Will PM Modi Engage with India's Thriving Startup Scene?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PM Modi to engage with startup community on Jan 15.
- Celebrating 10 years of the ‘Startup India’ initiative.
- Over 200,000 startups recognized in India.
- Initiative contributes to 2.1 million jobs created.
- Focus on leveraging AI for societal benefits.
New Delhi, Jan 15 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to take part in a significant event in the capital this Friday, commemorating a decade of the ‘Startup India’ initiative, as announced on Thursday.
The ‘Startup India’ program was inaugurated on January 16, 2016, by the Prime Minister as a groundbreaking national effort aimed to foster innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, and facilitate investment-led growth, with the aim of transforming India into a hub of job creators instead of job seekers.
As per a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), PM Modi will connect with members of India's dynamic startup ecosystem.
Representatives from select startups will provide insights from their entrepreneurial experiences. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to deliver a keynote address during this event, the statement further indicated.
During this period, India's startup ecosystem has experienced remarkable growth, with over 200,000 startups recognized nationwide.
These ventures have emerged as crucial engines of job creation, fostering innovation-driven economic growth and strengthening domestic value chains in various sectors.
The ‘Startup India’ initiative has become a fundamental aspect of India's economic and innovation framework.
It has reinforced institutional structures, broadened access to capital and mentorship, and created a supportive environment for startups to develop and expand across different sectors and regions, as noted in the statement.
Last week, PM Modi urged startups to harness AI for the benefit of society. While presiding over a roundtable discussion with Indian AI startups at his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the Prime Minister encouraged them to make AI affordable, inclusive, and transparent.
The government reports a consistent surge in the startup ecosystem, with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) registering a total of 201,335 startups eligible for incentives under the ‘Startup India’ initiative, which have collectively generated over 2.1 million jobs across the nation.
Domestic patent applications by Indian innovators surged by 425% from 2014 to 2024, and India's position in the Global Innovation Index has improved to 38th in the GII 2025 rankings.