Bengaluru's top 25 startups worth more than Pakistan, claims BJP MP PC Mohan
Bengaluru BJP MP PC Mohan sparked online buzz after claiming that the combined valuation of the city's top 25 startups exceeds the entire GDP of Pakistan.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mohan wrote, 'Bengaluru's top 25 startups are worth more than Pakistan's entire GDP.'
The statement appears to underscore Bengaluru's growing global stature as a startup capital, often referred to as India's Silicon Valley. Home to tech giants and unicorns like Flipkart, Swiggy, Razorpay, and Byju's, the city has seen a surge in venture capital and innovation in recent years.
(Also Read: Bengaluru man arrested for provocative video against PM Modi; sedition charges invoked)
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India's real GDP growth for 2025 is projected at 6.4 per cent, with the economy valued at $4.19 trillion in current prices, Financial Express reported.
In contrast, Pakistan's economy is expected to grow at a slower pace of 2.6 per cent in FY25, with a GDP of approximately $373.08 billion, the report further added.
PC Mohan's remark comes amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, following the Indian military's Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
In this charged geopolitical climate, Mohan's comparison of Bengaluru's startup wealth to Pakistan's GDP is being seen by many as a pointed statement underscoring India's economic and technological rise in contrast to its neighbour.
In lastest updates, an encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces on Thursday morning in the Nader area of Tral, located in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. The Kashmir Police shared the update on their official 'X' handle.
'Encounter has started at Nader, Tral area of Awantipora. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow,' the Kashmir Police posted 'X'.
Police officials said there is a possibility of two terrorists in the area.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Nader Tral area of Awantipora in the south Kashmir district after getting specific input about the presence of terrorists there, a police official said.
(With agency inputs)
(Also Read: Bengaluru techie arrested for allegedly raising slogans in favour of Pakistan)
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What this could mean for balance of air power Western defence giants and market sentiment Western defence companies, from France's Dassault Aviation to the U.S.-based Lockheed Martin, experienced divergent market responses, shaped as much by battlefield developments, speculative reports and domestic developments. Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of India's Rafale jets, recorded a 6.4 percent decline between 7 and 12 May, with its stock falling from Rs 31,406 to a low of Rs 29,405. However, it had rebounded back to Rs 31,367 on Thursday, nearly regaining its pre-drop value. Incidentally, while Dassault Aviation hit its lowest point on 12 May, China's AVIC Chengdu registered its highest stock price during the same period, highlighting the contrasting market sentiments around the two defence suppliers amid the conflict. The initial dip may have been driven by concerns over possible losses, as the Indian Air Force did suffer setbacks during the operation, first hinted at by Air Marshal A.K. Bharti during the tri-services briefing held on 11 May and later confirmed by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in a Saturday interview with Bloomberg TV. Yet the Rafale jets, armed with SCALP cruise missiles and AASM Hammer glide bombs, carried out precision strikes on multiple targets across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The subsequent rebound in Dassault's stock suggests renewed investor confidence in the aircraft's combat effectiveness and strategic value. Furthermore, on Thursday, it was announced that the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage will now be manufactured domestically by Tata Advanced Systems, strengthening its position as a strong contender for the Multi-role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme. 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How speculation, politics and perception shape market swings Analysts also point out that stock movements observed since 7 May were driven not just by battlefield results but by narrative, politics and investor psychology. 'From a market perspective, defence procurement is a massive business. During events like Operation Sindoor, exaggerated speculation and misinformation are to be expected, especially when they serve the interests of those looking to profit,' Dr Vikas Gupta, CEO and smallcase manager at OmniScience Capital, told ThePrint. Big-ticket defence exports such as fighter jets are typically sealed through government-to-government agreements that generate employment and strategic influence for the given party, he added. 'At times, even governments may quietly encourage certain narratives if they align with their economic interests.' Dr Gupta also pointed out how China's market mechanics differ from the West. 'In China's case, there's an added layer of complexity. Beijing can directly intervene in markets, banning short selling, for instance, to stabilise or boost the performance of AVIC subsidiaries. That kind of intervention isn't feasible in countries like France, where the government usually avoids market interference.' Ultimately, the swings observed in the wake of Operation Sindoor reinforce a perceived reality of defence stocks remaining highly reactive to geopolitical flashpoints, with prices shaped as much by perception, speculation, politics and investor psychology as by actual battlefield performance. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Operation Sindoor signals a real paradigm shift, says ex-IAF chief. 'We hit where it hurts the most'
