- Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai interacts directly with youth and startup entrepreneurs at the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conclave-2026
- The vision of a developed Chhattisgarh will be realized through the participation of youth power, innovation, and startups
- Provision of ₹500 crore made for the ‘Mukhyamantri Startup and Nipun Yojana’
- New industrial policy boosts entrepreneurship; investment proposals worth ₹8.23 lakh crore received in the state so far
- Immense opportunities for youth in value addition of agricultural and forest produce: Chief Minister Sai
- Chief Minister Sai inspects the Subhash Chandra Bose Biotechnology Incubation Center
The youth power of Chhattisgarh is the state’s greatest asset for the future. Our endeavor is for the state’s youth to become creators of new employment opportunities through their skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship, rather than merely seeking jobs. Youth, innovators, and startups will play a pivotal role in building a developed Chhattisgarh. The state government is providing the necessary environment, infrastructure, technical support, and incentives to transform the ideas of the youth into innovations, and those innovations into successful enterprises. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated this while addressing students, young innovators, and startup entrepreneurs from across the state at the three-day ‘Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conclave-2026,’ held at the ‘Krishak Mandapam’ of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University in the capital, Raipur.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai remarked that today’s youth do not merely wait for opportunities; they possess the capability to forge new opportunities through their talent. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that their ideas receive the right platform, technical support, financial assistance, and a favorable policy environment. With this vision in mind, the startup and innovation ecosystem in the state is being strengthened. ‘Chief Minister’s Startup and Nipun Scheme’ Worth ₹500 Crore for Youth
Responding to a question about the state government’s role in transforming the ideas of the youth into businesses, Chief Minister Shri Sai stated that work is underway on the ‘Chief Minister’s Startup and Nipun Scheme’ to encourage the state’s sons and daughters to venture into entrepreneurship. A provision of ₹500 crore has been made for this purpose.
He noted that various schemes from both the central and state governments—including the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana—are encouraging youth towards self-employment and entrepreneurship. Chhattisgarh’s New Industrial Policy-2024 also incorporates numerous incentives for new entrepreneurs. Special encouragement is being provided for entrepreneurship among various sections of society, including women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and persons with disabilities. Special provisions have also been made for industries that generate significant employment at the local level.
Chief Minister Shri Sai urged the youth to study the new industrial policy thoroughly and make the most of the opportunities it offers. New industrial parks are being developed across the state. Procedures have been streamlined through a single-window system so that young people and investors wishing to set up industries do not have to make unnecessary rounds of multiple government offices.
- Investment Proposals Worth ₹8.23 Lakh Crore Following the New Industrial Policy
Chief Minister Shri Sai stated that since the implementation of the new industrial policy, the state has received investment proposals worth approximately ₹8.23 lakh crore. This investment process is not limited to mere proposals; work on the ground has already commenced for several projects.
He added that investment prospects in Chhattisgarh are growing rapidly—not only in traditional industries but also in emerging sectors such as energy, artificial intelligence, data centers, semiconductors, and textiles. The state’s natural resources, energy potential, central geographical location, and continuously improving road, rail, and air connectivity are further strengthening Chhattisgarh’s prospects for investment and entrepreneurship.
- Youth to Play a Decisive Role in Building a Developed Chhattisgarh
Chief Minister Shri Sai stated that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has placed before the nation the resolve to build a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by the year 2047. In line with this vision, Chhattisgarh is also moving towards becoming a developed state. A target has been set to grow the state’s economy to approximately ₹75 lakh crore by 2047.
He emphasized that this goal would be achieved not merely through government efforts, but through the participation of the state’s youth, farmers, entrepreneurs, scientists, researchers, and every single citizen. The new generation, in particular, needs to step forward in the fields of technology, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The Chief Minister noted that the expansion of key routes—such as the Raipur-Visakhapatnam corridor—and other connectivity projects would further improve Chhattisgarh’s access to the country’s major economic hubs. This will yield direct benefits across the sectors of industry, trade, agriculture, tourism, and employment.
- Sharing Experiences of a Farming Family with the Youth
During his interaction with the youth, Chief Minister Shri Sai shared experiences related to his own farming family and his village, Bagiya. He mentioned that he hails from a farming background and has personally been involved in agricultural activities, ploughing fields, and animal husbandry. Consequently, he possesses a close understanding of both the challenges and the immense potential inherent in the agricultural sector.
He stated that Chhattisgarh is an agriculture-dominated…By integrating modern technology and innovation with agriculture, vast opportunities for entrepreneurship can be created for the youth. Young people can leverage their talents in sectors such as biotechnology, food processing, digital technology, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy, alongside agriculture.
- Immense Potential in Value Addition for Agricultural and Forest Produce
Chief Minister Shri Sai stated that nature has endowed Chhattisgarh with unique wealth in the form of minerals, forest resources, and agricultural biodiversity. There is a need to ensure better value addition for these resources so that local communities reap greater benefits.
He noted that forest produce such as tamarind, mahua, custard apple, and medicinal plants is abundantly available in the state’s forest regions, including Bastar. Youth can establish new enterprises by focusing on modern processing, attractive packaging, branding, and marketing of these products. This will not only boost local employment in forest areas but also strengthen the regional economy.
Responding to a question from a young entrepreneur regarding the export of aromatic rice, the Chief Minister remarked that Chhattisgarh is truly the ‘Rice Bowl’ of the country. The state boasts numerous unique and aromatic paddy varieties, such as Javaphool, Vishnubhog, Hanumanbhog, and Sheetalchini. Indira Gandhi Agricultural University is actively conserving thousands of paddy varieties.
He emphasized that we must not limit ourselves merely to agricultural production; instead, we need to develop a comprehensive value chain encompassing processing, packaging, branding, value addition, and exports. This will ensure farmers receive better prices for their produce and create new markets and opportunities for agriculture-based startups.
During the conclave, the youth engaged in an open dialogue with the Chief Minister. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, including startup funding, collateral requirements for loans, support from government schemes, employment generation, better utilization of skills among horticulture students, the social media and influencer ecosystem, and the opportunities likely to arise from the proposed film city. The Chief Minister encouraged the youth to seize available opportunities and step forward in the field of entrepreneurship. He noted that the nature of employment and business is evolving rapidly with the times. Keeping in mind the aspirations of the youth and advancing technology, the state government is continuously working on creating new possibilities and necessary infrastructure to meet future needs.
He urged the youth to have the courage to experiment rather than fear failure. A new idea becomes a catalyst for change only when it is combined with hard work, skill, and entrepreneurship.
- Inspection of the Subhash Chandra Bose Biotechnology Incubation Center
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai inspected the newly constructed Subhash Chandra Bose Biotechnology Incubation Center located on the Indira Gandhi Agricultural University campus. He gathered information about the state-of-the-art laboratories, scientific equipment, and facilities available for startups, and held discussions with scientists and experts.
The Chief Minister inspected various modern laboratories established at the center, including the Biosafety Level Lab, Animal Culture Lab, Microbial Cell Lab, and Plant Tissue Culture Lab. Facilities developed for startups at the center include incubation space, dry and wet labs, plug-and-play offices, a common instrumentation lab, analytical testing services, and equipment ranging from basic to high-end specifications.
The Chief Minister stated that this center would serve not merely as a laboratory for the state’s students, researchers, and startups, but as a vital platform for the journey from “idea to innovation and innovation to enterprise.” Here, young people will be able to take their innovative ideas beyond the research stage and transform them into useful products and successful enterprises.
Through the incubation center, startups will receive mentoring, hand-holding support, technology transfer, product development assistance, and institutional support. Students will also gain opportunities for dissertations and internships. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that this center would act as a strong bridge between research and industry, thereby giving new momentum to Chhattisgarh’s innovation ecosystem in the fields of agriculture and biotechnology. Tree plantation under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign
On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Sai planted a Maulsari sapling within the incubation center premises as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (A Tree in Mother’s Name) campaign. He emphasized the importance of linking environmental conservation with public participation and conveyed a message encouraging large-scale tree plantation and their preservation.
- Conclave becomes a platform for innovations ranging from Agritech to AI and Deep-tech
At the three-day Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conclave, startups from diverse sectors—including agriculture and agritech, food processing and value addition, biotechnology, rural entrepreneurship, digital technology, artificial intelligence, deep-tech, renewable energy, and the environment—are showcasing their innovations, technologies, and products.
The conclave has provided a shared platform for students, researchers, innovators, startups, investors, and the industry to engage in dialogue regarding the potential to link new ideas with technology, markets, and investment.
Chief Minister Shri Sai stated that there is no lack of talent or capability among the youth of Chhattisgarh; what is needed is to provide them with opportunities and the right platform. The government stands firmly behind the dreams and resolutions of the youth. He expressed confidence that the state’s youth, driven by their talent, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit, would not only advance themselves but also create employment and opportunities for thousands of other young people.