Mumbai: In a major push towards inclusive entrepreneurship, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, launched ‘The Bharat Project,’ aimed at nurturing one million entrepreneurs from India’s Tier 2, Tier 3 and rural regions.
The launch event, held in Mumbai, saw participation from entrepreneurs, students, creators, and ecosystem enablers.
A Step Towards Inclusive Growth
The Bharat Project is designed to address the long-standing gap in entrepreneurial resources and access for youth living outside India’s metro cities. It aims to unlock grassroots potential and democratise the tools of entrepreneurship—mentorship, funding, knowledge, and exposure.
During the launch, Piyush Goyal stated that India is firmly on track to becoming an economic powerhouse, with projections of growing from a four trillion dollar economy today to $30–35 trillion by 2047. He emphasised that ‘The Bharat Project’ will be a critical part of this journey by creating an environment that supports startups across sectors and empowers first-generation entrepreneurs.
The Five Pillars of The Bharat Project
The Bharat Project is structured around five foundational pillars that aim to support aspiring founders through digital and grassroots outreach:
- Co-Pilot for Entrepreneurs: An AI-powered, mobile-first platform offering startup guidance, learning resources, mentorship access, and inspirational content in Hindi and English.
- Education & Upskilling: State and district-level programs, along with WhatsApp-based learning modules to educate youth on how to launch and grow businesses.
- Bharat Ideathon: A nationwide competition to scout and elevate promising business ideas from over 1,000 districts, offering visibility and expert mentorship to the winners.
- BharatSparks: A launchpad for selected entrepreneurs from smaller towns to pitch to investors, access grants, and receive long-term support.
- Shuru-kar: A seven-part web documentary series highlighting real startup journeys across India, including voices from innovators, investors, and policymakers.
Bridging the Opportunity Gap
About 65% of India’s population lives outside major cities, and over 370 million youth are between the ages of 15 and 30. Approximately 30 per cent of this demographic is NEET—Not in Education, Employment, or Training. The Bharat Project aims to address the challenges faced by those currently outside the traditional startup ecosystem. The initiative is expected to catalyse a new wave of grassroots entrepreneurship and ensure that India’s startup story includes every region and every voice.
