The Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, has announced the launch of ‘Mission YUVA’, an initiative aimed at empowering youth, women, and marginalized communities by promoting entrepreneurship and facilitating the growth of small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The mission focuses on first-generation entrepreneurs, particularly young people and women from remote areas, and aims to establish new businesses in growth sectors while scaling up existing enterprises. Under Mission YUVA, several programs will enhance employment opportunities and skill development, including the National Urban Livelihood Mission and the National Rural Livelihood Mission.
Women-centric initiatives plan to transform 40,000 rural women into ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and establish 20 hubs focused on women’s empowerment. The inclusion of persons with disabilities is also a priority, with over 550 individuals already securing government jobs following changes in reservation policies. The mission extends to sports and infrastructure development as well.
International cricket is set to revive in J&K with the Legends League, and water sports and fencing academies are being established. High-performance training centers are planned in every district, and the Khelo India Winter Games will be held in Gulmarg in February. Lt Governor Sinha stated, “Mission YUVA is a comprehensive initiative that will empower our youth, women, and marginalized communities by promoting entrepreneurship and facilitating the growth of MSMEs.
We are committed to creating a self-reliant and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir by leveraging the potential of our youth and communities.”
These initiatives are part of a broader effort to foster a self-reliant and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir by leveraging the potential of its youth and communities. The mission aims to create a hub of entrepreneurship in the region, driving economic growth and development. The Centre’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster collaboration, mentorship, and support for startups in the region.
The signing took place during “Jammu Kashmir Konnect,” a special startup-focused programme organised at JKEDI’s Baribrahamna campus.
Empowering youth in Jammu and Kashmir
The MoU paves the way for greater branding, outreach, and accessibility to Startup India’s ecosystem, fostering mentorship, knowledge exchange, and infrastructure support.
It also focuses on market linkages, funding networks, and international expansion opportunities, aligning with India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047. JKEDI Director Rajinder Kumar Sharma highlighted the impact of the J&K Startup Policy, launched in March 2024, which has led to more than 250 new startup registrations on the DPIIT portal, taking the total to 988 in a short span. He also emphasised the significant outreach efforts undertaken by JKEDI, conducting 601 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes across universities, colleges, higher secondary schools, and IITs in 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir during the current financial year.
This new collaboration aims to bolster the startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, providing young entrepreneurs with the necessary resources and support to thrive in a competitive market. The ‘BRICS – Youth Council Entrepreneurship Pre-Consultation’ event was inaugurated on Tuesday at the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The initiative, aimed at providing a platform for young entrepreneurs and researchers to present their ideas, is a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Global Counter Terrorism Council (GCTC).
State Industry Minister Balvantsinh Rajput emphasized the importance of encouraging India’s youth, crediting Gujarat’s industrial development to PM Modi’s vision. Gujarat accounts for 33 percent of the nation’s exports, contributes over 18 percent of India’s total industrial output, and has the highest job generation in the country. Rajput highlighted the diversity in Gujarat’s startup landscape, with notable concentrations in healthcare, IT services, and agriculture.
More than 60 percent of Gujarat’s population is in the age group of 15-45, contributing to the state’s entrepreneurial environment. With policies such as the ‘Start-Up Policy’, Gujarat has become the leading state in fostering entrepreneurial spirit, with over 12,000 start-ups operational in the state and around 150,000 across the country. NFSU Chancellor J.M. Vyas urged young entrepreneurs to harness their capabilities as India prepares to host the upcoming BRICS summit, showcasing the potential of India’s young entrepreneurs.
GCTC’s Strategic Consultant, Prajna Kulshreshtha, emphasized that this program provides a golden opportunity for India’s youth to showcase their innovative ideas, start-up ventures, and entrepreneurial spirit in the face of the BRICS nations.
