At startup summit, CM Mohan Yadav calls MP land of emerging opportunities

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said on Monday that Indians have possessed a deep understanding of trade and business since ancient times as enterprise, entrepreneurship, innovation, and commerce are integral to Indian values and ethos.

He said Madhya Pradesh is a land of emerging opportunities and that youth drive the nation towards new thinking and new directions. “Their innovations form the foundation of development, and therefore, promoting innovation is a firm resolve of the state government,” he assured.

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The CM expressed these views while addressing participants on the last day of the two-day ‘Madhya Pradesh Startup Summit 2026’, held at Ravindra Bhavan in Bhopal.

He said India has over six crore MSMEs, which contribute more than 30 per cent to the national GDP and account for nearly 45 per cent of the country’s total exports. He emphasised that startups have played an unparalleled role in strengthening the Indian economy, and today India has become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.

The CM said now that India has emerged as the fourth-largest economy in the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with collective national efforts, it will soon become the third-largest global economy.

During the summit, financial incentives exceeding ₹2.5 crore were transferred to 156 startups, while loan assistance of more than ₹8.17 crore was disbursed to 21 startups under the Chief Minister Udyam Kranti Yojana through a single-click transfer. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also felicitated the founders and incubators of successful startups.

Long-term MoUs were signed between the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), along with agreements involving the Central Bank of India, Karvy Startup Labs and Startup Middle East on the occasion. The chief minister also released a booklet highlighting successful startups established in Madhya Pradesh. He provided bank loans and investment assistance to the founders of four startups under the Chief Minister Udyam Kranti Yojana and the MP Startup Policy and Implementation Scheme–2025.

Dr. Yadav described the two-day summit as a remarkable initiative to encourage youth-led startups. He said India has achieved new milestones on the strength of talent and capability, with a significant contribution from bright young minds.

Recalling India’s scientific heritage, he referred to Dr. Jagadish Chandra Bose, who first demonstrated that plants possess life and conducted pioneering work through crescography. He said Dr. Bose demonstrated wireless wave transmission in Kolkata in 1895, but due to a lack of institutional support for his innovation, recognition went elsewhere.

The CM noted that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, startups and research across the country are now receiving unprecedented encouragement. A dedicated startup portal was launched from Indore in 2022, and innovation-friendly policies are being implemented in Madhya Pradesh. Today, over 2,200 startups are operating in Indore alone.

Dr Yadav appreciated the youth of Madhya Pradesh for driving innovation, and in response, the state government is encouraging innovation while addressing basic societal challenges.He expressed confidence that with the strength of youth, India will soon become the third, and eventually the number one global economy.