Chandigarh/Rupnagar, July 5:
Encouraging the students to set up their own start-ups during the schooling, Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Saturday announced that Punjab Government will provide skill education in business & marketing to all students of 11th & 12th class in Govt schools from next session 2026-27 under the Punjab Young Entrepreneurs Scheme.
While addressing the Business Blasters Expo 2025, S. Bains said that in a world where hundreds and thousands of applicants chase a single job, Punjab’s government has flipped the script. Under the Business Blasters Expo 2025, students are being encouraged to become job creators instead of job seekers as Punjab Government would provide all kinds of assistance as well as financial and technical to all progressive minded students.
Referring the Business Blasters Expo 2025, Cabinet Minister said that 10 student-led ventures of students, selected from Government schools across Punjab have demonstrated their business ideas in a shark tank-style showdown before government leaders, industrialists, startup founders, and educationists where all teams were successful to get financial assistance to make their dreams true. The remaining 30 teams have also showcased and sold their products at Expo stalls.
Education Minister informed that an investment of ₹17 lakh has been made to set up innovation labs, where students will now be able to develop their own products, even in collaboration with IITs.
Highlighting the Punjab Young Entrepreneurs Scheme, he said that State Government has started a new era of student entrepreneurship and this began as a pilot project in 30 schools in State, where students were asked to present and pitch their business ideas. One shining example is a girl belonging to the BPL family of Govt. Mullanpur Dakhan School, who created decorative flower pots that sold for 20 times their price in Ludhiana. Similarly a youth from my own constituency now buys T-shirts from Gurugram and resells them via Instagram, earning ₹50,000 a month.
He said that leading 10 teams of students have showcased ideas business such as electrical cycle, natural beauty products, handmade dupattas, driving simulator, artwork framing, natural ingredients masalas, safety sticks, chocolates, herbal soaps, including many other innovative products,
Speaking on this occasion, Former Deputy CM of Delhi, Mr. Manish Sasodia said that Punjab Young Entrepreneurs Scheme will be a milestone. Going forward, government school students will need to present a business idea to be eligible to pass. Students must gain practical understanding and real-world learning. Those graduating from Class 12 will leave with something they’ve created, sold, and earned money from.” Regardless of their chosen degree or diploma, every student must learn how to earn while studying.
He pointed out that, every year, 1 crore graduates pass out in India, but only 10 lakh get jobs—the rest continue searching for the private sector jobs. Between 2014-15 and 2021-22, according to a Parliament report, 22.05 crore youth applied for jobs, but only 7 lakh got them. This stark gap underscores the urgency of programs like Business Blasters.
He said that under the Business Blasters Expo 2025, it is now mandatory for students to present at least one business idea as a subject-based project. This program ensures that every student will not only gain financial literacy and independence, but also learn the essentials of marketing and entrepreneurship. This is a historic and visionary step, one that will empower and enable every student to stand tall with capability and confidence.
Mr. Vikramjeet Sahni Member Parliament announced Rs. 10 lakh to first 10 teams to establish their ventures and other business persons, industrialist and senior officer from the state government also assured the students that they will provide technical and expertise including financial assistance.
On this occasion Sh. Pramod Basin Founder of Gerpact, Sh. Anuj Kundra Member, Punjab Development Commision, Smt. Anandita Mitra, IAS
Sectary, School Education Punjab Board, First jury team members Dr. Hemant Kanakia, Founder & former CEO of Torrent Networking Technologies, Ms. Sairee Chahal, Founder & CEO, Sheros, Dr. Shray Pathak, Head, Technology Business Incubator Foundation, IIT Ropar, Ms. Somveer Anand, CEO, Punjab Innovation Mission. Second jury team memrbers Mr. Mekin Maheshwari, CEO, Udhayam Learning Foundation & Co-founder of Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship, Mr. Jitendra Kalra, Director, SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India), Ms. Komal Jaiswal, Founder Greenaffair, Mr. Shailendra Sharma, Former Principal Advisor to Director Education, Government of NCT Delhi. And the third jury team members Mr. Satyam, CEO, Technology Business Incubator Foundation, IIT Ropar, Mr. Harit Mohan, Founder & CEO, Signicent Information Solutions Ltd & Former President, TIE Chandigarh were present.
