Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday, 7 June declared that India has been fundamentally transformed under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, which completed 12 years in office, emerging as an aspirational nation driven by opportunity, innovation, and self-confidence. Speaking to the media in New Delhi, Singh credited governance reforms, technological progress, and citizen-centric policies for reshaping how Indians perceive their own potential.

Shift in Public Mindset

Singh argued that the most consequential achievement of the past 12 years has been a fundamental change in public outlook. He said Indians — particularly the youth and residents of smaller towns — now believe that success is attainable through talent, hard work, and merit rather than connections or circumstance. This shift, he contended, is most visibly playing out as young people from Tier-II and Tier-III cities compete and excel on national platforms.

Startup Ecosystem: From 400 to 2.3 Lakh

Highlighting economic transformation, Singh pointed to the dramatic expansion of India's startup ecosystem since 2014. The number of recognised startups has grown from roughly 350–400 to more than 2.3 lakh, generating nearly 25 lakh jobs across the country, according to the minister. He noted that almost half of these ventures are headquartered in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, and a substantial share are led by women entrepreneurs — a development he described as evidence of broadening access to economic opportunity.

Space Economy Set for Fivefold Growth

Singh also highlighted the rapid expansion of India's space sector as a marker of the country's innovation-driven ambitions. The number of space startups has risen from a single-digit figure a few years ago to nearly 400 today, with at least one recently achieving unicorn status, he said. India's space economy is currently valued at approximately $9 billion and is projected to reach roughly $45 billion over the next seven to eight years — a nearly fivefold increase.

Governance Reforms That Redefined Citizen Trust

The minister cited two early reforms as emblematic of the government's citizen-first approach. The decision to permit self-attestation of documents in place of mandatory gazetted-officer verification was described as a landmark move that signalled institutional trust in ordinary citizens. Separately, the abolition of interviews for certain categories of government recruitment was credited with reducing discretionary power and curbing opportunities for malpractice, thereby strengthening transparency and merit-based selection.

What the Milestone Signals

The 12-year mark comes as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance government prepares for a fresh political cycle. Singh's remarks frame the decade-plus tenure through the lens of economic aspiration and systemic reform rather than welfare alone — a narrative that reflects the administration's effort to position India as a global innovation hub. Whether the on-ground data on jobs, manufacturing share, and startup valuations fully supports that framing remains a subject of broader public debate.