMEs with annual turnover above ₹10 crore and up to ₹500 crore.
• Support for 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Individual Membership (IM) Fees on similar lines, enabling Indian innovators to directly contribute to global 5G Advanced and 6G standards.
• Travel assistance for startups and MSMEs to participate in international standards meetings, with financial support of up to 80% of eligible expenditure, subject to a ceiling of ₹5 lakh per person per international meeting, thereby encouraging the submission of Indian Technical Contributions (TDocs) in global standards bodies.
• Support for hosting international standards meetings in India, including 3GPP and oneM2M meetings, to strengthen India’s position as a preferred global destination for telecom standardization discussions and enhance participation of Indian academia, startups and industry.
• Financial support for TSDSI’s membership in key global standards organizations such as ITU and oneM2M, ensuring sustained engagement in international standardization.

Strengthening India’s Global Standards Footprint

Through this collaboration, DoT aims to accelerate India’s contribution to global telecom standards, promote indigenous intellectual property, and support the development of globally competitive telecom technologies aligned with the objectives of the Bharat 6G Mission.

The partnership is expected to significantly increase the participation of Indian startups, MSMEs in global standards development, foster innovation-led manufacturing, and contribute towards positioning India as a leading contributor to next-generation telecom technologies and standards.

About TSDSI:

TSDSI is India’s Telecom Standards Development Organization and serves as an Organizational Partner of 3GPP and oneM2M, besides being a Sector Member of ITU.

About the Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme:

The Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme, with a total outlay of ₹203 crore for the period 2026–31, is a initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to promote indigenous telecom technology development, innovation, and global standardization. The scheme provides targeted financial support to startups, MSMEs, academia, industry, and Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) to strength standards development, testing and certification, commercialization, and participation in global standards bodies. It has been designed as a comprehensive support framework to enhance India’s competitiveness in next-generation telecommunications technologies, including 5G Advanced and 6G, while advancing the vision of the Bharat 6G Mission.

For detailed information and the scheme guidelines, please visit:

https://www.dot.gov.in/offerings/schemes-and-services/details/technology-development-investment-promotion-tdip-scheme-EDOwITNtQWa