Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said that 12 years of the Narendra Modi government have transformed India into an “aspirational nation” driven by opportunity, innovation and self-belief, crediting governance reforms, technological democratisation and citizen-centric policies for reshaping public perception and national progress.
Speaking to the media, Singh highlighted that the most significant outcome of the past decade was a “mindset change” among citizens. He said India had shifted from a system driven by recommendation-based processes to one based on merit, transparency and opportunity.
Reflecting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 4,399 days in office as a continuously serving elected Prime Minister, the Minister said the government’s reforms had produced measurable outcomes across multiple sectors, particularly in startups, space technology and governance delivery.
He noted that India’s space startup ecosystem has expanded dramatically—from single-digit numbers a few years ago to around 400 startups today, including at least one unicorn. The country’s space economy, currently valued at around $9 billion, is projected to reach $45 billion over the next seven to eight years.
Singh also said India’s overall startup ecosystem has grown from about 350–400 startups in 2014 to more than 2.3 lakh today, generating nearly 24–25 lakh jobs. He added that nearly half of these startups are based in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, while 35–39 per cent are women-led, reflecting wider participation in entrepreneurship.
Highlighting governance reforms, the Minister cited the removal of gazetted officer attestation and the introduction of self-attestation as a major trust-building step. He also pointed to the abolition of interviews in several categories of government recruitment, saying it helped reduce discretion and strengthened merit-based selection.
Singh said these reforms have encouraged a new aspirational culture where success is seen as achievable through talent and hard work rather than influence or recommendation. He added that this shift is visible in the growing number of civil services toppers emerging from smaller towns and non-metropolitan regions.
Linking scientific progress with policy changes, the Minister said India’s achievements in space missions, including Chandrayaan, have strengthened public engagement with science and innovation. He said the government has normalised failure as part of innovation while encouraging scientists to pursue ambitious goals.
He further said that strategic sectors such as space and parts of the nuclear ecosystem have been opened to private participation, creating new opportunities for industry and startups. According to him, this shift has aligned India’s innovation ecosystem with global standards.
Singh also highlighted improvements in welfare delivery, stating that government benefits are now being implemented in a transparent and universal manner without discrimination, thereby strengthening public trust in institutions.
Looking ahead, the Minister said India’s growth trajectory will depend on deeper public-private collaboration, increased participation of women and youth, and expansion in emerging sectors such as space, nuclear energy and quantum technologies. He said the ultimate goal is to build an empowered and aspirational society aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
