Startup India Has Evolved into a Defining Movement of New India: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

• Startup India is a flagship initiative launched on 16 January 2016 by the Government of India, implemented by DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to build a nurturing ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation.
• On its 10-year anniversary (16 Jan 2026 — National Startup Day), PM Modi termed it "a defining movement of New India"; Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted growth from ~400 startups in 2016 to over 2 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups.
• Relevant for UPSC under GS-III (economy, growth, innovation, employment) and GS-II (government schemes, governance).