Delhi Unveils Rs 325 Crore Startup Policy to Boost 5,000 Ventures

Synopsis Delhi's youth entrepreneurship drive, the Campus to Market: Delhi Startup Yuva Festival 2026, successfully convened students, founders, and investors. Over 470 startups are currently incubated, with plans for significant future investment and support. The Government of NCT of Delhi hosted the Campus to Market: Delhi Startup Yuva Festival 2026 as part of its efforts to strengthen the city’s youth entrepreneurship ecosystem. The festival brought together students, startup founders, investors, incubators, academic institutions, and policymakers. The initiative was organised in collaboration with TiE Delhi-NCR. The festival was attended by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India; Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi; and Ashish Sood, Minister for Education, Higher Education, Home, Power, Urban Development and Training & Technical Education, Government of NCT of Delhi. The event highlighted the Government of Delhi’s focus on youth-led entrepreneurship and innovation. Jayant Chaudhary spoke about India’s demographic profile and the importance of skill development. He stated that the benefits of the demographic dividend depend on equipping youth with relevant capabilities and opportunities. He also referred to changes in India’s education approach under the National Education Policy, highlighting a shift from a qualification-centric system to one focused on competencies, skills, and experiential learning. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi, stated that the festival aims to support students in transitioning from academic institutions to market-facing ventures through mentorship and resources. She referred to the growth of India’s startup ecosystem over the past decade and noted the participation of more than 750 students from across Delhi in the festival. The festival was inaugurated with addresses by Pandurang K. Pole, IAS, Secretary, Department of Training & Technical Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, who highlighted the role of institutional support and policy alignment in promoting student entrepreneurship, and Anjali Sehrawat, IAS, Director, Department of Training & Technical Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, who outlined the department’s initiatives in skill development and student innovation. Live Events Ashish Sood, Minister for Education outlined the Government of Delhi’s campus-to-market approach, noting that institutions across universities, colleges, ITIs, and schools are part of the initiative. He stated that over 470 startups are currently being incubated through government-supported programmes, generating Rs 500–600 crore in revenue and creating an average of 4–5 jobs per startup. Selected startups will receive equity-free seed grants of up to Rs 10 lakh, while 100 startups will receive Rs 1 lakh each. He also mentioned that the Government is planning a new Startup Policy with a proposed outlay of Rs 325 crore over five years to support 5,000 startups by 2035. Geetika Dayal, Director General, TiE Delhi-NCR, spoke on the role of collaboration between government institutions and the entrepreneurship ecosystem in supporting student founders. She highlighted TiE Delhi-NCR’s involvement in mentorship, market access, and ecosystem support as part of the initiative. ________________________________________ 20 cities. Countless breakthroughs. Secure your spot at the ET Make in India SME Regional Summit.. ...moreless 20 cities. Countless breakthroughs. Secure your spot at the ET Make in India SME Regional Summit.. ...moreless Why IndiGo got away with peanuts penalty after causing misery Can this IPO-bound company step out of Flipkart’s shadow? For a future, Hindustan Copper is reviving what it junked in past RBI is easing, but India’s long-term rates tell a different story Stock Radar: SBI hits fresh record high in January 2026; time to buy or book profits? Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and upside potential up to 35% 1 2 3