National Startup Day: Celebrating a New Era in Indian Manufacturing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a significant event at Bharat Mandapam on January 16, 2026, to commemorate National Startup Day and the tenth anniversary of the Startup India programme. During his speech, the Prime Minister detailed how the initiative has transformed over the past decade, with startups now flourishing in areas like digital services, financial platforms, and delivery systems.

India’s Rise as a Global Digital Leader

He highlighted India’s ascent as a frontrunner in the digital economy, ranking as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. Modi remarked that ten years prior, the nation had fewer than 500 startups, whereas today, there are more than 200,000 active startups. He noted that in 2014, India boasted only four unicorns, but that figure has surged to nearly 125 unicorns currently.

Shifting Focus to Manufacturing

As India steps into the next decade of Startup India, PM Modi declared a new directive encouraging entrepreneurs to expand their focus from digital services to manufacturing.

He stated that the current moment calls for startups to prioritise manufacturing efforts, stating the need for the creation of innovative products of superior quality. He stressed the importance of taking a leading role in technology through unique concepts.

A Vision for Viksit Bharat by 2047

Modi expressed that this transition is vital for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. His emphasis was on the necessity for the upcoming decade to centre around manufacturing. Assuring entrepreneurs of unwavering government backing, he announced plans to enhance accessibility to advanced technologies for startups and to bolster key industries such as semiconductors, data centres, green hydrogen, and other strategic sectors.

Strengthening India’s Ecosystem

With India having matured in the domain of digital services, the ecosystem now benefits from experienced entrepreneurs, robust policy frameworks, and a substantial domestic market. This positions the country favourably to advance further in deep-tech manufacturing, hardware production, and industrial innovation.

The renewed emphasis on manufacturing is anticipated to reinforce the “Made in India” initiative and expedite the country’s aspirations for Atmanirbhar Bharat.