Punjab to provide biz, marketing education to govt school kids: Harjot Singh Bains
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Addressing the Business Blasters Expo 2025 here, Bains said in a world where hundreds and thousands of applicants chased a single job, Punjab's govt had flipped the script. Under the Business Blasters Expo 2025, students are being encouraged to become job creators instead of job seekers, he said, adding that the Punjab govt would provide all kinds of assistance, both financial and technical, to all the progressive-minded students.Referring to the Business Blasters Expo 2025, the minister said 10 student-led ventures, selected from govt schools across Punjab, demonstrated their business ideas in a shark tank-style showdown before govt leaders, industrialists, startup founders, and educationists.
All teams were successful in getting financial assistance to make their dreams come true. The remaining 30 teams also showcased and sold their products at Expo stalls, he said.
Bains informed that an investment of Rs 17 lakh was made to set up innovation labs, where students would now be able to develop their own products, even in collaboration with the IITs.
Highlighting the Punjab Young Entrepreneurs Scheme, he said the state govt had started a new era of student entrepreneurship.
This began as a pilot project in 30 schools in the state, where students were asked to present and pitch their business ideas. One shining example is a girl from a BPL (below poverty line) family at Govt Mullanpur Dakha School, who created decorative flower pots that sold for 20 times their price in Ludhiana.
Similarly, a youth from the Anandpur Sahib constituency now buys T-shirts from Gurugram and resells them via Instagram, earning Rs 50,000 a month, the minister highlighted.
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He mentioned that the leading 10 teams of students showcased business ideas such as electrical cycles, natural beauty products, handmade dupattas (scarves), driving simulators, artwork framing, natural ingredient masalas (spices), safety sticks, chocolates, herbal soaps, and many other innovative products.
AAP leader and former deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sasodia, who was also present at the expo, said the Punjab Young Entrepreneurs Scheme would be a milestone.
"Going forward, govt school students will need to present a business idea to be eligible to pass. Students must gain practical understanding and real-world learning. Those graduating from Class XII will leave with something they've created, sold, and earned money from.
Regardless of their chosen degree or diploma, every student must learn how to earn while studying," he said,
Sisodia pointed out that every year, 1 crore graduates passed out in India, but only 10 lakh got jobs, the rest continued searching for private sector employment.
Between 2014-15 and 2021-22, according to a Parliament report, 22.05 crore youth applied for jobs, but only 7 lakh got them. This stark gap underscores the urgency of programmes like 'Business Blasters', he added.
"Under the Business Blasters Expo 2025, it is now mandatory for students to present at least one business idea as a subject-based project. This programme ensures that every student will not only gain financial literacy and independence but also learn the essentials of marketing and entrepreneurship.
This is a historic and visionary step, one that will empower and enable every student to stand tall with capability and confidence," said Sisodia.
Rajya Sabha member Vikramjeet Sahni announced Rs 10 lakh to the first 10 teams to establish their ventures. Other business persons, industrialists, and senior officers from the state govt present at the event also assured the students of technical expertise and financial assistance.
Pramod Bhasin, founder of Genpact; Anuj Kundra, member of Punjab Development Commission; Anandita Mitra, secretary, School Education Punjab Board; and first jury team members Hemant Kanakia, founder and former CEO of Torrent Networking Technologies; Sairee Chahal, founder and CEO of Sheros; Shray Pathak, head of Technology Business Incubator Foundation, IIT Ropar; and others were also present.
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Ropar: Encouraging students to set up their own start-ups during schooling, Punjab school education minister Harjot Singh Bains on Saturday announced that the state govt would provide skill education in business and marketing to all the Class XI and XII students in govt schools from the 2026-27 academic session under the Punjab Young Entrepreneurs Scheme.
Addressing the Business Blasters Expo 2025 here, Bains said in a world where hundreds and thousands of applicants chased a single job, Punjab's govt had flipped the script. Under the Business Blasters Expo 2025, students are being encouraged to become job creators instead of job seekers, he said, adding that the Punjab govt would provide all kinds of assistance, both financial and technical, to all the progressive-minded students.
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