From Gandhinagar to New Delhi: Cabinet hails Modi's 25-year journey, puts 'Viksit Bharat' at the heart of his legacy
Shahid K Abbas
New Delhi, Oct 6 (UNI) The union Cabinet on Tuesday passed a 10-point resolution congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years of uninterrupted leadership as head of government, portraying his journey from Gujarat to the national stage as a defining chapter in India's political and economic transformation.
The resolution, which will be formally marked on October 7, traces a quarter-century of executive leadership through the government's record on welfare delivery, economic reforms, infrastructure development, technological advancement, national security and India's expanding global influence, while reaffirming the ambition of building a developed India by 2047. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the Cabinet's decision after its meeting, describing the milestone as a significant moment in the country's governance history.
Modi first took oath as Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, before moving to the national stage as Prime Minister in May 2014. The Cabinet resolution presents these successive tenures not as separate political chapters but as a continuous journey guided by the principles of "Nation First" and "Citizen First". Modi has led the BJP to victories in the 2014, 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, following more than 12 years as Gujarat Chief Minister. In March 2026, he also crossed the record for the longest continuous period at the head of an elected government in India, combining his years in Gandhinagar and New Delhi.
The latest resolution builds on an earlier Cabinet acknowledgement in June, when Modi was congratulated on becoming the longest-serving elected Prime Minister in terms of continuous service. At that point, he had completed 4,399 days as Prime Minister, surpassing Jawaharlal Nehru's previous record of 4,398 days. The new resolution, however, seeks to place the emphasis beyond longevity in office, presenting Modi's 25-year tenure as a record of policy continuity, administrative reform and large-scale development initiatives. Its central argument is that several governance experiments undertaken in Gujarat were subsequently expanded or adapted for implementation across the country, creating what the government describes as a consistent administrative philosophy spanning state and national responsibilities.
Among the examples cited is SWAGAT, the grievance-redressal system introduced in Gujarat that enabled the Chief Minister to review citizens' complaints directly. The resolution links this experience to PRAGATI, the national platform subsequently developed to monitor major projects, review implementation and resolve administrative bottlenecks. The Jyotigram initiative, which introduced separate electricity feeders for agricultural and non-agricultural consumers, is also highlighted as an example of a state-level intervention that influenced wider policy thinking.
Poverty alleviation and welfare delivery occupy a central place in the Cabinet's assessment of Modi's political journey. The resolution connects the Prime Minister's stated personal experiences of deprivation with programmes intended to expand access to basic amenities, financial services, housing and social protection. It cites nearly 60 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts, the construction of more than four crore houses and the government's claim that over 25 crore people have moved out of poverty during Modi's leadership.
These achievements are presented as part of a broader shift towards direct and targeted welfare delivery. An earlier Cabinet resolution had highlighted the provision of free foodgrains to more than 80 crore people and free medical treatment to over 60 crore poor citizens. Together, the initiatives form a key component of the government's argument that economic development must be accompanied by access to essential services and improved living standards for the most vulnerable sections of society.
Women's empowerment and social inclusion feature prominently in the 10-point resolution. It highlights the Lakhpati Didi initiative, under which around 3.5 crore women are described as having achieved an annual income of at least Rs 1 lakh, alongside the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides for reservation for women in legislatures. The resolution also points to PM-KISAN transfers exceeding Rs 4 lakh crore and the PM-JANMAN programme, aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of particularly vulnerable tribal groups. The Cabinet's account of the Modi years also places considerable emphasis on economic and institutional reforms. The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax, changes in welfare delivery mechanisms and the replacement of several colonial-era laws are cited as examples of efforts to reshape governance and the economy.
Campaigns promoting cleanliness, digital payments and locally manufactured products are presented as evidence of an approach that combines institutional reform with appeals for greater citizen participation. Infrastructure expansion and economic self-reliance form another major pillar of the resolution. Public capital expenditure, it notes, has risen from around Rs 2 lakh crore to more than Rs 12 lakh crore, while the construction of highways and the electrification of railway lines have expanded substantially. The government also points to the growth of electronics production from approximately Rs 2 lakh crore to more than Rs 13 lakh crore, alongside increased investment and policy support for domestic defence manufacturing and semiconductor production.
The resolution argues that these developments reflect a broader effort to strengthen India's productive capacity, reduce dependence on imports in strategic sectors and establish the country as a major manufacturing centre. The emphasis on infrastructure, industrial development and domestic production is presented as central to the larger ambition of an "Atmanirbhar Bharat", or self-reliant India. Technology and innovation are similarly portrayed as defining features of Modi's tenure. The government links the expansion of digital financial services to the combination of Jan Dhan bank accounts, Aadhaar and mobile connectivity, which has helped create the infrastructure for large-scale digital payments through the Unified Payments Interface.
The resolution also cites the development and rollout of indigenous Covid-19 vaccines and the Chandrayaan-3 mission's landing near the Moon's south pole as milestones demonstrating India's scientific and technological capabilities. The expansion of private participation in the space sector and growing work in artificial intelligence, quantum technology and biotechnology are cited as further evidence of the country's ambitions in emerging fields. The Cabinet's argument is that technological advancement, when combined with domestic manufacturing and digital public infrastructure, can strengthen economic resilience while widening access to services.
The resolution also highlights the government's handling of major crises, particularly the Covid-19 pandemic and international disruptions affecting energy supplies and economic activity. It points to vaccine development, the nationwide vaccination drive and efforts to maintain essential supplies during the pandemic as examples of crisis management. The government's response to instability arising from conflicts in West Asia and its efforts to safeguard energy security are presented as evidence of the importance of building domestic capabilities alongside immediate diplomatic and administrative interventions.
National security occupies a distinct place in the Cabinet's account of the 25-year journey. The resolution cites the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot air strikes and Operation Sindoor in 2025 as examples of the government's stated approach to responding to security threats. It places these operations alongside the abrogation of Article 370, the implementation of One Rank One Pension and the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff as measures intended to strengthen national security and defence management. The government's efforts to combat Maoist violence and promote peace and development in the Northeast are also highlighted.
These initiatives, the resolution argues, form part of a wider strategy to strengthen internal security while addressing the development deficits and grievances that have contributed to prolonged instability in some regions. On the international front, the Cabinet credits Modi's leadership with expanding India's diplomatic reach and strengthening its position in global affairs. It refers to India's role in the G20 and BRICS, its advocacy of the interests of the Global South and the inclusion of the African union in the G20 during India's presidency in 2023. Vaccine Maitri, through which India supplied vaccines to other countries during the pandemic, is cited as an example of the country using its domestic capabilities to support international partners.
The resolution also notes that Modi has received state honours from 36 countries, an achievement the government presents as reflecting India's enhanced standing and diplomatic engagement. Its broader message is that Indian foreign policy under Modi has sought to combine strategic partnerships and economic cooperation with a more assertive role in representing the concerns of developing countries. The final strand of the Cabinet's narrative links economic development with cultural heritage and environmental responsibility. It recalls the evolution of climate-related initiatives from Gujarat to national and international renewable-energy programmes, while highlighting the promotion of yoga and millets as part of India's cultural and developmental outreach. Projects such as the redevelopment of Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the consecration of Ram Lalla at the Ram temple in Ayodhya are presented as expressions of renewed engagement with the country's civilisational heritage.
The resolution thus seeks to bring together a wide range of initiatives under a single political narrative, linking governance, welfare, infrastructure, technology, national security, diplomacy, cultural confidence and environmental responsibility to Modi's stated vision of a developed India. It portrays his years in Gujarat as the foundation for a national agenda that has subsequently expanded in scale and ambition. The milestone also carries considerable political significance for the BJP-led government, which has increasingly presented Modi's longevity in office as evidence of sustained public confidence and continuity in governance.
His successive electoral victories have reinforced that narrative, while the Cabinet's resolution seeks to establish a broader legacy extending beyond electoral performance to the policies and institutions associated with his leadership. In an earlier official message marking his entry into the 25th year as head of a government, Modi recalled taking oath as Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, and described public service as both an honour and a responsibility. "To serve our beloved nation is the highest honour, a duty that fills me with gratitude and purpose," he said, adding that he would work harder to realise the collective dream of a "Viksit Bharat".
The Cabinet's latest resolution echoes that sentiment, expressing confidence in Modi's vision of a prosperous, secure and self-reliant India. It concludes with congratulations and best wishes to the Prime Minister, while reaffirming the government's commitment to transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. As Modi approaches October 7, the government is therefore presenting the 25-year milestone as more than a record of political longevity. From the Chief Minister's office in Gandhinagar to the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi, the resolution portrays his uninterrupted executive leadership as a continuum of governance and national transformation, while placing the remaining years of his political journey within the larger ambition of achieving "Viksit Bharat" by the centenary of India's Independence.
UNI SKA AAB
