Punjab First to Make Entrepreneurship Main Subject for Class 11

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Punjab AAP incharge Manish Sisodia on Friday launched an enterprenureship program formally, making Punjab the first Indian state to introduce entrepreneurship in mainstream school curriculums. Now, Punjab has made a revolutionary move in school education by making Entrepreneurship a compulsory subject for Class 11 students starting from the next academic year 2025-26.

The new subject will provide students with entrepreneurial mindset, with innovation, problem-solving, and leadership capabilities. Above all, it will change the mind from becoming job seekers into job creators.

Course Structure and Assessment

In contrast to conventional subjects, the entrepreneurship course shall be project-based and hands-on, with no written tests. Students will be assessed through self-testing, peer evaluation, and mentorship-based assessments.

The course content consists of three theory sessions throughout the year and 15 blocks of project work, where the students will work together to develop business concepts, prototype, raise funds, and even launch their product or service.

Potential Impact

It estimates that if 10% of the students enrolled are able to successfully execute their business plans, the program will create ₹300–400 crore of economic activity every year. In addition to economic growth, the course is likely to maximise employment generation, promote local participation, and enhance local entrepreneurship ecosystems.

Background and Precedent

The programme is a sequel to the success of Punjab's Business Blasters Programme launched in November 2022 and later rolled out to 1,927 schools and close to 1.8 lakh students. The programme motivated students to suggest and start business ideas and was a pilot that proved that youth entrepreneurship had tremendous potential.

Minister Harjot Singh Bains termed the move a "game-changer for the future workforce," and stated that it is necessary that the education in Punjab should be such that students become capable of innovating and propelling the economy that is transforming at a very fast rate.

In doing so, Punjab is leading the way that will encourage the other states to reconsider regular school curricula and give highest importance to entrepreneurship education as a national goal.