MAY 27: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Chaudhary chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress and implementation plans of the Jammu & Kashmir Startup Policy 2024–27. The session was aimed at ensuring the timely execution of the policy’s strategic objectives, with a strong focus on fostering an inclusive and dynamic startup ecosystem across the Union Territory.
During the meeting, the Deputy CM emphasized the urgent need for a swift rollout of the policy guidelines and robust funding mechanisms to support early-stage startups. He called on concerned departments to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure that aspiring entrepreneurs, especially from remote and underrepresented regions, receive timely assistance.
Highlighting the crucial role of the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), Chaudhary directed the institute to intensify grassroots outreach and increase awareness about startup opportunities. He stressed that students, particularly those in colleges and universities, must be actively engaged through workshops, innovation challenges, and mentorship programs.
The Deputy CM further called for the establishment and expansion of co-working spaces and incubation hubs to provide startups with affordable infrastructure and collaborative work environments. “Startups need not just funding but also the right space, mentorship, and a community to grow. These facilities must be accessible in both urban and rural districts,” he stated.
Chaudhary reiterated the policy’s aim of making J&K a startup-friendly region by encouraging innovation in sectors like agri-tech, tourism, handicrafts, IT, renewable energy, and healthcare. He said that the government is committed to creating an enabling environment where young minds are empowered to transform their ideas into sustainable business ventures.
Officials were instructed to align local incubation support with national-level programs such as Startup India and to explore partnerships with private sector enablers. The Deputy CM also reviewed progress on startup registration, seed fund disbursement, and capacity-building initiatives.
The meeting concluded with a strong push for inter-departmental coordination and community-level sensitization drives to create a culture of entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir. Stakeholders from JKEDI, the Industries and Commerce Department, and academic institutions participated in the review.
With the Startup Policy 2024–27 positioned as a catalyst for youth empowerment and economic diversification, the administration’s renewed focus is expected to energize the region’s innovation landscape.