The 12 Modi years

On 16 May 2014 the people of India gave an electoral verdict that changed the country decisively. Over the past 12 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has guided India with a visionary blend of resolve, empathy, and bold decision-making, crafting a vibrant narrative of progress that intertwines social equity, economic vitality, strategic strength, cultural revival, and a determined fight against external threats like Pakistan-based terror and internal threats like Naxalism.

His hands-on leadership has addressed the aspirations of 1.4 billion citizens, propelling India to global prominence and rewriting her destiny with a legacy of transformative promise. This is a story of Bharat’s remarkable odyssey, shaped by PM Modi’s unwavering commitment to a new era – a journey that, in the 12th year, has been enriched by landmark milestones such as GST Reforms 2.0, the fulfilment of the Naxal-free India promise, and India’s resilient economic ascent as the world’s fastest-growing major economy in a rather turbulent global scenario.

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This illustrious journey began in 2014 with a powerful call for dignity and health through the Swachh Bharat Mission. Launched on 2 October 2014, PM Modi championed this movement, inspiring millions to embrace sanitation as a collective responsibility. Under his guidance, over 120 million toilets were constructed, achieving 100 per cent Open Defecation Free status in rural India by 2019. This triumph transformed India’s public health and empowered women with safe facilities. Riding this momentum, PM Modi turned to technology in 2015, unveiling the Digital India initiative to bridge divides and empower citizens.

His foresight in harnessing digital tools sparked a revolution, with over 1.2 billion Aadhaar cards linking people to services and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) redefining global finance by handling 50 per cent of the world’s digital transactions by volume. By extending internet access to rural heartlands, the PM positioned India as a digital superpower, connecting aspirations to opportunities with his relentless drive. In 2016, PM Modi’s resolve to safeguard Bharat’s security reshaped its approach to external threats.

Authorising surgical strikes against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, followed by the Balakot airstrike in 2019 and Operation Sindoor in 2025, he treated terrorism as an act of war, blending military precision with diplomatic efforts to isolate state sponsors. The zero-tolerance policy strengthened India’s global anti-terror stance, ensuring national security remained a cornerstone of his leadership. Economic unity followed in 2017 with the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a bold reform navigated through complex challenges. By unifying a fragmented tax system into a single, nationwide framework, the PM streamlined trade, boosted revenue – crossing Rs 2 lakh crore in 2024 – and fostered integration.

This transformative step underscored commitment to a cohesive, prosperous Bharat, cementing his legacy as a reformer with a vision for economic vitality. Building on this strong foundation, the government initiated GST Reforms 2.0 in September 2025, which led to comprehensive rationalisation and simplification of the GST structure. The shift to a streamlined two-slab system (primarily 5 and 18 per cent, with essentials at nil or lower rates) has eased compliance, reduced the tax burden on households and businesses, boosted affordability for common citizens, and enhanced India’s ease of doing business – marking yet another decisive step in economic empowerment. PM Modi’s compassion for the underprivileged shone brightly in 2018 with Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest government- funded healthcare scheme.

Providing up to Rs 5 lakh annually to over 500 million people, it slashed medical costs, while thousands of Health and Wellness Centres brought care to remote areas. Modi’s personal oversight ensured this initiative became a lifeline, reflecting his deep empathy for those on society’s margins. In parallel, uplift of marginalised communities unfolded through several welfare schemes from 2016 onwards. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana housed millions, Ujjwala Yojana delivered free LPG connections to over 100 million households, and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi supported farmers with direct income. Each programme, closely monitored by the PM, wove inclusivity into Bharat’s fabric, ensuring access to basic needs and financial stability for millions.

A historic milestone arrived in 2019 with the abrogation of Article 370, conclusively integrating Jammu and Kashmir with India. Through meticulous planning, PM Modi reorganised the region into two Union Territories, curbing separatism and spurring development. This bold act, driven by his vision of a unified nation, reinforced India’s sovereignty and marked a defining moment in his tenure. That same year, PM Modi launched the Jal Jeevan Mission, pledging piped drinking water to every rural household by 2024. His relentless focus saw over 80 per cent of households gain access by 2025, easing the burdens of women in water-scarce regions and improving health outcomes.

In 2020, as the world grappled with the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, PM Modi demonstrated hands-on leadership and decisive governance. Unlike many other countries that were caught unawares, he acted swiftly by imposing a nationwide lockdown in March 2020, which effectively slowed the initial spread of the virus and bought critical time for the healthcare system to prepare and ramp up infrastructure. Under his oversight, India mounted one of the world’s most disciplined responses – scaling up testing, oxygen production, and hospital capacity at record speed. This was followed by a historic vaccination drive that administered over 2.2 billion doses, making India the fastest country globally to achieve such scale through robust digital enablement via CoWIN and seamless public-private coordination.

As a parallel measure to shield the economy and turn the crisis into opportunity, PM Modi announced the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, giving a massive boost to domestic manufacturing. Building on this foundation, his Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision further transformed India’s self-reliance landscape – championing indigenous production in defence (Akash missile, BrahMos, Tejas aircraft) and beyond, while creating the Chief of Defence Staff post to strengthen strategic deterrence. Through this integrated approach of crisis management, economic resilience, and self-reliance, PM Modi converted a global challenge into a catalyst for long-term national strength.

Running alongside these achievements was PM Modi’s unwavering resolve to eradicate Naxalism, a mission that became a cornerstone of Home Minister Amit Shah’s internal security mission. Since 2014, the Modi government has pursued a multi-pronged strategy, combining robust security operations with development and community engagement in Naxal-affected regions. Coordinated efforts have reduced Naxal influence dramatically. The PM effectively addressed the root causes of insurgency, bringing roads, schools, and economic opportunities to the remotest areas. In March 2025, Home Minister Shah set an ambitious deadline of March 2026 for a Naxal-free India, reviewing progress to ensure security forces and development agencies work in tandem.

This transformative approach has now delivered fully on the promise—eliminating Naxal violence and making India Naxal-free in March 2026. Once-volatile regions have been restored to peace and hope, reinforcing the PM’s vision of a united, secure Bharat where every citizen thrives. Connectivity, another pillar of the PM’s legacy, reshaped Bharat’s landscape from 2014 to 2025. Over 65,000 km of national highways, high-speed rail projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, and modernised airports and ports emerged under his Bharatmala and Sagarmala initiatives. His commitment to world-class infrastructure knit India closer, fuelling economic growth and regional integration.

January 2024 marked a civilisational culmination with the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a deeply personal fulfilment for PM Modi. Facilitated by the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict and overseen by his government, the temple’s consecration symbolised a cultural resurgence, uniting millions in pride and identity. The PM’s involvement underscored his commitment to Bharat’s heritage as a cornerstone of her modern identity. Modi 3.0 which started its tenure in June 2024 was quick to lap up two massive successes – the Waqf Amendment Act and Operation Sindoor. The Waqf Amendment Act, passed in early April 2025, brought much-needed transparency and accountability to the opaque waqf system through mandatory audits, digitisation, and inclusion of non-Muslims in boards.

It curbed arbitrary land claims, empowered women, and aimed to unlock underutilized assets for public welfare. Operation Sindoor, launched on 7 May 2025, was a swift and precise military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Indian forces struck terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, eliminating over 100 militants and destroying key infrastructure of Lashkar and Jaish, reinforcing zero-tolerance on terrorism. In the 12th year, these successes have been amplified by India’s continued position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. The Modi government has maintained impressive fiscal prudence while ensuring the nation remained unimpacted by the US-Iran war, demonstrating remarkable macroeconomic resilience and stability amid global turbulence.

Bharat has crafted a remarkable narrative of modernisation, inclusivity, security, and cultural pride. From sanitation to digital empowerment, from Operation Sindoor to a Naxal-free Bharat, from the original GST to GST Reforms 2.0, from economic resilience as the fastest-growing economy to sacred milestones, Modi’s strategic foresight and execution have addressed the diverse needs of a billion-plus nation. As India stands tall as a global powerhouse, PM Modi’s legacy is a testament to a Bharat reborn, poised for a future of boundless possibilities.

(The writer is national spokesperson of BJP, and an author.)