Jamia Millia Islamia trains 450 women entrepreneurs under PM VIKAS scheme
Synopsis
Jamia Millia Islamia has completed the first batch of its PM VIKAS-funded leadership training for women, with 450 participants targeted across batches. A senior IAS officer from the Ministry of Minority Affairs attended the ceremony, signalling central government backing for minority-focused entrepreneurship education at one of India's prominent central universities.
Key Takeaways
Jamia Millia Islamia's CIE completed the first batch of the 'Basics of Leadership Development' programme under PM VIKAS on 22 April 2025 .
The project, fully funded by the Ministry of Minority Affairs , targets training of 450 women in leadership and entrepreneurship.
Certificate distribution ceremony was held on 8 May 2025 , attended by Neha Giri, IAS , Director, PM VIKAS.
The programme is being conducted under the guidance of Vice Chancellor Professor Mazhar Asif .
Professor Rihan Khan Suri , Director of CIE, presented the Centre's achievements including incubation support and startup ecosystem activities.
The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi, has successfully completed the first batch of its 'Basics of Leadership Development' programme under the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme, aimed at nurturing women entrepreneurs from minority communities. The milestone was announced on Monday, 11 May 2025, with the certificate distribution ceremony having been held on 8 May.
Programme Overview
The JMI project is fully funded by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and targets the training of 450 women in leadership and entrepreneurship development. It is being conducted under the guidance of Vice Chancellor Professor Mazhar Asif. The first training batch was formally concluded on 22 April 2025, marking a significant step in the university's outreach under the centrally sponsored scheme.
Ministry's Endorsement
Neha Giri, IAS, Director of PM VIKAS at the Ministry of Minority Affairs, attended the certificate distribution ceremony. According to a statement issued by JMI, Giri commended the efforts of the CIE in empowering youth through leadership and skill development initiatives. She urged participants to sharpen their communication, leadership, and entrepreneurial abilities to contribute meaningfully to nation-building and community development.
Giri also underscored the broader significance of such capacity-building programmes, describing them as vital to creating confident, skilled, and self-reliant youth under the PM VIKAS framework.
University Leadership's Role
A delegation from the Ministry of Minority Affairs also held a meeting with the Vice Chancellor and Registrar Professor Rizvi, appreciating the university's commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and skill-based education. Professor Rihan Khan Suri, Director of the CIE, presented an overview of the Centre's activities, covering entrepreneurship development programmes, incubation support, innovation initiatives, and startup ecosystem activities benefiting students and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks to dignitaries, faculty members, trainers, and students for their participation, according to JMI Chief Public Relations Officer Professor Saima Saeed.
What PM VIKAS Aims to Achieve
The PM VIKAS scheme, administered by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, is designed to enhance the economic and social empowerment of minority communities by integrating skill development with traditional heritage and entrepreneurship. JMI's programme represents one of the scheme's active institutional implementations, with multiple batches currently ongoing alongside the completed first cohort. The initiative reflects a growing push by central universities to align academic infrastructure with government-led skilling missions, particularly those targeting underrepresented groups.
Point of View
Metrics the scheme has yet to publicly report. The presence of a senior IAS officer at the ceremony signals institutional seriousness, but capacity-building programmes in India have historically struggled to bridge the gap between certificate distribution and sustained entrepreneurial activity. The next benchmark is whether JMI tracks and publishes participant outcomes beyond the classroom.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM VIKAS scheme?
The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme is a central government initiative administered by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, aimed at enhancing the economic and social empowerment of minority communities through skill development and entrepreneurship training.
What did Jamia Millia Islamia achieve under PM VIKAS?
Jamia Millia Islamia's Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship completed the first batch of its 'Basics of Leadership Development' programme on 22 April 2025, with the certificate ceremony held on 8 May 2025. The project targets training of 450 women in leadership and entrepreneurship.
Who attended the certificate distribution ceremony?
Neha Giri, IAS, Director of PM VIKAS at the Ministry of Minority Affairs, attended the ceremony and appreciated CIE's efforts in empowering youth through skill and leadership development initiatives.
How many women will be trained under this JMI programme?
The JMI project aims to train 450 women in leadership and entrepreneurship development across multiple batches, with the first batch already completed as of April 2025.
Who is overseeing the programme at JMI?
The programme is being conducted under the guidance of Vice Chancellor Professor Mazhar Asif, with Professor Rihan Khan Suri serving as Director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at JMI.
