The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Wednesday launched ‘Navachar Mantra’, a national initiative aimed at identifying, nurturing and scaling grassroots innovations and early-stage entrepreneurship across India, with a special focus on innovators from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, aspirational districts and rural areas.
The programme, launched by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary at IIT Delhi, seeks to create opportunities for innovators through collaboration between government, academia and industry. It is being implemented by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), with the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi, serving as the technical knowledge partner.
Addressing the gathering, Chaudhary said India should aspire not only to manufacture products but also to create technologies that shape the future. “The world should not only use products made in India but should use technologies imagined in India. That is the true spirit of Navachar Mantra,” he said.
Referring to emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, green energy, biotechnology, digital public infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, the minister said the next wave of global transformation should carry India’s intellectual imprint. He added that India possesses a unique advantage in the form of large-scale challenges, diverse realities and a talented youth population capable of developing solutions with global relevance.
The minister also urged young innovators to pursue ideas and careers that genuinely inspire them. “The most meaningful innovations are often created by people who wake up every day looking forward to their work, driven not just by opportunity, but by purpose and passion. Navachar Mantra is about creating an ecosystem where such ideas, and such innovators, can thrive,” he said.
A key highlight of the launch event was a fireside chat titled “Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey: From Grassroots Innovation to National Scale.” Moderated by Rajat Vardhan, Founder and CEO of Scanxt Scientific Technologies, the discussion featured Sandeep Agarwal, Founder of Droom; Bipin Preet Singh, Founder and CEO of MobiKwik; Dr Jagadis Gupta Kapuganti, Founder of Fruvetech Pvt. Ltd.; and Meenal Gupta, Founder of Easiofy Solutions Pvt. Ltd. The entrepreneurs shared insights from their journeys, discussing innovation, resilience, scaling businesses and building sustainable enterprises.
According to the ministry, Navachar Mantra has been designed as a structured support ecosystem for innovators working in priority sectors such as Agritech, HealthTech, EdTech and Skilling, Climate and Sustainability, Rural Commerce and MSME Enablement. The initiative aims to connect innovators directly with policymakers, industry leaders, investors and domain experts, helping them refine ideas, strengthen business models and accelerate growth.
Following the launch, applications have been opened through a dedicated digital platform and will remain open until July 5, 2026. A multi-stage evaluation process involving experts from academia, industry, investment firms and government institutions will be conducted to identify high-potential ventures. The programme is expected to attract innovators from across the country, particularly those developing solutions to address local challenges and generate community impact.
Selected innovators will participate in a year-long engagement programme that includes mentorship roundtables, thematic webinars, innovation showcases, investor interactions and national-level storytelling platforms. Participants will receive guidance on business development, market access, regulatory compliance, intellectual property management, fundraising and scaling strategies.
The programme will also facilitate pilot projects, partnerships and market linkages to help innovators transform ideas into sustainable enterprises.
A major component of Navachar Mantra is its focus on visibility and recognition. Selected innovators will receive national exposure through ministerial podcasts, innovation showcases, digital campaigns and ecosystem events, providing them with opportunities to share their work with a wider audience.
The initiative will culminate in a national showcase event bringing together innovators, investors, policymakers, industry leaders and ecosystem stakeholders to celebrate innovation-led entrepreneurship and explore pathways for future growth.
The ministry said the programme aims to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem by building a pipeline of grassroots innovators and connecting them with leading institutions and networks. It is expected to contribute to the vision of a self-reliant, entrepreneurial and innovation-driven Viksit Bharat.
The launch event was attended by Dilip Kumar, Director General of the Directorate General of Training (DGT); Hena Usman, Joint Secretary, MSDE; Archana Mayaram, Economic Adviser, MSDE; Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi; Dr Poonam Sinha, Director General, NIESBUD; and Dr Nikhil Agarwal, Managing Director, FITT-IIT Delhi, along with representatives from government ministries, industry, academia, innovation institutions, startup ecosystem organisations and partner institutions.
