Govt to unveil 'Startup India' action plan on Jan 16: PM Modi

Seeking to boost entrepreneurship at the grassroots level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the Action Plan of the 'Start-up India, Stand-up India' will be unveiled on January 16 and urged the states to help spread this campaign across the country's nook and corner.

Modi, who had made the announcement about the campaign in his last Independence Day address, said the programme will be designed to suit Indian conditions and focus would be on ensuring benefits for the youth from the lowest strata of the society.

"My dear young friends, in my August 15 address from the Red Fort, I had made preliminary mention about 'Start-up India, Stand-up India'. After that, this spread to all the departments of the government.

"Can India be a 'Start-up Capital'? Can the youth in the states have the opportunities in the form of start-ups, with innovations, whether it be manufacturing, service sector or agriculture? In everything, there should be freshness, new ways, new thinking. The world cannot move ahead without innovation," he said in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme, the last one for this year.

He said the 'Start-up India, Stand-up India' campaign has brought new opportunities for the youth.

"On January 16, the government of India will unveil the full Action Plan of Start-up India, Stand-up India... A structure will be presented before you. This programme will be connected to the country's IITs, IIMs, central universities and NITs. Wherever there are youth, they will be linked through 'live connectivity," the Prime Minister said.

The programme is aimed at promoting bank financing for start-up ventures and offer incentives to boost entrepreneurship and job creation.