In a remarkable gathering of women at the Triambakeshwar Hall, Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Varanasi, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressed the Viksit Bharat Ambassador Nari Shakti Samvad, emphasizing the pivotal role of women in India's development journey. Over 500 prominent women from Varanasi attended the 4th May event, which led discussions on the nation's women-led initiatives and the nation's commitment to empowering women across various sectors.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar encouraged having faith in God and continuing with one's work, emphasizing that this principle forms the basis for advancing the goal of a developed India or Viksit Bharat. He gave an insight into how India was leading the way, not just on growth parameters but also on issues like women's emancipation and empowerment.

The event saw attendees from diverse professional backgrounds—lawyers, doctors, accountants, educators, and athletes—who found inspiration in the message of women's empowerment and national progress.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar discussed India's ambitious goal to achieve comprehensive development by 2047 through involvement in the Viksit Bharat Ambassador initiative. He emphasized the necessity for collective effort in realizing this vision, stating, "Through the Viksit Bharat Ambassador Program, PM Modi has set a goal to develop India. We need to set this goal by 2047, and everyone will have to contribute to it."

Central to the discourse was the theme of 'Nari Shakti', or women's power and its indispensable role in nation-building. Sri Sri said that the government has envisioned achieving the Viksit Bharat goal by 2047 and added that women will play a pivotal role in it because of their dexterity and multi-tasking skills. He lauded women's multifaceted abilities, remarking, "If women are assigned any big task, they have the potential to finish it ten years early. Despite having multiple responsibilities, they not only complete their household chores but also manage external work efficiently. Women can take care of different things at a time."

Drawing parallels from Indian mythology, he emphasized the historical respect for women in governance, pointing out that this respect likely led to women being assigned key ministries in ancient times. He said the Education Ministry was assigned to Goddess Saraswati, Finance to Goddess Lakshmi, and the Defence Ministry to Goddess Durga.

Moreover, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar commended India's progress in women's empowerment, contrasting it with other nations, "The US, which brags about women empowerment, never elected any woman President to date. We have done it. It is for the first time that the Women Reservation Bill has been cleared from the Parliament."

The spiritual leader emphasized the significance of environmental conservation and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, encouraging citizens to engage actively. He stressed the importance of maintaining cleanliness in the country, homes, and streets, urging everyone to contribute to this effort. Additionally, he highlighted the harmful impact of plastic on the environment, emphasizing that taking care of the environment should be prioritized as our primary responsibility.

He also emphasized women's inclusion in scientific and spiritual education, noting their significant role in preserving culture. He stressed the importance of safeguarding our country's heritage, particularly highlighting Kashi Nagari as a city of culture.

Expressing admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar applauded the rejuvenation of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and encouraged civic responsibility, particularly emphasizing the duty to vote, "It is everyone's duty to cast their vote. As citizens, we all have to vote. You must not sit home thinking that Narendra Modi will return to power, Modi will definitely come, but we must not neglect our duty, it should not happen at all."

The Vision of Viksit Bharat: 140 crore dreams, 1 purpose

The Viksit Bharat Ambassador movement aims to encourage citizens to take responsibility for contributing to India's development. VBA meet-ups and events are being organized in various parts of the country to achieve this goal. These events provide a platform for participants to engage in constructive discussions, exchange ideas, and explore practical strategies for contributing to the movement.

Join the movement on the NaMo App:

https://www.narendramodi.in/ViksitBharatAmbassador

The NaMo App: Bridging the Gap

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's app, the NaMo App, is a digital bridge that empowers citizens to participate in the Viksit Bharat Ambassador movement. The NaMo App serves as a one-stop platform for individuals to:

Join the cause: Sign up and become a Viksit Bharat Ambassador and make 10 other people

Amplify Development Stories: Access updates, news, and resources related to the movement.

Create/Join Events: Create and discover local events, meet-ups, and volunteer opportunities.

Connect/Network: Find and interact with like-minded individuals who share the vision of a developed India.

The 'VBA Event' section in the 'Onground Tasks' tab of the 'Volunteer Module' of the NaMo App allows users to stay updated with the ongoing VBA events.

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अयोध्येत श्री राम जन्मभूमी मंदिर ध्वजारोहण उत्सवात पंतप्रधानांनी केलेले भाषण

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अयोध्येत श्री राम जन्मभूमी मंदिर ध्वजारोहण उत्सवात पंतप्रधानांनी केलेले भाषण
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.