Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday distributed Rs 1.97 billion in incentives to 700 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) units in Madhya Pradesh, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to strengthening the MSME ecosystem. During the MSME Convention held in Bhopal, Yadav also handed over land allocation letters to 237 entrepreneurs and sanctioned bank loan assistance worth Rs 3.47 billion to 5,084 youths under the CM Udyam Kranti Yojana. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister described MSMEs as “the backbone of India’s economy”, emphasising their pivotal role in job creation and industrial expansion. “MSMEs provide employment and fortify the foundation of a self-reliant India. Today, young people are not merely seeking jobs—they are creating them. The sector holds immense potential to generate employment across borders,” he said. Yadav highlighted that India hosts over 60 million MSMEs, contributing around 30 per cent to GDP and 45 per cent of total exports, helping position India as the world’s fourth-largest economy. Showcasing local products with global potential, he said, “Maheshwari sarees, Sharbati wheat from Sehore, Basmati rice from Raisen, Zari art from Bhopal, dolls from Jhabua and Sri Anna from Dindori all have the potential to become international brands.” MSME Minister Chetanya Kashyap also attended the event, reinforcing the government’s focus on developing regional industries and promoting exports through innovation and entrepreneurship. Later in the day, Chief Minister Yadav urged universities to introduce more job-oriented courses to make higher education employment-focused. He proposed establishing an agriculture faculty at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University from the next academic session and encouraged academic institutions to align their programmes with industry needs. At a review meeting in Mantralaya, Yadav stressed the importance of promoting Ayurveda education at Maharishi Panini Sanskrit and Vedic Vishvavidyalaya in Ujjain. He directed university heads to fill vacant teaching posts and prepare a five-year roadmap to raise the global standing of Indian universities. Additional Chief Secretary Anupam Rajan informed that Devi Ahilya Bai University, Indore, has already launched a three-year BBA in Aviation, with around 30 students currently enrolled. Higher Education Minister Indar Singh Parmar was also present at the meeting.