PM Modi hails India as world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, says “express train of reforms will not stop”

Addressing the inauguration of the Bharat Innovates 2026 conclave in Nice in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi said India had built a strong innovation ecosystem over the past decade through sustained policy support and institutional initiatives.

“Over the past 11-12 years, India has built a robust ecosystem for innovation. From patent filings to incubation networks, from Startup India to policy support, this entire journey has moved forward in mission mode. Today, India is the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world,” the Prime Minister said.

He noted that India’s innovation agenda extends beyond metropolitan centres and focuses on empowering grassroots innovators across the country…Highlighting the growing role of women in India’s entrepreneurial landscape, the Prime Minister said, “As a result of all these efforts, India has witnessed transformational change on a large scale. Today, from Drone Didis to becoming founders of startups, our women power is writing new success stories.”      PM Modi also underscored the government’s efforts to promote innovation in strategic sectors, stating that India’s defence sector had been opened up to harness the energy and talent of young entrepreneurs…The Prime Minister further highlighted recent reforms in the nuclear energy sector, saying they had created fresh opportunities in clean energy and frontier technologies…Bharat Innovates 2026, jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron, brings together startups, investors, innovators and policymakers to explore collaboration in emerging technologies and deepen innovation partnerships between India and France.      Addressing the conclave before PM Modi, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal stated that the event serves as a platform to showcase India’s thriving startup ecosystem, now boasting over 230,000 startups, as a reliable partner for global growth.