ASSESSING ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION AND PERCEPTION OF SUPPORT MECHANISMS: A STUDY OF POSTGRADUATES IN INDIA (DELHI NCR)

Abstract

This research investigates the entrepreneurial inclination of postgraduate students in Delhi NCR, focusing on their awareness and perception of government support and design thinking methodologies. Nearly half of the 212 participants in the study, who came from a variety of academic backgrounds, showed a strong interest in or active inclination toward entrepreneurship. However, there were still major obstacles, such as a lack of knowledge, mentorship, and financial resources. Despite broad faith in the government’s intent to promote entrepreneurship, specific awareness of support schemes and access remained low, with only a quarter of entrepreneurially inclined students perceiving government policies as beneficial or accessible. Although there was little exposure to design thinking workshops, there was a high conceptual understanding of its importance in user-centric solutions and business innovation. The findings highlight the need for improved visibility, accessibility, and curriculum integration for government support and design thinking, offering actionable insights for educational institutions and policymakers to nurture an effective entrepreneurial ecosystem among postgraduate students.