Chhattisgarh marked a transformational moment in its educational and economic journey today with the signing of a landmark tripartite MoU between the Government of Chhattisgarh, IIM Raipur, NIT Raipur, and the Motilal Oswal Foundation. Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai presided over the historic ceremony at Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium, launching a comprehensive initiative that promises to turn the state into a national hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and skill development.
At the heart of this collaboration is the creation of the “Smt. Mithilesh Agrawal Innovation and Entrepreneurship Excellence Center”, a state-of-the-art facility that will equip Chhattisgarh’s youth with the tools to become job creators, not job seekers.
A Vision for Inclusive Innovation
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai declared the initiative as the dawn of a new era for Chhattisgarh. “This center will not be exclusive to elite institutions like IIM or NIT. It will benefit the youth in every village. Our aim is to make them self-reliant through research, experimentation, and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Mr. Sai called upon industries to join this movement, emphasizing the role of public-private partnerships in transforming Chhattisgarh into an innovation-driven economy.
Chhattisgarh to Lead India’s New Economy
CM Mr. Sai highlighted that the state is not only progressing in its traditional core sectors but is now making strides in futuristic industries like semiconductors, AI, defense, aerospace, green hydrogen, and pharma. In just eight months, the state has received investment proposals worth ₹6.75 lakh crore, made possible by over 350 structural reforms implemented in the last 20 months.
He urged citizens to shift the mindset from a resource-based to an innovation-based economy, stating, “Let’s pledge to build a Chhattisgarh where entrepreneurship becomes a way of life, and youth become leaders of societal change.”
Motilal Oswal Foundation Commits ₹172 Crore
Mr. Ramdev Agarwal, Co-founder and Chairman of the Motilal Oswal Foundation, announced a massive donation of ₹172 crore—₹101 crore to IIM Raipur and ₹71 crore to NIT Raipur.
This funding will be used to establish:
- Oswal Hostel (202 rooms) and Dau Ram Gopal Agarwal Knowledge Center at IIM Raipur
- Six international MBA programs in partnership with leading universities in the US, UK, France, and Germany
- Smt. Mithilesh Agrawal Centre of Excellence at NIT Raipur, which will focus on deep-tech domains like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain, IoT, and Clean Energy
Training Centre for Farmers Announced
In a major boost to rural empowerment, Mr. Agarwal also announced the establishment of India’s largest training center for farmers in Raipur. “Chhattisgarh has immense potential. Our foundation will dedicate 10% of its total resources to education, skill development, and agriculture,” he said.
Impact: 10,000 Youth Trained, 250 Startups Incubated
By 2030, the program is expected to:
- Train over 10,000 youth
- Incubate more than 250 startups
- Create over 5,000 skilled jobs
The curriculum and training programs will be tailored to meet the needs of Chhattisgarh’s key industries—mining, steel, and manufacturing—and will include real-world problem-solving in partnership with local businesses.
Strong Institutional and Government Support
The event was attended by several dignitaries including:
- Principal Secretary Ms. Niharika Barik
- Secretary, Higher Education and Skill Development Department, Mr. S. Bharatidasan
- CEO, Chhattisgarh State Skill Development Authority, Mr. Vijay Dayaram K
- Chairman, NIT Raipur, Dr. Suresh Haware
- Chairman, IIM Raipur, Mr. Puneet Dalmia
- Director, NIT Raipur, Dr. N.V. Prasanna Rao
- Director-in-Charge, IIM Raipur, Dr. Sanjeev Parashar
Students, academicians, and administrators from across the state also participated in large numbers, expressing enthusiasm and hope for a future driven by innovation and opportunity.
With this groundbreaking initiative, Chhattisgarh is not just preparing for tomorrow—it is shaping it.
