Hyderabad, June 10 (UNI) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said that the NDA government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has ushered in a transparent, decisive, and trustworthy governance model that has significantly transformed India’s global standing.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office in Nampally to mark the completion of 11 years of the NDA government, Pradhan recalled that prior to 2014, India was perceived as economically fragile and lacking international credibility. He said this image has undergone a remarkable shift, with India now standing as the fourth-largest economy in the world.
“The trust placed in Prime Minister Modi’s leadership has been validated through consistent performance and transformative initiatives,” he stated.
Pradhan highlighted key milestones achieved by the government, including the construction of four crore houses under various housing schemes and the commitment to deliver an additional two crore homes. He pointed to initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and the widespread availability of affordable medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras as examples of the government’s emphasis on accessible healthcare.
He underlined the government's focus on youth and women empowerment, citing schemes like Lakhpati Didi and various skill development programmes designed to create self-reliant citizens.
In the rural and agricultural sectors, Pradhan noted that Rs 3.7 lakh crore has been disbursed through the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. He also highlighted significant investments in agricultural infrastructure, the issuance of soil health cards, and enhanced support for small and marginal farmers.
Speaking on infrastructure development, Pradhan said the past decade has seen substantial growth in railways, highways, airports, and digital infrastructure, laying a robust foundation for sustainable economic growth. He added that each rupee spent by the government is now creating five times the impact at the grassroots level, reflecting the effectiveness of the current economic model.
Pradhan observed that India has emerged as a key destination for global investment, with international companies increasingly viewing the country as central to their expansion strategies. He lauded the southern states—Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala—for their leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship, and cited Hyderabad's emergence as a hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) as a symbol of India’s growing role in the knowledge economy.
On higher education, the Minister advocated for greater institutional autonomy and flexibility to help increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio from the current 27 per cent to 50 per cent by 2035. He stressed that trust and freedom for educational institutions are essential to meeting the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.
Pradhan described the past 11 years under the NDA regime as a “golden chapter” in India’s governance history. He said while there is still more to achieve, the foundations laid so far have instilled public confidence and restored faith in India’s democratic and developmental processes.
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