New Delhi: Delhi govt on Tuesday launched the Business Blasters Senior initiative, aimed at developing a generation of job creators by nurturing entrepreneurship among students of state-funded universities and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
Speaking at the launch, chief minister Atishi, quoting a McKinsey report, said by 2030, India will require 90 million non-agricultural jobs. “If everyone focuses only on preparing for JEE and UPSC or securing jobs, who will create them? This initiative addresses that very question,” she said.
Launched in 2021, the programme was previously restricted to govt schools but has expanded now. The initiative will provide Rs 50,000 as seed funding to startup teams, a significant increase from the Rs 2,000 offered in the school version.
Stressing the urgent need for such programmes, Atishi said there was a 42% unemployment rate among graduates in India: “Despite Indians leading some of the world’s most innovative companies, the country struggles with unemployment.”
“When I was in school, in Class 9, Economics was introduced in textbooks… India was categorised as a ‘developing country’. The books optimistically stated that by 2020, India would become a developed nation. Yet, today, if you open a Class 9 textbook, India is still described as a ‘developing country’. Why is this the case despite the immense talent and global success of Indians?” asked CM.
“It’s because our young talent, instead of being nurtured for innovation, is often subjected to societal pressure to follow conventional paths. For many, the goal of education is reduced to securing a good job. If that doesn’t happen, it’s seen as failure. This fear is ingrained in everyone — to avoid risks, play safe, and settle for a stable job,” she said.
Sharing success stories of students who broke barriers through the school-level programme, Atishi said one student, even before completing class 12, was running a logistics and courier startup that employed 50 people. Another student from a low-income group developed low-cost Bluetooth speakers during the pandemic and secured investments by presenting a detailed expansion plan, including hiring IIT graduates.
“Business Blasters Senior was my dream. For years, we worked on this concept in schools. Now, these young entrepreneurs, with their confidence and ambition at just 20-21 years of age, are proof of its success. They are fearless, confident and capable,” said Atishi.
Under the initiative, students pitch their startup ideas and receive mentorship and seed funding. The top teams are given opportunities to present their ventures to investors, further enhancing their prospects.
