"Nearly 76,000 Startups in India Led by Women": Union Minister Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday highlighted the transformative role of women in India’s development journey, revealing that nearly 76,000 startups across the country are now led by women, many of them based in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

Speaking at a one-day conference titled “Viksit Bihar: Envisioning a Developed Bihar through Women's Participation” in Patna, Singh said that empowered women and youth will be the driving force in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047. The event was jointly organised by the Department of Rural Development, Government of Bihar, and the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi. Singh serves as Co-Chairperson of IIPA.

“Women-centric governance has not only empowered individuals, but reshaped society. What began as targeted welfare has now evolved into institutional leadership,” Singh said during his address.

He also launched the Jeevika E-Learning Management System App, which aims to provide accessible learning for women, and unveiled the publication "Shashakt Mahila, Samriddh Bihar", celebrating women's contributions to Bihar's growth.

Outlining the Modi Government’s four-phase approach to women’s empowerment, Singh said the governance model has consistently placed women at the top of its policy agenda since 2014.

The first phase, he explained, focused on Access and Inclusion in Institutions. Historic reforms such as admitting girls to Sainik Schools and the National Defence Academy (NDA), and opening combat roles in the armed forces, have significantly altered India's gender landscape. "The country now anticipates its first woman Army Chief--an unprecedented milestone in gender-inclusive leadership," Singh added.

The second phase, titled Scientific and Technological Empowerment, aimed at integrating women in STEM fields through schemes like WISE, GATI, CURIE, and the Women Scientist Programme. Singh noted that Patna Women's College is set to be adopted under the CURIE scheme to receive financial and technological support.

The third phase, Economic and Social Empowerment, has witnessed a large-scale expansion in women’s access to financial resources. "Over 48 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened for women, while more than 60% of Mudra Yojana beneficiaries are women entrepreneurs," he said. Singh also praised the success of over 3 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ created through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and highlighted how women-owned houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana have brought not just shelter, but dignity.

The fourth phase, Workplace Reforms and Legal Sensitivity, introduced progressive measures such as six-month paid childcare leave for women in government service, pension rights for unmarried or divorced dependent daughters, and maternity leave even after stillbirths. “These demonstrate a humane and inclusive legal framework that places women's needs at the center of policymaking,” Singh said.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Singh declared, “These four pillars collectively represent the Modi Government's unwavering commitment to making women not just beneficiaries, but leaders of India's growth story.”

He also spotlighted women’s achievements in science and innovation. “From Chandrayaan-3's Kalpana to Aditya-L1's Nigar Shaji, women have led India's space glory,” he said. The minister noted that India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is now led by its first-ever woman Director General, with over one-third of CSIR labs headed by women scientists.

Singh revealed that out of 1.7 lakh startups in India, around 76,000 are led by women and have collectively created over 17 lakh jobs. “These are not just urban phenomena—Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, including smaller towns in Bihar, are emerging as hotbeds of women-led innovation,” he said. “This silent revolution is rewriting India's future, led by first-generation women entrepreneurs, researchers, and policy-makers.”

He lauded Bihar for its pioneering reforms in gender inclusion, such as 50% reservation for women in Panchayats and urban local bodies, and 35% reservation in the state police and civil services. Over 30 lakh women in Bihar have been financially empowered through targeted schemes, with cumulative benefits exceeding ₹5,000 crore, he noted.

Urging the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) to document Bihar’s governance model, Singh said, “It should be developed into a replicable manual so that other states can draw inspiration and implement similar transformative reforms.”

The event also saw the participation of Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar, IIPA Director General SN Tripathi, Jeevika CEO Himanshu Sharma, Bihar Development Commissioner Pratyay Amrit, and other senior officials.

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