Punjab on Path to Becoming Nation’s Startup Hub: CM Mann
To foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and youth-led enterprises, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday distributed a seed grant worth Rs 1.07 crore to 31 startups and their founders. He asserted that the next generation of successful entrepreneurs should not only originate from Punjab but also establish their companies within the state, thereby creating jobs and wealth.
The Chief Minister declared that Punjab is firmly on the trajectory to become the startup hub of India. He described startups as a key pillar of Punjab’s future economic growth, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring that no promising idea is abandoned due to a lack of financial support.
Enhanced Seed Grant Assistance
Under the Punjab Startup & Industrial Policy-2026, the seed grant assistance has been increased from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Seven startups received grants of Rs 5 lakh each, while 24 received Rs 3 lakh each. Mann expressed confidence that these ventures will generate thousands of employment opportunities and help reduce the need for youth to migrate abroad in search of jobs.
Innovation in Governance
The Chief Minister emphasized that innovation has become a defining feature of governance in Punjab. Initiatives such as free electricity, daytime power supply to farmers, and several other reforms have demonstrated how new ideas can deliver direct benefits to the people. Drawing a parallel between entrepreneurship and politics, Mann said, “AAP itself was born from an idea at a time when dynastic politics dominated the country and the common man had been sidelined. In many ways, AAP was also a startup that cleaned the political system with its symbol of the broom.”
Political Appeal and Criticism
Addressing a Lok Milni programme at Shamashpur village in Fatehgarh Sahib, Mann launched a sharp attack on Opposition parties while highlighting his government’s achievements. He appealed to the people to grant his party another mandate in the 2027 Assembly elections, stating that he has a vision to make Punjab the number one state in the country. Recalling the overwhelming support received in 2022, he said the government has been working continuously to address long-pending issues facing the state.
Lashing out at former governments led by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress, Mann alleged that they left the state burdened with massive debt without creating infrastructure or employment opportunities. He reiterated his commitment to transforming Punjab into a thriving economic hub through innovation and youth empowerment.
