Strengthening India’s entrepreneurial future: IIM Jammu and DICCI sign MoU for entrepreneurship development and inclusive growth

JAMMU: In a significant step towards fostering inclusive entrepreneurship and creating sustainable socio-economic impact, the Indian Institute of Management Jammu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) during the National Seminar on AI for Good Governance held on 19^th June 2026 at DAIC, New Delhi. The partnership aims to nurture entrepreneurial aspirations among Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), strengthen innovation ecosystems, and create pathways for economic empowerment across the nation.

The National Seminar on AI for Good Governance was graced by Shri Sardar Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, as the Chief Guest, and Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Patron of the National Seminar on AI for Good Governance and Vice Chairman, RambhauMhalgi Prabodhini. Their distinguished presence enriched the discussions on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping the future of governance and public administration.

The MoU was signed in the august presence of Padma Shri Dr. Milind Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, and Founder Chairman, DICCI; by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and Mr. Ravi Kumar Narra, National President, DICCI.The occasion was graced by Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu; Shri Sanjiv Dangi, National Vice President and Convenor-Global Alliances, DICCI; along with other distinguished leaders from academia, industry, and public policy.

The collaboration brings together the academic excellence, research capabilities, incubation ecosystem, capacity building and entrepreneurial expertise of IIM Jammu with DICCI’s nationwide mission of empowering SC-ST entrepreneurs. Together, the institutions will work towards developing entrepreneurial capabilities, promoting innovation-driven enterprises, facilitating policy research, and creating impactful capacity-building initiatives for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Padma Shri Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, and Founder Chairman, DICCI, lauded the partnership as a significant milestone in advancing entrepreneurship-led empowerment among SC-ST communities. He highlighted that education, innovation, and enterprise are powerful catalysts for social transformation and expressed confidence that the collaboration would strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, and inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs to contribute meaningfully to nation-building.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, emphasized that the partnership reflects IIM Jammu’s commitment to fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem where talent, innovation, and aspirations are nurtured irrespective of social or economic backgrounds. He noted that by combining IIM Jammu’s academic excellence, research capabilities, and incubation support with DICCI’s extensive outreach and grassroots engagement, the collaboration would create meaningful opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to emerge as innovators, job creators, and contributors to India’s growth and development.

Mr. Ravi Kumar Narra, National President, DICCI, reiterated DICCI’s guiding philosophy of “Be Job Givers” and underscored the importance of equipping SC-ST youth and entrepreneurs with knowledge, skills, mentorship, and access to opportunities. He mentioned that the collaboration with IIM Jammu would further strengthen DICCI’s mission of economic empowerment through entrepreneurship and help nurture successful enterprises across the country.

The MoU envisages a comprehensive framework for collaboration encompassing entrepreneurship development programmes, capacity building, joint research and publications, faculty and expert exchanges, incubation and mentorship support, short-term executive programmes, seminars, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. The partnership will facilitate access to institutional resources, business mentors, innovation networks, and capacity-building opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs, particularly from SC-ST communities.

A key pillar of the collaboration will be the implementation of Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDPs) under the Government of India’s flagship Stand-Up India Scheme, which aims to create a new generation of SC-ST entrepreneurs across the country. IIM Jammu and DICCI will jointly work towards designing training frameworks, mentorship mechanisms, project evaluation systems, and start-up support initiatives while promoting entrepreneurship education, innovation, capacity building and enterprise creation among youth. The collaboration will also explore fellowship opportunities, incubation support, and access to funding avenues to help transform promising ideas into sustainable and scalable enterprises.

The partnership is expected to create a robust ecosystem for entrepreneurship-led development, skill enhancement, capacity-building, innovation, and livelihood generation, particularly among underserved and aspiring entrepreneurial communities. Through this collaboration, IIM Jammu and DICCI reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing inclusive growth, fostering social and economic empowerment, and nurturing future-ready entrepreneurs who will contribute to nation-building and economic progress.

The MoU signing between IIM Jammu and DICCI at the National Seminar on AI for Good Governance symbolized the convergence of technology, policy, education, entrepreneurship, and social empowerment. By combining academic excellence, industry engagement, innovation, and grassroots outreach, the partnership seeks to create transformative opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and strengthen India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The initiative aligns closely with the national vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and Atmanirbhar Bharat, empowering job creators, driving inclusive development, and fostering a future that is innovative, equitable, self-reliant, and globally competitive.