Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India’s youth and entrepreneurs are no longer confined to comfort zones and are instead focused on solving real-world problems, transforming the Startup India mission into a nationwide movement.
Addressing a mega event to mark a decade of the flagship Startup India programme, the Prime Minister said India’s startup ecosystem has witnessed unprecedented growth over the past ten years. He noted that what began with just four startups in 2014 has today evolved into a vibrant ecosystem with over 125 active unicorns, while the total number of startups in the country has crossed the 2 lakh mark. India now ranks as the world’s third-largest startup hub.
The Prime Minister said the momentum of Startup India continues to strengthen, with several unicorns launching initial public offerings (IPOs) and generating large-scale employment opportunities across the country. He подчеркstressed that innovation and entrepreneurship are no longer limited to metropolitan cities, as young entrepreneurs from tier-2 and tier-3 cities and even rural areas are increasingly launching their own ventures.
Highlighting the growing participation of women in the startup ecosystem, Modi said that around 45 per cent of Indian startups today have at least one woman director or partner, reflecting a significant shift towards inclusive growth.
“Those risk-taking ideas that were once considered fringe have now become the new fashion,” the Prime Minister said, praising the confidence and ambition of India’s young founders. He added that today’s youth is driven by innovation and impact, determined to build solutions for the future rather than settle for conventional career paths.
