PM Modi Applauds Rikant Pitti, Says Start‑Ups Key To Building A ‘Viksit Bharat’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has affirmed the vital role of start‑ups in India’s journey towards a ‘Viksit Bharat’, responding to comments by Rikant Pitti, co‑founder of EaseMyTrip.

In a post on social media platform X, PM Modi wrote that start‑ups will play a pivotal part in building a developed India and pledged that the government remains committed to providing the ecosystem with a strong foundation on which they can flourish.

Pitti’s remarks, originally shared via a video clip distributed by news agency ANI, highlighted the dramatic growth in India’s start‑up numbers. He recalled that there were just 450 registered start‑ups in 2018; today, that number has surged to over 100,000.

He attributed this expansion to landmark initiatives such as the 2015 Digital India campaign and the nationwide rollout of connectivity through schemes like BharatNet, efforts that have significantly increased internet penetration and digital transactions across urban and rural areas.

Government’s Commitment and Future Vision

In his response, PM Modi reiterated that the government aims to augment support for innovation, entrepreneurship and start‑ups across India, not only in metropolitan hubs but also in smaller towns and rural areas.

He underlined that this push forms a crucial part of the country’s long‑term growth strategy, empowering youth-led enterprises and offering them a platform to shine.

India’s start‑up ecosystem now stands among the largest globally, a transformation driven by favourable policies, digital infrastructure, and a surge of youthful entrepreneurial energy.

With nearly one lakh start-ups contributing to innovation across sectors such as travel, fintech, education, healthcare and e‑commerce, the nation’s push towards a self‑reliant and developed future seems well supported. The government’s assurance of an enabling environment lends further confidence to young founders aspiring to drive change.

PM Modi’s tweet and the broader conversation it reflects mark a renewed focus on fostering an ecosystem where start‑ups can thrive, a move observers say could sculpt India’s economic trajectory over the coming decades.

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