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80% of Indian Startups Are AI-Led, Says IT Minister Vaishnaw

On National Startup Day, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that 80% of India's startups are now AI-led, highlighting rapid deep-tech adoption. He detailed substantial funding support, including a $1 billion India Deep Tech Alliance and a ₹1 lakh crore Research Development & Innovation Fund. Prime Minister Narendra Modi concurrently praised the startup ecosystem's risk appetite, framing the Startup India program as a 'Rainbow Vision' for the nation. India's recognized startups now exceed 200,000, driving significant employment and economic growth.

Key Points: 80% of India's Startups Are AI-Driven, Announces Minister

  • 80% of Indian startups use AI
  • $1B India Deep Tech Alliance launched
  • ₹1 lakh crore R&D fund boosts innovation
  • Over 200,000 recognized startups nationwide
2 min read

80% of India's startups are AI-led: India's IT Minister

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reveals 80% of Indian startups are AI-led, backed by a $1B deep-tech fund and PM Modi's 'Rainbow Vision'.

"Today, 80% of our startups are AI-led. - Ashwini Vaishnaw"

New Delhi, January 16

On National Startup Day, Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Friday, highlighted the expansion of India's deep-tech startup ecosystem driven by focused policy and funding support.

In an X post, he wrote, "Today, 80% of our startups are AI-led. DLI scheme under India Semiconductor Mission has supported 23 startups so far."

"For institutional funding, $1 billion India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA) was announced at Semicon India 2025. The Research Development & Innovation Fund, with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore, is also strengthening innovation capabilities," he said.

He also mentioned that 80% of Indian startups today are driven by artificial intelligence. Talking about funding, he said, Rs 1 lakh crore startups are RDI-funded, boosting deeptech innovation.

Earlier today, PM Narendra Modi also spoke about the Indian startup ecosystem at an event to celebrate National Startup Day. He said that the Startup India programme is not just a scheme but a 'Rainbow Vision' that aims to connect different sectors with new opportunities.

Addressing entrepreneurs and stakeholders of India's startup ecosystem, the Prime Minister, on the occasion of National Startup Day, said that for him, the confidence and impression of startups matter more than numbers alone.

He also lauded the risk appetite of India's startups.

"I have consistently emphasised risk-taking, because it has also been my long-standing habit. Tasks that no one was ready to take up, tasks that previous governments avoided for decades because they feared losing elections or power -- I have always considered it my responsibility to take them on. Like you, I too believe that whatever work is necessary for the country must be done by someone. Someone has to take the risk," he said.

India's startup ecosystem has experienced unprecedented growth over this period, with more than 2,00,000 startups recognised across the country. These enterprises have become significant drivers of employment generation, innovation-led economic growth and the strengthening of domestic value chains in diverse sectors.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Aman W
While the numbers are impressive, I hope this AI-led growth is inclusive and creates jobs across skill levels, not just for IIT/IIM grads. The real test is solving Bharat's problems, not just creating apps for urban India.
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Rohit P
2 lakh startups! That's the power of our youth. The PM's point about risk-taking is key. Our culture often discourages it, but look at the results when we embrace it. More power to all the entrepreneurs out there! 💪
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Sarah B
Working in Bangalore's tech scene, I see this shift daily. The ambition is palpable. The $1B Deep Tech Alliance is a strong signal to global investors. India is becoming a serious innovation hub.
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Karthik V
"80% are AI-led" sounds great, but let's be real. How many are genuinely building core AI tech vs. just using an API from OpenAI or Google and calling themselves an AI startup? We need more foundational research.
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Meera T
The support for semiconductor startups is crucial for true self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta). Hope this momentum continues beyond the headlines and translates into world-class products made in India for the world.

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