Modifications to Telecom Technology Development Fund Guidelines

Government of India Ministry of Communications Department of Telecommunications (Digital Bharat Nidhi) 20, Ashoka Road, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi

No: 3-11/2025(TTDFGuidelines)-TTDF-II

Dated: 13.10.2025

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Addendum/modification in guidelines regarding Telecom Technology development Fund (TTDF) issued on dated 01.10.2022

The undersigned is directed to say that in partial modification of the TTDF guidelines issued on dated 01.10.2022, the Competent Authority has approved the following.

A. Addendum/modification in the existing TTDF guidelines: i. The tranche allocations are made component-wise (personnel, equipment etc.). However, reallocation of up to 10% of the component-wise total cost has been permitted through self-certification. ii. Clause 10.2 is partially modified as: "The engagement/ award of project with TTDF may be terminated by operation of law and without demand, upon the first occurrence of one or more of the following events. Such termination shall require approval from Secretary (T): (vii) As per recommendation of the IA or during any other review meeting, if it is felt that the there is change in objective of project/ deliverable and such change may adversely/ negatively affect the project outcome." iii. Clause 12.1 is partially modified. Now, the instalment structure is modified to 15%, 40%, 35% and 10% across each milestone respectively. This relaxation is granted to government institutes/ organizations only. iv. In partial modification to the Clause 12.5, the contribution from private organization is 25% of the total project cost. Further, the contribution shall be used in the 1st two tranches equally. In case, the private organization/ institute is a collaborator, the same shall be decided on the portion of the project cost for the private organization/ institute out of the total project cost. v. In each quarter of a financial year one month window will be open for submission of the proposals related to R&D and innovation in telecom, which are not related to specific call for proposal. vi. Annexure-1: Clause 8.7 is partially modified. Now, beneficiary may apply for the next tranche once 80% of the fund utilization is achieved. This clause will not be applicable on the last two tranches.

B. Instruction to the Implementing Agencies (IAs): i. There may be cases wherein, due to operational/ practical exigencies, the applicant may face a requirement for re-allocation of funds in different heads of individual tranche, keeping the overall tranche amount same. Decision on same may be taken by IA at its level, maintaining the compliance of sl. no. A(i) of this OM. ii. Post MoU signing, it will be the responsibility of the IA to ensure that the request to release funds is sent to DoT without any delays. iii. The IA shall maintain a CNA account for real time release of fund milestone iv. Timelines for milestone will be counted from the date of release of the first instalment. v. There are some instances where purchase orders have been issued with some share of the payment made, but the equipment has not been delivered till the milestone date. The beneficiary is unable to provide a utilization certificate for the amount. On a case-to-case basis, the IA may be allowed to treat the purchase order for equipment as a commitment of transfer of funds provided the material has been dispatched by the seller. However, the IA needs to ensure that the beneficiary: a. Utilization Certificate to be submitted for the amount already utilized. Reasons for remaining amount should be mentioned while seeking next instalment. b. Will receive the equipment from the vendor and not make any changes to the purchase order c. Has provisioned for the logistics, insurance, etc. while ordering the equipment d. Acceptance of this, however, will require IFD approval. vi. The IA should be actively engaged with the project teams to ensure that all information and documentation is complete before accepting the claims. vii. IAs to take administrative decisions at their own level on the basis of predefined norms. However, in case of any doubts/ clarifications, they may reach out to DBN, as necessary viii. All the PECs and PRSGs to be suitably guided for effective implementation of the project. ix. The formats for submission of periodic project progress reports and tranche claims, and associated documentation should be revisited. Their fields should be right-sized and clarified to include only the necessary information. x. IA may issue guidelines to all concerned creating awareness on how they can be part of ITU and 3GPP events. Training on standardization awareness may be organized. xi. For the projects which are lagging behind in important and first-order parameters like integration with existing test beds and ecosystem, collaboration with other TTDF partners, plan for continuity after project period ends, and clarity with commercialization pathway, IA to ensure that projects are implemented in coordinated manner and knowledge happens amongst the projects. xii. For the projects which are underperforming, the PEC should be requested to actively engage with the project teams to address project deficiencies and undertake course corrections. The Project teams shall be formally intimated on their deficiencies and course correction required. The PIA shall be made accountable to follow up and ensure these actions. xiii. The projects which are highly underperforming, will be monitored more rigorously by the PIAs. Immediate follow-up meetings may be set up to communicate the results with them and share necessary feedback. The Project teams and their respective administrative institutions shall be addressed clearly indicating the lapses and deficiencies in the project and direct to address them on priority basis. Further, IA will also recommend pre-mature closure of such high underperforming projects.

2. These modification/ addenda/ instructions (excluding A(iii) and A(iv) above) shall also apply to the project approved before the issue of this OM.

3. This is issued with the approval of the Competent Authority.

(Abhishek Sharma) Director (TTDF), DBN

Copy to:

1. PSO to Secretary(T), DoT for kind information
2. Member(S)/Member(T)/Member(F), DoT for kind information
3. PPS to Administrator, DBN/Additional Secretary (T), DoT for kind information
4. DDG(IT), for circulation through DoT website