2025, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part I

Entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in driving innovation, economic diversification, and employment generation, particularly in emerging economies like India. Odisha, with its growing youth population and educational expansion, presents a fertile ground for fostering entrepreneurship. This study aims to analyze the entrepreneurial intentions among college students in Odisha through a behavioral lens, using Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the core framework. The research investigates how attitudes toward entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence students’ intentions to pursue entrepreneurial careers. In addition, it evaluates the moderating effects of contextual variables such as gender, family business background, exposure to entrepreneurship education, and urban-rural differences.

A structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 500 final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students from various colleges across Odisha. Quantitative analysis using multiple regression reveals that perceived behavioral control and attitude toward entrepreneurship are the strongest predictors of entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurship education significantly enhances students’ self-efficacy, while subjective norms also have a positive but relatively moderate impact. The study finds gender-based differences in entrepreneurial orientation and underscores the challenges posed by lack of mentorship, access to finance, and social acceptance, especially among female and rural students.

The results have practical implications for policymakers, educators, and institutional stakeholders seeking to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Odisha. By integrating entrepreneurship education into mainstream curricula, expanding incubation and mentorship networks, and addressing socio-cultural barriers, the state can unlock the entrepreneurial potential of its youth. The findings contribute to the growing body of behavioral entrepreneurship literature in the Indian context and provide actionable insights aligned with the goals of Vikshit Bharat and the state’s Vision 2036.