Now Focus on Giving Jobs, Not Asking — CM Mann’s ‘Business Class’ has Made Punjab a ‘Startup State’! Guarantee of ‘Earnings Along with Degree
Chandigarh, November 3, 2025 : With Bhagwant Mann’s visionary thinking and inspiration from Arvind Kejriwal’s education model, Punjab has taken such a historic initiative across the country that has changed the very definition of the traditional education system. Now children in Punjab’s classrooms are not just getting degrees, but laying the foundation of their own business. This is not just education, but an economic revolution whose name is ‘Business Class’ (Entrepreneurship Mindset Course – EMC).
This program, which has now become a mandatory subject in higher education, is a historic step by the Punjab government in the direction of transforming youth from job seekers to job givers. Chief Minister Mann clearly said, “Now every youth of Punjab will become an entrepreneur, and every college will become the birthplace of new businesses.”
Business Class : Punjab Launches ‘Entrepreneurship Mindset Course’ to Build Student Startups
In accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), the Punjab government has made the ‘Entrepreneurship Mindset Course’ (EMC) mandatory in higher education. This course has started from the academic session 2025–26 in major courses like BBA, BCom, BTech and BVoc. At its launch itself, nearly 1.5 lakh students from 20 universities, 320 ITIs and 91 polytechnic institutions have become part of ‘Business Class’.
This program is based on the “Punjab Business Blasters” model, which gave thousands of children at the school level the confidence to become entrepreneurs. Now the same thinking is being implemented at the college level. Punjab has proved that the real purpose of education is not just to give degrees, but to make youth self-reliant and confident. The most special thing about this program is its AI-enabled digital platform ‘Punjab Startup App’, which guides students throughout the entire journey from idea to business. Available in three languages — Punjabi, Hindi and English — this app gives students the opportunity to connect with business planning, marketing, financial management and investors.
Students have to develop a new business idea every semester, prepare its prototype and then launch it in the real market to earn money. They receive 2 credit points based on this entire experience. Instead of exams or cramming, each student will now be evaluated by their earnings and innovation. This is not just education, but an ‘Earn While Learn’ revolution, which has transformed colleges into mini-industries.
Punjab Empowers Youth to Become Job Creators through Startup Initiative
Chief Minister Mann said, “Punjab’s children have immense talent; they just need the right opportunities.” We have given them not just books, but tools to turn dreams into reality. Today future industrialists are being prepared in our classrooms. This scheme is not putting youth in the line of getting employment, but sitting them at the table of giving employment.”
The government’s goal is that this program should reach 5 lakh students by 2028-29. This will give birth to thousands of new startups, which will give a big boost to the state’s GDP. In India, approximately 1.5 crore students graduate every year while only 15 lakh jobs are available. This initiative of the Punjab government is a decisive step towards eliminating that gap and promoting a self-employment based economy. In just 15 days of launch, 75,000 students have registered on the ‘Punjab Startup App’. So far, they have achieved a ₹25 lakh business turnover.
Punjab’s Youth Turn Innovators as ‘Business Class’ Builds Startup State
Punjab’s children are now taking flight – from solar torches to USB chargers, every idea is creating a new story! This program is transformative. ‘The era of cramming-give paper’ is gone. Now Punjab’s youth are not job seekers. They are job givers! This is a game changer for those lakhs of unemployed. They are now earning up to 10,000 rupees every semester. They are able to earn this alongside their studies. This program is not just an educational scheme. It is a mission of the Punjab government. This mission connects the future of youth with employment. It promotes self-reliance and self-respect. Now youth are not looking towards foreign countries. They are realizing the dream of ‘Make in Punjab’ while staying in their Punjab.
This initiative of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is making Punjab a ‘Startup State’. The government is giving children opportunities along with jobs. ‘Business Class’ marks the start of Punjab’s new era. Every classroom is a startup center. Every student is a potential entrepreneur.
