Days after Piyush Goyal’s remarks, ‘India vs China’ display board at Startup Mahakumbh sparks debate – Trending News

Delhi’s Startup Mahakumbh 2025 was supposed to be a celebration of India’s entrepreneurial spirit but it has turned into a battleground of ideas and jibes.

It all started when Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal decided to stir the innovation pot. At the event, he raised eyebrows by comparing India’s startup scene with China’s, remarking that while China is forging ahead with “high-end tech”, India seems more focused on grocery delivery, food apps and gig work. Minister Goyal doubled down and said, “Are we just going to be delivery boys and girls? Or are we building the future?”

Days after several debates and heated statements that began after Goyal’s callout, a display board outside the Bharat Mandapam venue has turned up the heat again. Titled “India vs China: The Startup Reality Check”, it laid bare the perceived divide. China’s startups, it said, are pioneering in electric vehicles, AI, semiconductors and robotics. Whereas India has food delivery, influencer culture and fantasy cricket startups.

An image of the board, shared by the X account ‘Indian Tech & Infra’, went viral, adding fuel to the debate. One user fired back and said, “India’s consumer apps drive short-term growth and jobs. China started with basics too—don’t forget that.” Another user commented, “This is harsh but true. We celebrate hustle but ignore hardware.” A third X user commented, “We don’t need more fantasy leagues. We need factories, deep tech and vision.”

Earlier, following Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha’s spirited defense of India’s startup landscape, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal fired back, calling Palicha’s response “misplaced and illogical”.

Palicha had taken to LinkedIn to respond to the now-viral “Startup Reality Check” debate sparked by Goyal’s comments. In his post, the Zepto co-founder argued that it has become “too easy” to take aim at Indian consumer internet startups, especially when compared to the technical advancements in countries like the US and China.

Jumping into the fray, the BJP MP defended Goyal’s critique, stating that the minister had raised “genuine concerns” about the trajectory of Indian startups.

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