Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for startup-developed technologies to be taken beyond major cities and deployed in districts and government hospitals. She believed that this can help the citizens to benefit from them directly, rather than such innovations remaining limited to funding support or urban pilots.

Government support to startups should not end with providing funding. Technologies with relevant public applications should be taken to government hospitals and other facilities and put to use quickly, she said while speaking at the Rajasthan Yuva Conclave 2026 in Jaipur.

“Startup ideas, however relevant they may be, need government support, policy support and funding. But more importantly, such ideas should be immediately put to use,” she said.

During an interaction with startup founders and beneficiaries, Sitharaman cited the example of an AI-based technology developed for the early screening of developmental issues in children.

She interacted with entrepreneurs leading various startups and businesses who have benefited from different schemes of the Government of India.

She also discussed the potential of AI in banking during her interaction with the founder of Rajasthan-based startup Advarisk.

“It’s important to take it down to every district,” she said, emphasising that startups should be able to move from an idea to actual public deployment with government support.

Advarisk said it works with more than 100 financial institutions and helps identify potential fraud proactively, with the objective of reducing credit costs and non-performing assets and enabling deserving micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and individuals to access loans at lower cost.

The Finance Minister is in Jaipur to participate in the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meetings scheduled for August 12 and 13.

The Finance Minister travelled from New Delhi to Jaipur aboard Vande Bharat train on August 11.

At the event, Rajasthan Chief Minister launched the Rajasthan Startup Quest, transferred ₹182.08 crore via DBT to 33,806 beneficiaries under the PM Awas Yojana (Urban/Rural), distributed checks totaling ₹182 crore to women of Rajivika Self-Help Groups, handed over checks worth ₹5.64 crore to 3,011 beneficiaries under the PM Swanidhi Yojana, and provided ₹50 crore in funding to 33 startups.

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