New Delhi: On the occasion of National Startup Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the programme marking a decade of the Startup India initiative at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister remarked that everyone had gathered on a very special occasion—the celebration of National Startup Day—in the presence of startup founders and innovators who are the future of a new and developing India. He highlighted that a short while ago he interacted with participants working in agriculture, fintech, mobility, health and sustainability, and stated that while their ideas impressed him, he was even more impressed by their confidence and ambitions. Recalling that Startup India was started 10 years ago, Modi expressed satisfaction with the growth of the initiative and said he was happy to meet the youth. Emphasising that the most important aspect is the focus of India’s youth on solving real problems, he appreciated the young innovators who have shown the courage to dream new dreams.
The Prime Minister underlined that today marks the milestone of ten years of Startup India, and this journey is not merely the success story of a government scheme but the journey of millions of dreams and the realisation of countless imaginations. He recalled that ten years ago there was little scope for individual efforts and innovation, but those circumstances were challenged and the Startup India programme was launched, giving youth an open sky. “In just 10 years, the Startup India Mission has become a revolution. Today, India is the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem,” he said. He pointed out that ten years ago there were fewer than 500 startups in the country, while today the number has risen to more than 2 lakh. He noted that in 2014 India had only four unicorns, whereas today there are nearly 125 active unicorns, and the world is watching this success story with amazement.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that in the times ahead, when India’s startup journey is discussed, many of the young people present in the hall will themselves become bright case studies. He highlighted that the momentum of Startup India continues to accelerate, with startups becoming unicorns, launching IPOs and creating more jobs. He stated that in 2025 alone, nearly 44,000 new startups were registered—the highest increase in any single year since the launch of Startup India.
Expressing happiness that Startup India has given birth to a new culture, Modi remarked that earlier new businesses were largely initiated by children of big industrial families, while middle-class and poor children could only dream of jobs. He said the Startup India programme has changed this mindset, with youth from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and even villages now opening startups and solving grassroots problems.
The Prime Minister noted that daughters of the country have played a major role in this transformation, with more than 45 percent of recognised startups having at least one woman director or partner. He emphasised that India has become the world’s second-largest ecosystem in women-led startup funding.
Highlighting the importance of risk-taking, the Prime Minister said today’s youth are unwilling to remain in comfort zones and instead want to carve new paths. He noted that ideas once considered fringe are now becoming mainstream, and risk-taking is being respected.
He also highlighted that over the past ten years, an innovation-friendly ecosystem has been built through initiatives such as Atal Tinkering Labs, hackathons and incubation centres. He recalled that complex compliances and inspector raj were once major hurdles, which have now been addressed through trust-based reforms, including decriminalisation of over 180 provisions under the Jan Vishwas Act.
“Startup India is not just a scheme, it is a rainbow vision connecting diverse sectors with new opportunities,” the Prime Minister said, citing reforms in defence manufacturing, space, drones and public procurement through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
Emphasising access to finance, he said investments of over ₹25,000 crore have been made through the Fund of Funds for Startups, along with multiple seed funding schemes and a Credit Guarantee Scheme to support innovators.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of research and innovation, mentioning the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Scheme and a deep-tech fund of funds. He underlined the role of startups in emerging domains such as artificial intelligence, noting that India will host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister said India’s ambition must be global leadership, not just participation. He assured that the government stands firmly with startups and expressed confidence that the next decade will see India leading the world in new startup trends and technologies.