9 Years Of Modi Govt, 9 Milestones Achieved

On 20 May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his first-ever extempore at the Central Hall of Parliament after BJP’s landslide victory in the 2014 general elections.

In his speech, he said, “I am by nature an optimist. It is written in my DNA. Disappointment does not just gel with me. On this occasion, I wish to repeat what I said in my speech at a college here. Just see this glass of water; some say that it is half filled with water, and some say it is half empty. My thinking is of the third type. I say this glass is half filled with water and half with air.”

It has been 9 years since Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India, and in these 9 years, this unswerving optimism going by the mantra of sab ka saath, sab ka vikas, has put India on a new path of progress, development and rising stature.

At this juncture, it is imperative to look at the 9 milestones of the Narendra Modi Government that have changed the destiny of India.

1. Financial Inclusion

One of the initial actions taken by the Modi government in 2014 was to ensure that every Indian had access to a bank account, and up to now, approximately 49 crore individuals have become beneficiaries of this initiative.

By implementing Direct Benefit Transfer to 310 scheme of 53 Departments/Ministries, the Modi government has successfully transferred funds worth ₹29.39 lakh crore directly to bank accounts, without the involvement of intermediaries, thereby eradicating corruption in government schemes.

There was a time when former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had famously stated that only 15 paise out of every rupee sanctioned by Delhi reached the intended recipient.

However, this situation has changed significantly due to the implementation of Direct Benefit Transfers, as corruption has been greatly reduced, with several thousands of crores reaching the beneficiaries at the click of a button from Delhi.

As a result, the Narendra Modi government has saved the Indian treasury a staggering ₹2.73 lakh crore by plugging leaks in central schemes through Direct Benefit Transfers.

2. Digital Economy

India, being heavily reliant on cash transactions in the past, has experienced a remarkable transformation after demonetization and the introduction of UPI (Unified Payments Interface).

Today, digital payments have become widespread across the country.

UPI has completely revolutionised the process of conducting financial transactions, whether it’s shopping at malls, dining at restaurants, purchasing groceries at supermarkets, visiting local convenience stores or pharmacies, or even dealing with street vendors.

In April 2023, UPI witnessed an extraordinary milestone, with a staggering 8.8 billion transactions valued at ₹14 lakh crore.

3. Making India The Fastest Growing Indian Economy

During his inaugural Independence Day speech in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of Make-In-India, which has transformed various sectors of the Indian economy.

By implementing proactive measures tailored to specific industries to enhance the ease of doing business, the Narendra Modi government has unleashed the animal spirit of the Indian economy and is propelling India towards becoming an economic powerhouse.

Through his ‘Atmanirbhar Mission’ (Self-Reliant Mission), Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that India will not lag behind any developed nation and is committed to achieving self-sufficiency in all sectors.

Currently, India boasts over 99,380 recognized startups and 138 unicorns.

Furthermore, on July 1, 2017, India created history by implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), one of the most significant and ambitious reforms in the nation’s economic history, leading the way for a unified taxation system known as ‘One Nation, One Tax.’ Through the GST, India has successfully integrated a previously fragmented economy into a cohesive single market.

4. The Decisions That Took Guts And The Gumption

The Narendra Modi government took decisive actions to address critical issues in the country.

The abhorrent practice of Triple Talaq was abolished, ensuring the protection of Muslim women’s rights.

The government abolished Article 370, leading to the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. This move transformed the region from a hub of terrorism to a centre of development and progress.

Furthermore, the Constitutional Amendment Act of 2019 was introduced to expedite the process of granting citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

5. Roti Paani Makaan

Through the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, approximately 80 crore people receive 5 kilograms of food grains per person per month at no cost.

The implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card has significantly simplified the process for migrant workers in different states to access their ration supplies.

Moreover, more than 9.59 crore poor women have been provided with free LPG gas connections.

Since its inception in 2019, the Jal Jeevan Scheme has facilitated the provision of over 12 crore tap water connections.

Under The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana over 3.4 crore houses have been successfully constructed. Every village in the country has been electrified, achieving 100% electrification.

These initiatives have played a crucial role in improving the lives and well-being of the citizens.

6. The Vaccine Story

India achieved an unprecedented milestone by introducing a preventive solution within a remarkably short span of 11 months since the first case of a coronavirus disease was reported.

Not only did India successfully develop and administer two vaccines manufactured within the country, but they also provided vaccination to millions of Indians and people worldwide. A total of 220.57 crore vaccine doses were administered.

The efficient utilization of technology in the rollout of these vaccines has garnered admiration from other nations, creating a sense of awe towards India’s approach.

7. Transformation Of Transport

Those who have travelled on Indian trains a decade ago can vouch for the following conditions: coaches covered in rust, foul-smelling toilets, piles of human waste on tracks, and red spit stains on station walls.

Cleanliness was certainly not a guarantee, and safety was a concern due to unmanned level crossings, the need for track renewal, and passenger safety issues. However, significant changes have been observed in the Indian Railways in recent years.

A notable improvement has been the focus on cleanliness, which has enhanced the travel experience for rail passengers by implementing clean and odour-free bio-toilets. This positive transformation can be attributed to the Swachh Bharat initiative, which has instilled a sense of responsibility in people to keep public places clean.

Major railway stations in high-traffic cities have been modernized and renovated, and even stations in tier-2 cities have received impressive makeovers. The fact that capital outlay for railways alone for 2023-24 is ₹2.5 lakh crore which is 9 times more than that of 2013-14, is a testament to the vision held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in transforming India.

Eventually, all unmanned level crossings were eliminated within a span of five years, leading to a drastic reduction in accidents from 131 in 2015 to zero in the past 3 years.

Additionally, from Dedicated Freight Corridors to Kisan Rails and Vande Bharat Express, the Indian Railways has undergone a complete transformation in the last 9 years.

Nevertheless, there has been a tremendous effort towards strengthening India’s road infrastructure. In 2014-15, the pace at which National Highways construction happened was 12 km/day. It touched a record high of 42.03 km per day in February 2023.

FASTag has been a game changer in highway commute reducing time, fuel consumption and thereby carbon emissions.

In the last 9 years, the number of operational airports in the country has doubled from 74 in 2014 to 148 in 2023.

8. Defense & Diplomacy

In the past decades, India has experienced traumatic incidents of serial bombings, hijackings, and terror attacks. However, over the last 9 years, the country has not witnessed any such acts of terrorism.

Furthermore, those who dare to provoke us have faced severe retaliation, as demonstrated through actions like surgical strikes against Pakistan and the clash in the Galwan Valley against Chinese troops.

India’s approach has shifted from being a net importer of defence equipment to focusing on indigenous production, resulting in a significant boost in defence exports. Thanks to the Athmanirbar initiative of our Prime Minister.

The country has achieved remarkable progress in terms of firepower, with the successful deployment of domestically built aircraft carriers, submarines, and missiles. These developments have contributed to a significant increase in India’s defence capabilities.

Instances such as Operation Rahat for rescuing Indians in Yemen, Operation Maitri during the Nepal earthquake, the Vande Bharat mission amid the pandemic, Operation Devishakti to aid stranded Indians in Afghanistan, Operation Ganga for bringing back Indian students from Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Operation Kaveri for rescuing Indians affected by the civil war in Sudan, all serve as evidence of the Narendra Modi Government going out of the way to rescue Indians living abroad systematically.

9. Civilizational Revival

The Ram Janmabhoomi movement has reached its rightful culmination with the near completion of the Ram Mandir. Likewise, several revered spiritual hubs, such as Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Kedarnath, and Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, which were previously neglected, have undergone a remarkable and positive transformation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought about a civilizational resurgence by unabashedly embracing his identity without any pretence of pseudo-secularism.

Through initiatives such as Kashi Tamil Sangamam, Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam, and Kashi Telugu Sangamam, Prime Minister Modi is actively promoting the vision of “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat” by revitalizing the cultural bonds and heritage that connects all Indians. These endeavours aim to strengthen the deep-rooted civilizational consciousness of the nation, fostering a sense of unity and shared identity among its diverse population.

In this time of Amrit Kal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his quest to revive Bharat’s civilizational heritage, has decided to rehabilitate the sacred ‘Sengol‘ by placing it in the chamber of the new Parliament. This is intended to remind us that rulers must adhere to the statute of Dharma and righteousness.

Whether it is acknowledging the unsung heroes of our history through Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav or recognizing the exemplary achievements of contemporary individuals through the People’s Padma Awards, the Narendra Modi Government has fundamentally transformed the narrative of India.

These are just a glimpse of the significant achievements in the journey towards shaping a New India. The country has seen a phenomenal transformation in every sector that has impacted the last-standing Indian. Indians today feel the rise of a new, bold and confident India that is taking its rightful place on the world stage.