According to a recent report from IIT Mandi, 32.5% of Indian college students are nascent entrepreneurs, actively working on starting their own businesses. This percentage exceeds the global average of 25.7%. The GUESSS India 2023 Report, part of the Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey, highlights the entrepreneurial landscape among students in India.

The survey reveals that 14% of Indian students plan to become entrepreneurs immediately upon graduation, closely matching the global average of 15.7%. Over time, aspirations for entrepreneurship increase significantly, with 31.4% of students intending to pursue entrepreneurship five years after graduation, slightly above the global average of 30%. Initially, 69.7% of students aim for traditional employment after graduation; however, this figure decreases to 52.2% over five years. Meanwhile, the percentage of students aspiring to become entrepreneurs rises from 14% at graduation to 31% within five years.

Additionally, the report indicates that 38% of students are involved in venture creation, with 33% classified as being in the nascent stage—the highest among their global peers. Despite this high level of initial engagement, only 4.8% of students have advanced to the revenue-generating stage, highlighting substantial potential for growth and development in the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem.