VIKSIT KARNATAKA | A White Paper on Building a Developed, Self-Reliant State

Aligned with the Government of India’s Vision of a Developed India by 2047

A strategic framework under the Viksit Bharat Aatmanirbhar mission to unlock grassroots innovation, women-led growth, and sustainable development across all 31 districts and 264 taluks of Karnataka.

Executive Summary

As India advances toward its centennial goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat vision, there is an urgent need for decentralized, innovation-driven models that activate state-level economic engines. In alignment with this national imperative, the Aatmanirbhar Foundation of India has conceptualized VIKSIT BHARAT AATMANIRBHAR the largest youth movement since independence, reaching 800 districts and impacting over 1 crore youth with the ambition of contributing USD 1 trillion to India’s economy by 2047.

VIKSIT KARNATAKA emerges as the flagship pilot under this national framework.

This first-of-its-kind initiative blends artificial intelligence, grassroots entrepreneurship, and direct capital deployment to identify, fund, and mentor over 1,000 validated, youth-led startup ideas across Karnataka positioning the state as a replicable model for inclusive, innovation-led development.

At its core is aiVBA, a proprietary AI engine capable of evaluating early-stage startups across 15+ sectors with over 99% predictive accuracy. Powered by a ₹100 Crore Direct Seed Fund, the program is enabled through a blended capital strategy Public Social Responsibility (PSR), CSR, grants, philanthropy, and institutional funding.

AATMANIRBHAR FOUNDATION OF INDIA is a public charitable trust dedicated to supporting Central and State Governments in advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

With no commercial interests or profit motives unlike venture capitalists or private investors our singular mission is to build a platform where citizens, especially the youth, can actively shape their state’s development in alignment with national goals.

We believe that transformation must be rooted in the grassroots. aiVBA - Our indigenous , AI-powered platform enables the identification and evaluation of breakthrough ideas from citizens, startups, and changemakers.

Those ideas that align with the state’s development priorities and national objectives receive direct seed funding, mentorship, and operational support. This ensures every initiative is impact-driven, transparent, and accountable.

VIKSIT KARNATAKA will be executed in close collaboration with key departments of the Government of Karnataka, playing a pivotal role in shaping and aligning with the state’s developmental priorities. We are deeply grateful to the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s Office, esteemed ministers, and senior state officials whose unwavering support and strategic guidance have been instrumental in laying the foundation for this mission.

Students as Statesmen: Building 2047 from the Ground Up

What makes this campaign truly transformative is its people-centric execution model: in each state, over 100 colleges will contribute student volunteers to lead, implement, and monitor this movement. These youth ambassadors become catalysts for change, fusing seva, innovation, and civic responsibility.

This is not merely a campaign it is a national integration movement that empowers every Indian to contribute to their state’s progress while remaining anchored to the larger vision of a strong, self-reliant Bharat.

By combining AI-led governance, grassroots innovation, and youth-led execution, the Aatmanirbhar Foundation of India is building the Largest Youth Movement Since Independence.

Together, we’re not waiting for change we’re building it.

One state at a time.

One idea at a time.

For a truly Viksit Bharat, powered by its people.

Viksit Bharat Aatmanirbhar:

A State-Led Development Paradigm

India’s journey to a $30 trillion economy must be underpinned by agile state-level models.

VIKSIT KARNATAKA is the first of ten targeted state missions, with upcoming launches planned in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odissa, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, and Kerala.

VIKSIT STATES MODEL: A Decentralized Blueprint for a Developed India

Viksit Bharat Aatmanirbhar (VBA) will be designed and implemented through deeply aligned, state-specific development roadmaps across 10 key states.

These VIKSIT STATE models will serve as catalytic engines for national transformation integrating local governance priorities with the vision parameters of Viksit Bharat.

By harnessing each state’s core strengths, mobilizing institutional convergence, and enabling youth-led innovation, this framework will activate a high-traction, state-driven brigade that drives systemic synergy, accelerates ground-level impact, and builds sustained momentum toward India’s goal of becoming a developed, self-reliant nation by 2047.

A Model for the Nation:

State-Specific, Centre-Aligned

At the heart of the Viksit Bharat Aatmanirbhar (VBA) Campaign lies a fundamental design principle: every state is a stakeholder, and every state is a strategy. The campaign acknowledges the unique economic identities, demographic compositions, and institutional strengths of each Indian state and builds forward-looking, innovation-first development models around them.

The VIKSIT KARNATAKA 2047 initiative is a leading prototype of this mission architecture, representing a state-specific transformation blueprint rooted deeply in Karnataka’s priorities such as rural innovation, women-led enterprise, emerging-tech skilling, and climate-resilient growth while remaining fully harmonized with the national vision framework of Viksit Bharat.

By designing and deploying such state-aligned yet centrally coordinated development campaigns, VBA ensures that India’s federal strength becomes a national accelerator creating a cohesive bridge between grassroots governance and nationwide transformation.

For instance, under the same mission framework, a state like Odisha could focus on unlocking its unique strengths in tribal upliftment, coastal resilience, and the blue economy. With a significant share of India’s Scheduled Tribe population and a 480 km coastline, Odisha is strategically positioned to drive region-specific, sustainable growth.

The campaign could align with ongoing initiatives like Mission Shakti (women-led SHGs), Krushi Odisha (agriculture innovation), and the Startup Odisha ecosystem, while leveraging central missions such as PM Janjatiya Vikas, Matsya Sampada Yojana, and the Blue Economy Policy.

To translate this vision into action, a dedicated “Coastal & Tribal Youth Startup Fund” could be launched, offering ₹5–10 lakhs in seed capital to early-stage enterprises led by youth from tribal, coastal, and underserved districts. Focus sectors may include:

• Sustainable aquaculture and fisheries technologies

• Climate-resilient agriculture and forest-produce value chains

• Eco-tourism and tribal heritage-based enterprises

• Disaster-resilient infrastructure and early warning systems

• Agri-processing and decentralized food industries

All applications would be screened through aiVBA’s AI-powered evaluation engine, ensuring meritocracy, bias-free selection, and full transparency, backed by independent audits and public disclosure. Implementation would be driven through partnerships with Startup Odisha, Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA), and grassroots tribal and coastal organizations.

This approach illustrates how the Viksit Bharat Aatmanirbhar framework can be customized to activate state-specific potential, deepen cooperative federalism, and empower youth at the last mile.

One Vision, One Mission:

Viksit Karnataka for Viksit Bharat

The VIKSIT KARNATAKA blueprint identifies ten key sectors that are pivotal to driving inclusive, innovation-led growth across the state. These focus areas have been selected based on their strategic relevance to Karnataka, their potential to generate mass employment, and their alignment with national priorities under the VIKSIT BHARAT 2047 vision.

Each sector reflects Karnataka’s indigenous strengths from technology and agriculture to culture and sustainability while also contributing meaningfully to India’s collective developmental aspirations. This dual alignment ensures that VIKSIT KARNATAKA is not just a state initiative but a strategic extension of the national mission.

By synchronizing local innovation ecosystems with national transformation goals, the campaign showcases how state-specific blueprints can co-create the roadmap for a Developed India.

This convergence between centre and state exemplifies the core philosophy of “One Vision, One Mission” where every state rises, and the nation progresses together.

The following ten sectors represent Karnataka’s core strength areas, each linked with India’s broader VIKSIT BHARAT goals. To catalyze these, VIKSIT KARNATAKA will fund and accelerate high-impact startups each rooted in local opportunity and national significance.

1. Deeptech, AI & Emerging Technologies

Karnataka is India’s deeptech nerve centre. Scaling frontier technologies will place India at the cutting edge of global innovation.

Viksit Karnataka Startup Ideas:

• RashtraAI: An AI policy stack startup offering models for public data governance and DPI alignment.

• SecureQ: A startup focused on post-quantum cryptography and secure communications for defense-tech.

• AgroVision AI: Computer vision platform for automated crop health diagnostics using drone imagery and ML.

Viksit Karnataka to Viksit Bharat Sync

Local tech excellence → National AI ecosystem leadership

2. Agritech & Millets Revolution

Karnataka leads India in millet production and can drive the national nutrition, agri-export, and climate-resilience agenda.

Viksit Karnataka Startup Ideas:

• SmartMillet Labs: Precision farming and yield optimization using AI for millet farmers.

• BhoomiChain: Blockchain traceability platform for organic produce and millet exports.

• DesiBites: Millet-based D2C snacks brand focused on wellness and global healthy eating trends.

Viksit Karnataka to Viksit Bharat Sync

Local agri-innovation → Global superfood leadership & climate adaptation

3. Renewable Energy & Green Mobility

Karnataka’s leadership in solar and wind energy can power India’s transition to a net-zero future.

Viksit Karnataka Startup Ideas:

• EV Pulse: Modular battery swapping and fleet electrification for last-mile logistics.

• WindSim: AI-powered wind farm efficiency optimization software.

• CarbonCount: Carbon credit trading platform for farmers and industries.

Viksit Karnataka to Viksit Bharat Sync

State green leadership → National carbon neutrality and EV revolution

4. Advanced Manufacturing & Electronics

Through hubs like Tumakuru and Belagavi, Karnataka can support India’s drive toward manufacturing independence.

Viksit Karnataka Startup Ideas:

• NanoFabTech: Semiconductor-grade cleanroom systems and fabrication equipment solutions.

• FlexiForge: 3D printed spare parts for aerospace and defense.

• GrameenMech: Rural micro-manufacturing platforms powered by AI-based demand forecasting.

Viksit Karnataka to Viksit Bharat Sync

Local value creation → Aatmanirbhar supply chains

5. Startups & Innovation Ecosystems

Bengaluru’s vibrant ecosystem can be decentralized to create a network of Tier-2 innovation hubs.

Viksit Karnataka Startup Ideas:

• iDistricts: Platform to create digital twins and startup maps of aspirational districts.

• CoFound Collective: A state-run virtual co-founder matching platform for idea-stage founders.

• GovScale: Startup toolkit to integrate innovation into governance and public delivery.

Viksit Karnataka to Viksit Bharat Sync

Innovation everywhere → Jobs everywhere

6. Healthtech & Bioeconomy

From diagnostics to biotech, Karnataka can power the next generation of affordable healthcare and global bio-solutions.

Viksit Karnataka Startup Ideas:

• NammaScan: Low-cost AI-driven diagnostic devices for primary care and rural PHCs.

• GeneSprint: CRISPR-based rare disease detection platform.

• BioKarnataka: Biotech accelerator for agri-bio, med-bio, and industrial bio-entrepreneurs.

Viksit Karnataka to Viksit Bharat Sync

Local bioscience → National health and biosecurity edge

7. Skilling & Future-Ready Workforce

Karnataka can be India’s digital skilling and human capital capital bridging education with employability.

Viksit Karnataka Startup Ideas:

• SkillVerse: Gamified vernacular skilling platform for rural youth and gig workers.

• EduTwin: AI-driven career simulators to map students’ aptitude to future job roles.

• TechSetu: Public-private platform for last-mile job placement and apprenticeships.

Viksit Karnataka to Viksit Bharat Sync

Local talent pipelines → Global workforce readiness

8. Tourism, Culture & Creative Economy

With its cultural wealth, Karnataka can power soft-power diplomacy and sustainable job creation.

Viksit Karnataka Startup Ideas:

• HampiVerse: VR-based immersive heritage tourism and storytelling startup.

• CraftKart: E-commerce platform for tribal and rural artisan clusters across Karnataka.

• EcoNomad: Sustainable tourism startup connecting backpackers to offbeat eco circuits.

Viksit Karnataka to Viksit Bharat Sync

Local identity → National cultural renaissance

9. Urban Innovation & Infrastructure

Karnataka’s urban centres can lead experiments in smart governance, mobility, and housing.

Viksit Karnataka Startup Ideas:

• CityPulse: AI dashboard for predictive urban planning and citizen feedback loops.

• RePlast: Construction material startup using recycled plastic and waste for affordable housing.

• AquaMind: IoT-enabled water grid management platform for Tier-2 cities.

Viksit Karnataka to Viksit Bharat Sync

Urban Karnataka → Blueprint for Smart Bharat

10. Inclusive Governance & Tech-Led Public Services

Karnataka’s e-Governance legacy can be a national model for citizen empowerment and real-time delivery.

Viksit Karnataka Startup Ideas:

• JanChain: Blockchain-based grievance redressal and social benefit distribution.

• VoteLogic: Civic engagement and participatory budgeting platform.

• NammaSahay: Vernacular citizen assistant using voice AI for rural governance access.

Viksit Karnataka to Viksit Bharat Sync

Local public tech → National governance transformation

Final Insight:

By rooting every funded startup in a state mission with national resonance, the VIKSIT KARNATAKA blueprint ensures policy coherence, economic upliftment, and technological sovereignty locally engineered, nationally impactful.

VIKSIT KARNATAKA Campaign Objective: Structured Acceleration of Youth Entrepreneurship

Primary Goal:

To create an AI-powered, scalable pipeline for discovering, evaluating, and directly funding youth-led startups that address pressing socio-economic challenges.

Key Features:

• Recruitment of 10,000+ VIKSIT KARNATAKA Ambassadors from 100+ academic institutions.

• District-wide outreach across all 31 districts to uncover hidden innovation.

• AI-driven startup evaluation ensuring fairness, merit, and scalability.

• Performance-based seed funding, tailored to growth stages.

• Inclusive focus on non-metro, rural, tribal, and underserved communities.

VIKSIT KARNATAKA Institutional Innovation:

aiVBA - India’s First AI Startup Evaluation Engine

aiVBA (Artificial Intelligence for Viksit Bharat Aatmanirbhar) is a pioneering AI platform designed to:

• Evaluate startups using 15+ structured parameters.

• Assess founder capability, business feasibility, and potential impact.

• Eliminate bias through algorithmic rigor.

• Predict success likelihood with 99%+ accuracy.

This ensures data-driven public-private funding decisions at scale.

aiVBA Pro - AI-Driven, Long-Term Strategic Mentorship

To sustain and guide funded ventures, aiVBA Pro offers AI-generated strategic mentorship by:

• Providing personalized quarterly action plans.

• Using NLP and decision-tree logic tailored to startup evolution.

• Bridging mentorship access gaps across geographies.

• Adapting dynamically to performance and market context.

This transforms India’s fragmented mentorship landscape into a scalable innovation backbone.

₹100 Crore VIKSIT KARNATAKA Fund:

A Blended Capital Strategy

The VIKSIT KARNATAKA Seed Fund will be mobilized through:

• Public Social Responsibility (PSR) donations (80G tax benefit).

• Corporate CSR (state & sector aligned).

• Philanthropic contributions from HNIs and foundations.

• Institutional grants from multilateral agencies and funds.

• Departmental allocations from:

  
  

  • MSME

  • Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship

  • Rural Development

  • Women & Child Development

  • IT & Biotechnology

  • Agriculture

  • Innovation & Skilling departments

  
  

This ensures broad-based ownership and funding continuity.

Structured Disbursement:

Two-Track Grant Mechanism

a. Micro Grants (₹10,000 – ₹1,00,000)

For idea validation, prototyping, and field testing.

b. Catalytic Growth Grants

(₹10 Lakhs – ₹1 Crore)

For validated models with clear scaling and innovation potential.

Disbursal is milestone-linked and monitored via digital dashboards and overseen by dedicated committee .

VIKSIT KARNATAKA Implementation Infrastructure: Campus Hubs and District Nodes

A decentralized network across Karnataka will include:

• 100+ VIKSIT KARNATAKA Campus Hubs (engineering, business, and multi-disciplinary institutions).

• Functions include startup scouting, local outreach, AI screening support, and capacity-building.

• Each hub will also drive the VIKSIT KARNATAKA Ambassador Plan, mobilizing students and youth leaders as local changemakers.

• Top-performing hubs will be recognized annually to incentivize institutional participation.

  
  

VIKSIT KARNATAKA Core Team: 10-Person Leadership Task Force

A strategic task force will oversee mission execution across verticals:

• Campus Hub Connect

  Facilitates coordination with 100+ institutions and anchors student engagement.

  
  

• VIKSIT KARNATAKA Ambassador Plan

  Recruits and mobilizes 10,000+ ambassadors to lead outreach and scouting.

  
  

• Fund Accrual Management

  Drives capital inflow from PSR, CSR, grants, and philanthropy.

  
  

• Government Liaison

  Interfaces with the CMO, state departments, and central authorities.

  
  

• aiVBA Deployment & Enhancement

  Manages platform operations, sector updates, and accuracy improvements.

  
  

• Seed Fund Disbursement Oversight

  Ensures timely and milestone-linked grant transfers.

• aiVBA Pro Monitoring

  Tracks performance and generates mentorship pathways for funded startups.

• Event & Campaign Management

  Organise summits, demo days, bootcamps, and district-level hackathons.

  
  

• PR & Visibility Campaigns

  Drives national and international visibility across digital and traditional media.

  
  

• Legal & Compliance

  Manages due diligence, regulatory adherence, and audit compliance.

  
  

• Strategic Governance

  Provides direction, resolves bottlenecks, and reports to apex bodies.

VIKSIT KARNATAKA

Strategic Planning &

Annual Reporting

To ensure precision, scalability, and sustained impact, VIKSIT KARNATAKA will engage a top global management consultancy (primary choice: BCG) to:

• Co-create a detailed state-wise implementation roadmap.

• Conduct sectoral research, policy benchmarking, and lifecycle advisory.

• Ensure global best practices and evidence-based interventions.

An Annual State-Wise Project Report will be submitted to:

• 100+ key stakeholders including the PMO, Central Cabinet Ministries, Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Key State departments, CSR partners, and philanthropic institutions.

This ensures alignment, transparency, and real-time course correction at scale.

VIKSIT KARNATAKA National Alignment and Policy Integration

VIKSIT KARNATAKA aligns with:

• Startup India & Standup India

• Digital India & Make in India

• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

• Aspirational Districts Programme

• SDGs 4, 8, 9, 10 (Quality Education, Decent Work, Innovation, and Reduced Inequality)

It offers a template for replication across all Indian states by 2030.

VIKSIT KARNATAKA Measurable Outcomes & State-Level Economic Impact (3-Year Horizon)

• 10,000+ VIKSIT KARNATAKA Ambassadors mobilized through 100+ Campus hubs.

• 1,00,000+ startup submissions evaluated from 31 districts , 236 Taluks

• 10,000+ micro & 1,000+ catalytic startups funded through direct seee funding model

• 2+ lakh direct and indirect jobs created mainly in tier 2 And tier 3 cities

• ₹15,000+ Crore GDP impact projected for KarnatakaS

  
  

  Model ready to unlock ₹1 Trillion economic value across 10 states by 2047

7 Pillars of the VIKSIT KARNATAKA Framework

A Unified Strategy for Inclusive, Innovation-Driven, and Future-Ready State Transformation

As Karnataka accelerates toward the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the VIKSIT KARNATAKA Campaign introduces a state-first model rooted in inclusive innovation, local empowerment, and institutional convergence. This mission is built upon seven foundational pillars that guide implementation, investment, and impact across all 31 districts and 264 taluks.

Each pillar is deeply aligned with both Karnataka’s development priorities and national programs under the Viksit Bharat Aatmanirbhar (VBA) framework.

1. Social Inclusion & Community Upliftment

“Reaching every taluk.

Empowering every community.”

• Full territorial coverage across 31 districts and 264 taluks, ensuring equitable access

• Inclusion of SC/ST, OBC, EWS, linguistic, and religious minorities

• Dedicated outreach for rural and tribal communities, with 10% funding earmarked for ST-led and tribal area initiatives

• Empowerment of local actors gram panchayats, SHGs, FPOs, youth clubs as innovation catalysts

• Rural innovation challenges and support for livelihood-linked microenterprises

This pillar ensures that innovation belongs to everyone, not just a few.

2. Women-Led Development

“When women rise, communities prosper.”

• Reserved funding and programmatic support for women entrepreneurs, homemakers, and SHGs

• Integration with state women’s welfare schemes and Mahila Samman initiatives

• Incubation of rural women-led startups in agriculture, food tech, textiles, and services

• Digital literacy, AI-skilling, and financial access for women in underserved regions

• Partnerships with women’s colleges, CSR arms, and community networks

This pillar recognizes women as central drivers of innovation, income, and inclusion.

3. AI-Driven, Bias-Free Evaluation

“Where human bias ends, merit begins.”

• All proposals undergo screening through the aiVBA engine using standardized rubrics

• Scoring based on feasibility, innovation, impact, scalability not background or geography

• Human-independent first-stage selection ensures merit-based inclusion for rural and marginalized applicants

• Continuous algorithm audit and oversight mechanisms for fairness and accountability

AI becomes an enabler of equity and efficiency, not just speed.

4. Sustainability & Climate-Positive Development

“Building today with a vision for tomorrow.”

• Minimum 35% of campaign resources allocated to ‘Sustainer’ initiatives aligned with Viksit Bharat climate benchmarks

• Focus areas include green tech, waste-to-wealth, sustainable agriculture, water conservation, rural solarization

• Promotion of climate-resilient rural enterprises with local ownership

• Alignment with state environment action plans and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Karnataka’s growth will be regenerative, not extractive delivering long-term ecological resilience.

5. Youth Skilling, Startups & MSME Empowerment

“From skill to startup Karnataka’s youth lead the change.”

• AI, digital economy, green jobs, and vocational skilling programs integrated into college, ITI, and rural learning hubs

• Seed support for youth-led startups, especially from Tier-2/3 regions

• MSME enablement through market access, IP support, credit facilitation

• Campus and district innovation labs in partnership with Karnataka Startup Cell and Skill Development Mission

This pillar turns Karnataka’s demographic dividend into entrepreneurial capital.

6. Institutional Convergence

“One state, one mission many partners.”

• Unified campaign execution through convergence of state departments (IT/BT, MSME, RDPR, Women & Child Development, Education)

• Collaboration with CSR arms, NGOs, colleges, and private incubators

• District-level convergence cells for coordinated action, pooled resources, and seamless delivery

• Shared governance and aligned incentives to avoid duplication

This ensures the campaign becomes a movement, not just a program.

7. Transparency & Digital Governance

“Open processes. Real-time accountability.”

• Unified digital platform for applications, evaluation, onboarding, funding, monitoring

• Real-time public dashboard with geo-tagged project progress, fund flows, and reports

• Third-party audits, quarterly reporting, and redressal channels

• Integration with India Stack, DigiLocker, and API-based service delivery

With paperless systems and public visibility, VIKSIT KARNATAKA will set a new standard for clean, data-backed governance.

Conclusion: Karnataka as the Vanguard of Viksit Bharat

With a legacy of innovation, academic strength, and visionary governance, Karnataka is uniquely positioned to lead India’s next development leap.

VIKSIT KARNATAKA is not merely a funding initiative it is a state-engineered blueprint for innovation, inclusion, and economic decentralization.

VIKSIT KARNATAKA is the spark a bold prototype of what’s possible when youth, technology, and mission-driven governance converge.

It is only the beginning of a 10-state movement that will help script India’s journey toward Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Legal Disclaimer

This white paper is a campaign design blueprint developed exclusively by the Aatmanirbhar Foundation of India to support and accelerate the Government of India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The contents presented herein are intended to serve as a strategic and conceptual framework for national and state-level transformation.

All views, projections, and recommendations expressed are those of the Aatmanirbhar Foundation of India and do not represent the official position of any government body unless explicitly stated. This document is non-binding, carries no legal obligation, and is intended for informational and planning purposes only. The content is subject to change based on evolving policies, stakeholder feedback, and contextual developments.