Aaradhya

national · Ministry of MSME

Who qualifies

Any micro, small, or medium enterprise (including sole proprietorships).

What you get

Official MSME status for priority sector lending and government tender eligibility.

What it actually costs you

Free; requires Aadhaar and PAN; instant digital certificate.

Common gotcha

Many fake websites charge money; only use the official government domain.

national · DPIIT

Who qualifies

Entities less than 10 years old with turnover under ₹100 crore.

What you get

Self-certification for labor/environment laws and tax exemptions under Section 80-IAC.

What it actually costs you

Free; requires incorporation documents and a pitch deck.

Common gotcha

Recognition is not the same as tax exemption; you must apply for both separately.

national · CBIC

Who qualifies

Service providers with annual turnover exceeding ₹20 lakhs (or ₹10 lakhs in special states).

What you get

Legal authority to collect GST and claim input tax credit on hardware/software purchases.

What it actually costs you

Free to apply; requires PAN, Aadhaar, and business address proof.

Common gotcha

Once registered, you must file monthly/quarterly returns even if turnover is zero.

national · CCA

Who qualifies

Directors or authorized signatories of a company.

What you get

Legally valid electronic signature for signing MCA forms and tax returns.

What it actually costs you

₹1,500–₹3,000; valid for 2 years; requires identity verification.

Common gotcha

Class 3 DSC is mandatory for most corporate filings now.

national · Ministry of MSME

Who qualifies

MSMEs with delayed payments from buyers.

What you get

Legal mechanism to recover dues with interest (3x bank rate).

What it actually costs you

Free; requires Udyam registration and proof of contract.

Common gotcha

You must have a formal written agreement or invoice to initiate a claim.

national · DGFT

Who qualifies

Businesses exporting services or software.

What you get

Mandatory code for receiving foreign currency payments into business accounts.

What it actually costs you

₹500; requires PAN and bank account details.

Common gotcha

You must update your profile annually even if you haven't exported anything.

national · CGPDTM

Who qualifies

Any business owner wanting to protect their brand name or logo.

What you get

Exclusive rights to use your brand name in your category (Class 9/41 for games).

What it actually costs you

₹4,500 per class; takes 12–18 months.

Common gotcha

Conduct a thorough 'public search' on the portal before filing to avoid rejection.

national · Copyright Office

Who qualifies

Creators of original software code, music, or artwork.

What you get

Legal proof of ownership for your game assets.

What it actually costs you

₹500 per work; requires source code extracts or visual samples.

Common gotcha

Copyright exists automatically, but registration is vital for legal disputes.

national · CGPDTM

Who qualifies

Inventors of unique technical processes or game engines.

What you get

20-year monopoly on your technical invention.

What it actually costs you

₹1,600+ (varies); requires detailed technical documentation.

Common gotcha

Pure software code is generally not patentable in India unless it has a technical effect.

national · DPIIT

Who qualifies

DPIIT-recognized startups.

What you get

80% rebate on official patent filing fees and free legal facilitation.

What it actually costs you

Free; requires Startup India recognition.

Common gotcha

You must use the government-empanelled facilitators to get the rebate.

private · Public/Private Banks

Who qualifies

Registered businesses with Udyam/GST.

What you get

Zero-balance accounts with specific benefits for small businesses.

What it actually costs you

Varies by bank; requires business registration proof.

Common gotcha

Check the minimum average balance (MAB) requirements carefully.

national · Income Tax Department

Who qualifies

Freelancers/Developers with gross receipts up to ₹75 lakhs.

What you get

Pay tax on only 50% of your gross receipts; no need for audit.

What it actually costs you

Filing ITR-4; requires maintaining basic income records.

Common gotcha

If you claim less than 50% profit, you must get your accounts audited.

national · RBI / Banks

Who qualifies

Exporters receiving payments in foreign currency.

What you get

Proof of export earnings required for tax/GST compliance.

What it actually costs you

Bank charges (varies); request via your bank's portal.

Common gotcha

Ensure the purpose code in the wire transfer is correct (e.g., P0802 for software).

national · PFRDA

Who qualifies

Self-employed individuals looking for retirement planning.

What you get

Tax deduction under 80CCD(1B) up to ₹50,000.

What it actually costs you

Minimum ₹500 initial contribution.

Common gotcha

Funds are locked until age 60; early withdrawal is restricted.

national · NHA

Who qualifies

Every Indian citizen.

What you get

Digital repository of all medical records and easy sharing with doctors.

What it actually costs you

Free; requires Aadhaar/Mobile.

Common gotcha

It's a digital locker for records, not a health insurance policy itself.

national · Income Tax Department

Who qualifies

Any taxpayer paying health insurance premiums.

What you get

Deduction of up to ₹25,000 (₹50,000 for seniors) on premiums paid.

What it actually costs you

None; just keep your policy receipts.

Common gotcha

Only premiums paid via non-cash modes qualify.

national · ESIC

Who qualifies

Self-employed individuals in notified areas.

What you get

Access to ESI hospitals and dispensaries for medical care.

What it actually costs you

Monthly contribution based on income.

Common gotcha

Coverage is limited to specific geographic areas; check if your city is covered.