44,000 new startups were registered in 2025
India has become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem with more than 2 lakh startups and nearly 125 active unicorns, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said as the country celebrated 10 years of the Government-initiated startup scheme which was launched on 16 Jan 2016.
“The world is watching this success story with amazement,” he said, expecting today’s startups becoming unicorns, launching IPOs, and creating more and more jobs.
In 2025, nearly 44,000 new startups were registered, the largest increase in any single year since the beginning of Startup India, and these figures testify to how India’s startups are driving employment, innovation, and growth, said PM Modi. “In just 10 years, the Startup India Mission has become a revolution.”
He noted that the Startup India program has changed this mindset, and now youth from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, even villages, are opening their own startups, attempting to solve the most pressing grassroots problems.
The Prime Minister pointed out that daughters of the country have played a major role in this transformation, with more than 45 percent of recognized startups having at least one woman director or partner.
He emphasised on India becoming the world’s second-largest ecosystem in women-led startup funding, underlining that this inclusive momentum is further strengthening India’s potential.
PM Modi pointed out that today the nation sees its future in the startup revolution, and if asked why startups matter so much, there would be many answers: India is the world’s youngest country, India is the fastest-growing major economy, India is building world-class infrastructure, and new sectors are emerging—each of these facts being true.
Yet, he stressed that what touches his heart most is the startup spirit, where India’s youth are unwilling to spend their lives in comfort zones or follow beaten paths, but instead want to carve out new routes for themselves, seeking new destinations and new milestones.
He remarked that such new destinations are achieved only through the pinnacle of hard work, recalling a saying meaning that tasks are accomplished through enterprise, not merely by wishes.
PM Modi emphasized that courage is the first condition for enterprise, acknowledging the immense courage and risks the youth have taken to reach this stage. “Ideas once considered fringe are now becoming fashionable.”
“Startup India is not just a scheme, it is a rainbow vision connecting diverse sectors with new opportunities,” emphasised PM Modi.
He pointed out that in defense manufacturing, startups could not even imagine competing with established players earlier, but through iDEX, new procurement pathways have been opened in strategic sectors.
The Prime Minister remarked that the space sector, once closed to private participation, has now been opened, with nearly 200 startups working in this field and gaining global recognition.
Similarly, he highlighted the drone sector, where outdated rules had long held India back, but reforms and trust in innovators have changed the landscape.
He further stated that in public procurement, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has expanded market access, with nearly 35,000 startups and small businesses onboarded, receiving around 5 lakh orders worth approximately Rs.50,000 crore.
He added that startups, through their success, are opening new growth avenues across every sector.
The Prime Minister remarked that without capital, even the best ideas cannot reach the market, which is why their government has focused on ensuring access to finance for innovators.
He highlighted that through the Fund of Funds for Startups, investments of more than Rs.25,000 crore have been made, while schemes such as the Startup India Seed Fund, IN-SPACe Seed Fund, and NIDHI Seed Support Programme are providing seed funding to startups.
PM Modi stated that to improve credit access, a Credit Guarantee Scheme has been launched so that lack of collateral does not become an obstacle to creativity.
Emphasising that today’s research becomes tomorrow’s intellectual property, he said to promote this, a Rs.1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Scheme has been initiated, along with a deep tech fund of funds to support long-term investment in sunrise sectors.
Mentioning that India will host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, PM Modi remarked that it was a great opportunity for the youth.
He acknowledged challenges such as high computing costs, but stated that solutions are being provided through the India AI Mission, with more than 38,000 GPUs onboarded to make big technology accessible to small startups, while ensuring indigenous AI is developed by Indian talent on Indian servers.
He added that similar efforts are underway in semiconductors, data centres, green hydrogen and other sectors.
“India’s ambition should not be limited to participation but must aim for global leadership, urging startups to work on new ideas, solve problems,” stressed the Prime Minister.
He called for the creation of new products of world-class quality and unique technological ideas to lead the future.
PM Modi assured that the government stands firmly with startups in every effort, expressing deep faith in their courage, confidence, and innovation, which are shaping India’s future.
The Prime Minister concluded by remarking that the past ten years have proven the nation’s capabilities, and the goal for the next decade must be for India to lead the world in new startup trends and technologies. fiinews.com
