Union Minister ML Khattar launched Campus Tank Punjab at Chandigarh University, announcing India will surpass Germany to become the world’s 3rd largest economy with a $5 trillion GDP in two years.
Mohali – Union Minister of Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, launched Campus Tank Punjab at Chandigarh University (CU), an ambitious university-led startup launchpad designed to empower student innovators. The initiative, organised in collaboration with Apna and Venture Catalysts (VCats), offers a dedicated US$ 6 million funding pool to support early-stage startups founded by youth under 30.
The launch ceremony was attended by Union Minister Khattar as the Chief Guest, alongside Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor of CU, Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director, CU, Dr. Preet Deep Singh, Vice President, Apna, Vansh Oberoi, Chief Investment Officer, Venture Catalysts, and other distinguished leaders from academia, industry, and government. The event drew participation from budding startup founders, incubators, venture capitalists, and students from across Northern India.
Khattar: “India will be 3rd largest economy by 2027”
Addressing the gathering, Khattar said Campus Tank is a transformative initiative that will directly benefit students across 23,000 AICTE-affiliated institutions, with 19,000 startups already registered to participate. Out of these, *300 will be shortlisted for seed funding support.
He emphasized that India, with its $4.19 trillion GDP, is set to overtake Germany within a year and become the world’s third-largest economy with a $5 trillion GDP in the next two years, despite challenges such as US tariff threats. He added:
“We should not bow before such threats. Our growth rate of 7.8% is proof that India is unstoppable. From villages to small towns, anyone with determination can build a startup. Just like Amazon began in a garage and Google from a university room, small beginnings can lead to big achievements.”
Khattar further highlighted India’s 1.76 lakh startups, including 75,000 women-led ventures, and 115 Unicorns, calling today’s youth “tomorrow’s job creators” and key drivers of PM Modi’s vision for a Viksit Bharat 2047.
Sandhu: “India now 3rd largest startup ecosystem”
Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu lauded the rapid growth of India’s startup ecosystem, which has grown from just 400 startups in 2014 to over 1.76 lakh in 2025. He stressed that initiatives like Campus Tank will catalyse this momentum, adding:
“Startups have created more than 17.6 lakh direct jobs and filed 12,000+ patents. India now has 119 unicorns, and the government aims to scale this to 1,000 by 2035 and 5,000 in the long term. Startups like Paytm, upGrad, and CRED are proof of this potential.”
Sandhu also highlighted Chandigarh University’s significant contribution, with over 2,581 patents filed in the last 3 years and its Technology Business Incubator mobilising ₹5 crore to strengthen the startup ecosystem.
Industry Leaders on Campus Tank
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Vansh Oberoi (Venture Catalysts): “If India has to achieve its $7 trillion economy dream, 15–20% will come from startups. Campus Tank is one of our biggest initiatives to drive this ambition.”
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Preet Deep Singh (Apna): “Campus Tank is about nurturing unconventional, independent-minded innovators solving society’s pressing challenges.”
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Dr. Prabhleen Singh (Young Progressive Sikh Forum): “A decade ago, entrepreneurship was little known. Today, thanks to PM Modi, every young Indian aspires to create jobs rather than just seek them.”
About Campus Tank Punjab
Campus Tank Punjab is envisioned as a platform where student-led startups can move from ideation to funding, with mentorship, incubation, and exposure to India’s innovation ecosystem. By providing access to venture capital and industry leaders, the initiative aims to fuel India’s entrepreneurial aspirations and contribute significantly to the nation’s economic growth.
