The Viksit Bharat Ambassador Yuva Samvad, held on 3rd May at the Banaras Hindu University's Swatantrata Bhawan, drew over 4,000 enthusiastic first-time voters. Spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey graced the gathering.

During the event, discussions revolved around pivotal themes such as the role of youth in national development and how they can further the vision of Viksit Bharat. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar emphasised the importance of well-being for Viksit Bharat and commended the country's progress under the present government, highlighting advancements across various sectors.

Vikrant Massey posed a couple of questions to Ravi Shankar, to which Sri Sri replied and explained in detail, including the realisation of the 500-year-old dream of grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

During the conversation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with initiating key reforms, simplifying processes like opening bank accounts and removing outdated laws, which facilitated entrepreneurship and spiritual growth.

"Opening a bank account was a troublesome task earlier, especially in villages. People were posed with multiple questions but now most of those hurdles have been removed and processes simplified. Many archaic laws have been given away. The country is progressing ahead in all fields, including entrepreneurship, start-up business and spiritual growth," Ravi Shankar said.

He also said that fellow citizens going abroad are brimming with confidence today, and they no longer change their names to look like foreigners, adding that this is a welcome change. He added that the country has found new recognition on the world stage.

The spiritual leader encouraged active participation in elections, likening the voting process to a festival and urging citizens to exercise their right to vote.

After the event, attendees expressed optimism about the initiative's impact on youth engagement and India's developmental aspirations by 2047. Several students attending the program saw it as an enlightening experience that would inspire youth involvement in national schemes. They noted the significant development strides witnessed in Varanasi recently, foreseeing more opportunities ahead. Other participants appreciated the mission's endorsement by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Vikrant Massey, who established a strong connection with Varanasi's youth.

Actor Vikrant Massey expressed his deep bond with Varanasi, urging people to participate actively in the electoral process.

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
NM on the go

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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.