NEW DELHI, June 7: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Sunday said that the 12 years of the Narendra Modi-led government have transformed India into an aspirational nation powered by opportunity, innovation and self-belief, asserting that governance reforms, technological democratisation and citizen-centric policies have fundamentally reshaped the way Indians perceive their future.
Speaking to the media, the Minister also outlined India’s next phase of growth, stating that the country’s space economy, currently valued at nearly $9 billion, is expected to expand to around $45 billion over the next seven to eight years as India advances towards its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Reflecting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 4,399 days in office as a continuously serving elected Prime Minister, Dr. Singh highlighted a series of transformative reforms and measurable achievements across sectors over the past decade.
He said India’s space startup ecosystem has witnessed remarkable growth, expanding from a single-digit number of startups a few years ago to nearly 400 today, with one startup recently attaining unicorn status. The country’s overall startup ecosystem has grown from around 350-400 startups in 2014 to more than 2.3 lakh at present, generating nearly 24 to 25 lakh jobs.
According to the Minister, nearly half of these startups are located in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, while 35 to 39 per cent are led by women entrepreneurs, reflecting the widespread democratisation of opportunities. He also pointed to increasing public engagement with science and technology, noting that a recent space launch drew around 1,500 media personnel and nearly 10,000 spectators.
Dr. Singh said some of the government’s earliest reforms reflected a decisive shift towards citizen-centric governance. He cited the abolition of mandatory gazetted-officer attestation of documents and the introduction of self-attestation as a landmark reform that demonstrated trust in citizens, particularly young people.
He also highlighted the decision to eliminate interviews for several categories of government recruitment, saying the move significantly reduced the scope for nepotism, discretion and malpractice while strengthening merit-based selection.
“These reforms gave young Indians confidence that success could be achieved through talent and hard work rather than influence or recommendations,” he said.
Describing the transformation as psychological as well as procedural, the Minister said the most significant achievement of the past 12 years has been the emergence of a new aspirational culture across the country.
“The change of mindset that has happened in the last 12 years under Prime Minister Modi is one of the biggest hallmarks. The aspirational surge that has emerged — ‘I can also do it’ — was not visible earlier,” he said.
Dr. Singh noted that this shift is evident in the growing number of civil services toppers emerging from small towns and non-metropolitan regions, which he attributed to technology-driven transparency and equal opportunities.
Highlighting India’s scientific achievements, he said the government has fostered a culture where citizens increasingly identify with national accomplishments in science and innovation. Referring to the Chandrayaan missions, he said Prime Minister Modi encouraged scientists through both successes and setbacks, reinforcing the idea that failure is an integral part of innovation and progress.
He said India’s successful landing near the Moon’s south pole not only marked a historic achievement but also sparked greater public interest in science and space exploration. He added that earlier Indian lunar missions had played a significant role in discovering evidence of water molecules on the Moon.
The Minister further underlined key institutional reforms, stating that strategic sectors such as space and parts of the nuclear ecosystem have been opened to private participation after decades of restricted access.
“This policy shift has expanded career opportunities, accelerated innovation and aligned India’s scientific ecosystem with global best practices,” he said.
Dr. Singh also said that welfare delivery under the Modi government has become more transparent and inclusive, with benefits reaching eligible citizens without discrimination on the basis of caste, religion or other affiliations.
Looking ahead, he said India’s development journey would require stronger public-private partnerships, greater participation of women and youth, and sustained growth in emerging sectors such as space, nuclear energy and quantum technologies.
The Minister maintained that the government’s long-term objective extends beyond economic growth and aims at creating an empowered, innovative and aspirational society capable of contributing to the vision of a developed India by 2047.
He said the government’s 12-year record reflects a broader transformation marked by governance reforms, institutional changes and a shift from a culture of entitlement and dependence towards one driven by aspiration, merit and innovation.
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