New Delhi, India | January 16, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed India’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem as one of the strongest pillars of nation-building, stating that the last decade has transformed startups from a niche idea into a driving force of a “New and Developed India.” Speaking on the occasion of National Startup Day, the Prime Minister said that today’s founders and innovators represent the future vision of the country.
Modi recalled the modest beginnings of the Startup India movement, which started nearly ten years ago at Vigyan Bhawan with just 500–700 young participants. “Today, the transformation is clearly visible,” he said. “The rise in the number of startups and the scale of their work has moved the celebration from Vigyan Bhawan to Bharat Mandapam. Even this modern, expansive venue is now barely enough to accommodate the enthusiasm.”
The Prime Minister applauded India’s young innovators for daring to dream big and pushing the boundaries of creativity and problem-solving.
“Startup India Is Not Just a Policy, It’s the Journey of Millions of Dreams”
Reflecting on the program’s evolution, Modi said the 10-year journey of Startup India goes far beyond a successful government initiative. “It is the journey of thousands and millions of dreams,” he noted. “Ten years ago, there was hardly any space for individual effort or innovation. We challenged those constraints, launched Startup India, opened the skies for youth — and today, the results are before us.”
He highlighted that in just a decade, India has become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, powered by ambition, innovation, and structural reforms that redefined entrepreneurship in the country.
How Society’s Mindset Has Transformed
Modi also spoke about the massive attitudinal shift in Indian families regarding startup careers. He recalled an incident from a decade ago when a young woman quit her corporate job to launch a startup, prompting her mother to exclaim, “This is a disaster… why are you choosing a path of ruin?”
“Back then,” Modi said, “startups were viewed as unstable, risky, and synonymous with economic failure. Today, the same startup culture is leading India’s economic transformation.”
He emphasized that the success of the Startup India mission has not only generated opportunities but has also created a new culture — shifting the mindset from job-seekers to job-creators.
Startups as a Pillar of ‘Viksit Bharat’
Positioning the startup movement as integral to India’s goal of becoming a developed nation, Modi said the energy of the country’s innovators reflects the rise of a new India. National Startup Day, he added, is not merely a celebration but a tribute to individuals who are reshaping the nation through fresh ideas and bold initiatives.
India’s startup journey, which began in the limited halls of Vigyan Bhawan, has now reached the global grandeur of Bharat Mandapam — symbolizing the country’s growing innovation capacity and global recognition.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the sector, calling startups the backbone of a future-ready India.
