On 9 September 2026, the Chhattisgarh cabinet approved the Chief Minister’s Startup and NIPUN Mission with a budget of ₹500 crore for five years. The mission is linked with skill development, entrepreneurship, industrial preparedness, and formal employment in Chhattisgarh.
NIPUN Mission Framework
The acronym NIPUN has been expanded in media coverage as both “New Age Industrial Preparedness for Upskilling New Generation Youth” and “New-age industry preparedness through up-skilling of new generation youth”. The mission aims to equip youth with technology-based skills and connect training with industrial requirements.
Institutional and Training Components
The cabinet finalised Entrepreneurship Development Centres in all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh. It also approved five industry centres of excellence and 100 Emerging Technology Labs for training in Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, big data, and blockchain.
The NIPUN Job Engine has been approved to align youth skill development with industrial demand. The mission structure includes entrepreneurship support, technology training, and employment linkage.
Skill Development and Industrial Infrastructure
The cabinet sanctioned free allotment of 10 acres of land in Tendua village, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, to the Directorate General of Training under the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The land is meant for a ₹200 crore National Skill Training Institute.
The National Skill Training Institute is a central training institution under the Directorate General of Training. Such institutes are used for instructor training, vocational education, and skill-based capacity building.
Important Facts for Exams
- Chhattisgarh has 33 districts, and the mission includes Entrepreneurship Development Centres in each district.
- Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, big data, and blockchain are among the technologies named for the 100 Emerging Technology Labs.
- The Directorate General of Training functions under the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
- Nava Raipur Atal Nagar is the location of the proposed National Skill Training Institute site in Tendua village.
Related Policy Decisions
The cabinet also approved the Chhattisgarh Export Promotion Policy 2026–30 for export ecosystem development, logistics support, and market access for local entrepreneurs. It also raised the maximum age limit for certain government employees and Home Guards from 38 years to 45 years for other state services or higher posts.
