Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said on Friday that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has fundamentally reshaped India’s startup ecosystem.
The government has pushed entrepreneurship far beyond metropolitan limits.
Speaking to reporters, Singh said India had barely 400 startups before 2014. Today, the country has more than two lakh recognised startups.
Nearly 50 per cent of them have emerged from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, reflecting a deep shift in entrepreneurial geography.
Singh said Prime Minister Modi shattered the long-held belief that startups could thrive only in big cities.
He further noted that smaller towns now produce innovative firms across sectors, with many ventures led by women entrepreneurs.
Jitendra Singh credited focused policy reforms and institutional support for this transformation.
The minister said the Prime Minister Modi-led government built a strong startup framework through Startup India and targeted funding support. It also strengthened incubation networks and eased regulations.
These measures, he said, encouraged youth to move beyond the mindset of government jobs and explore scalable, income-generating enterprises.
At the event, young entrepreneurs shared their experiences. A startup founder from Udhampur said he launched a healthcare venture focused on heart health.
He said his team introduced a nutritional supplement to address widespread dietary deficiencies.
A female student entrepreneur said the programme gave her practical exposure to the startup ecosystem. She further said she is developing an application to improve rice varieties and boost agricultural productivity.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi addressed a gathering at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi to mark 10 years of the Startup India Mission.
PM Modi said the milestone reflected millions of dreams turning into reality, not just the success of a government programme.
Prime Minister Modi praised young innovators for taking risks and challenging conventions. He recalled that a decade ago, India offered limited space for innovation and individual enterprise.
The Prime Minister said his government confronted those barriers, launched Startup India, and gave the youth the freedom to innovate.
Prime Minister Modi said Startup India has evolved into a nationwide movement. He further added that India now ranks as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, powered by talent from cities, towns, and villages alike.
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