Delhi Government Unveils Business Blasters Senior Initiative to Foster Entrepreneurial Spirit Among Students
New Delhi, [Date] - The Delhi government has launched the Business Blasters Senior initiative, aimed at cultivating a generation of job creators by nurturing entrepreneurship among students of state-funded universities and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
Chief Minister Atishi addressed the launch event, citing a McKinsey report that predicts India will require 90 million non-agricultural jobs by 2030. She emphasized that there is an urgent need to develop entrepreneurial skills among young Indians, particularly in light of the country's high unemployment rate among graduates.
"We cannot prepare our youth for JEE and UPSC or secure traditional jobs alone," she said. "Instead, we must equip them with the skills to create their own opportunities. That's exactly what this initiative aims to do."
The Business Blasters Senior program has been revised from its initial inception in 2021, which initially focused on government schools. The expanded initiative now includes universities and ITIs, providing Rs 50,000 as seed funding to startup teams - a significant increase from the Rs 2,000 offered in earlier versions.
CM Atishi highlighted the need for such programs, citing a dismal unemployment rate of 42% among graduates in India. "Despite Indians being behind various pioneering ventures, we continue to struggle with job creation," she noted.
Atishi attributed India's stagnation as a 'developing country' to the conventional pressures placed on young minds. "Our students are often discouraged from innovation and risk-taking due to societal expectations of securing stable jobs over nurturing their entrepreneurial spark," she said.
Sharing success stories of previous iterations, including startup ventures founded by high school students that have gained traction in the global market, Atishi praised the initiative's impact on student confidence and ambition. "Business Blasters Senior is not just a program - it's my dream realized," she said, advocating for fearlessness, confidence, and capability among its young participants.
Under the initiative, students will be pitching their startup ideas, receiving mentorship, seed funding, and opportunities to present their ventures to investors. This comprehensive support system aims to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs, ultimately contributing to India's vision to create 90 million new job opportunities by 2030.