Orange Economy Emerging As New Growth Engine, Driven By Youth: PM Modi

New Delhi, Jan 13 (KNN) Highlighting the role of youth in nation-building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is witnessing strong growth in the Orange Economy driven by culture, content and creativity. 

Speaking at the concluding session of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, he said the innovation, energy and purpose of young Indians will shape the country’s future strength and global standing.

Reform-Driven Governance

Citing the startup ecosystem as a key example, the Prime Minister said India had fewer than 500 registered startups before 2014 due to lack of focus and excessive government control. 

Initiatives such as Startup India, Digital India, Ease of Doing Business, and tax and compliance simplification empowered young innovators and accelerated India’s startup revolution. 

He noted that opening the space sector to private enterprise has led to the emergence of over 300 startups, with firms like Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos showcasing youth-led innovation.

Defence, Technology and Innovation

Highlighting reforms in the defence sector, PM Modi said over 1,000 defence startups are now operating in India, with young entrepreneurs working on drones, anti-drone systems, AI-powered cameras and robotics, reflecting the depth of technological innovation being driven by youth.

Rise of the Orange Economy

The Prime Minister underscored the impact of Digital India in nurturing a new generation of creators and boosting the Orange Economy. He said India is emerging as a global hub for media, film, gaming, music, digital content and VR-XR technologies. 

He also highlighted the World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) as a major launch platform for young creators.

Reforms, Skills and Global Opportunities

PM Modi said the reform agenda of the past decade has placed youth at its core, citing GST reforms and tax relief up to Rs 12 lakh as steps that simplify processes and increase savings for young professionals and entrepreneurs. 

He also referred to reforms in civil nuclear energy under the SHANTI Act to ensure reliable power supply and job creation. Emphasising global workforce shortages, he said India is preparing its youth for international opportunities through continuous skill development reforms.

Education and Skill Development Push

Reiterating reforms in higher education following the National Education Policy, the Prime Minister said foreign universities are opening campuses in India. 

He highlighted the launch of the PM SETU Programme, involving investments worth thousands of crores, under which thousands of ITIs will be upgraded to align youth skills with current and future industry needs.

(KNN Bureau)