Hon’ble Minister Piyush Goyal Launches The Bharat Project to Create 1 Million Entrepreneurs Across India

Mumbai, April 21, 2025: In a landmark step towards building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, Hon’ble Minister Shri Piyush Goyal today launched The Bharat Project, a bold national initiative by YourStory, aimed at empowering 1 million entrepreneurs from Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural India. The Bharat Project brings together the government, ecosystem enablers, creators, and communities to unlock grassroots potential and make access to entrepreneurial tools, education, and funding easier for everyone.

Built on five key pillars, the Bharat Project will aid entrepreneurs through – Co-Pilot for Entrepreneurs—an AI-powered mobile-first platform that offers startup guidance, learning resources, mentorship access, and success stories in both Hindi and English, Education & Upskilling, which will drive state-level and district-level activations and WhatsApp-based learning to help young people learn how to start and grow their businesses, Bharat Ideathon, – a nationwide challenge that will find great business ideas from over 1,000 districts and help top founders with mentorship and visibility, BharatSparks – a launchpad where selected entrepreneurs from smaller towns will get a chance to pitch to investors, win grants, and build long-term support and Shuru-kar – a 7-part web documentary series that will showcase real startup stories from across regions, featuring innovators, investors, and policymakers.

Speaking at the launch, Hon’ble Minister Shri Piyush Goyal said, “India is on an irreversible path to becoming an economic powerhouse. From a $4 trillion economy today, we are poised to grow 8x to $30–35 trillion by 2047. It’s a strategic roadmap built to support startups across sectors, empowering first-generation entrepreneurs, and a government-backed seed fund of ₹10,000 crore to democratize innovation.

He further added, the launch of The Bharat Project is a bold step forward that brings together technology, mentorship, and funding to help entrepreneurs from every corner of the country rise. India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is not just evolving, it is becoming the engine of inclusive and sustained national growth. The goal is clear: empower youth, support startups, and make sure every aspiring entrepreneur has the ecosystem they need to start, scale, and succeed.

The initiative comes at a time when 65% of India’s population lives in Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural areas. There are over 370 million youth between the ages of 15 and 30, and 30% of them are NEET—meaning they’re not in education, employment, or training. Even though there is so much potential, many of them still don’t have access to capital, mentors, or the right exposure. The Bharat Project is here to change that—by turning isolated talent into a strong, national movement.

“India’s future is not limited to metros. It’s brewing in the kitchens, backyards, and streets of Bharat. The Bharat Project is a step towards ensuring that every aspiring entrepreneur has access to resources, stories, and support to turn their idea into impact.”, said Shradha Sharma, Founder & CEO, YourStory.

The launch event took place at Radisson Goregaon, Mumbai, and was attended by a packed audience of founders, students, creators, and ecosystem leaders. The event also featured startup showcases, inspiring youth stories from across Bharat, and the official unveiling of The Bharat Project platform.

Imarticus Learning and KPMG Complete Financial Analysis Program for 2,300 Learners, Launch 50th Batch

Mumbai, 20 March 2025: Imarticus Learning, one of India’s leading professional education companies, has transformed the professional journey of 2300+ learners from diverse backgrounds including finance, business, engineering, and economics, as it welcomes its milestone 50th batch for its Financial Analysis Prodegree in collaboration with KPMG. This Prodegree equips learners with crucial skills such as financial statement analysis, modelling, and valuation, equity research, and transaction execution. The 4-month course encompasses 120 hours of live learning sessions, taking the learners through unique real-world case studies and projects combined with hands-on training by industry experts.

The collaboration with KPMG ensures that learners receive expert guidance, industry-relevant training, and practical exposure through exclusive masterclasses delivered by leading professionals. KPMG has conducted over 87 masterclasses, offering invaluable insights into the finance industry’s latest trends and best practices.

According to a recent World Economic Forum report, nearly 50% of finance and accounting professionals will require reskilling by 2027 due to rapid advancements in technology, automation, and evolving financial regulations. The program is designed to address the skills gap in the finance industry and support career transitions. Learners can build a career in investment banking, corporate finance, and private equity through the program, which is delivered in the live online training format with eight hours of lectures over the weekends. With a strong network of over 2,300 alumni, the programme has empowered professionals from leading financial institutions and top-tier firms, equipping them with the skills and insights needed to accelerate their career growth and leadership trajectory.

Speaking about the milestone, Nikhil Barshikar, Founder & CEO, Imarticus Learning said, “The finance industry is undergoing rapid changes and the Financial Analysis Prodegree in collaboration with KPMG is designed to bridge the skill gap in finance and equip fresh graduates as well as working professionals in financial analysis and investment management. Welcoming our 50th batch in eight years is a testament to our commitment to delivering world-class finance education. Our collaboration with KPMG has been instrumental in shaping future finance leaders by providing a blend of academic excellence and industry expertise. We look forward to continuing this journey, empowering professionals with the skills needed to thrive in the financial sector.”

Apart from the core finance areas, the program provides career services and mentorship through personalised guidance, resume-building support, and networking opportunities with the top financial firms.

Kraftshala Offers INR 40,000 Scholarship for Women in Sales Leadership

New Delhi, 11th March, 2025: Kraftshala, India’s leading edtech platform for marketing jobs, has launched a ₹40,000 scholarship for women aspiring to join its Post Graduate Program (PGP) in Sales and Business Leadership. The initiative is aimed at addressing the gender gap in sales leadership by providing women with the right training, skills, and industry access.

Sales teams in India continue to be male-dominated, despite growing demand for diverse leadership. Kraftshala is working to change this. Its PGP in Sales and Business Leadership has helped graduates secure roles in top companies, including unicorns, with an average CTC of ₹10.5 LPA and highest CTC going up to ₹17.5LPA.

At Kraftshala, this commitment is reflected internally as well. For the past two years, both of its sales teams—student outreach and recruiter partnerships—have been led by women. These leaders started as associates, performed exceptionally, and moved into leadership roles.

“Women are not underrepresented in sales leadership due to a lack of talent, but a lack of access. This scholarship is one way to change that,” said Varun Satia, Founder & CEO, Kraftshala.

Applications are now open. Women looking to build a high-growth career in sales are encouraged to apply. Kraftshala is also inviting organizations to sponsor future scholarships and hire talented women in sales.

Housing Sales in Top Tier-2 Cities Up 4%, Sales Value 20% Higher in 2024 PropEquity

New Delhi, February 12, 2025: Housing sales in India’s top 15 tier 2 cities rose by 4% to 1,78,771 units with sales value rising by 20% to Rs 1,52,552 crore in 2024, according to NSE-listed real estate data analytics firm PropEquity.

The housing sales stood at 1,71,903 units while sales value stood at Rs 1,27,505 crore in 2023.

Housing sales rose the most in Coimbatore at 36% and fell the most in Visakhapatnam at 21% in 2024 while Bhubaneswar recorded the highest growth in sales value at 47% while Nashik recorded 2% decline in sales value.

Samir Jasuja, Founder & CEO, PropEquity said, “The Budget announcements will give a boost to housing demand in tier 2 cities and create opportunities for employment. These include proposals for development of airports, promotion of GCCs, tourism, relaxation on second homes, and more importantly tax exemption on income up to Rs 12 lakhs. The continued focus on infrastructure development like metro rail, highways and expressways will augment the growth in all segments of the real estate sector.”

“Sales value have risen by 20% even as sales have increased by only 4% in 2024 points to a rapid increase in price of homes in these cities owing to factors like rise in cost of raw materials, speculative investments etc. which may impact the real estate market.”

City Name Units absorbed Sales Value (Rs crore)
2023 2024 Change 2023 2024 Change
Ahmedabad 54076 56274 4% 42063 49421 17%
Surat 20676 23718 15% 15549 18808 21%
Vadodara 19641 19030 -3% 10262 11290 10%
Gandhi Nagar 13315 14364 8% 11467 14153 23%
Nashik 15010 13492 -10% 6498 6380 -2%
Jaipur 10187 10695 5% 6019 8388 39%
Nagpur 7883 8090 3% 4237 5162 22%
Bhubaneswar 5566 6822 23% 5927 8738 47%
Mohali 4462 4398 -1% 5282 6238 18%
Visakhapatnam 5361 4258 -21% 4858 4798 -1%
Lucknow 3771 3796 1% 4283 4500 5%
Coimbatore 2732 3725 36% 2610 3698 42%
Goa 3430 3586 5% 4339 5726 32%
Bhopal 3238 3565 10% 1703 2344 38%
Trivandrum 2555 2958 16% 2408 2908 21%
Total 171903 178771 4% 127505 152552 20%

 Region-wise housing sales trend

1. Western India – 7 cities:

According to the report, the seven cities in western India saw sales of 1,38,554 units in 2024 as compared to 1,34,031 units in 2023, up 3.4%. The sales value grew by 18% to Rs 1,10,939 crore in 2024.

Housing sales was led by Surat with 15% rise, followed by Gandhi Nagar 8%, Goa 5%, Ahmedabad 4%, Nagpur 3%. Housing sales fell in Nashik by 10% and Vadodara by 3%.

Only Nashik witnessed a decline in sales value at 2%.

2. Southern India – 3 cities:

The three cities in southern India saw sales of 10941 units in 2024 as compared to 10648 units in 2023, up 2.75%. The sales value grew by 15% to Rs 11,404 crore.

Housing sales was led by Coimbatore with 36% rise followed by Trivandrum 16%. Sales declined in Visakhapatnam by 21%.

Only Visakhapatnam witnessed a decline in sales value at 1%.

3. Northern India – 3 cities:

Sales in the three cities of Northern India stood at 18889 units in 2024 as compared to 18420 units in 2023, up 2.5%. Sales value grew by 23% to Rs 19,127 crore in 2024.

Housing sales rose by 5% in Jaipur and 1% in Lucknow while it fell by 1% in Mohali.

Sales value grew by 39% in Jaipur, 5% in Lucknow and 18% in Mohali.

4. Eastern and Central India – 2 cities:

Housing sales in the two eastern and central Indian cities stood at 10387 units in 2024 as compared to 8804 units in 2023, up 18%. Sales value grew by 45% to Rs 11,082 crore in 2024.

Housing sales rose 23% in Bhubaneswar and 10% in Bhopal.

Sales value grew by 38% in Bhopal and 47% in Bhubaneswar.