‘Spirit of innovation, entrepreneurial enthusiasm’: PM Modi hails youth driving India’s startup growth

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his greetings to India’s youth on the occasion of National Startup Day. January 16 marked 10 years since the launch of the Startup India initiative.

Sharing a heartfelt post on X, PM Modi said the day was an opportunity to celebrate the "spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial enthusiasm” of Indians, especially the youth, who are driving the country’s rapidly growing global startup ecosystem. "With their firm resolve and dedication, our young friends are continuously setting new records in the world of startups. Their zeal and passion will become the greatest force in realising the dream of a developed India,” he said.

In his post, the Prime Minister also quoted a Sanskrit verse highlighting the value of perseverance, noting that even the most difficult tasks can be achieved through sustained effort—just as continuous drops of water can wear down rocks over time.

Over the past decade, India has emerged as one of the world’s largest startup ecosystems, with more than two lakh startups as of December 2025. Major hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and the Delhi-NCR region have led this transformation, attracting both domestic and global investment and fostering innovation across sectors including fintech, health tech, clean energy and artificial intelligence.

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India’s free trade agreements and partnerships with various countries and blocs would also help startups grow further, Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said. "With India’s strengthening trade partnerships with countries globally, more avenues will open for our Startups to expand their markets, create global impact, and build the next generation of Indian success stories,” Goyal said in a social media post.