By Firstdespatch Desk Oct 01, 2026
Agartala, Oct 01 (FD) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday reiterated the state government’s commitment to creating an innovation-driven, digitally empowered and future-ready Tripura by encouraging youth creativity, entrepreneurship, technology adoption and startup-led development.
Addressing a programme organised at the Women’s College campus in Agartala, Saha launched the Tripura Seva First Innovation Challenge 2026, the Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana for the academic year 2025-26 and Digi-SAPNE 3.0 (Digital Startup Accelerator Programme for North East). He also inaugurated the renovation and development works of the Matangini–Pritilata Auditorium at the institution.
“The youth of Tripura have no shortage of talent and creativity. With proper support and encouragement, they can move forward,” Saha said. He added that the state government was working to utilise the constructive thinking and innovative abilities of young people for the benefit of society.
The Chief Minister said the government was seeking to build an ecosystem where students, innovators and entrepreneurs could transform their ideas into practical solutions and become job creators. He linked the initiatives with the broader objective of developing a modern and self-reliant Tripura in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat.
The Tripura Seva First Innovation Challenge 2026, organised under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, is aimed at encouraging students, researchers, innovators and startups to develop technology-based solutions to challenges related to governance and public service delivery. The initiative seeks to provide young innovators with opportunities to apply their ideas to real-world problems affecting citizens.
The Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana 2025-26 was also rolled out during the programme with a focus on strengthening digital inclusion among students. According to the information shared at the event, the scheme has benefited more than 63,000 students since its inception in 2019-20, with financial assistance exceeding Rs 31.62 crore. The support has helped students gain access to smartphones and digital learning platforms.
A major highlight of the programme was the distribution of financial assistance to startups selected under Digi-SAPNE Cohort 2.0. Eight startups received grants of Rs 10 lakh each, taking the total assistance distributed during the programme to Rs 80 lakh.
The beneficiary startups represented several northeastern states. From Assam, Labdig Innovations and System Pvt Ltd and Stem Corp Dynamics Technologies Pvt Ltd were selected. HN Technovations Pvt Ltd represented Tripura, while Addble Solution Pvt Ltd was selected from Manipur, Mwire Labs Pvt Ltd from Meghalaya, Uracab Pvt Ltd from Nagaland, Sajilo Services Pvt Ltd from Sikkim and Peipung Pvt Ltd from Mizoram.
The Digi-SAPNE 3.0 programme is being implemented by AIC-SMUTBI in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The programme is designed to strengthen technology-based startups across the Northeast by providing mentoring, business acceleration support, investor connections and opportunities for ecosystem development.
During the event, eight startups selected under Digi-SAPNE 2.0 were also felicitated. Three Tripura-based startups—Cubo Bots, Acuvea Healthcare Technologies and HN Technovations LLP—had previously been selected in earlier editions of the programme.
Officials said Tripura’s startup ecosystem has been witnessing steady development under the Sector Agnostic Tripura Start-Up Policy 2024. Various initiatives, including Startup Tripura, T-RISE, T-NEST and the New Generation Innovation Network (NGIN), are being used to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-oriented enterprises among young people.
Information Technology, Finance, Planning and Coordination Minister Pranajit Singha Roy said the three initiatives represented an integrated approach towards digital empowerment, innovation and entrepreneurship. He highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for young people to develop ideas and turn them into sustainable ventures.
Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman stressed the role of educational institutions in nurturing future innovators and job creators. He said colleges and universities could play an important role in providing students with an environment conducive to creativity, experimentation and entrepreneurship.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the renovated and upgraded Matangini–Pritilata Auditorium at the Women’s College. The upgraded facility is expected to support academic programmes, cultural activities and institutional events, while strengthening educational infrastructure at the college.
The launch of the three initiatives marks a combined focus on youth innovation, digital access, entrepreneurship and startup development, with the state government seeking to create greater opportunities for young people to participate in Tripura’s development and the wider Northeast innovation ecosystem. FD JK