Good governance driving a youth-led startup revolution in Gujarat

Dec 22, 2025

Ahmedabad, Gujarat To mark Good Governance Day, commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Gujarat is showcasing its governance-led innovation drive under the theme “Atal Leadership, Continuous Development.” Reflecting this vision, the state has emerged as a leading startup and innovation hub by placing students and young innovators at the core of its growth strategy. A key pillar is the Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP) 2.0, launched in January 2022 with a ₹500-crore outlay, including a ₹300-crore Student Innovation Fund. Supporting innovators from school to PhD, including alumni and dropouts up to 35 years, SSIP 2.0 has benefited 12.5 lakh students and supported 5,600+ projects, building a future-ready ecosystem from classrooms to companies. To provide end-to-end support for startups, the Gujarat government established the Gujarat Startup and Innovation Hub (i-Hub) in 2019. i-Hub has so far supported 620+ startups, facilitated Rs 22 crore in grants and Rs 416 crore in funding, and generated 1,400 jobs. Among the many start-ups benefitted from i-Hub is Harnish Thakkar, who founded Cue Home Innovation Labs in 2018. These initiatives highlight Gujarat’s governance-driven development model, placing innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship at its core. Backed by strong industrial fundamentals, ease of doing business, and progressive policies, the state is emerging as a leading investment destination—empowering youth as job creators and translating Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision of forward-looking governance into an innovation-led future.