NEW DELHI: A significant percentage of Indian college students are venturing into entrepreneurship, with 22 per cent having already launched their own businesses, a figure that aligns with the global average. Furthermore, a substantial 43 per cent of these students aspire to become entrepreneurs in the future, according to a comprehensive national survey.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the GUESSS India 2025 National Survey Report, a collaborative effort between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi, and REVA University, Bengaluru, has shed light on the burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit among Indian youth.
The extensive survey encompassed the participation of 25,783 students from over 1,200 higher education institutions spread across 34 states and Union Territories of India. The findings revealed that the proportion of Indian college students who have already initiated businesses stands at 22 per cent, closely mirroring the global average of 23 per cent. Notably, among these student entrepreneurs, 35.5 per cent reported generating regular sales from their ventures, a statistic slightly surpassing the international benchmark of 33 per cent.
The report further underscores a discernible shift in career aspirations, with entrepreneurship increasingly favoured over traditional employment paths. The inclination among students to establish their own enterprises immediately after completing their graduation has seen an uptick, rising from 14 per cent in 2023 to 16.2 per cent in 2025. Concurrently, there has been a decline in the preference for government jobs, which fell from 12.7 per cent to 10.1 per cent, and a decrease in the aspiration to work for large corporations, dropping from 31.3 per cent to 27.4 per cent during the same period.
Indian student entrepreneurs are also exhibiting a strong propensity for innovation and resilience, demonstrating a willingness to experiment and persevere through setbacks. The survey data indicates that 31 per cent of student businesses that are currently generating regular sales were established in 2025 alone, which is a higher proportion compared to the global figure of 18 per cent. Moreover, the report highlights that 41 per cent of the student founders had previously experienced the closure of a business before embarking on a new venture, while 42 per cent were simultaneously managing two or more businesses.
Puran Singh, an Associate Professor at the School of Management, IIT-Mandi, and the Country Delegate for GUESSS India, commented on the findings. He asserted that Indian students possess entrepreneurial ambitions that are on par with their global counterparts. Professor Singh emphasized the critical need for enhanced support systems that connect students with seasoned founders and provide practical guidance for business establishment.
The study identified a diverse range of sectors being explored by student entrepreneurs, including information technology, artificial intelligence, digital services, creative industries, agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. Information technology, artificial intelligence, and digital services emerged as the most sought-after domains among aspiring student entrepreneurs. However, the report also noted that only approximately one in every ten businesses currently operated by students had a digital focus. The research further indicated that students with existing entrepreneurial connections, such as relatives, friends, classmates, or teachers, were found to be three times more likely to initiate a venture.
Despite these positive indicators of entrepreneurial drive, the survey also brought to light persistent challenges. A considerable half of Indian students reported a lack of exposure to entrepreneurs beyond their immediate family circle, a contrast to the global average where one-third of students shared similar experiences. Among students in the process of developing their ventures, only 10 per cent had managed to secure their first sale, falling short of the international figure of 23 per cent.
A gender disparity was also observed in the survey results. While women students expressed entrepreneurial ambitions at a rate nearly equivalent to men, only 45 per cent of women aspiring to start businesses had actually launched one, compared to 53 per cent of their male counterparts.
P Shyama Raju, Chancellor of REVA University, addressed the role of educational institutions, stating that universities should be instrumental in preparing students not just for employment, but also for the creation of jobs through entrepreneurship.
The report, titled “How Do We Make Student Entrepreneurs?”, was officially launched on October 9 at ISBACON 2026 in Mohali. It puts forth recommendations for universities, incubators, and governmental bodies to prioritize the conversion of entrepreneurial aspirations into tangible businesses, with a particular focus on facilitating connections between students and successful entrepreneurs.
The Chenab Times News Desk
