Northeast BPO Promotion Scheme 2026: Up to ₹1 Lakh Per Seat Subsidy & Guidelines

At a glance

About the scheme

Launched under the Digital India Programme by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Northeast BPO Promotion Scheme (NEBPS) is executed by the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI). The initiative seeks to set up 5,000 BPO/ITeS seats across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura to create an estimated 15,000 direct jobs. By providing Viability Gap Funding along with extra incentives for hiring women, differently abled individuals, and local entrepreneurship, the scheme drives balanced regional IT growth and economic empowerment for youth in the Northeast.

Benefits

• Financial viability gap support of up to 50% of CAPEX and/or OPEX per seat, capped at ₹1,00,000 per seat
• Special incentive of 7.5% for employing at least 75% women workforce
• Special incentive of 2% for employing at least 4% differently abled persons
• Up to 10% incentive for generating employment exceeding the approved target
• 5% incentive for local entrepreneurs setting up operations
• Estimated creation of around 15,000 direct jobs across 3 shifts along with substantial indirect employment

Who can apply (eligibility)

• Applicant must be registered in India under the Companies Act (1956 or 2013) or the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
• Must set up BPO or ITeS operations with a minimum capacity of 25 seats at one location (city or town)
• Can apply for a maximum of 1,500 seats at one location or across multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, or Tripura
• Commitment to operate the BPO/ITeS facility for a minimum of 3 years
• Furnish an undertaking to either lease premises for at least 3 years or provide proof of ownership
• Premises must have at least 4,000 sq. ft. for 100 seats (calculated at 40 sq. ft. per seat including utilities)
• Achieved minimum average annual turnover over the last 3 financial years based on seats: ₹1 Crore for 25-50 seats; ₹2 Crore for 51-100 seats; ₹5 Crore for 101-500 seats; ₹10 Crore for 501-1,000 seats; ₹15 Crore for 1,001-1,500 seats
• Commitment to employ at least 1.5 times the approved seat count for at least 3 years
• Positive net worth certified by a Chartered Accountant as on 31-03-2018 or the last audited financial year
• Self-declaration confirming the applicant is not blacklisted or disqualified for corrupt/fraudulent practices
• Consortiums with Indian companies meeting financial criteria are eligible, provided the qualifying entity retains at least 26% equity for 3 years

Who cannot apply

• Entities blacklisted or declared ineligible by any Government agency for corrupt or fraudulent practices
• Entities not registered under the Companies Act or LLP Act
• Proposals failing to meet minimum seat capacity (25 seats) or floor space standards

Documents required

• Company Registration Certificate under the Companies Act (1956/2013) or applicable LLP registration
• Permanent Account Number (PAN) of the company
• Goods and Services Tax (GST) Registration Certificate or other tax registrations
• Labour Department Registration Certificate (if applicable)
• Service Tax or VAT Registration Certificate (if applicable)
• Tender Acceptance Letter as per scheme bid document
• Proof of Tender Fee and Bid Security / Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) transaction details
• Seat distribution proposal detailing seat count by State/UT and specific locations
• Company bank account details for financial disbursements
• Official contact details of the applicant company
• Details of investments already initiated for the BPO/ITeS unit (if applicable)
• Chartered Accountant net worth certificate

How to apply

1. 1Visit the official Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) portal for BPO promotion schemes.
2. 2Read the scheme guidelines, RFP, and instructions thoroughly.
3. 3Register and submit a formal proposal or bid through the portal for setting up BPO/ITeS seats.
4. 4Fill in all operational and company details and upload the mandatory supporting documents.
5. 5Await evaluation and formal approval of your bid by the competent authority.
6. 6Set up the BPO/ITeS unit upon approval, and file periodic performance reports and claims on the portal to receive Viability Gap Funding disbursements.

Frequently asked questions