Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the Special Plenary Session of YiFi 2026 in Madurai on Saturday, calling on young people to overcome hesitation and pursue entrepreneurship amid India's economic growth.
Speaking at the two-day national financial entrepreneurship summit organised by CII’s Young Indians, Ms. Sitharaman said the youth are well-equipped to take risks. “If you don’t move now, you are going to drown, but if you move and move with some kind of guidance, you’ll make the best out of the changing times,” she said.
She highlighted India’s position as the fastest-growing major economy, crediting entrepreneurs and citizens for this status. The country is projected to contribute one-sixth of global growth, with potential to reach one-fourth through bright entrepreneurs, she added. Ms. Sitharaman noted more than 2.4 lakh DPIIT-recognised start-ups have generated over 23 lakh jobs, making India the third-largest start-up ecosystem.
The minister also pointed to over 20 billion UPI transactions processed monthly and unprecedented investments in infrastructure. She stressed the need for entrepreneurs focused on value creation rather than valuation, saying persistent effort is required to bring prosperity. Chandrajit Banerjee, P. Ravichandran, Arun Rathod and Anuj Agarwal were among those present.
