Lauding the Startup culture that has been embraced by the youth in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said risk-taking has become mainstream in the country.
Speaking at an event to mark the National Startup Day and 10 Years of Startup India, at Bharat Mandapam here, the PM said the Startup India Mission has become a revolution in just 10 years and the country today has the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
“The youth of my country are not willing to live their lives in a comfort zone anymore. They are not content with following the same old beaten path. They want to forge their own paths because they aspire to reach new destinations, new heights.
“Previously, risk-taking was discouraged in the country. But today, risk-taking has become mainstream. Those who think beyond a monthly salary are now not only accepted but also respected,” the PM stated.
Whatever is necessary for the country must be done: PM Modi
Reflecting further on the risk-taking ability, the PM said it is an old habit of his too.
“The tasks that no one else is willing to do, the issues that previous governments avoided for decades because they feared losing elections and their positions, the tasks that people warn me are political risks — I consider it my duty to undertake them. Like you, I believe that whatever is necessary for the country must be done by someone. If there are losses, they will be mine, but if there are benefits, they will accrue to crores of families of my country,” Modi said, talking about some of the difficult decisions he has taken as the head of the government over the last 12 years since becoming the prime minister in 2014.
The PM further said India’s youth are today focused on solving real problems, and Startup India is not just a scheme but a rainbow vision.
#WATCH | Bharat Mandapam, Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “The youth of my country are not willing to live their lives in a comfort zone anymore. They are not content with following the same old beaten path. They want to forge their own paths because they aspire to new… pic.twitter.com/2qvkp4qP76
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026
Startup India connects diverse sectors with new opportunities and now is the time for our startups to focus more on manufacturing, stated PM Modi.
The courage, confidence and innovation of startups are shaping India’s future, he said further with a hope for the years and decades ahead.
The PM also highlighted the empowerment factor of the Startup India policy, stating that people from underprivileged sections as well as women have benefitted immensely from the scheme.
“Startup India has given birth to a new culture in the country. Previously, only children from wealthy families would start new businesses or ventures, because they were the only ones who could easily access funding. Most children from middle-class and poor families could only dream of getting a job. But the Startup India programme has changed this mindset.
“Women have also played a major role in this transformation. Today, more than 45 per cent of recognised startups have at least one female director or partner,” Modi said.