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Empower Youths: Mohit Kamboj feels start-up system, entrepreneurship make them future ready

Mohit Kamboj is a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist dedicated to progress, unity, and transformative change across India

India stands on the cusp of a transformative era, an economic and social renaissance driven by the unmatched energy of its youth. With over 65% of the population under the age of 35, India is not just a young nation, but a pulsating powerhouse of ambition, innovation and aspiration. In this context, entrepreneurship must be seen not merely as a means of economic development, but as a national mission, an instrument of empowerment, self-reliance and inclusive growth.

The Rise of India’s Start-Up Ecosystem

India’s journey from the periphery to the forefront of the global innovation map has been nothing short of extraordinary. Today, we are the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, and cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune have emerged as vibrant centres of innovation. What’s more encouraging is the entrepreneurial spark igniting in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, from Indore to Guwahati, where young Indians are daring to think big and build local solutions for local and global challenges.

But the real opportunity lies beyond the urban bubble. To truly unlock the potential of India’s demographic dividend, we must democratize entrepreneurship ensuring it is accessible not just to the urban educated elite, but also to youth in rural and underserved communities. The goal must be to make innovation a grassroots movement.

Entrepreneurship: The New Freedom Struggle

Today’s young entrepreneurs are not just building businesses; they are redefining what freedom means. This is a new-age freedom movement, one that seeks economic independence, self-expression, and societal impact. Much like our forebears who fought for political liberty, India’s youth are carving pathways to economic sovereignty by creating jobs, not just seeking them, and by developing indigenous solutions to uniquely Indian problems.

What makes entrepreneurship truly powerful is that it does not require a family legacy or elite education. It requires vision, resilience and an enabling ecosystem. That’s where government, industry, academia, and civil society must work in unison.

Building the Foundation: Education and Policy Reforms

For entrepreneurship to thrive, it must be deeply embedded into the educational framework. We need to move beyond rote learning to foster critical thinking, creativity and financial literacy. Schools and colleges should nurture risk-taking and entrepreneurial problem-solving as core life skills.

Government initiatives like Startup India, Atal Innovation Mission, and Skill India have laid a robust foundation. The next frontier is to extend these programs into rural India and marginalized communities to discover the next unicorn founder in a village, not just in a metro.

On the policy front, simplifying tax norms, streamlining business approvals, and expanding access to seed funding and incubators will be crucial. Entrepreneurs need a springboard, not a quagmire of red tape.

Celebrating the Risk-Takers

India must shift its cultural mindset, from applauding only academic rank-holders to celebrating those who take risks and solve real-world problems. Innovation demands courage. Failure is not a stigma, it is a stepping stone. We must normalise setbacks and nurture resilience in our youth.

What excites me most is how youth-led start-ups are addressing India’s most pressing challenges, be it in affordable healthcare, agriculture technology, digital skilling, financial inclusion or waste management. These ventures are not just commercial endeavours, they are social revolutions in motion.

A National Imperative

If India’s demographic dividend is to become its greatest asset, we must empower our young people with the right tools, opportunities, and mindset to lead from the front. Entrepreneurship is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity for sustainable, inclusive growth.

As someone who has built from the ground up, I can say with conviction that our real investment must be in people. In their potential, their dreams and their ability to transform India from within. Let us imagine and build an India where every young individual, from Nagpur to Nandurbar, from Varanasi to Visakhapatnam, has not just the aspiration, but also the access to dream, create and lead.

NMIMS Chandigarh welcomes new batch with Inspiring Orientation Ceremony

Chandigarh, July 15, 2025: SVKM’s NMIMS Chandigarh marked a significant milestone with the successful inauguration of its new cohort at the School of Technology Management & Engineering (STME) through a vibrant and insightful Orientation Ceremony held on 12th July at the campus. The event brought together distinguished dignitaries, faculty, parents, and enthusiastic first-year students to celebrate the beginning of a promising academic journey.

The ceremony commenced on an auspicious note with the NMIMS Anthem and a lamp-lighting ritual, symbolizing the light of knowledge and new beginnings.

Dr. Jyotsna Singh, Director I/C, NMIMS Chandigarh Campus and Associate Dean, STME, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the university’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and holistic student development. She proudly shared that NMIMS has recently been re-accredited with a NAAC A++ grade, attaining an impressive CGPA of 3.59 out of 4.0.

The event was graced by Chief Guest Mr. Nishant Kumar Yadav (IAS), Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh, and Guest of Honor Dr. Ashok Sangwan, Head of IT Security at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. Mr. Yadav delivered an inspirational keynote, sharing insights from his journey to the Indian Administrative Services, his training at the IAS Academy in Mussoorie, and the broader relevance of education, discipline, and physical wellness in shaping effective public service leaders. He also spoke about Chandigarh’s unique heritage, encouraging students to pursue their goals with dedication and purpose.

Dr. Sangwan followed with a dynamic session focused on the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and the importance of strong foundational skills in engineering. He engaged students through interactive activities and emphasized the importance of staying present in the learning process, fostering both technical expertise and soft skills for sustained success in the industry.

A special highlight of the program was the “Wellness First” awareness session led by Dr. Inderdeep Kaur Sawhney, Health Officer at the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh. The session addressed critical topics related to mental health and drug awareness, offering students practical strategies to manage stress, recognize early signs of substance misuse, and maintain emotional well-being during their academic journey.

The event concluded with faculty briefings by Dr. Jagpreet and Dr. Yugal, who outlined the academic framework, support systems, and institutional care mechanisms in place for students.

With courses set to begin on Monday, July 14, 2025, the orientation ceremony successfully laid a strong foundation for the incoming batch, fostering a sense of purpose, community, and enthusiasm. NMIMS Chandigarh continues its mission to nurture future leaders through a blend of academic rigor, innovation, and personal development.

Aviva India Launches Child Future Plan for Semi-Urban Families

New Delhi , 14th July 2025: Aviva India, a leading private life insurance company, announced the launch of its latest life insurance offering – Aviva Bharat Bal Vikas Yojana, a Non-Linked Non-Participating life insurance savings plan aimed at helping families in rural and semi-urban India build a secure future for their children. With premiums starting at just ₹1,000 per month, the plan combines guaranteed maturity benefits and life cover, helping families confidently plan for milestones like higher education, skill development or even starting a small business.

The plan offers a minimum entry age is 3 years, and the maximum entry age is 50 years, with policy terms ranging from 12 to 30 years and a maturity age of up to 80 years, making it suitable for a wide range of life stages and financial goals. Its flexible premium payment options—monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or annually—make it easier to fit into diverse household budgets.

In the unfortunate event of the life insured’s demise during the policy term, the nominee will receive the highest of:

• Death Sum Assured, or
• Surrender Value as on date of death (higher of Guaranteed Surrender Value or Special Surrender Value), or
• X%** (minimum 105%) of the total premiums paid

Commenting on the launch, Vinit Kapahi, Chief Marketing Officer, Aviva India, said, “Aviva Bharat Bal Vikas Yojana is built around real, everyday aspirations of families beyond metro cities. It’s a simple, goal-oriented plan for parents who wish to protect and nurture their children’s dreams, without the complexities often associated with financial products.”

The plan offers maturity benefits in the form of a guaranteed sum assured at the end of the policy term, ensuring financial support for the child’s future. It also provides tax benefits as per prevailing laws, making it a practical choice for families looking for both financial security and future-focused savings.

This launch reflects Aviva’s deepening commitment to financial inclusion – reaching not just metros, but real Bharat, where protection is needed most.

World Youth Skills Day 2025: Building Future-Ready Youth

By – Amit Goyal, Managing Director, South Asia, Project Management Institute.

“As we mark World Youth Skills Day 2025, it is vital to recognize that empowering today’s youth with future-ready skills is synonymous with equipping them to master the projects of tomorrow. In a world increasingly shaped by rapid technological advancement and artificial intelligence, building digital fluency and cultivating adaptive competencies are essential to developing future-ready mindsets and meaningful career pathways.

We see clearly that skills in project success, data-informed decision-making, and collaborative agility are not just valuable, but are actively redefining the future of work across all sectors. These are the core competencies that enable individuals to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close complex undertakings, turning challenges into opportunities.

To enable inclusive growth and long-term economic resilience, preparing youth must become a shared priority. Institutions must evolve beyond conventional training paradigms and invest in scalable, experiential learning frameworks that integrate mentorship and real-world application. By fostering a culture of continuous development and ethical innovation, we empower youth to lead transformative change, manage complex initiatives, and deliver tangible value through AI and digital skills across industries, communities, and borders. At PMI, we believe every person has the potential to be a successful project leader, driving progress for a better future.”