Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has referred to the ‘2026 is the new 2016’ trend on social media and shared his memories of a decade ago when the Government launched the Startup India programme, calling it “very important” for the youth and the future of the country.
He called the youth the “heroes” of the “amazing journey” of the ‘Startup India’ programme and said that now, Indian startups are working in every sector.
Addressing the 130th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on January 25, PM Modi said, “These days, I am noticing an interesting trend on social media. People are recalling their memories of 2016. In that spirit, I would also like to share one of my memories with you today. Ten years ago, in January 2016, we started an ambitious journey. We had a realisation that it may be a small initiative, but it is very important for the youth and for the future of the country.”
“At that time, some people were not able to understand what it was. The journey I am talking about is of ‘Startup India’. The heroes of this amazing journey are our young friends. The innovations they made coming out of their comfort zone are being registered in history,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that India has become the world’s “third-largest startup ecosystem”. PM Modi appealed to the countrymen, especially to the youths connected with industries and startups, and said, “India’s economy is growing rapidly; all eyes are on India. In such times, we all have a big responsibility. That responsibility is to focus on quality. The era of ‘It happens, it’s fine, it will work’ is over.”
He said that Indian culture and festivals are increasingly making their presence felt across the world, and asserted that the Indian diaspora plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting the country’s cultural essence, citing Malaysia as a prominent example. PM Modi highlighted the efforts of the Indian community in Malaysia, describing their contribution as “commendable”. He noted the strong presence of Indian languages and traditions in the country. He heaped praise on the ‘bhajan clubbing’ trend, started by the Gen Z, and said that it was “heartening” to see that the dignity and purity of the devotional songs are maintained at events like these.
He mentioned that even though the platform is modern, a continuous sense of spirituality is experienced there.