Abstract
Youth entrepreneurship has become a crucial focus in developing nations, particularly in India, where the government has prioritized fostering self-reliance among young people. This is especially significant in regions like Uttarakhand, a Himalayan mountainous state, where unemployment, migration, and economic stagnation persist. The Uttarakhand government has launched various initiatives to support MSMEs and startups, encouraging youth to become entrepreneurs. One such initiative is the Devbhoomi Udyamita Yojana (DUY), implemented by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, a pioneer in building entrepreneurial ecosystems. By applying the resourced-view theoretical framework, this study investigates the framework of the DUY and Resources for entrepreneurial ecosystem development in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Uttarakhand, focusing on stakeholder involvement, their demographics, and the interest of youth in emerging business opportunities from a regional perspective. The findings provide policy recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of these initiatives and further empower the youth in the Himalayan region to become active contributors to local economic development.