New Delhi Jan 16 :
The success of the ‘Startup India’ initiative underscores that today’s India is dynamic, confident, and future-ready, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem that nurtures every dream and contributes to the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’
Marking nine successful years of ‘Startup India,’ the Prime Minister described it as a landmark initiative that has redefined innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth. “This programme is very close to my heart as
Startup India Propelled
it has emerged as a powerful way of furthering youth empowerment. Over the past nine years, this transformative programme has empowered countless youngsters, turning their innovative ideas into successful startups,” PM Modi shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Indian startups, he emphasized, are addressing global challenges across sectors such as tech-driven solutions, rural innovations, healthcare advancements, biotech breakthroughs, FinTech, EdTech, clean energy, and sustainable technology. These startups are also creating employment opportunities and contributing significantly to India’s journey toward self-reliance.
‘Startup India’ has propelled India to become one of the largest and most vibrant startup ecosystems globally.
“This was at a time when people doubted India’s ability to thrive in this space just a decade ago,” the Prime Minister noted.
The government has made significant efforts to encourage a culture of startups.
sAs of January 15, 2024, more than 1.59 lakh startups have been recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), solidifying India’s position as the third-largest startup ecosystem worldwide.
Between 2016 and October 31, 2024, these recognized startups have reportedly created over 16.6 lakh direct jobs, significantly contributing to employment generation.
PM Modi highlighted that government policies have focused on ‘Ease of Doing Business,’ greater access to resources, and robust support for startups at every stage.
“We are actively promoting innovation and incubation centers so that our youngsters become risk-takers. I have personally been regularly interacting with upcoming startups,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s remarks reflect the government’s vision of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship as key pillars of India’s economic and social development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the insights from the QS World Future Skills Index are valuable as we move further on this journey towards prosperity and youth empowerment. PM Modi said in a post on X, “This is heartening to see! Over the last decade, our Government has worked on strengthening our youth by equipping them with skills that enable them to become self-reliant and create wealth. We have also leveraged the power of technology to make India a hub for innovation and enterprise.”
“The insights from the QS World Future Skills Index are valuable as we move further on this journey towards prosperity and youth empowerment,” PM Modi added in his post.
The inaugural QS World Future Skills Index has identified India’s job market as one of the world’s most ready to recruit for the most in-demand future skills, including in the key areas of AI, digital and green technologies.
In this new index, India places 25th overall when all four indicators are combined, and is recognised a Future Skills Contender. Additionally, India excels in the Future of Work indicator, securing the world’s second-highest score (99.1), trailing the US by less than a point as the overall leader in the index.
India’s strong ability to attract venture capital funding–despite global downturns–reinforces its reputation as having a resilient and dynamic investment ecosystem. Furthermore, QS analysis highlights India’s notable readiness to integrate AI into its workforce, setting it apart from many other countries that are slower to adopt emerging technologies.
Executive Director – Middle East, Africa & South Asia of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, Dr Ashwin Fernandes said, “A huge congratulations to the people of India. Today, QS launches the QS World Future Skills Index. It is a momentous occasion for the people of India because India is ranked second in the world for the future of work…We would like to congratulate the PM of India Narendra Modi for his visionary efforts to bring India forward, especially with the skills initiative in India, the National Education Policy 2020, we are finally seeing the outcomes being reflected in these rankings and the inaugural QS World Future Skills Index measures a lot of these indicators put together and we see India rising and that goes to show that not just development in India in infrastructure but also education is playing a major role. So, let’s celebrate this moment and look forward to much more laurels to India in the near future.”
QS Quacquarelli Symonds is the world’s leading provider of services, analytics, and insight to the global higher education sector, whose mission is to empower motivated people anywhere in the world to fulfil their potential through educational achievement, international mobility, and career development.
