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Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlights India’s rise as the third-largest startup ecosystem, praising young entrepreneurs and urging a focus on quality and excellence.
PM Modi Hails Startup Growth, Says Quality Must Define Indian Products
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reflected on India’s startup journey that began nearly a decade ago, saying the country’s young entrepreneurs have played a crucial role in reshaping the economy and putting India on the global innovation map.
Sharing a memory from January 2016, the Prime Minister said the government had then embarked on an ambitious mission to empower the youth through entrepreneurship, even though the idea seemed modest at the time. “We realised that even a small step taken for young people would be important for the country’s future,” he said.
India emerges as global startup hub
Highlighting India’s progress since then, the Prime Minister said the country has today become the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. He noted that Indian startups are no longer limited to traditional sectors but are innovating in areas that were “unimaginable” ten years ago.
“These startups are working across AI, space, nuclear energy, semiconductors, mobility, green hydrogen and biotechnology,” he said, adding that almost every emerging sector now has an Indian startup making its mark.
He saluted young Indians who are already part of startups as well as those who are planning to launch their own ventures, calling them the backbone of India’s growth story.
‘Quality must define India’s products’
The Prime Minister also stressed the need to focus on quality across industries, saying this decade belongs to excellence rather than shortcuts. “This is not an era of compromise. The responsibility today is to insist on quality,” he said.
Whether it is textiles, technology, electronics or even packaging, the Prime Minister said Indian products should be globally recognised for top quality. “Let excellence become our benchmark,” he added, urging manufacturers and entrepreneurs to make quality their top priority as India’s economy continues to expand rapidly.
January 25, 2026, 12:22 IST
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