The Indian Institute of Management Jammu, under the Office of the Development Commissioner (DC), MSME, New Delhi, Government of India, inaugurated a five-day Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) / Management Development Programme (MDP)  on 23rd Feb 2026 for Entrepreneurs titled Nurturing Young Entrepreneurs at Government Maulana Azad Memorial College, the designated nodal college for the IIC Hub of Cluster University of Jammu.

The programme is being conducted from 23rd to 27th February 2026 under the Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) scheme and is fully funded and supported by the Office of the Development Commissioner (DC), MSME, New Delhi, Government of India. It aims to strengthen entrepreneurial competencies, foster innovation-driven thinking, and build managerial capabilities among aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, in alignment with the national MSME development agenda.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by Ms. Ankur Mahajan, JKAS, Registrar, Cluster University of Jammu, who formally inaugurated the program. In her address, she highlighted the transformative role of the MSME sector in India’s economic growth and emphasized that structured capacity-building initiatives supported by the Office of DC–MSME are crucial for nurturing youth-led enterprises. She appreciated the collaborative efforts of IIM Jammu and the Ministry of MSME in empowering students with practical entrepreneurial competencies aligned with national development priorities.

Prof. Archana Koul, Principal, Government M.A.M. College Jammu, welcomed the dignitaries and participants and underscored the importance of institutional partnerships with national bodies such as the Office of the DC–MSME, Government of India, in strengthening the regional startup ecosystem. She expressed gratitude to IIM Jammu and the Ministry of MSME for facilitating a high-impact entrepreneurship program at the institution.

The program has witnessed enthusiastic participation from students and Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) representatives from constituent colleges of Cluster University Jammu, including:

• Government Gandhi Memorial Science College

• S.P.M.R College of Commerce

• Government College for Women Gandhi Nagar

• Government College of Education Canal Road

• School of Social Sciences Cluster University Jammu

• Along with the host institution, Government M.A.M. College, Jammu.

Over the five-day schedule, expert-led sessions will comprehensively cover key dimensions of entrepreneurship, including idea generation and validation, innovation through technology, understanding startup financials, evaluating business pitches, growth and pivot strategies, and personal branding for entrepreneurs. The curriculum framework has been carefully designed in alignment with the objectives of the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) scheme of the Office of DC–MSME, ensuring that participants gain both conceptual clarity and actionable insights for venture creation and scaling.

The initiative is being coordinated by the incubation team of IIM Jammu comprising of Dr. Vivek Sharma, Chief Innovation Officer, IIM Jammu; Mr. Kannav Padha, Manager – Incubation (DST iTBI, IIM Jammu), Ms. Druvi Sharma, Deputy Manager (DST iTBI, IIM Jammu), and Ms. Anjali Goswami, Assistant Manager (DST iTBI, IIM Jammu).

Through sustained support from the Office of the Development Commissioner (MSME), Government of India, such Entrepreneurship Development Programs aim to create a structured pipeline of young innovators and job creators, particularly at the grassroots and institutional levels. By integrating academic institutions with national MSME development frameworks, IIM Jammu continues to contribute meaningfully to strengthening India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and advancing the vision of self-reliant and innovation-driven growth.