Udit vani Jamshedpur: Dr. Shaji K.V., Chairman, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will inaugurate the Rural Business Incubation Centre at XLRI Jamshedpur Campus at 11.30 AM today.
T.V. Narendran, Chairman (BoG) of XLRI and CEO & Managing Director, Tata Steel will be present during the inauguration.
Established with NABARD Support
The XCITE centre has been set up with a significant grant from NABARD and aims to catalyse sustainable, high-impact entrepreneurship in rural and semi-rural regions across India.
Focus on 12 States Including Eastern and North-Eastern Regions
XCITE is envisioned as a platform to nurture early-stage, innovation-led enterprises in agribusiness and allied non-farm sectors. It will support entrepreneurs from 12 states, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and the eight North-Eastern states—regions rich in resources but underserved by formal entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Driving Employment and Regional Transformation
The centre will provide structured incubation, technical guidance, and access to finance, helping startups transition from early-stage ideas to commercially viable ventures. The initiative is expected to significantly contribute to employment generation and regional economic transformation.
MoA Signed in December 2025
The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the project was signed on December 19, 2025. The incubation centre will be led by Prof. Saurav Snehvrat as Faculty In-Charge, with Prof. Tata L. Raghu Ram serving as Co-Lead.
Vision to Become a Centre of Excellence
NABARD and XLRI envision XCITE as a Centre of Excellence that will foster a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Eastern and North-Eastern India, strengthening rural innovation and sustainable development
