Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, that India is rapidly climbing the ranks of the Global Innovation Index (GII). He highlighted the nation’s significant jump from 91st position in 2015 to 38th in 2025, confidently predicting that India will break into the top 10 within the next three years.
This impressive rise, according to Shah, is largely due to the success of the Startup India campaign, launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. The initiative has transformed India into the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, empowering its youth to become dynamic job creators rather than job seekers.
Speaking at the Gujarat government’s Startup Conclave in Gandhinagar, Mr. Shah emphasized, “Our journey from the 91st rank in 2015 to 38th in 2025 on the Global Innovation Index truly showcases the immense potential of our people. I firmly believe that, given the remarkable performance and capabilities of our young generation, India will be among the top 10 nations within the next three years, leading global innovation.”
The Startup India scheme, initiated in 2016, serves as the government’s cornerstone for fostering innovation and building a robust environment for new businesses. Its core aim is to shift the country’s economic landscape from one of employment-seeking to employment-generation.
Mr. Shah provided compelling statistics: “In 2014, India had a mere 500 startups. Today, we boast 1.92 lakh startups officially registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Furthermore, the number of unicorns (startups valued over $1 billion) has surged from just four in 2014 to 120 currently, collectively holding a market value exceeding $350 million.”
He also noted the widespread impact of this growth, with 52% of all startups now located in tier-II and tier-III cities, and an impressive 48% founded by women. The startup ecosystem has generated employment for 17.90 lakh individuals, with an average of 17,000 new startups emerging annually, 9,000 of which are in non-metro areas.
Shah explained that the government recognized the need for a conducive environment for startups to thrive right from the scheme’s inception. “Under the Prime Minister’s guidance, comprehensive financial, infrastructural, policy, and banking support has been extended to startups across the nation since 2014. This includes a ₹10,000 crore ‘fund of funds’ dedicated to assisting new ventures, an increased maximum loan limit from ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore, and various beneficial tax concessions,” he elaborated.
He encouraged established industry leaders to invest in these emerging companies, reminding them that any one of these startups could potentially become a unicorn, significantly multiplying their investment.
Concluding his address, Mr. Shah lauded Gujarat’s role in this national revolution, stating that the state has been at the forefront of the startup sector for the past four years. He credited Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and his team for collaboratively establishing Gujarat as a hub for startup innovation. The state now hosts 16,000 startups, with Ahmedabad alone accounting for 6,650, placing it among the top four cities for startups nationally. This consistent performance has earned Gujarat the title of the best-performing state in the startup sector for four consecutive years.