Kejriwal and CM Mann Launch Punjab Startup App to Turn Students into Entrepreneurs (Image Source: Top Indian News)
National News: Punjab’s youth now have a new way to earn and learn, thanks to a major initiative by the Aam Aadmi Party government. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and party leader Arvind Kejriwal introduced the ‘Punjab Startup App’ and the ‘Entrepreneurship Mindset Course’ at a special event held at Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh. This move makes Punjab the first state in India to include entrepreneurship as a compulsory subject in higher education. Education Minister Harjot Bains and other senior leaders attended the event and described it as a transformative step for young people.
The Punjab Startup App is designed to reach over 8 lakh students studying in universities, colleges, polytechnics, and ITIs throughout the state. Using this app, students can develop their own startup ideas and earn two credits each semester based on their business earnings. For the 2025-26 academic year, the course will start in 20 universities, 320 ITIs, and 91 polytechnic colleges, benefiting around 1.5 lakh students. By 2028-29, it is expected to cover 5 lakh students. This initiative aims to give students not just certificates but real work experience and actual income.
The app includes round-the-clock AI assistance to answer startup-related questions instantly. Students will also get guidance from a team of experts to help grow their business ideas. Available in Punjabi, Hindi, and English, the app is accessible to students from all backgrounds. Each semester, students must present a new business idea and earn credit points depending on their profits. These credits will contribute to their degrees, creating a unique combination of learning and entrepreneurship.
Arvind Kejriwal highlighted that Punjab is the first state to make the Entrepreneurship Mindset Course mandatory at the higher education level. He said this app will give youth ideas, dreams, and the tools to build them. If implemented nationwide, such a model could help India become a global economic power. Kejriwal also pointed out that entrepreneurship is natural for Punjab’s youth and that this program could help them compete with economies like China. Starting in 2025-26, the course will be part of BBA, BCom, BTech, and BVoc programs, and next year it will expand to all degree courses.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said Punjab has always been a land of opportunity and that hard work is rewarded here. He added that many students struggle to find jobs after completing their education, but this app will help them become employers. Mann used YouTube as an example of a successful startup that began as a college project and said Punjab’s youth can achieve similar results. He shared that within just 15 days of the app’s launch, 75,000 students registered and businesses worth Rs 25 lakh were created.
The app gives students a platform to turn all kinds of ideas into reality, whether it’s a small local shop, an online business, or a new product. Students will receive help with business planning, marketing, sales, finances, and customer service. This full support system allows students to learn from their experiences and move toward success.
Punjab has become the first state to teach ‘Entrepreneurship’ as a main subject even to Class 11 students. The government aims to nurture entrepreneurial thinking early, preparing students not just to seek jobs but to create them. The course teaches market awareness, leadership, risk-taking, and problem-solving skills. This program is more than a course—it is a new approach to learning and life.
In just 15 days, the Punjab Startup App has already attracted 75,000 students, whose startups have generated Rs 25 lakh in business. This shows the youth’s strong interest in entrepreneurship and the importance of having the right platform. Business ideas range from small-scale food ventures to online services, demonstrating that the app is more than a government scheme—it fulfills students’ aspirations.
Kejriwal and Mann believe this model could inspire other states. If adopted nationwide, it could reduce unemployment and help India become an economic superpower. The initiative is expected to transform education, encourage innovation, promote economic independence, and turn students into job creators. Punjab’s government hopes this will make the state the largest startup hub in India and prepare youth to compete globally.
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