The Information Technology ministry launched a programme in collaboration with Meta Platforms Inc., to support 40 early-stage Indian start-ups in extended reality technology (XR). The program will give Rs 20 lakh each to the start-ups and it will include a challenge aimed at promoting XR, a term that refers to immersive technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality, which are regarded as the building blocks of the metaverse.The programme would encourage investments in education, learning and skills, healthcare, gaming and entertainment, agritech, climate action, tourism and sustainability.