IPL For Ideas: Amit Shah Calls For Big Ticket Design Platform To Turn Campus Talent Into Careers

Jyoti Rathi May 18, 2026 420 Views

India needs an IPL-style platform for design to turn raw talent into sustainable careers, Home Minister Amit Shah has said, calling for a structured ecosystem that takes designers from local institutes and studios to global opportunities. He argued that the design sector can become a key pillar of India’s innovation, branding and export story if talent, industry and markets are connected on one big stage.

Speaking at a design-focused gathering, Shah positioned the creative economy as a strategic sector that can generate high value jobs, boost Make in India and help Indian products stand out in crowded global markets. He drew a parallel with the Indian Premier League, where a clear pipeline connects grassroots talent, professional teams, brands and fans.

Design Needs Its Own Big Stage

Amit Shah’s IPL analogy underlines how fragmented India’s design ecosystem currently is, with talent scattered across design schools, start-ups, studios and in-house teams. An IPL-like platform, in his view, would create a national marketplace where young designers are discovered, mentored, funded and hired in a structured way.

Such a platform could bring together ministries, industry bodies, design councils, universities and venture investors on a single network. Beyond contests and awards, it would offer internships, placements, incubation support and industry projects that convert design skills into long-term careers and businesses.

From Design Talent To Design Economy

Framing design as a force multiplier, Shah suggested that better product, packaging, interface and space design can lift India’s manufacturing, tourism, digital services and cultural exports. A national platform would also help standardise quality, promote Indian design languages and give global visibility to homegrown brands.

For students and young professionals, this could mean more predictable career pathways, less dependence on informal networks and greater recognition for their work. For companies, it offers a deeper talent pool, faster hiring and a clearer way to plug design into their strategy.