CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Students turn to business over jobs, 22% already running ventures
New Delhi. A shift is visible in the career thinking of students studying in colleges across the country. A large number of students are now moving towards starting their own businesses and becoming job creators after completing their studies, instead of taking up jobs.
According to the GUESSS India 2025 national survey report, prepared in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi and Reva University, Bengaluru, 22 percent of college students in India have already started their own businesses. At the same time, 43 percent of students want to become entrepreneurs in the future.
The report is based on data received from 25,783 students from more than 1,200 higher education institutions across 34 states and Union Territories. The survey was conducted between September and December 2025. According to the report, the proportion of Indian students starting businesses is close to the global average of 23 percent. In addition, 35.5 percent of student entrepreneurs reported that regular sales had begun.
The report also recorded a change in students’ career preferences. The proportion of students who wanted to run their own business immediately after completing their studies was 14 percent in 2023, rising to 16.2 percent in 2025. During the same period, the proportion of students aspiring for government jobs fell from 12.7 percent to 10.1 percent. The share of students wanting to work in large companies declined from 31.3 percent to 27.4 percent. However, while these figures show a shift in career preferences, they cannot be used to treat a shortage of job opportunities as the sole reason.
According to the report, students are showing special interest in businesses linked to information technology (IT), artificial intelligence (AI) and digital services. However, among student businesses currently operating, only about 10 percent are linked to the digital sector. This indicates that more effort is still needed to convert business plans into actual enterprises.
The survey also found that students who have an entrepreneur among their relatives, friends, classmates or teachers are three times more likely to start a business themselves. At the same time, among students developing businesses, only 10 percent had achieved their first sale, compared with 23 percent globally.
The report suggests that universities should not remain limited to preparing students only for jobs, but should also encourage them towards entrepreneurship. For this, incubation centres on campuses, guidance from experienced entrepreneurs, practical training and early opportunities to start businesses could be useful.
The main message of the report is that students need the right guidance, practical experience and access to markets to turn their desire to become entrepreneurs into successful businesses. This can help young people not only find employment for themselves, but also create job opportunities for others.
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