- Subodh Bhargava presents the National Entrepreneurship Trainer/Educator/Mentor Award and the Special Jury Award to this year’s winners
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, SEPT 6
Entrepreneurship has thrived in India since the most ancient of civilizations, adapting and innovating with the changing times. The recent times, however, have been most rewarding, with India securing the position of third largest entrepreneurial ecosystem in the world. India’s entrepreneurial landscape showcases unique dynamism of youths, said Subhodh Bhargava, Chairman, Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust here on Saturday.
In his address at the 7th Dr. VG Patel Memorial Lecture that was organised by Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, Subhodh Bhargava, Chairman, Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust, said this,
Delivering his address on the topic “Job Seekers to Job Creators,” Subhodh Bhargava said, “Let me begin with very fond remembrance of Dr. V G Patel. I hail him as a visionary who could foresee the potential of entrepreneurship as a discipline. Entrepreneurship has thrived in India since the most ancient of civilizations, adapting and innovating with the changing times. The recent times, however, have been most rewarding, with India securing the position of third largest entrepreneurial ecosystem in the world. India’s entrepreneurial landscape showcases unique dynamism of youths. The innovative ideas and concepts are a testament to the increasing interest of Indian youth in entrepreneurship. Access to finance, mentorship, training and networking opportunities are easy in the present times and this must motivate more and more young entrepreneurs to get started. From Job Seekers to Job Creators’ that should be our mandate for growth and advancement. My best wishes to EDII for all their future initiatives under the leadership of Dr. Sunil Shukla.”
Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII recalled Dr. Patel’s exceptional contribution to the economic development of the nation by introducing and promoting the concept of entrepreneurship. He said, “Dr. Patel introduced the country to Entrepreneurship when people had no clue about its potential. Dr. Patel held on to the belief and persisted till he proved to the world that training and mentoring could create successful entrepreneurs, and that entrepreneurship could be taught like any other discipline. Dr. Patel’s contribution to the domain of entrepreneurship is unparalleled. He not just created a new discipline and a school of thought but also raised the motivation of people and changed their mindsets in favour of entrepreneurship.”
Subhodh Bhargava, Chairman, Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust, also presented the Dr. V.G. Patel National Memorial Award sfor Entrepreneurship Trainer/Educator/Mentor 2025 to Ulhas Upendra Bhale, Founder Director, Udyam Info Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Maharashtra; Rajesh Kumar Adla, CEO, AIC T-Hub, Hyderabad, Telangana; and the Special Jury Award to Iytha Mallikarjuna, Founder & Director, Inclusive Divyangjan Entrepreneur Association, New Delhi. The award comprises a citation and cash prize.
Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Dr. Nagaraj Balakrishnan, CEO & Vice President, AIC Raise Business Incubator, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu ; Dr. B. Dayakar Rao, Director/CEO, Nutrihub, ICAR-Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad, Telangana; Subhrangshu Sanyal, CEO, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, Kolkata, West Bengal; Sucharita Eashwar, Founder & CEO, Catalyst for Women Entrepreneurship, Yelahanka, Karnataka and Surya Kant, CEO, Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) – Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
Selection process
This year 617 nominations were received, representing 41 countries, 33 Indian States and 384 institutions.
This National Award recognises the outstanding contribution of a trainer/educator/mentor in propagating innovations and technology driven new enterprises. To arrive at its decision, the high-level Award Committee follows a three-tier selection process based on critical evaluation parameters and personal interview.
The Jury Panel
The Selection Committee comprised Dr Sunil Shukla – Director General, EDII Ahmedabad; Rajiv Vastupal – Group Chairman & Managing Director, Rajiv Petrochemicals Pvt. Ltd.; Dr. Rajul Gajjar – Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Technological University; Dr. Satya Ranjan Acharya – Professor & Director- Dept of Entrepreneurship Education, EDII Ahmedabad; S. B. Sareen – Former Director, Dept of Government Projects, EDII Ahmedabad & Special Invitee and Dr. Dipak Tatpuje – Dr. V G Patel Memorial Award Winner 2024.
Know the Winners of 2025
Ulhas Upendra Bhale, Founder Director of Udyam Info Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, is an entrepreneurship trainer, author, and motivator with 34 years of experience in self-employment, agripreneurship, and women entrepreneurship. He has authored several publications and received multiple awards, including the National Award for Best Entrepreneur Trainer-Motivator (EDII, 2003).
Rajesh Kumar Adla is a serial entrepreneur currently serving as the CEO of AIC T-Hub Foundation, driving entrepreneurial growth and innovation across India. He has designed numerous national startup programs and transformed thousands of entrepreneurs in India and the USA through his mentorship. He is recognized for his leadership in the semiconductor and space technology ecosystem building by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and NITI Aayog.
Iytha Mallikarjuna is Founder & CEO of Inclusive Divyangjan Entrepreneur Association (IDEA). Mallikarjuna is a seasoned social entrepreneur with over 27 years of experience in empowering individuals with disabilities and from marginalized communities. He has been conducting Entrepreneurship Development trainings, conferences, workshops and seminars focused on inclusivity. He has authored 5 books on entrepreneurship for the disabled and women SHGs. He was honoured with the prestigious National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities by the Hon’ble President of India in 2024 and Best Social Entrepreneur Award by Government of Delhi in 2023.
Annual lecture series
EDII lost its founder Padma Shri Dr. V.G. Patel on April 4, 2019. To commemorate Dr. Patel’s great work in the field of entrepreneurship, the Institute started an annual lecture series in 2019. Recognised by the entrepreneurship fraternity as the ‘Pioneer of Entrepreneurship Movement,’ Dr. V.G. Patel committed himself to propagate entrepreneurship within India and globally. Not only did he succeed in establishing the credibility of his belief across India, but also went on to establish the National Resource Institute, EDII, in 1983.
The institution of Dr. V. G. Patel Memorial Award
In 2020, EDII instituted Dr. V. G. Patel Memorial Award for Entrepreneurship Trainer/Educator/Mentor to honour the late legendary, Dr. V. G. Patel who emphasized on the significance of instituting a cadre of entrepreneur trainer-motivators to sustain the entrepreneurship movement. Dr. Patel hailed this cadre of professionals as the backbone of the entrepreneurship development movement.
