• Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria praises India’s youth driven start up growth and highlights Chandigarh’s emerging role.
• Chandigarh Startup Policy, with over 600 DPIIT registered startups, is shaping a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Industry leaders, investors, and institutions joined forces to guide and celebrate local innovation at the CII Startup Conclave.

Punjab Governor and UT Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, addressed a vibrant gathering of entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators at the Startup Conclave held at the CII Northern Region Headquarters, calling Chandigarh a promising hub of entrepreneurial energy.

As the Chief Guest, the Governor applauded India's transformation into the world’s third largest startup ecosystem, crediting youth led innovation and government initiatives like Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Digital India for laying a strong foundation for entrepreneurial success.

Kataria said, “India has now emerged as the 3rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world, a remarkable feat that reflects the power of innovation and youth led enterprise”. He encouraged the youth to make full use of the region’s high literacy, robust infrastructure, and premier institutions to innovate and solve real world challenges.

Highlighting the Chandigarh Startup Policy, Deputy Commissioner and Secretary Industries, Nishant Kumar Yadav, said over 600 city based startups are now registered with DPIIT. He noted that the policy supports startups across various stages, from seed to market and leverages the presence of reputed institutions like PEC, PGIMER, and IIT Ropar to support entrepreneurs from ideation to commercialisation.

Also Read: Chandigarh Launches Startup Policy 2025

The event featured panel discussions, fireside chats, and expert sessions on fundraising, scaling, and navigating government schemes. Ten standout startups were also felicitated for their excellence in innovation, impact, and growth potential.

Senior members of CII reiterated their support to strengthen Chandigarh’s startup landscape through mentorship, funding access, and incubation partnerships, marking a collective push towards building a dynamic innovation ecosystem in the region.