Today is National Startup Day,
a landmark day for India's startup ecosystem. On this occasion, Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi will participate in a special event celebrating a decade of
the Startup India initiative on January 16, 2026, at 1 PM at Bharat Mandapam,
New Delhi. This event will serve as a key platform for the Prime Minister's
interaction with members of India's vibrant startup ecosystem. Select startup
representatives will share insights into their entrepreneurial journeys, while
the Prime Minister will also address the gathering. This event will celebrate
the 10-year journey of Startup India and chart a new course towards making
India a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.Startup India was launched on
January 16, 2016, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is a national initiative
aimed at fostering innovation, encouraging entrepreneurship, and enabling
investment-led growth. Its goal was to establish India as a nation of job
creators rather than job seekers. Over the past 10 years, Startup India has
become a strong foundation of India's economic and innovation landscape. It has
strengthened institutional mechanisms, increased access to capital and
mentorship, and created a conducive environment for the growth of startups
across various sectors and geographies.
10 Years of Startup India: Key
Achievements: - Over 2 lakh DPIIT-recognized startups across the country.
- An average of 50-80 new
startups are being recognized daily.
- Creation of over 21 lakh
direct jobs.
- More than 50% of startups
are from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, demonstrating the democratization of
entrepreneurship in rural and smaller towns.
- India is now the world's
third-largest startup ecosystem.
- Over ₹15 lakh crore
contributed in funding.
- More than 120 unicorns
(companies with a valuation exceeding $1 billion), with a total valuation of
over $350 billion.
- Unprecedented expansion in
sectors such as technology, manufacturing, agritech, healthcare, education,
clean energy, and deep tech. - A remarkable increase in startups led by women
and youth.
These figures show that
Startup India has strongly propelled India towards the vision of Atmanirbhar
Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and Developed India @2047. Startups have now become
key drivers of innovation, job creation, strengthening domestic value chains,
and addressing social challenges.
National Startup Day is
celebrated every year on January 16th, the launch date of Startup India. It was
officially declared in 2022. 2026 marks a ten-year milestone, celebrating the
achievements of the past decade and setting the direction for deeper impact,
broader participation, and global leadership in the next decade. The Prime
Minister's address at the event will inspire young people on how they are
transforming from job seekers to job creators. This will further strengthen the
focus on deep tech, manufacturing, district-level entrepreneurship, and
self-reliance.
Startup India has transformed
India into a global innovation hub. This ecosystem is further strengthened by
the collaboration of young entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and the
government. National Startup Day 2026 is not only a celebration of the success
of the past 10 years but also a resolution to take India to new heights of
innovation, employment, and prosperity in the coming years.