NEW DELHI, Jan. 25 -- In his first monthly radio address of 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that India is now the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, urged manufacturers to adopt the "zero defect, zero effect" approach, and called on citizens to prioritize cleanliness and afforestation.

Ahead of the country's 77th Republic Day on 26 January, and National Voters' Day on 25 January, Modi said voters are the "soul of democracy" and urged people to celebrate first-time voters much like birthdays.

India had more than 960 million registered voters for the 2024 general election, the largest electorate in the world, according to the Election Commission of India, including about 18.4 million first-time voters.

Modi said I...