AUGUST 202592025, 159,000 startups were DPIIT recognized across 763 districts, creating 1.66 lakh direct jobs by October 2024. Nearly half of those startups originate from Tier-II and -III cities.· Digital India, active since about 2014-2015, has bolstered last mile connectivity, financial inclusion (e.g. UPI), and tech adoption across government services. According to official remarks, 11 years of Digital India has driven seamless citizen services, economic access, and broader digital reach.· Atal Innovation Mission AIM part of NITI Aayog since 2016 supports Atal Tinkering Labs in over 10,000 schools, and 72 Atal Incubation Centres which have nurtured more than 3,500 startups and generated over 32,000 jobs by 2025.· Stand Up India (also 2016 launch) offers loans to women and SC/ST entrepreneurs, supporting over 180,000 projects with more than Rs 40,700 crore disbursed in its first seven years."India's startup journey over the past decade is not just a story of numbers it's a story of resilience, innovation, and ambition. With over $150 billion in funding and 110+ unicorns, we are witnessing the rise of a New India one where entrepreneurs from every corner of the country are shaping our economic destiny and strengthening our position as a global innovation leader", says Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry.From Metros to Smaller Cities: A Broader EcosystemWhile metro hubs like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR continue to dominate securing nearly 89 percent of VC investments through 2024 the ecosystem is deepening into Tier-II and -III cities like Pune, Kochi, Vizag, Jaipur and others. In fact, 49 percent of recognized startups are now based outside major metros, reflecting a decentralizing innovation wave.Cities like Pune are emerging hubs not just of IT services, but homegrown winners like Druva, Xpressbees, FirstCry, and PubMatic that scale globally. In Andhra Pradesh, the Fintech Valley Vizag project aims to make Visakhapatnam a leading fintech and blockchain destination by 2029.Innovation Culture Shift: From Job Seekers - Job CreatorsThe Indian ethos has changed over this decade: it has stopped being fringe how it used to be and instead, it has become celebrated. At other programs like the Startup Mahakumbh, PM Modi himself has said that the culture of the people of India has changed to being job-giver rather than being the job-giver. According to Business Insider, there is a large number of Indian tech
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