New Delhi, June 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday interacted with thousands of youngsters who have made it big in the startup sector and said it is the youth who have turned out to be the "job creators" of the nation.

Describing India as a "youthful nation", Modi said the government is committed to "harnessing of the demographic dividend".

Video conferencing on the NaMo app, the Prime Minister underlined that adequate capital, courage and connecting with people are required for excelling in the startup sector.

"There was a time when startups meant only digital and tech innovation. Things are changing now. We are seeing start-up entrepreneurs in different fields," he said.

Modi said startups were no longer confined to big cities only."Smaller towns and villages are emerging as vibrant startup centres," he added.

He also said that India has distinguished itself in the global startup eco-system.

"We in the government understand that youngsters may face shortage of funds for their startups. That is why a 'fund of funds' has been started by the government to facilitate more youngsters to innovate and ideate," Modi added.



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New Delhi, Nov 26: RPI(A) leader Ramdas Athawale, a key BJP ally, on Tuesday called for a quick decision on the next chief minister of Maharashtra and suggested that incumbent Eknath Shinde should shift to the Centre as a Union minister.

Addressing a press conference here, Athawale also backed senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister of Maharashtra, contending that the saffron party won the maximum number of seats in the 288-member Assembly and should have the right to the top executive post in the state.

He said a peculiar situation has arisen in Maharashtra where BJP leaders want Fadnavis as the chief minister, while Shiv Sena leaders want Shinde to continue in the post, citing the good work he has done over the last two and a half years.

Athawale, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, said NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has declared that he was not in the race for the chief minister.

"We need to resolve this matter, without any further delay. The election results were announced on November 23 and we should have had the oath of the new chief minister on November 26, the Constitution Day," Athawale said.

Backing Fadnavis for the post of chief minister, Athawale said Shinde can become the deputy chief minister or shift to the Centre and join the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Athawale said his RPI(A) has a presence in every part of the state, but unfortunately lost the two seats -- Dharavi and Kalina -- offered to it in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections.

He demanded that an RPI member be made an MLC and a minister in the state government.

The BJP-led Mahayuti won a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections winning 235 seats in the 288-member House. The BJP won 132 seats, followed by Shinde-led Shiv Sena (57) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP (41). Smaller parties, who are part of the alliance, won five seats.