Starting from the 2026–27 academic year, the Punjab government will introduce business and marketing skill education for Class 11 and 12 students in government schools under the ambitious ‘Punjab Young Entrepreneurs’ scheme. This transformative initiative aims to shift the focus from traditional rote learning to practical, hands-on entrepreneurial education, encouraging students to become job creators instead of job seekers.
The announcement was made during the Business Blasters Expo 2025 held in Rupnagar, where Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains emphasized the government’s vision of nurturing a generation of young entrepreneurs. He stated that the scheme will provide financial and technical support to student-led business ventures, enabling them to develop real-world business skills while still in school.
In a vibrant display of student innovation, ten student-led ventures pitched their business ideas in a Shark Tank-style format at the Expo, successfully securing funding to take their ideas forward. An additional 30 student teams exhibited and sold their products at dedicated stalls, gaining invaluable marketing and customer interaction experience. The initiative has already seen an investment of ₹17 lakh for setting up innovation labs for product development, with potential collaborations on the horizon with premier institutions like IITs.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, present at the event, praised the initiative, noting that entrepreneurship education will soon become a core component of school learning in Punjab. He highlighted that students will now be required to present a business idea to pass school, integrating practical learning, earning while studying, and real-world problem solving into the education system.
The ‘Young Entrepreneurs’ scheme reflects a major step toward bridging the gap between education and employment, empowering students with the tools, confidence, and mindset needed to thrive in a competitive global economy. By fostering early-stage innovation and providing a platform to experiment and grow, the Punjab government is laying the foundation for a future driven by youth-led enterprise and innovation.
This initiative is expected to significantly transform the educational landscape in Punjab, making government schools hubs of creativity, leadership, and economic empowerment from the classroom level itself.
