Chandigarh: Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Sunday said the state is working to transform its education system into a powerhouse of talent, innovation and entrepreneurship, aiming to position Punjab as a national hub for skilled human capital. Addressing a session titled “From Knowledge to Capital: Transforming Universities into Talent, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Engines” during the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026, Bains said the government is shifting the focus of education from mere access to relevance and industry readiness. He added that the state is building the industries of tomorrow by nurturing entrepreneurial thinking among students.
Highlighting key initiatives, the minister said Punjab has introduced the Entrepreneurship Mindset Course (EMC), becoming the first state in India to offer students hands-on experience in building businesses. Since September 2025, over one lakh students have launched real ventures, collectively generating revenue of around ₹66 crore. He also announced that entrepreneurship will be a compulsory subject in higher education from the 2025–26 academic session for courses such as BBA, BCom, BTech and BVoc, while programmes like Business Blaster and Hunar Siksha School are encouraging practical learning, leadership and problem-solving skills.
Bains further noted that Punjab is emerging as a major education hub with 40 universities, over 1,000 colleges and nearly seven lakh students in higher education. Institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Indian Institute of Management Amritsar and All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bathinda are strengthening the state’s academic ecosystem. During the session, officials also highlighted initiatives like the launch of the Hunar Portal to connect students with industry for on-the-job training and employment opportunities.
