NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the 10th anniversary of the Startup India initiative, saying the country’s startup ecosystem has expanded from fewer than 500 startups in 2016 to more than 2 lakh recognised entities today.
Addressing the nation during the 130th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister recalled the launch of Startup India a decade ago, referring to a social media trend in which people are revisiting memories from 2016.
“Ten years ago, in January 2016, we began an ambitious but crucial journey for India’s youth and future. At that time, many could not even understand what it was,” PM Modi said, adding that the real heroes of the initiative are young innovators who stepped out of their comfort zones and created new opportunities.
Highlighting the progress achieved over the past decade, the Prime Minister said India has emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. He noted that Indian startups are now working in sectors that were unimaginable ten years ago, including artificial intelligence, space, nuclear energy, semiconductors, mobility, green hydrogen and biotechnology.
“These startups are extraordinary. You name any sector, and you will find an Indian startup working in it,” he said.
PM Modi praised the youth for driving innovation, job creation and investment, stating that India’s rapidly growing economy has also increased the responsibility of its citizens. “India’s economy is growing fast and the world’s eyes are on us. At such a time, our biggest responsibility is to focus on quality,” he said.
He stressed that the era of compromise on standards is over and called for an uncompromising focus on excellence across all sectors. “The mantra should be quality, quality and only quality,” the Prime Minister said.
Reiterating his vision of “Zero Defect, Zero Effect,” first articulated from the Red Fort, PM Modi said Indian products — whether textiles, technology, electronics or packaging — must become synonymous with world-class quality. He added that sustained commitment to high standards is essential to accelerate India’s journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat.
In his first Mann Ki Baat address of the year, the Prime Minister also touched upon a wide range of topics, including Republic Day celebrations, National Voters’ Day, the cultural importance of bhajans and kirtans, and India’s participation in the upcoming AI Impact Summit.
Startup India was launched on January 16, 2016, as a national programme aimed at nurturing innovation, promoting entrepreneurship and enabling investment-driven growth, with the goal of transforming India into a nation of job creators.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the initiative has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s economic and innovation framework over the past decade. “Startup India has strengthened institutional mechanisms, expanded access to capital and mentorship, and created an enabling environment for startups to grow and scale across sectors and geographies,” the statement said.
India’s startup ecosystem has witnessed unprecedented expansion during this period, with over 2 lakh recognised startups becoming major drivers of employment generation, innovation-led economic growth and the strengthening of domestic value chains across diverse sectors.
