Authors: Mrs. Minakshi Kumari, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Raju
Abstract: Entrepreneurship is widely recognized as a driver of innovation, job creation, and long-term economic development. In India, persistently high youth unemployment and underemployment make youth entrepreneurship an important pathway for livelihoods, enterprise growth, and inclusive prosperity. This conceptual paper synthesizes key ecosystem enablers and barriers that shape youth entrepreneurial intentions and outcomes in India. Drawing on secondary sources—peer-reviewed studies, policy documents, and credible practitioner materials—the analysis organizes evidence around (a) multidimensional youth empowerment (individual, social, educational, economic, psychological, and physical) and (b) ecosystem support factors such as access to capital, mentorship, networks, skills development, incubators/accelerators, and awareness of government schemes (e.g., Startup India). The synthesis highlights that fragmented support and limited policy awareness can weaken entrepreneurial entry and survival, while education and curriculum reforms can cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets from an early stage. The paper proposes an integrated conceptual framework linking empowerment capabilities to ecosystem resources and expected economic outcomes. Practical implications are offered for policymakers, educational institutions, and entrepreneurship support organizations to design coordinated interventions that enable Indian youth to translate entrepreneurial aspirations into sustainable ventures.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19508862
