Article 17 | Period of Exemption

(1) Initial Exemption Period: The fee exemption period granted to any qualifying entity under Article 14(1) and 14(3), specifically early stage Start-ups, MSMEs, Research Laboratories, and Social Enterprises qualifying as an Alliance Member (Contributor), shall be valid for a baseline term of two (2) years from the date of formal approval by the OpenBharat.net Governing Council (OBGC).

(2) Renewal and Re-Exemption: Upon completion of the initial two-year exemption term, an entity may apply for re-exemption for one (1) additional term of two (2) years. To qualify for renewal, the entity must submit verified documentation demonstrating:

• Ongoing compliance with the mandatory technical qualification criteria set out in Article 14(3), including verifiable code commits, architectural prototypes, or research deliverables;

• Satisfactory attendance at not less than five (5) working sprints or deliberations per 6 to 12 month cycle within their assigned OpenBharat.net Working Group (OWG); and

• Current corporate, financial, or statutory documentation verifying continued qualification under the SME, DPIIT start-up, or non-profit definitions established in Article 13.

(3) Absolute Cap on Exemption: The cumulative total duration of fee exemption for any commercial or enterprise entity, including the initial two-year period and any subsequent re-exemption term, shall not exceed four (4) continuous years. Upon the expiration of this four-year cap, the entity shall transition to the standard institutional fee schedule for Alliance Membership under Article 14(2) to sustain its voting, convenorship, and governance privileges.

(4) Material Change Notifications and Revocation:

• Entities holding fee-exempt status must notify the Secretariat within thirty (30) days of any material change in their corporate structure, funding rounds, statutory DPIIT classification, or revenue thresholds that affects their eligibility under Article 13 and Article 14.

• The OBGC, upon audit findings submitted by the Secretariat, reserves the authority to review, reclassify, or revoke fee-exempt status at any point during the term if an entity ceases active OWG technical participation, fails to maintain a working artifact, or misrepresents financial eligibility.

(5) Force Majeure and Extraordinary Hardship Extensions: In extraordinary circumstances involving national economic emergencies, prolonged regulatory moratoria, or certified force majeure events, the OBGC, acting with the formal administrative concurrence of the ISAIL Secretariat, may sanction a one-time relief extension not exceeding one (1) additional year. Such discretionary extensions shall remain strictly conditional upon demonstrated hardship and verified active alignment with OpenBharat.net technical tracks.

(6) Alternative Ecosystem Transitions: Entities that reach the four-year exemption ceiling and elect not to transition to the standard fee schedule under Article 14(2) may apply for transition to Observer Status or Affiliated Community Contributor Status. Such transition preserves their repository access and public review privileges on an advisory basis, without conveying Convenor eligibility or institutional governance voting standing within the OBGC.

(7) Administrative Support for Institutional Maturation: The OBGC and the Secretariat shall provide transitional pathways and technical guidance for maturing startups and labs graduating from exempt status, ensuring sustained collaboration across open-source testbeds, domestic compute clusters, and international standardisation tracks.