Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized the need to promote start-ups in Jammu and Kashmir to encourage the younger generation to move away from a preference for government jobs. He made these remarks while inaugurating the ‘Youth Conclave’ organized by CSIR-IIIM Jammu.
Dr Singh noted that India is currently experiencing a start-up revolution, but the mindset of the youth in Jammu and Kashmir, who are more inclined towards government jobs, could hinder progress. He highlighted the success of recent space missions, Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya, which have sparked global aspirations among Indian students and demonstrated that the youth today have abundant aspirations and numerous opportunities in the form of start-ups.
Before 2014, there were only around 350 start-ups in India. However, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Start-up India’ initiative and introduced a special start-up scheme in 2016, the number of start-ups has skyrocketed to over 1.25 lakh, with more than 110 unicorns. In the biotech sector alone, there has been remarkable growth, with the number of start-ups increasing from 50 in 2014 to 6,000 at present.
Dr Singh praised the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) as a revolutionary step that complements the start-up ecosystem in India. He highlighted that the Modi government has created numerous opportunities and avenues for the youth through initiatives such as the Start-up Policy, Mudra Scheme, and PM SVANidhi. Furthermore, the unlocking of the space sector in June 2020 by Prime Minister Modi has led to a surge in space start-ups, with the number jumping from 4 to 150.
Dr. Jitendra Singh commended the CSIR-IIIM Jammu for its contribution to scientific research in India. He mentioned that the institute has a rich history of discoveries, including the mint plant and playing a vital role in the advancement of the purple revolution in India.
Sources: Jammu TNN