Chandigarh, November 3 — Punjab has made entrepreneurship a compulsory subject in higher education institutions, a move the government says is aimed at turning students into job providers rather than job seekers.
Under the “Business Class” initiative, officially called the Entrepreneurship Mindset Course (EMC), students across major courses — including BBA, BCom, BTech and BVoc — will now be required to develop and launch business ideas as part of their degree. The course was introduced this academic session (2025–26) and is currently being implemented in 20 universities, 320 ITIs and 91 polytechnics, covering nearly 1.5 lakh students.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the aim is to link education with earning potential. “There is no shortage of talent in Punjab’s children. We have given them tools to turn their dreams into reality,” he said.
According to the government, the initiative follows the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and builds on the earlier “Punjab Business Blasters” model tested in schools. Each semester, students must design a business prototype and take it to market. They are evaluated based on innovation and income generated instead of exams, earning two academic credits per semester.
The program is supported by an AI-based digital platform — Punjab Startup App — available in Punjabi, Hindi and English, which offers guidance on planning, marketing and financial management. Officials said 75,000 students have already registered and generated over ₹25 lakh in turnover since the app’s launch.
The state government aims to expand the course to reach 5 lakh students by 2028–29, expecting to boost self-employment and local industry. “Every college can now become a birthplace of new businesses,” said Mann.
