Gurugram: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said that the state government is taking decisive steps to transform Haryana into a major hub of innovation, startups and emerging technologies. Interacting with startup founders and entrepreneurs during a pre-budget consultation programme in Manesar, the Chief Minister said that young innovators are giving a new direction to the state’s economy.
Calling Startup India a “Rainbow Vision,” Saini said it connects multiple sectors with new opportunities and growth. He described startups as small ideas that, with the right support, can grow into powerful engines of economic development. Emphasising the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047, he said the country is witnessing historic changes in infrastructure, industry and governance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Chief Minister noted that suggestions related to ease of doing business, funding and technical support shared by entrepreneurs would be incorporated into future policies. Highlighting India’s startup growth, he said the number of startups has increased from 500 to over 2 lakh in the last decade. Haryana now hosts more than 9,500 startups, ranks seventh nationally, and has produced 19 unicorns, with Gurugram and Manesar leading the ecosystem.
Announcing key Budget 2025–26 initiatives, Saini said the state will launch the Haryana AI Mission with World Bank assistance of Rs 474 crore. AI hubs will be set up in Gurugram and Panchkula to train 50,000 youth in advanced technologies. A Haryana State Research Fund of Rs 20 crore and a Fund of Funds worth Rs 2,000 crore have also been established.
To boost entrepreneurship beyond major cities, district-level entrepreneurship competitions will begin from the 2025–26 academic session. The government will also develop incubation centres in HSIIDC industrial estates, including Manesar, to provide affordable workspaces for startups. The Chief Minister added that over 50 percent of Haryana’s startups have women directors, reflecting the state’s strong commitment to inclusive and innovation-led growth.