Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria Highlights Youth-Led Innovation at Chandigarh Start-up Conclave, Calls City a Rising Entrepreneurial Hub
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 21, 2025 – Punjab Governor and Administrator of UT Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, today emphasized the transformative power of youth-led innovation at the Start-up Conclave held at the CII Northern Region Headquarters in Chandigarh. The event saw enthusiastic participation from entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, corporate leaders, and academia.
Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Governor Kataria praised India’s emergence as the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, attributing this success to initiatives such as ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’, ‘Make in India’, and ‘Digital India’. He noted that these programs have laid a strong foundation, enabling start-ups to dream ambitiously and expand globally.
He commended the Chandigarh Administration’s proactive promotion of entrepreneurship through its robust Start-up Policy. Highlighting Chandigarh’s unique advantages—high literacy rates, excellent connectivity, and leading educational institutions—he encouraged youth to leverage this supportive environment fully.
Governor Kataria inspired young entrepreneurs to align with India’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ by focusing their innovations on solving real-world challenges in healthcare, education, urban mobility, sustainable development, and agriculture. He also stressed the importance of collaboration among government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions to nurture a thriving innovation ecosystem.
Deputy Commissioner and Secretary Industries, Shri Nishant Kumar Yadav, elaborated on the Chandigarh Start-up Policy, detailing that over 600 start-ups from the city are registered with the DPIIT. He highlighted Chandigarh’s strategic location near the Northern Region Trade Zone and the role of premier institutions like PEC, PGIMER, and IIT Ropar as key incubators supporting start-ups from ideation through commercialization.
Yadav explained that the policy provides comprehensive support across various stages—seed funding, early growth, and market entry—to strengthen the overall start-up ecosystem.
The conclave also honored ten promising Chandigarh-based start-ups for excellence in innovation, impact, and scalability. The event featured panel discussions, fireside chats, and interactive sessions where industry veterans and mentors shared insights on fundraising, scaling products, and leveraging government schemes such as Start-up India, Digital India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Senior officials from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) participated, reaffirming their commitment to offering strategic mentorship, market access, and incubation support to emerging ventures.