National Startup Day 2026

On 16th January 2026, National Startup Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to India’s startup ecosystem, calling the day a celebration of courage, innovation and entrepreneurial zeal, as the Startup India initiative completes 10 years since its launch in 2016.

Launched on January 16, 2016, Startup India has evolved into one of the world’s largest entrepreneurial ecosystems, strengthening institutional support, expanding access to capital and mentorship, and enabling startups to scale across sectors and regions.
As of December 2025, India has over 2 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups, making it one of the top global centres for innovation, employment generation and inclusive growth.
The ecosystem has also seen a sharp rise in high-value firms, growing from four unicorns in 2014 to over 120 today, with a combined valuation exceeding $350 billion.