NEW DELHI: In his first monthly radio address of 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India is now the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, urged manufacturers to adopt a “zero defect, zero effect” approach and urged citizens to prioritize cleanliness and afforestation.
Ahead of the 77th Republic Day on January 26 and the National Voter’s Day on January 25, Modi said voters are the “soul of democracy” and urged people to celebrate first-time voters much like birthdays.
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India had more than 960 million registered voters for the 2024 general election, the most voters in the world, according to the Election Commission of India, including about 18.4 million first-time voters.
Modi said Indian startups are working across sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), space, nuclear power, semiconductors, mobility, green hydrogen and biotechnology. “Today, India has turned into the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world,” he said.
As of December 2025, India had more than 200,000 government-recognized startups, with about half of them in tier 2 and 3 cities. The country’s high-value startup ecosystem has expanded from just four unicorns in 2014 to more than 120 with a combined value of about $350 billion as of January 2026, according to a government statement.
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At a time when global attention is focused on India, the country needs to put more emphasis on quality, according to Modi. “India’s economy is moving fast. The world is watching India. At a time like this, we all have a huge responsibility. That responsibility is to emphasize quality.”
“Let our only mantra be quality, quality and only quality… the connotation of an Indian product should become ‘top quality’,” the prime minister added, referring to products ranging from textiles and technology to electronics and packaging.
The focus on manufacturing quality comes amid geopolitical uncertainty and tariff pressures on Indian exporters following steep US tariffs on Indian goods.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday there could be room to cut the tax after India curbs oil imports from Russia. US President Donald Trump has doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% from 25% in August 2025, citing New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil.
From river cleaning to ‘bhajan clubs’
In his speech, Modi also cited community initiatives in cleanliness, pollution reduction and afforestation, saying Indians are finding solutions to long-standing problems through startups and collective action.
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He pointed to efforts in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, where residents cleaned up the Tamsa River and planted fruit trees along its banks, and in Ananthapura, Andhra Pradesh, where communities revived water reservoirs to alleviate drought. He also mentioned similar initiatives in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Chennai.
The prime minister highlighted the growing trend of “bhajan clubs” among young people, describing gatherings that resemble concerts but include devotional singing. “This trend is now called ‘bhajan clubbing’ and is becoming increasingly popular, especially among Gen Z,” he said.
Modi also highlighted the importance of India’s family system and noted that the UAE is celebrating 2026 as the year of the family.
