The transition from traditional employment to self-employment is a crucial driver for economic growth, especially in emerging urban centers like Pune. This paper investigates the role of entrepreneurship development initiatives and education programs in fostering a new venture inclination among undergraduate and postgraduate commerce students in Pune city. Correlating with the conference theme of "Entrepreneurship" under Commerce and Management, this study focuses on the psychological and educational factors that influence a student's decision to pursue a new business venture. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework, the research examines the influence of perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and entrepreneurial attitude on the entrepreneurial intent of commerce students. A survey was conducted among 150 commerce students from various colleges in Pune. The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between specialized entrepreneurship training programs and the students' inclination towards starting their own business. Furthermore, the perceived availability of resources and mentorship opportunities significantly enhances their sense of perceived behavioral control. The paper suggests practical recommendations for higher education institutions in Pune to integrate application-based entrepreneurship modules and mentorship programs to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world new venture creation, thereby contributing to youth employment and economic dynamism.
Dixit et al. (Mon,) studied this question.