New Delhi, July 9 -- India has dropped to fourth place in the Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2026, with 61 unicorns, after the United Kingdom moved ahead to third with 80 privately held startups valued at $1 billion or more, according to the latest ranking released by the Hurun Research Institute.

The report tracks startups founded in the 2000s that are valued at atleast $1 billion and are not yet publicly listed. The 2026 edition identified a record 1,603 unicorns globally, up 5.3% from the previous year, with their combined valuation rising to $8 trillion, driven largely by artificial intelligence-led gains. The cut-off date for the ranking was January 1, 2026, with major valuation changes updated until publication.

The United States reta...