Ketan Mohitkar

Ketan Mohitkar
Born	27 October 1984, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	Indian
Profession	Social Entrepreneur, Educationist, Startup Mentor, Innovation Strategist
Position	Member Secretary, Indian Council for Technical Research and Development (ICTRD)
Location	Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Education	Doctorate in Information Technology and Socio-Technical Studies
Founded	India Active Software
Alma Mater	Indian Institute of Management Indore; Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University
Notable Works	Nagpur Startup Fest, Innovators Meet, Citizen Hackathon, ICTRD Round Table Forums
Party	Bharatiya Janata Party (Former IT Cell Leadership Role)
Known For	Startup Ecosystem Development, Innovation Initiatives, Sociotechnical Philosophy
Parents	Dr. Pandharinath Mohitkar and Alka Mohitkar
Spouse	Vidya Mohitkar
Industry	Innovation, Education, Entrepreneurship, Technology
Awards & Recognition	Pillars of Maharashtra Award (2022), Mayor Innovation Award (2019), Indian Icon for Innovation Award (2024)
Website	[www.ketanmohitkar.in](http://www.ketanmohitkar.in)

Overview

Ketan Mohitkar is an Indian social entrepreneur, educationist, startup mentor, and change-maker recognized for his contributions to innovation ecosystems, technical education, and citizen-driven governance initiatives in India.

He is widely associated with building startup ecosystems in Central India, especially through initiatives such as Nagpur Startup Fest, Innovators Meet, Citizen Hackathon, and ICTRD Round Table Forums. His work focuses on integrating technology, entrepreneurship, and social development through a “sociotechnical” approach.

Early Life and Background

Ketan Mohitkar was born on 27 October 1984 in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. He grew up in a family engaged in public service and administration.

Father: Dr. Pandharinath Mohitkar (Class-I Government Officer) Mother: Alka Mohitkar (Homemaker) Spouse: Vidya Mohitkar (associated with National Academy of Defence Productions, Ministry of Defence, Government of India)

He is also the great-grandson of former Wani MLA Vitthalrao Gohokar (Nanasaheb Gohokar), and was exposed early to political and policy discussions involving senior leaders from Maharashtra.

Education

Mohitkar holds multidisciplinary qualifications across technology and management:

Doctorate in Information Technology & Socio-Technical Studies MBA (Master of Business Administration) MCA (Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University) BCS (RTM Nagpur University) Project Management Professional Program (IIM Indore) C-DAC Certification (Rajarambapu Institute of Technology) Career

Early Career & Entrepreneurship

He began his career in IT and entrepreneurship by founding India Active Software in Nagpur IT Park. His early work included software development, digital solutions, and IT ecosystem building.

He also played a key role in connecting startups, developers, and IT companies through collaborative networks in Central India.

Political & Digital Strategy Involvement

Mohitkar served as President of the BJP IT Cell in South-West Nagpur and later as City President of BJP IT Cell, Nagpur.

During this period, he worked on:

Digital campaign strategy Election communication systems Volunteer coordination Technology-driven outreach

He collaborated with senior political leaders including Devendra Fadnavis and Nitin Gadkari in digital and organizational initiatives.

Institutional Leadership

He currently serves as:

Member Secretary – Indian Council for Technical Research and Development (ICTRD) Director – Confederation of Indian Innovators and Incubators (CIII) Founder – India Active Software

Under his leadership, ICTRD expanded across India in:

Startup incubation Technical education Skill development Innovation policy engagement Citizen participation programs Major Initiatives Nagpur Startup Fest

==A flagship startup and innovation platform connecting entrepreneurs, investors, academia, and government bodies. It features:

Startup exhibitions Investor networking Mentorship sessions Industry panels Innovators Meet

==A platform enabling direct interaction between innovators and policymakers, including senior government leaders. It focuses on:

Policy dialogue Startup support Innovation adoption Citizen Hackathon

==A civic innovation initiative promoting solutions for:

Urban infrastructure Healthcare Governance Digital inclusion Transportation Social Media Fan Fest

==One of Central India’s early large-scale creator events featuring influencers, digital creators, and youth icons, focusing on:

Digital branding Content creation Youth engagement Viksit Bharat 2047 Round Tables

==Policy-focused forums addressing India’s long-term development vision with emphasis on:

Innovation-driven growth Tier-II city development Sustainable governance Entrepreneurship ecosystems Sociotechnical Philosophy

Mohitkar advocates a “Sociotechnical” development model, emphasizing the balance between technology and social welf

Ketan Mohitkar is based in Nagpur and continues to work in innovation, education, and public engagement initiatives across India.

Official Links

Website: Ketan Mohitkar Official Website

ICTRD: ICTRD Official Website

Instagram: @ketanmohitkarofficial

X (Twitter): @KetanMohitkar

LinkedIn: Ketan Mohitkar