IIT Mandi Survey Finds 22% of Indian Students Have Started Businesses

IIT Mandi’s GUESSS India 2025 National Survey Report found that 22% of Indian students had already started a business.

By Career Ahead AI — AI-assisted, fact-verified against cited sources. Readers should verify key facts.

The survey covers students across India

Led by IIT Mandi, the GUESSS India 2025 National Survey Report drew responses from twenty-five thousand seven hundred eighty-three students. It covered more than twelve hundred higher-education institutions across thirty-four states and union territories, giving the survey a broad reach across India’s student population.¹

The share of Indian students who had started a business was close to the global figure: 22% in India compared with 23% globally. Another 43% of Indian students said they wanted to become entrepreneurs, matching the global average. The report put the share of Indian student businesses generating regular sales at 35.5%, against 33% globally.¹

It covered more than twelve hundred higher-education institutions across thirty-four states and union territories, giving the survey a broad reach across India’s student population.1

More students want to run businesses after graduation

The share of students who wanted to run their own businesses immediately after completing their studies rose from 14% in the 2023 survey to 16.2% in 2025. Over the same period, the proportion aspiring to take government jobs immediately after graduation fell from 12.7% to 10.1%. Preference for employment in a large company also declined, from 31.3% to 27.4%.¹

Student founders show repeat business activity

Among student businesses with regular sales, 31% were founded in 2025, compared with 18% globally. The survey also found that 41% of student founders had closed an earlier business and started another, against 33% globally. A further 42% ran two or more businesses, compared with 25% globally.¹

The survey found a gap in students’ access to founder networks. Half of Indian students said they knew no entrepreneur outside their parents, compared with one-third of students globally. Students with entrepreneurs among relatives, friends, classmates or teachers were three times more likely to start a venture. Among students still building businesses, 10% had made their first sale, compared with 23% globally.¹

Women and digital ventures show gaps between intent and action

Among students who wanted to become founders, 45% of women had started a venture, compared with 53% of men. IT, artificial intelligence and digital technologies were the most common intended sectors among student founders, but only around one in 10 operating student businesses was digital. The report also says 51 out of every 100 students with entrepreneurial intentions had started a venture.¹

Treat the First Sale as a Test

An immediate business route deserves a place beside salaried options: the share wanting to run a business after study rose from fourteen per cent in twenty twenty-three to sixteen-point-two per cent in twenty twenty-five, while preferences for government jobs and large-company employment fell. But intent is not proof of traction. Among students still building businesses, one in ten had made a first sale, against twenty-three per cent globally. If you choose a venture, make a first paying customer a checkpoint before committing more time or money.¹

The survey found a gap in students’ access to founder networks.

Choose the work and support around a venture with the execution gap in view. IT, artificial intelligence and digital technologies were the most common intended sectors, yet only around one in ten operating student businesses was digital; a digital course or role is therefore not evidence that customers will buy. Build practice in testing demand and getting to a first sale, and seek contact with founders: half of Indian students knew no entrepreneur outside their parents, while students with entrepreneurs in their social circles were three times more likely to start a venture.¹