NEW DELHI, January 26, 2026: A decade ago, “Startup India” was a budding policy experiment. Today, on the eve of 77th Republic Day, it is the world’s third-largest ecosystem, boasting over 200,000 recognized entities. But as the mission hits its 10-year milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is shifting the goalposts from quantity to uncompromising quality.
Addressing the nation in his 130th Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister delivered a clear mandate to the nation’s founders and manufacturers: the era of “chalta hai” (it’s okay/it’ll work) is officially over. For a startup ecosystem now diversifying into high-stakes sectors like semiconductors, space-tech, and nuclear energy, this isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a prerequisite for global competition.
Modi’s 77th Republic Day Message: No More ‘Chalta Hai’ for Startups
The Prime Minister’s “Zero Defect, Zero Effect” mantra is being repositioned as the secret sauce for Viksit Bharat. The logic is simple: for an Indian product to become globally synonymous with “top quality,” the manufacturing process must be sustainable (Zero Effect) and the output flawless (Zero Defect).
The Shift to Deep-Tech Sovereignty Modi highlighted that Indian startups are no longer just building e-commerce apps; they are operating in “unimaginable” territories. By specifically naming sectors like AI, Green Hydrogen, and Biotechnology, the PM signaled that India’s industrial future rests on the shoulders of young innovators. With the India AI Impact Summit scheduled for next month, the government is clearly doubling down on tech-led manufacturing.
The “Family” Framework in Diplomacy Interestingly, the Prime Minister woven a narrative of “community spirit” into the economic discourse. By lauding UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s declaration of 2026 as the “Year of the Family,” and citing the unique community kitchen of Chandanki village in Gujarat, Modi suggested that the same sense of collective responsibility found in Indian families must be applied to our industrial output.
For the startup community, the message is loud and clear: as the eyes of the world turn toward India, “better than yesterday” must be the daily minimum. In the 2026 landscape, excellence isn’t an option, it’s the only benchmark that matters.
