When Narendra Modi took office in May 2014, he brought with him a promise: Viksit Bharat ~ a developed India built on the foundation of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. Eleven years later, that vision has taken root in India’s policy priorities, reshaping the country’s economic, social, and governance landscapes. Far from being symbolic, the promise of inclusivity ~ Sabka Vishwas ~ has been woven into the government’s delivery mechanisms, impacting citizens across religious, regional, and class divides, including India’s Muslim population, often perceived as underserved by the state in earlier decades.
Over the past eleven years, India has grown into the world’s fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP, with a consistent annual growth rate of 6-7 per cent. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India is projected to become the third largest economy by 2027. This economic leap has been underpinned by structural reforms: the Goods and Services Tax (GST) unified a fragmented tax regime; Make in India, Startup India, and Production Linked Incentives (PLI) catalyzed domestic manufacturing and entrepreneurship. India’s dramatic rise in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings ~ from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2019 ~ reflected regulatory simplification and growing investor confidence. Meanwhile, anti-corruption initiatives such as Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), Aadhaar-linked services, and digitized welfare schemes drastically reduced leakages in public subsidies, bringing transparency to the heart of governance.
In the past eleven years, India’s development model has undergone a structural transformation ~ anchored in digital governance and last-mile service delivery. At the heart of this transformation lies the Jan Dhan Yojana and Aadhaar linkage, creating a robust JAM (Jan Dhan– Aadhaar–Mobile) infrastructure. As of mid-2025, over 55 crore citizens hold active Jan Dhan accounts with deposits exceeding Rs 2.6 lakh crore, of which 30 crore are Aadhaar-linked. These accounts ~ 67 per cent in rural or semi-urban areas and 55 per cent owned by women ~ have not only enabled seamless Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) but also driven down subsidy leakages.
The issuance of 16.8 crore Rupay cards and the integration of mobile platforms have brought dignity and financial agency to millions, institutionalizing a welfare architecture rooted in inclusion, efficiency, and transparency. This same commitment to inclusion has extended to India’s Scheduled Tribes through historic investments in tribal empowerment and infrastructure. With a 73 per cent budget hike in FY 2024-25 and the rollout of PM-JANMAN for PVTGs, government initiatives now touch every aspect of tribal life, from housing under PMAY to rural roads under PMGSY. Meanwhile, India’s solar energy surge ~ crossing 105 GW in capacity ~ has not only powered rural homes thro – ugh rooftop solar schemes like PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana but also strengthened the country’s energy independence.
Under Mr Modi’s leadership, India has significantly mo – dernized its border and internal security infrastructure. Through initiatives like the BRO, Bharatmala, and Vibrant Village Programme, thousands of kilometers of roads, rail links, and air – strips have been built in critical areas such as Arunachal, Ladakh, and Kashmir to boost strategic mobility. Civil defense drills like “Operation Abhyaas” have imp – ro ved national preparedness, while border surveillance has intensified with thermal sensors, UAV patrols, and smart fencing. On the defense and cybersecurity front, the government has tripled defense spending, scaled up indigenous production of advanced systems like Rafale jets and INS Vikrant, and increased defense exports.
Agencies like the NIA, aided by AI and advanced databases, are effectively targeting terror networks. Cybersecurity capacity has also expanded, with institutions like CERT-IN, I4C, and NCIIPC enhancing resilience through training, monitoring, and rapid response. India’s national security strategy has seen a decisive shift, marked by bold actions and rapid modernization. The 2019 Balakot airstrikes showcased India’s willingness to carry out precision strikes on terror bases, while Operation Sindoor in 2025 demonstrated advanced multi-domain warfare, neutralizing terror camps within minutes without crossing the LoC. These operations highlight a new doctrine of swift, calibrated retaliation against terrorism. This assertive posture is backed by significant defence modernization.
Post-Sindoor, India approved Rs 1.05 lakh crore in defence acquisitions, focusing on indigenous systems like QRSAMs and electronic warfare gear. A Rs 27,000 crore space surveillance programme and upgrades to fighter jets, missiles, and anti-drone tech further reinforce national security. Together, these steps reflect a confident, self-reliant, and tech-driven defence strategy. One of the defining features of the Modi era has been infrastructure expansion. More than 75,000 km of national highways have been constructed, while projects like Bharatmala, Gati Shakti, and Udaan have connected once-remote areas. India has doubled the number of operational airports, and railway electrification now covers over 80 per cent of broad gauge routes.
The Jal Jeevan Mission has connected over 14 crore rural households with tap water ~ an enormous leap from just 3.2 crore in 2019. By 2018, all Indian villages had been electrified, and the Swachh Bharat Mission made over 600,000 villages open defecation free ~ an achievement that speaks volumes about behavioral change and state outreach. In Jammu & Kashmir, the operationalization of the 272 km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla rail link, including the Chenab Rail Bridge ~ the highest in the world ~ has revolutionized all-weather connectivity, with strategic advantages for both civilian mobility and tourism.
The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, the world’s largest gov er nm – ent-run health insurance scheme, now covers over 55 crore individuals, many of them from economically vulnerable communities. Education reform came with the National Education Policy 2020, the first overhaul in decades, promoting multilingualism, vocational training, and academic flexibility. Imp – ort antly, over 50 lakh scholarships have been granted to minority students, including Muslims, during this period. Minority enrollment in higher education has seen a noticeable uptick ~ laying the foundation for longterm social mobility. Inclusiveness is not just a catchphrase.
A working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) revealed that the poorest 20 percent of Muslim households witnessed the highest improvements in access to electricity (up 71 per cent) and bank accounts (up 19 per cent) between 2015 and 2021. Data from the Ministry of Finance show that Muslims hold over 42 per cent of Jan Dhan accounts ~ signifying deeper financial integration. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has allocated 31 per cent of its housing to minority-dominated areas, reinforcing the government’s commitment to equitable resource allocation. Targeted initiatives have further ensured that India’s Muslims are not left behind. Educational schemes such as Nai Udaan (for civil service aspirants), Padho Pard esh (subsidized overseas education loans), and scholarships via the Maulana Azad Education Foundation have widened the educational base.
Economically, USTTAD and Seekho aur Kamao are reviving and monetizing traditional Muslim crafts, from calligraphy to embroidery. Under PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Muslims constitute 22.7 per cent of beneficiaries ~ making them the largest minority group covered by this flagship skill initiative. Access to Mudra loans has allowed thousands of Muslim entrepreneurs to start small businesses, driving grassroots-level growth. On healthcare, access under Ayushman Bharat and social security schemes such as Atal Pension Yojana have benefited Muslim communities in both urban and rural areas. Covid-era measures like free ration distribution also had targeted outreach, helping vulnerable groups irrespective of religion.The Triple Talaq Act gave legal recourse to Muslim women against arbitrary divorce, while the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2022 modernized religious property governance and ensured female representation.
Simplification of the Haj process, digitalization, and provision of direct flights have made the pilgrimage more accessible and dignified. In eleven years, Prime Minister Modi’s governance has transitioned India from a patchwork welfare state to a data-driven, digitally enabled, infrastructure-focused engine of inclusive growth. This transformation is neither accidental nor superficial ~ it stems from deliberate policy design aimed at improving last mile delivery and dismantling systemic bottlenecks. The benefits have reached far and wide, including the often-marginalized Muslim community, which now has stronger access to education, employment, healthcare, and housing than ever before. The government’s model combines niti (policy) with niyat (intent) – grounding development in equity and efficiency.
PM Modi’s leadership has drawn admiration not only within India but also across global corridors of power. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon praised Modi for “taking 400 million people out of poverty,” calling his work “unbelievable” and worth emulating. Former Canadian PM Stephen Harper noted that India under Modi has become a “selfdefined global democratic partner,” while UK’s Lord German called India “a global powerhouse in growth and technology.” International institutions echo this praise.
The IMF has labeled India “a bright spot” in the global economy, citing resilience and reform. At the UNGA, Modi declared, “When India reforms, the world transforms,” reflecting the global impact of initiatives like UPI, Co-WIN, and renewable energy leadership. Together, these recognitions affirm that Modi’s policies have not only reshaped India ~ but elevated its global standing. Of course, the journey is far from over. As India looks to its next chapter, it must deepen democratic participation, strengthen institutional accountability, and continue expanding opportunities for all communities. The idea of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas is no longer a mere slogan ~ it is becoming a lived reality. The next phase must consolidate these gains, ensuring that India’s growth remains as inclusive as it is aspirational.
(The writer, a PhD from Jamia Millia Islamia, is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi)