New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged Indian industry and start-ups to make quality and excellence their defining benchmark, saying the era of “somehow it works” was over as India emerged as the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem.
Addressing the 130th episode of Mann Ki Baat—the first broadcast of 2026— Modi emphasized the connection between India’s rapid economic growth and civic responsibility, innovation, and social change in his address ahead of Republic Day. He highlighted the importance of quality in all endeavors, urging citizens to adopt excellence as a standard. In recognition of National Voter’s Day, he called on young Indians to embrace their voting rights as both a privilege and a duty, encouraging first-time voters to register and celebrate their milestone. Reflecting on the Start-up India initiative launched in 2016, Modi noted the transformation of India’s innovation landscape, with the country now being the third-largest start-up ecosystem globally. He reiterated his vision of “Zero Defect, Zero Effect,” advocating for Indian products to be synonymous with high quality to achieve a developed India. The Prime Minister showcased various community-led initiatives, praising efforts in Azamgarh for reviving the Tamsa river and in Anantapur for restoring reservoirs. He highlighted the significance of public participation in driving social change and commended youth-led environmental initiatives across the country, including tree planting campaigns and recycling efforts. Modi acknowledged the growing popularity of millets, attributing their resurgence to women farmer collectives and innovative practices, which benefit both farmer incomes and public health. He also celebrated the Indian diaspora in Malaysia for their efforts in preserving Indian culture and languages. Concluding his address, Modi announced the upcoming India AI Impact Summit, aimed at showcasing India’s advancements in artificial intelligence. He extended Republic Day greetings and reaffirmed the commitment of the Mann Ki Baat program to celebrate grassroots achievements and national milestones, encouraging citizens to recognize and take pride in the country’s progress.
