In a landmark step to boost education, skill development, and innovation in Chhattisgarh, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today at Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in the state capital, Raipur. The key stakeholders in this MoU are the Government of Chhattisgarh, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur, and the Motilal Oswal Foundation.
In the presence of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, the Motilal Oswal Foundation committed a total contribution of ₹172 crore, with ₹101 crore allocated to IIM Raipur and ₹71 crore to NIT Raipur.
The primary objective of this agreement is to lay the foundation for a new era of education, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Chhattisgarh. Under this partnership, the "Smt. Mithilesh Agrawal Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Entrepreneurship" will be established. Construction is set to begin in the financial year 2025–26, with the center becoming fully operational by 2027–28.

Chhattisgarh Moving Towards an Innovation-Driven Economy
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai stated that this tripartite MoU marks a significant step towards realizing the “Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision”. He emphasized that this collaboration will enable an educational and innovation revolution that reaches even the most remote villages, empowering youth across the state.
He stressed that the Excellence Centre must not remain confined to the campuses of IIM and NIT but should also benefit rural youth. The Chief Minister further asserted that Chhattisgarh is transitioning from a resource-based to an innovation-driven economy, making strides in emerging sectors like semiconductors, artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, defence, aerospace, and green hydrogen.

Stepping Towards Centres of Excellence and Global Education
The ₹172 crore grant by the Motilal Oswal Foundation will support the development of multiple facilities. At IIM Raipur, a 202-room “Oswal Hostel” and the “Dau Ram Gopal Agrawal Knowledge Centre” will be constructed. Additionally, six international MBA programs will be launched in collaboration with top institutions from the USA, UK, France, and Germany.
At NIT Raipur, the “Smt. Mithilesh Agrawal Centre of Excellence” will be set up to focus on deep-tech domains such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and Clean Energy. The center is projected to train over 10,000 youth by 2030, incubate more than 250 startups, and create over 5,000 skilled jobs. This initiative has been designed in alignment with the industrial needs of Chhattisgarh, especially in sectors such as mining, steel, and manufacturing, and will focus on providing real-world solutions in collaboration with local industries.

India’s Largest Training Centre for Farmers to be Set Up
During the event, Motilal Oswal Foundation Co-founder and Chairman Shri Ramdeo Agrawal announced the establishment of India’s largest training centre for farmers in Raipur. He expressed that Chhattisgarh is a land of immense potential and reiterated his foundation’s full commitment to the state’s development journey.
He also shared that the foundation has resolved to dedicate 10% of its total corpus to social welfare, to be utilized in areas including education, skill development, and agriculture.
The event was graced by Principal Secretary Smt. Niharika Barik, Secretary of Higher Education and Skill Development Department Shri S. Bharathidasan, CEO of Chhattisgarh State Skill Development Authority Shri Vijay Dayaram K, NIT Raipur Chairman Dr. Suresh Haware, IIM Raipur Chairman Shri Puneet Dalmia, NIT Director Dr. N.V. Prasanna Rao, and IIM Raipur Acting Director Dr. Sanjeev Parashar, among other senior officials, academicians, and a large number of students.

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