New Delhi, 10 September 2026: Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), has been recognised as the ‘Face of India 2026’ by IndiaSpark for his contribution to entrepreneurship education, institution building and the development of India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The recognition celebrates Dr. Shukla’s over three-decade journey in advancing entrepreneurship across India, with his work spanning entrepreneurship education, incubation, MSME development, grassroots innovation, policy research and inclusive enterprise development. His leadership has focused on creating entrepreneurial opportunities beyond conventional urban centres and strengtheningecosystems for youth, rural communities and emerging entrepreneurs.
Under his leadership, EDII has worked across diverse geographies to institutionalise entrepreneurship and enterprise development. His initiatives have included programmes supporting artisans, tribal communities and underserved groups, alongwith entrepreneurship development interventions across states including Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Puducherry and the North Eastern Region. EDII-linked initiatives such as Enterprising Ladakh, Hastkala Setu (in Gujarat) and Devbhoomi Udyamita (in Uttarakhand) have further focused on inclusive and grassroots entrepreneurship.
Dr. Shukla has also contributed to the larger entrepreneurship policy landscape through research and advisory initiatives, including work connected with the National Entrepreneurship Policy, AICTE Start-up Policy and MSME policy frameworks. His work has consistently advocated for entrepreneurship as a means of creating livelihoods, strengthening communities and enabling inclusive economic growth.
A significant aspect of his vision has been to take entrepreneurship beyond metropolitan ecosystems. His approach emphasises equipping Tier 2, Tier 3 and rural youth with the skills, mentorship, incubation support and ecosystem access required to identify local opportunities and build sustainable enterprises.
Looking ahead, Dr. Shukla has also highlighted the potential of Artificial Intelligence to democratise access to knowledge, skills and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly across rural India. His vision aligns entrepreneurship development with India's larger ambition of inclusive innovation and Viksit Bharat @2047.
The ‘Face of India - 2026’ recognition reinforces Dr. Shukla's contribution to building an entrepreneurial culture in India and EDII's larger mission of developing entrepreneurs, strengthening enterprises and contributing to a moreinclusive and resilient economy.
