Pushing for unicorns in self-help groups for women, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India has moved from women development to women-led development in the last nine years. Addressing a post-budget webinar on women empowerment, Modi highlighted that enrolment of women in the fields of engineering, science, technology and maths in the country today is at 43 per cent. "Can we make unicorns in self-help groups too, we have brought that vision in this year's budget," he said. Unicorns are companies that reach a valuation of USD 1 billion without being listed on the stock market.

The prime minister said around 70 per cent beneficiaries of Mudra loan are women. These women are not only increasing the earnings of their families but also opening new economic avenues for the nation, he said. Modi also linked India's progress with the level of respect and sense equality felt by women in the country. "India can move forward only by raising the levels of the respect for women and the sense of equality." The PM said this year's budget is an "auspicious beginning for achieving the target of Vikasit Bharat by 2047". "This year's budget will give a new momentum to the efforts of women-led development,” he said. “The results of efforts for women empowerment are visible and we are feeling a revolutionary change in the social life of the country," he said.