PM Modi addresses 30th National Commission for Women Foundation Day programme

Published By : Admin | January 31, 2022 | 16:30 IST
“All the women's commissions of the country will have to increase their scope and give a new direction to the women of their states”
“AatmaNirbhar Bharat campaign is linking the abilities of women with the development of the country”
“In more than 60 thousand startups that have emerged after 2016, 45 percent have at least one woman director”
“Since 2015, 185 women have been honoured with Padma Awards. This year 34 women figured among the awardees in different categories, This is a record”
“Today India is among the countries with provision of maximum maternity leave” “Whenever any government does not prioritise women safety, women have ensured their departure from power”

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed 30th National Commission for Women Foundation Day programme today via video conference. The theme of the programme ‘She The Change Maker’ is aimed at celebrating the achievements of women in different fields. The State Commissions for Women, Department of Women and Child Development in State Governments, University and College teaching faculty and students, voluntary organisations, women entrepreneurs and business associations were present. The Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smt Smriti Zubin Irani; Ministers of State Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai and Smt Darshana Jardosh; Chairperson, National Commission for Women Ms. Rekha Sharma were among those present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister greeted on the 30th Foundation Day of the National Commission for Women. “The milestone of 30 years, whether in the life of an individual or of an organization, is very important. This is the time for new responsibilities and for moving forward with new energy”, he said.

The Prime Minister remarked that today, in changing India, the role of women is continuously expanding. Therefore, he said, the expansion of the role of the National Commission for Women is also the need of the hour. All the women's commissions of the country will also have to increase their scope and give a new direction to the women of their states.

The Prime Minister noted that for centuries, India's strength has been the small local industries or the MSMEs. In these industries, women have the same role as men. The Prime Minister said that the old thinking had restricted women and their skills to domestic work. It is necessary to change this old thinking in order to advance the economy of the country. Make in India is doing this today. AatmaNirbhar Bharat campaign is linking the ability of women with the development of the country, he said.This change is visible as about 70 per cent beneficiaries of Mudra Yojna are women. The country has seen a three-fold increase in the number of women self-help groups in the last 6-7 years. Similarly, in more than 60 thousand startups that have emerged after 2016, 45 percent have at least one woman director.

The Prime Minister said the participation of women in the growth cycle of new India is increasing relentlessly. Women's Commissions should work to promote and give maximum recognition to this role of women in the entrepreneurship of the society. The Prime Minister informed that since 2015 185 women have been honoured with Padma Awards. This year too, 34 women figured among the awardees in different categories. This is a record as this many awards to women are unprecedented, said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said in the last 7 years, the policies of the country have become more sensitive towards women. Today India is among the countries with provision of maximum maternity leave. Marriage at an early age does not hinder the education and career of daughters so the age of marriage of daughters is being attempted to be raised to 21 years.

The Prime Minister also talked about the historical distance of rural women from empowerment. He listed the steps such as 9 crore gas connections and toilets. Pucca houses of PM Awaas Yojna in the name of women of the house, support during pregnancy, Jan Dhan accounts, that make these women the face of changing India and women empowerment.

The Prime Minister said when women make a resolution, they only set the direction of that. That is why whenever a government does not prioritise women safety, women have ensured their departure from power. Shri Modi stressed that the government is working with a policy of zero tolerance for crime against women. There are strict laws in this regard including capital punishment for heinous cases of rape. There are fast track courts and steps like more women help desks in police stations, 24 hour helplines, portal to deal with cyber crimes are being taken.

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Startup India recognises 2.07 lakh ventures, 21.9 lakh jobs created

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Startup India recognises 2.07 lakh ventures, 21.9 lakh jobs created
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Cabinet approves Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 to Mobilize Venture Capital for India’s Startup Ecosystem
February 14, 2026
Rs. 10,000 crore corpus to support deep tech, tech-driven innovative manufacturing startups, and early-growth stage startups

In a major boost to India’s growing startup ecosystem, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (Startup India FoF 2.0) with a total corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore for the purpose of mobilizing venture capital for the startup ecosystem of the country.

The Scheme is designed to accelerate the next phase of India’s startup journey by mobilising long-term domestic capital, strengthening the venture capital ecosystem, and supporting innovation-led entrepreneurship across the country.

Launched under the Startup India initiative, Startup India FoF 2.0 builds on nearly a decade of sustained efforts to make India one of the world’s leading startup nations. Since the launch of Startup India in 2016, India’s startup ecosystem has witnessed an extraordinary transformation growing from fewer than 500 startups to over 2 lakh Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)-recognised startups today, with 2025 marking the highest ever annual startup registrations.

Building on Fund of Funds for Startups 1.0

The Startup India FoF 2.0 follows the strong performance of the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS 1.0), which was launched in 2016 to address funding gaps and catalyse the domestic venture capital market for startups.

Under FFS 1.0, the entire corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore has been committed to 145 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). Such supported AIFs have invested over Rs. 25,500 crore in more than 1,370 startups across the country in sectors such as agriculture, artificial intelligence, robotics, automotive, clean tech, consumer goods & services, e-commerce, education, fintech, food & beverages, healthcare, manufacturing, space tech, and biotechnology amongst others.

FFS 1.0 played a pivotal role in nurturing first-time founders, crowding in private capital, and helping build a strong foundation for India’s venture capital ecosystem.

Key Features of the Scheme:

While the first phase built the ecosystem, Startup India FoF 2.0 is designed to take Indian innovation to the next level. The new fund will have a targeted, segmented funding approach to support:

  1. Deep tech and tech-driven innovative manufacturing: Prioritizing breakthroughs in high-tech areas that require patient, long-term capital.
  2. Empowering early-growth stage founders: Providing a safety net for new and innovative ideas, reducing early-stage failures caused by lack of funding.
  3. National reach: Encouraging investment beyond major metros so that, the innovation thrives in every corner of the country.
  4. Designed to address high‑risk capital gaps: Directing greater capital to priority areas which are important for self-reliance and boosting economic growth.
  5. Strengthen India’s domestic venture capital base, particularly smaller funds to further boost the domestic investment landscape.

Startup India FoF 2.0 is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s economic trajectory, leading to transformational impact.

Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 is expected to play a critical role in advancing India’s innovation-led growth agenda. By supporting startups that build globally competitive technologies, products, and solutions, the Fund will contribute to strengthening India’s economic resilience, boosting manufacturing capabilities, generating high-quality jobs, and positioning India as a global innovation hub.

Aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, the Fund represents the Government’s continued commitment to empowering entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, and unlocking the full potential of India’s startup ecosystem.