Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday, 6 July said India's new free trade agreements (FTAs) are generating fresh momentum for manufacturing and innovation, and creating pathways for the country's youth to compete on the world stage. Addressing the inauguration of the online bilingual Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Udaipur virtually from New Delhi, Goyal called on students to arm themselves with practical skills and technology-driven learning to capitalise on the opportunities these agreements are unlocking.

FTAs as a Gateway for Youth

Goyal framed India's expanding trade architecture as a direct opportunity for the next generation. 'For Viksit Bharat, the doors of the world are open to the students,' he said, stressing that the new FTAs are simultaneously reinforcing the manufacturing sector and elevating the importance of innovation. He urged students not to rely on academic knowledge alone, but to combine classroom learning with hands-on experience to meet the fast-evolving demands of the global economy.

Digital India as an Education Multiplier

The minister pointed to India's nearly 100 crore internet users as a structural advantage for scaling quality education through digital platforms, in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP). He described the IIM Udaipur initiative as a model that can meaningfully close the rural-urban divide by making premier management education accessible regardless of a student's location or financial circumstances.

What the Bilingual BBA Programme Offers

The programme's bilingual format — conducted in both Hindi and English — is designed to lower the language barrier that has historically kept students from non-English-medium backgrounds away from top-tier management institutions. 'The classrooms of IIM will now be visible on the screen,' Goyal said, noting that students from a small shop in Bhilwara to remote areas such as Bastar would be able to access the programme via laptops, smartphones, or other digital devices. While classes will be held online, examinations will remain offline to preserve academic accountability.

Strengthening the Hybrid Model

Goyal also proposed measures to deepen the programme's hybrid learning framework, recommending regular in-person interactions between faculty and students. He emphasised that management education goes beyond formal instruction — peer learning, networking, and mentorship are integral to producing well-rounded business professionals. This comes amid a broader national push to expand the reach of India's elite institutions beyond their physical campuses, with IIM Udaipur's online BBA among the early movers in that direction.

The programme's launch signals a wider shift in how India's premier institutions are rethinking access, with technology and policy now converging to extend IIM-quality education to students who would otherwise never have had the chance.