New Delhi, Jan 16 (JKNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India’s young innovators and entrepreneurs are focused on addressing real-world problems, asserting that the Startup India initiative has evolved into a powerful national movement.
Speaking at a mega function marking ten years of the flagship Startup India programme, the Prime Minister, as per news agency JKNS, said the initiative that started with just four startups in 2014 has now grown into a strong ecosystem with more than 125 operational unicorns.
Modi said India has secured its position as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, with the total number of startups in the country crossing the two-lakh mark.
“The startup ecosystem in India is expanding at a rapid pace. Unicorns are entering the IPO space and creating vast employment opportunities,” he said.
He noted that innovation and entrepreneurship are no longer limited to big cities, as youth from tier-2 and tier-3 towns, along with rural areas, are stepping forward to build successful ventures.
Highlighting women-led entrepreneurship, Modi said nearly 45 per cent of startups have at least one woman director or partner, reflecting a positive shift towards inclusivity.
The Prime Minister said the culture of innovation has transformed, with risk-taking now being embraced rather than discouraged.
“Ideas once considered unconventional are now becoming mainstream. Today’s youth is confident, ambitious and unwilling to operate within comfort zones,” Modi said, lauding the spirit of India’s startup founders. (JKNS)
