Startup Ecosystem Expansion
New Delhi, October 13 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India’s startup count has grown from a few hundred before 2014 to more than 2.5 lakh. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, he noted that nearly half of these startups come from small cities and towns.
Modi highlighted the demographic composition of this growth, stating that 45 per cent of the startups have a woman director or partner. Addressing the gathering on October 13 in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said, "We do not grow at anyone's cost. We grow with the world and for the world." This assertion of inclusive growth was central to his address, framing India’s economic trajectory as one that operates in tandem with global markets rather than against them.
Digital Inclusion and Infrastructure
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of making technology accessible across economic segments, calling it "the power of inclusive technology." He invited international delegates to try India's digital payment ecosystem, explaining that a street vendor and a car showroom operator use the same platform despite differences in business scale.
Modi referred to the development of the CoWIN platform as an open-source system during the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated that India is sharing its experience with Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) with other countries to help them develop digital systems suited to their needs. This outreach underscores a strategic effort to export India’s technological framework, positioning the nation not just as a consumer of global tech but as a provider of scalable digital solutions for developing economies.
Media Landscape and Democracy
PM Modi described India as the "Mother of Democracy," citing over 100 languages, around 80,000 registered newspapers and publications, and more than 1,000 satellite television channels as examples of openness to different perspectives.
He highlighted that India has more than 500 million YouTube users and over 500 million Instagram users. Modi noted that this digital power facilitates open debates on different perspectives within the country. The sheer volume of digital engagement, combined with the traditional media metrics, was presented as evidence of a vibrant, multi-layered public discourse that defines India’s democratic identity in the modern era.