India home to third-largest number of tech startups: Google

India has more than 4,100 new technology enterprises, which makes India the third-largest base of tech startups in the world, says a study by Google. And that number is expected to grow manifold over the next few years, says the technology giant.

"At over 4,100 enterprises, India has the third-highest number of tech startups in the world, this number is expected to reach several thousand by 2020," Google's India head Rajan Anandan said in a blog post on Wednesday.

Google has launched a website to track and highlight the unfolding digital revolution in India, as part of the company's initiatives, he said.

The new web destination attempts to capture the digital revolution that is unfolding in India, where small and medium businesses (SMBs), especially technology startups, are starting to bloom and investments have led to an explosion in the tech sector in recent years, Anandan said.

''We're very excited to launch a dedicated destination (g.co/digital india), where we attempt to capture how this digital revolution is unfolding in India. With real stories of entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses, this destination showcases how they're achieving their dreams, goals and aspirations, and how Google is enabling them in these achievements,'' Rajan Anandan, VP and managing director, sales and operations, Google SEA and India, said in the blog post.

By 2018, eight million Indian companies are expected to connect and perform transactions online, while India, already home to over 300 million internet users, will be bringing another 200 million Indians online by 2017.

Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India vision is focused on empowerment, development, growth and governance, Anandan said , a connected India with access to the web will empower Indians further, helping businesses grow and create growth for the Indian economy.

"With real stories of entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses, this destination showcases how they're achieving their dreams, goals and aspirations, and how Google is enabling them in these achievements," he said.

Anandan said  Google will be investing $20,000 of cloud credits for 1,000 startups in 2016 in a single year for startups.

''This is the single largest investment we've made anywhere in the world for Google Cloud Services. We want to help fuel the growth of companies and startups in India and one of the best ways we can do that is by empowering more businesses with the powerful tools Google provides for businesses,'' Anandan wrote.

''We have launched an initiative to build internet presence for 20 million SMBs in India – which can be accessed by anyone, anywhere on their mobile phones. Two million SMBs have already found a home on the Internet, through Google My Business.

''When 20 million SMBs have such stories to share, we will have truly achieved our vision. We are committed to this vision and will continue to contribute in accelerating India's pace to become the powerhouse of world class innovation, entrepreneurship and development,'' Anandan added.

The launch comes days ahead of the visit of Google CEO Sundar Pichai to India.

During his visit, the India-born CEO is expected to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.