Union MoS Raksha Khadse Attends Sonipat Startup Summit 4.0; Highlights Importance of Deep-Tech, Innovation and Youth-Led Industrial Acceleration

Smt. Raksha Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, attended the Sonipat Startup Summit 4.0 at the IIT Delhi Technopark, reaffirming the Government of India’s commitment to innovation-led growth and youth-driven industrial transformation.

Addressing innovators, entrepreneurs, students and industry leaders, Smt. Khadse stated that India, as the world’s fastest-growing economy, is entering a defining deep-tech phase driven by research, capital investment and global scalability. The Summit, themed “Industry Acceleration Edition,” brought together startups, MSMEs, researchers, corporates and government stakeholders on a common platform to fast-track technology-based enterprise development.

Smt. Khadse emphasized that the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, through initiatives such as Startup India, Digital India, Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, is creating a strong foundation for a self-reliant and innovation-driven economy aligned with the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.

She noted that the Summit serves as a launchpad for startups in emerging sectors including robotics, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, green energy, advanced manufacturing, defence technology and agri-technology. Special emphasis was placed on strengthening startups in Tier II and Tier III regions across the Haryana NCR industrial corridor, enabling regional entrepreneurship to connect with national and global markets.

Highlighting the Government’s enabling ecosystem, Smt. Khadse said that initiatives such as the Atal Innovation Mission under NITI Aayog, along with Startup India and public-private acceleration platforms, are providing funding support of up to ₹50 lakh, incubation facilities, mentorship and market linkages. She added that the Union Budget 2026 has further strengthened support for research and development, deep-tech innovation, semiconductor manufacturing, expanded credit guarantees for startups and MSMEs, and green growth initiatives.

The Summit, supported by leading incubation and technology transfer institutions and global companies, demonstrated a strong model of public-private collaboration. It offers young entrepreneurs guidance on intellectual property, funding pathways, regulatory frameworks and product-market alignment.

Smt. Khadse also highlighted the growing convergence of sports science and manufacturing innovation, noting that fields such as sports analytics, wearable technology, biomechanics, recovery science and AI-driven performance monitoring are opening new avenues for sports-focused startups in India.

Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to youth empowerment, Smt. Khadse said that India’s young innovators are not merely building startups but strengthening industrial capacity, enhancing technological independence and contributing directly to the vision of a developed India.

The event was attended by Shri Ashok Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Sports University of Haryana; Dr. Bipin Kumar, Associate Professor, IIT Delhi; Shri T. K. Sundaramurthy, Former Mission Director, ISRO; Shri Shobhit Mathur, Vice-Chancellor, Rishihood University; Prof. Samuel Raj, Registrar & Director (C4D), SRM University; Prof. Ambika Prasad Shah, IIT Jammu; Shri Rakesh Chhabra, President, Rai Industry Association; and Shri Nalin Kohli, FITT Governing Council, along with startup founders, researchers, students and industry representatives.

MoS Khadse also expressed her appreciation for the role of Shri Alok Pandey, CEO, AIC IIT Delhi, whose leadership and commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship played a significant role in the successful conduct of the Summit.

The Sonipat Startup Summit 4.0 stands as a reflection of India’s rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem and its ambition to scale globally through the creativity, energy and enterprise of its youth.