The Delhi government has launched an innovative educational programme called NEEV that is fundamentally changing how students learn and prepare for their futures. The New Era of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Vision initiative, introduced earlier this year, represents a significant shift away from traditional rote learning methods toward practical, hands-on education.
Inspiring Through Real-Life Success Stories
One of the most powerful aspects of the NEEV curriculum involves using motivational real-life stories to build student resilience and determination. The programme draws inspiration from Manoj Kumar Sharma, whose remarkable journey inspired the popular film 12th Fail. Students from Classes 8 to 12 engage in activities like Role Model Research, where they study such inspirational figures and create interview-style presentations.
Another creative initiative called Tumse Ho Payega! Jar encourages students to write motivational notes for their peers, sharing career aspirations and words of encouragement. This exercise not only builds individual confidence but also creates a supportive classroom environment where students collaborate and uplift each other.
Practical Entrepreneurial Challenges
The NEEV programme emphasizes creativity and quick decision-making through engaging business exercises. Activities like Business in a Box – Rapid Fire Challenge push students to develop instant business concepts using random objects and specific customer profiles. The Startup of the Day activity challenges learners to identify everyday problems and design practical solutions, taking inspiration from successful Indian companies like Ola and Flipkart.
For senior students in Classes 11 and 12, the curriculum closely mirrors actual start-up development processes. Learners define clear visions around real-world problems, build minimum viable products (MVPs), collect feedback, and refine their solutions. The programme uses examples from companies including Zepto, Instagram, and Meesho to demonstrate crucial business concepts like pivoting, scaling, and strategic investment.
Transforming Traditional Education
NEEV represents a fundamental departure from conventional teaching methods that prioritize memorization. Instead, the programme transforms students into active problem-solvers by integrating practical business challenges directly into the learning process. A comprehensive two-week assessment called My Billion-Rupee Idea requires students to prepare detailed business plans, conduct market research, deliver presentations, and optionally create prototypes.
The programme teaches students to think like entrepreneurs by analyzing problems, testing solutions, iterating based on feedback, and presenting ideas persuasively. By combining structured learning with real-world applications, NEEV effectively fosters critical thinking, self-confidence, teamwork, and resilience. Students not only learn business concepts but also acquire skills that are essential for success in today's modern economy.
NEEV builds upon the foundation established by the Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum introduced in 2019. The new module adds a clear, step-by-step progression with activity-based learning for every class, directly linking lessons to real-world problem-solving. This innovative approach positions schools as incubators of innovation, preparing students for challenges that extend far beyond examination halls.
