IIM Jammu Holds Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes at GCET Jammu and GDC Hiranagar

Jammu, Feb 21, 2026:  Strengthening its commitment to fostering grassroots entrepreneurship and innovation-driven career pathways, the Indian Institute of Management Jammu conducted its 4th and 5th Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs) at Government College of Engineering and Technology Jammu  and Government Degree College Hiranagar on 20th and 21st Feb 2026 under its ongoing five-program outreach initiative supported and funded by DC-MSME, Govt of India.

The initiative reflects the Ministry’s sustained national effort to promote entrepreneurship, strengthen MSME ecosystems, and encourage self-employment opportunities across emerging and semi-urban regions to boost the regional & national economy, which will lead to the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. The outreach series is designed to introduce students to structured entrepreneurial pathways and inspire them to translate innovative ideas into viable enterprises.

The EAP series was designed to introduce young minds to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, business creation, and emerging opportunities within the MSME ecosystem. By bringing structured entrepreneurial exposure directly to colleges, the initiative aimed to encourage innovation, self-employment, and enterprise-led regional development.

The fourth EAP at GCET, Jammu witnessed participation from students and faculty members across different streams. The program created a platform for students to understand how ideas can evolve into viable ventures and how government support systems can assist in this journey. The fifth and concluding EAP at Government Degree College, Hiranagar, district Kathua, brought together students from Government Degree College for Boys Kathua, Government Degree College for Women Kathua, Government Degree College Marheen, Government Degree College Billawar, Government Degree College Mahanpur, Government Degree College Basohli, and Government Degree College Ramkot. The strong participation reflected the growing interest among youth in entrepreneurship and startup creation.

During the sessions, Vivek Sharma, Chief Innovation Officer, IIM Jammu, introduced students to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, explaining how structured ideation, validation, and problem-solving form the foundation of successful ventures.

A session on “Formalizing Your Venture: Business Structures and Registration Pathways” was delivered by Alankrit Mahajan, Executive Officer – LEAD, who explained different business structures, regulatory pathways, and the institutional resources that aspiring entrepreneurs can leverage to build and scale their ventures.

Addressing financial and digital aspects of entrepreneurship, Kannav Padha, Manager – DST iTBI, conducted an interactive session covering financial planning, funding awareness, and the importance of digital presence and branding in today’s startup ecosystem.

The program was coordinated by the IIM Jammu Incubation Team. Present on the occasion were Mr. Kannav Padha, Manager – DST iTBI IIM Jammu; Druvi Sharma, Deputy Manager – DST iTBI IIM Jammu; and Anjali Goswami, Assistant Manager – DST iTBI IIM Jammu.

Through these outreach initiatives at Government College of Engineering and Technology Jammu and Government Degree College Hiranagar, IIM Jammu continues to expand entrepreneurial awareness across the region, equipping students with structured knowledge, practical insights, and strategic direction required to build impactful, innovation-led ventures aligned with the national MSME development agenda.

With the completion of all five Entrepreneurship Awareness Programs under the support of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, IIM Jammu further reinforces its commitment to strengthening institutional outreach across the region, fostering entrepreneurial thinking, and enabling students to explore structured startup opportunities aligned with national MSME development goals.