By introducing a complete Startup Policy with an investment of ₹325 crore over the next five  years, the Delhi National Capital Territory (NCT) government has made a major step toward  bolstering the city’s startup environment. The news was made during the Campus to Market:  

Delhi Startup Yuva Festival 2026, a premier program designed to support youth-led  entrepreneurship and hasten the transfer of student inventions from classrooms to actual  markets. 

The festival was designed as a high-impact forum to strengthen the campus-to-market  pipeline and was organized by the Department of Training and Technical Education,  Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Student innovators, early-stage  entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, academic institutions, business executives, and senior  legislators were all together in one location for the event. The Government of Delhi and TiE  Delhi-NCR’s partnership demonstrates a shared dedication to creating a strong, diverse, and  future-ready startup ecosystem powered by young talent. 

Leadership and policy vision in government 

Shri Ashish Sood, Hon’ble Minister for Education, Higher Education, Home, Power, Urban  Development and Training & Technical Education; Smt. Rekha Gupta, Hon’ble Chief  Minister, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi; and Shri Jayant Chaudhary,  Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,  Government of India, all graced the festival. Their presence highlighted entrepreneurship and  the government’s strategic development as important foundations of economic progress. 

Speaking at the occasion, Shri Jayant Chaudhary emphasized the need to provide young 

people with appropriate skills and India’s demographic advantage. He emphasized that only  by providing young people with skills, chances for practical learning, and exposure outside of  formal schooling will the entire potential of India’s demographic dividend be realized.  highlighted the National Education Policy’s shift in emphasis from competency-based  learning to credentials. 

Delhi’s youth-led entrepreneurship 

Smt. Rekha Gupta emphasized the importance of students and young innovators, saying that  Delhi’s youth have the passion and inventiveness needed to create internationally competitive  businesses. She pointed out that programs like the Delhi Startup Yuva Festival are intended  to assist students transition from ideas to scalable enterprises by offering resources,  mentorship, and advice. She highlighted the expansion of startups in India, pointing out that  there are now over 2,10,000 firms and more than 120 unicorns, compared to just 500 in 2014. 

Following a customary lamp-lighting ceremony, key authorities gave speeches during the  ceremonial inauguration. The Secretary of the Department of Training and Technical  Education, Shri Pandurang K. Pole, IAS, emphasized the need of institutional support and  efficient policy implementation. 

Startup showcase and influence on the ecosystem 

A dynamic startup expo showcasing student-led innovations in fields including technology,  sustainability, healthcare, education, skill development, social impact, and ITI-driven  solutions was part of the event. Leading industry figures gave motivational talks throughout  the day, covering topics including artificial intelligence, brand development, and  entrepreneurial leadership. 

Speaking to the audience, Shri Ashish Sood revealed the Top 100 student companies that  were chosen from more than 750 submissions from Delhi’s colleges, universities, and ITIs.  He described the government’s comprehensive campus-to-market strategy, emphasizing that  more than 470 businesses are presently undergoing incubation, with a combined turnover of  ₹500–600 crore and several job prospects. Up to ₹10 lakh in equity-free seed money will be  given to chosen firms, and early-stage businesses will also receive extra assistance. 

Conclusion 

The new Delhi Startup Policy, which is in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s  Vision 2047, is to provide structured finance, incubation, and mentorship to 5,000 businesses  by 2035. A significant step in establishing Delhi as a premier center for student  entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable economic growth in India is the Campus to  Market: Delhi Startup Yuva Festival 2026.