Union Minister ML Khattar Launches Campus Tank Punjab at Chandigarh University

Recently, ML Khattar, Union Minister of India, inaugurated Campus Tank Punjab, which is the first university-driven startup of India. The university received 6 million USD for the Campus Tank Punjab to support student innovators. He stated that “India does not need to bow to US tariffs and is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy with a GDP of $5 trillion in the next two yearsâ€.

Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu stated that Indians have the potential to expand their business and reach the scale of companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Tesla, Microsoft, Uber, etc.

Vansh Oberoi, who is a Chief Investment Officer, mentioned that the Campus Tank initiative of Chandigarh University is a key step that can increase the Indian economy up to $7 trillion, while Preet Deep Singh of Apna highlighted that the Campus Tank will nurture the students into independent and modern innovators. This initiative will give the business idea to the young minds and will assist them by providing seed money. Further, he said that Campus Tank Punjab is an example of India’s innovation ecosystem, investment opportunities, and entrepreneurial talent for young minds in the northern region.

Mohali: Union Minister of Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, inaugurated â€˜Campus Tank Punjab’, organised by Chandigarh University in collaboration with Apna, India’s largest early-talent hiring platform, and Venture Catalysts (VCats), a leading early-stage investment firm. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem by providing young innovators under 30 with a one-stop platform for seed funding and investment, backed by a dedicated UUS$6million fund to help turn their startup ideas into high-impact ventures.

The launch ceremony of Campus Tank Punjab was graced by Union Minister of Power, Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar as the Chief Guest, along with other dignitaries including MP of Rajya Sabha and Chandigarh University Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu, and Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University,  Deepinder Singh Sandhu; Dr. Preet Deep Singh, Vice President, Apna; Vansh Oberoi, Chief Investment Officer, Venture Catalysts; and Deepinder Dhillon, Joint Director, Startups, Punjab. The event also saw participation from industry leaders, renowned entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, esteemed academicians, and emerging startup founders from prominent educational institutions across states such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, as well as representatives from regional incubators, hackathon winners, and startups incubated at Chandigarh University.

At the inaugural ceremony, Union Minister Khattar stated, “Campus Tank is a major milestone achievement not only for India but worldwide, as young people often face challenges in starting their businesses due to a lack of support. Today, the situation is changing because Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recognised these challenges and promoted entrepreneurship through initiatives like the Mudra scheme. Many facilities are now available for young entrepreneurs, but some still miss out on opportunities. In this context, Campus Tank is a significant initiative. It will benefit students from 23,000 educational institutions affiliated with AICTE. Already, over 19,000 student startups have registered to participate, and US$6 million will be made available for 300 selected startups through Campus Tank.â€

As stated by Union Minister ML Khattar, â€œAnyone can come up with new ideas, just like Newton discovered the law of gravity while sitting under an apple tree. There are no limits for startups; even with minimal education, anyone can build a business from anywhere, whether in a village or a small town. Young people can earn millions by turning simple ideas into successful ventures. Talent is what helps you succeed in a competitive world. All the biggest global companies once started small-Amazon began in a car garage, Google in a room, and Facebook on a university campus. Small beginnings can lead to huge achievements.â€

The Union Minister further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has achieved remarkable progress over the past decade. Currently, India has 1,76,000 startups, including around 75,000 women-led ventures, and over 115 unicorns. He emphasised that startups not only provide jobs for their founders but also create employment for thousands of others. He also noted that today’s job seekers will become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow, and their success will contribute to the nation's growth.

“Every country faces challenges. For example, India has been threatened with US tariffs, but we should not be intimidated. If we work hard for our nation, it will continue to progress. Over the past 10 years, India has created an environment where nothing can stop its growth. Our goal is to become a $5 trillion economy in the next 2 years, making us the third-largest economy in the world. Currently, we are the fourth-largest, after China, the US, and Germany. The economic gap between India and Germany is small-we have a $4.19 trillion economy compared to Germany’s $4.52 trillion. But our growth rate is higher. Even while facing US tariffs, our economy is growing at 7.8%. At this pace, we will match Germany within a year and surpass it next year, reaching a $5 trillion economy. This is our commitment, and we will achieve it with your support, young innovators,†he added.

According to the MP (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu, “PM Modi envisioned making India a developed nation and launched initiatives like Startup India. These programs not only recognised the aspirations of young people but also provided funding to help them achieve their goals. Sandhu highlighted that India has become a startup hub. Back in 2014, India had only 400 startups. In just 11 years, the number of startups in India has grown to over 1.76 lakh startups, making India now the third-largest startup ecosystem globally. By June 2025, over 12,000 patents have been filed by start-ups and generated approximately 17.6 lakh direct jobs across various sectors.†He noted that India currently has 119 unicorns, including companies like Paytm, upGrad, and CRED, which have contributed to new employment opportunities. He further stated that the government aims to increase the number of unicorns in India to 1,000 by 2035, and eventually reach to 5,000. He also noted that startups today have the potential to grow into global companies, just like Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta (Facebook), Tesla, and Uber, which all began as small startups.

“To achieve this, the government is taking initiatives that focus on technological progress, ease of doing business, and supporting entrepreneurs. A budget of Rs 10,000 crore has been allocated for startups, with a commitment of Rs 9,994 crore to 141 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) under the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) scheme up to June 2025. The goal is to make India self-reliant in technology, including areas like cybersecurity, AI, operating systems, defence technology, deep tech, and pharmaceuticals. The startup ecosystem will play a key role in achieving this vision of technological autonomy. The government is helping startups in every way possible, including reducing compliance burdens for startups and MSMEs, and has set up a task force to implement next-generation reforms,†he added. 

Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “Initiatives like Campus Tank aim to support growth and empower the next generation of innovators. Campus Tank will inspire young entrepreneurs across the country. Chandigarh University is contributing by encouraging students to develop new technologies and create opportunities. Since 2012, CU students have launched over 150 startups. CU’s Technology Business Incubator (CU-TBI), ranked number 1 among research organisations in India for filing 1,126 patents in 2023-24, is investing Rs 5 Crore to boost the startup ecosystem. CU has also ranked among the top 5 institutions for patents in the last five years and secured 3rd place among all universities in India by filing 2,581 patents in the past three years.â€

Dr. Prabhleen Singh, President of Young Progressive Sikh Forum, said, “A decade ago, entrepreneurship, skills, and startups were not well-known. But since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, these have gained huge importance. Today, people are thinking about how they can create jobs for others. Starting something new is never easy, but with the right guidance, young people can achieve anything.â€

Vansh Oberoi, Chief Investment Officer at Venture Catalysts, said, “Startups will contribute 15 to 20% toward India’s goal of becoming a $7 trillion economy, and this sector has already grown beyond the major cities. Campus Tank is one of our key initiatives to support this vision.†

Preet Deep Singh, Vice President of Apna, said, “Campus Tank focuses on supporting independent and unconventional innovators who think differently and explore new ways to solve important problems in society.â€