Research, Development and Innovation Fund names its first cohort of 19 Second Level Fund Managers
12 October 2026
The Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF) announced its first cohort of 19 Second Level Fund Managers (SLFMs). The Empowered Group of Secretaries, meeting on October 08, 2026, approved 14 Alternative Investment Funds and 5 Focused Research Organisations. The total RDIF commitment to them is ₹7,131 crore. The ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme was launched by the Prime Minister in November 2025. The Fund is managed by an Independent Business Unit housed within the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) under the Department of Science and Technology. The fund managers will channel capital to enterprises working at Technology Readiness Level 4 and above.
In plain words
ANRF Anusandhan National Research Foundation — The national body that funds and steers research in India and houses the RDI Fund's business unit.
TRL Technology Readiness Level — A 1-to-9 scale of how close a technology is to real-world use.