In a move to transform students into job creators rather than job seekers, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), has launched multiple initiatives to support student startups and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. The recently held UDYAMOTSAV 2025 marked a significant milestone, providing over 350 student-led startups with a platform to pitch ideas to investors and securing a structured framework for mentorship, incubation, and funding opportunities.

UDYAMOTSAV 2025: Fostering Student Entrepreneurship

At UDYAMOTSAV 2025, AICTE and the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC) connected 3,200 startups to AICTE Innovation Centres for continued mentoring and incubation support. The event saw participation from over 75 investors across 14 institutions nationwide, fostering a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem across 13 regions in India.

Prof. TG Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, emphasized the importance of this initiative:

“The need for UDYAMOTSAV 2025 arose from the untapped entrepreneurial potential within educational institutions. Our goal is to democratize access to entrepreneurial resources and create an inclusive startup ecosystem for students.”

AICTE’s Structured Support System for Innovators

To nurture innovation and entrepreneurship, AICTE has introduced a structured framework through:

• AICTE IDEA Labs – Hands-on learning platforms to help students develop prototypes and solutions.
• Institution’s Innovation Councils (IICs) – Established in over 14,000 higher educational institutions (HEIs) to foster startup culture.
• AICTE-MIC Partnerships – Bridging the gap between academia and industry with VC collaborations and funding opportunities.
• School Innovation Councils (SICs) – Over 10,000 schools now offer structured entrepreneurship education.

According to Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman, AICTE, these initiatives focus on ideation, design thinking, intellectual property (IP) protection, business planning, and investor pitching. The IICs have facilitated 3.2 lakh innovation programs to track and support student startups throughout the year.

Funding & Patent Support for Student Innovators

AICTE and MIC have introduced direct funding for student and faculty-led innovations through initiatives like:

• Yukti Innovation Contest & Smart India Hackathon – Funding of up to ₹10 lakh per project.
• Patent Filing Support – AICTE has committed to funding 15,000 student and faculty patents in 2024, with 10,000 applications already processed.

Bringing Innovation to Tier-II & Tier-III Cities

Recognizing that students from smaller towns often lack access to prototyping and incubation centers, AICTE is expanding opportunities to tier-II and tier-III cities through boot camps, faculty mentorship programs, and Smart India Hackathon selections.

“Many of the best innovations at Smart India Hackathon come from students in smaller towns. By strengthening faculty mentorship programs in these areas, we can ensure deeper entrepreneurial engagement in HEIs,” said Jere.

Entrepreneurship Courses for Students

To integrate entrepreneurship into mainstream education, AICTE has introduced:

• MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship – An incubator-based MBA program to groom future entrepreneurs.
• Design Thinking & Innovation Course (Class VI-XII) – Introduced as an elective subject in CBSE schools to instill an entrepreneurial mindset from an early age.

“By ‘catching them young’, we aim to build a growth mindset where students engage in problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation from school itself,” added Jere.

Conclusion: Paving the Way for India’s Next-Gen Entrepreneurs

With structured mentorship, incubation centers, direct funding, and entrepreneurship-focused education, AICTE is transforming India’s higher education landscape to foster innovation-driven startups. These bold initiatives will ensure that student-led startups not only survive but thrive, contributing significantly to India’s economic and technological growth.

🚀 Stay tuned for updates on AICTE’s latest startup initiatives!