Modi's Start Up India won't give Bharat its Steve Jobs

The launch of Start Up India plan has generated huge enthusiasm among young entrepreneurs. With the state acting as a facilitator in the backdrop, the country now waits for the birth of a new Mark Zuckerberg or a Steve Jobs. A group of energetic-young Indians, or may be just an individual, who can help gain us global recognition. A real brown-skinned fella – and not just another Indian American – who will bring about the next major change in the world. It is difficult not to be enthusiastic about such a proposition. This, after all, is a century that is supposed to belong to India.

Regardless of all the domestic issues such as corruption, poverty, unemployment that we have have never managed to overcome.

Despite the innumerable challenges, the current government is hopeful.

And why shouldn’t they be, all governments are hopeful.

But this government, like a middle class household hoping to solve all woes with one stroke, has decided to buy as many lottery tickets as possible. Be it "Make in India", "Digital India", or now "Start Up India".

There is nothing wrong in an initiative that makes doing business easier. A government’s primary objective is to ensure smooth operations in all sectors.

But there is something unethical in rebranding and selling what already exists. India is among the top countries with the largest numbers of start-ups.

And many have already succeeded. Look at Flipkart or Oyo Rooms for that matter. But yes, the percentage of success is very low.

An obvious factor is that a start up on most occasions is way too difficult to sustain. Let’s face it, start ups are never a cake walk and most of them are bound to fail. Some startups stand out from others purely because they are brilliant ideas. And not all ideas are brilliant. The good ones successfully draw the attention of investors and grow big.

So, why does the government need to facilitate an atmosphere that helps start-ups.

Why can’t the government correct the existing problems at their end which slows businesses and, well, not call it anything. Wouldn’t that be a more ethical way of going about their job? But then it is not just about ethics, is it. It is also about money. And a lot of money.

Critics have pointed out that the funds for the start-up plan will come from the taxpayers' money invested in venture-capital fund.

And most economists agree that this is not a smart move. They say venture-capital funds are high risk investments and the government does not need to risk public money on it.

Economics aside, the start-up plan does not seem to have a pan-India appeal. The problem begins with the government’s definition of a start-up which many have questioned.

It only includes those aspirants who can make clever use of technology.

If somebody wants to develop a new app-based business, that could qualify as a start-up.

But if a young person in some remote corner of the country wants to start a new business, which is traditional in nature, it may not necessarily qualify as a start-up.

The Start-Up India project has little promise for the youth living in India's small towns.

It is for young Indians of big cities who have access to niche skills and resources. So, if you don’t have a friend who knows coding, it is very unlikely you can be part of a start-up.