Prime Minister Narendra Modi will mark a decade of the Startup India initiative on National Startup Day with a special programme in New Delhi on January 16, according to an official announcement. 

The event, scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam at 1 pm, will bring together startup founders, innovators, and key stakeholders from India’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem. 

During the programme, the Prime Minister will interact with entrepreneurs and startup founders while select participants are expected to share their journeys and experiences. Modi is also slated to address the gathering and outline his vision for the future of startups in India. 

A decade of Startup India 

Startup India was launched on January 16, 2016, with the aim of encouraging innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and attracting investment. The idea was to make India a country of job creators rather than job seekers. Over the past decade, the initiative has become a key part of India’s economic and innovation system, helping startups grow across sectors and regions.

India’s startup ecosystem has expanded rapidly during this period. More than 2 lakh startups have been recognised across the country. These startups have played a major role in boosting innovation, strengthening local value chains and driving economic growth. 

Jobs, women founders and key milestones 

The number of DPIIT-recognised startups has grown sharply, from about 500 in 2016 to 1,59,157 as of January 15, 2025. Women participation has also increased, with 73,151 recognised startups having at least one woman director as of October 31, 2024. 

Startups have emerged as an important source of jobs. Between 2016 and October 31, 2024, recognised startups created over 16.6 lakh direct jobs. The IT services sector leads with around 2.04 lakh jobs, followed by healthcare and life sciences with 1.47 lakh jobs, and professional and commercial services with about 94,000 jobs. 

To support startups at different stages, the Startup India initiative has rolled out several flagship schemes. These focus on funding support, market access and credit guarantees, helping startups sustain and scale their businesses across the country. 

With a decade completed, the focus is now shifting to strengthening global competitiveness and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. The government is expected to push deeper policy support, easier access to capital and stronger innovation networks.