Everyday life of most Indians has changed remarkably over the last decade. From standing in long queues at railway counters and pleading for change at shops to one tap payments and online ticket bookings, there has been a positive change in the way Indians lived their life in the UPA era compared to how they live in the Modi era.
From slipping a bribe for a gas connection and waiting at banks for hours to receiving your subsidy to getting home delivery of your gas cylinder and seeing the subsidy directly credited to your bank account, Modi has transformed the lives of the common man.
Not that he had some magic wand that his predecessors had complained about not having, but rather a resolve to serve the people.
What he did to force that change wasn’t anything extraordinary but Modi aligned his government’s schemes and policies with public needs. An “ordinary” that didn’t exist before 2014.
As PM Modi turns 75 today, here is a look at 10 ways his government’s policies have reshaped the everyday lives of Indians:
1. UPI & Digital Payments
Unified Payments Interface (UPI), an Indian online payments system, was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India in 2016. UPI allows users to pay and receive money online with a tap. The UPI has made India the undisputed leader in real-time payments.
2. Jan Dhan Account
Launched on August 28, 2014, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna gave financial independence to millions, especially women. Wages and government subsidies began landing directly into their bank accounts, making their lives easier.
3. FASTag & Transport Efficiency
No more endless toll queues. Fuel is saved, journeys are quicker, and supply chains are smoother. Lower logistics costs boosted India’s trade competitiveness while also setting the stage for the e-commerce culture of “next-day delivery.”
4. Cheap Data & Internet Acces
Affordable internet transformed small towns and villages, allowing farmers to check mandi prices on their phones, students to attend online classes, and rural youth to dive into coding courses.
This digital wave created entirely new economies—from OTT platforms to AI startups—while deepening India’s talent pool.
5. Metro Expansion
From Delhi to Bengaluru, metros reclaimed lost hours of traffic and reduced pollution.
Real estate thrived along metro corridors, reshaping urban growth. More importantly, metros redefined public transport as aspirational—spaces where every class travels together, fostering sustainable lifestyles.
6. Jan Aushadhi Kendras
Families no longer face ruin over medical bills. Affordable generics brought adherence to treatment within reach, creating a healthier, more productive workforce. Demand for generics also spurred Indian pharma to strengthen its global edge as the “pharmacy of the world.”
7. DigiLocker & E-Governance
Endless photocopies and long queues gave way to instant digital verifications. Entrepreneurs can now access loans faster, citizens engagemore confidently with the state, and a “paperless culture” is nudging schools and private firms toward digital-first practices.
8. QR Codes in Commerce
From tea stalls to malls, QR codes gave small shopkeepers a financial footprint, unlocking loans, insurance, and business growth. Quietly, taxcompliance rose without crackdowns. Globally, India became a modelfor affordable financial inclusion, inspiring countries across Africa and Asia.
9. Gig Economy Growth
Flexible work turned into a lifeline for millions—students, women, andsemi-skilled workers. The gig boom reshaped lifestyles: 10-minute grocery deliveries, app-based cabs, and food orders became the newnormal, transforming consumption patterns, city logistics, and eveneating habits.
10. Public Services & Behavioural Change
Direct Benefit Transfers cut out middlemen, ensuring money reached citizens without bribes or delays. Swachh Bharat gave women dignity with toilets and safety, while instilling civic pride in cleanliness.