PM Modi on National Startup Day: “Risk-Taking Now Mainstream, Youth Refuse to Stay in Comfort Zone”

New Delhi, Jan 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded India’s youth for embracing risk-taking and innovation, calling it a hallmark of the nation’s startup culture. Speaking at the National Startup Day celebrations and marking 10 years of the Startup India initiative at Bharat Mandapam, the PM said India now boasts the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.

“The youth of my country are no longer willing to live in a comfort zone. They are not content with following the same old path. They want to forge their own paths and aspire to reach new destinations and new heights,” Modi said.

He highlighted the growing acceptance and respect for risk taking in India, which was once discouraged. “Previously, those who thought beyond a monthly salary were overlooked. Today, risk taking has become mainstream,” he added.

Reflecting on his own governance, Modi said, “Tasks that no one else is willing to undertake, political risks avoided by previous governments  I consider it my duty to tackle them. If there are losses, they will be mine, but if there are benefits, they will reach crores of Indian families.”

The PM emphasised that India’s youth are increasingly focused on solving real world problems. Startup India, he said, is not just a policy but a transformative vision connecting diverse sectors and creating opportunities in manufacturing, technology, and innovation.

Highlighting the programme’s inclusive nature, Modi said it has empowered people from underprivileged sections and increased women’s participation in entrepreneurship. “Previously, only children from wealthy families could start ventures. Today, more than 45% of recognised startups have at least one female director or partner,” he noted.

Modi concluded by underlining that the courage, confidence, and creativity of India’s startups are shaping the country’s future, inspiring hope for years and decades ahead.