PM Modi Unleashes Startup Revolution: Risk Boldly, Innovate Deeply, Dominate Globally

Updated: January 16, 2026 11:39

Image Source: The Federal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking Startup India's 10th anniversary on January 16, 2026, affirmed India's goal to lead global startup trends and technologies in the coming decade. From under 500 startups in 2014 to over 200,000 and 125 unicorns today, he urged focus on manufacturing, deep tech, AI, and risk-taking innovation with full government backing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India's ambition to lead worldwide in startup trends and technologies over the next ten years, marking the tenth anniversary of Startup India on January 16, 2026. He hailed the initiative's transformation from fewer than 500 startups in 2014 to over 200,000 today, with nearly 125 unicorns, positioning India as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally. Modi urged entrepreneurs to embrace risk, innovate in AI, manufacturing, and deep tech while assuring unwavering government support.

Key Highlights

Startup India has evolved into a nationwide revolution, fostering a culture of innovation across Tier-2, Tier-3 cities, and villages, where youth solve grassroots problems with courage and creativity.
India's startups now thrive in bold sectors like space and defense, contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat through risk-taking and employment generation, with unicorns surging from 4 in 2014 to 125.
Government reforms include seed funding schemes, removal of outdated regulations, Fund of Funds injecting over Rs 25,000 crore, and credit guarantees, easing access to capital without collateral.
Modi emphasized shifting focus to manufacturing and research, noting today's R&D builds tomorrow's IP, with calls for world-class products in AI, semiconductors, green hydrogen, and space tech.
A forward-looking AI strategy via India AI Mission provides 38,000+ GPUs, positioning startups for global edge, as India prepares to host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
The Prime Minister expressed full faith in startups' confidence, urging quality-focused problem-solving to shape India's future leadership in innovation.

This vision underscores Startup India's role as a rainbow vision linking sectors with opportunities, proven by a decade of explosive growth and policy momentum.

Sources: The Hindu BusinessLine, PMIndia.gov.in, NDTV Profit, Daily Pioneer

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