· Associated with the RSS since childhood
· Assisted his father at a tea stall
· A leader who rose through the ranks within the BJP
· Holds the record as the second longest-serving leader in the country’s
history
· Took bold decisions, such as the abrogation of Article 370
· Realized the dream of constructing the Ayodhya Ram Mandir
· Ensured protection for Muslim women through the Triple Talaq Bill
· Credited with having June 21st declared as International Yoga Day
· Continues to provide effective governance that delivers tangible results
· Successfully cultivated favorable relations with global superpowers
Narendra Damodardas Modi currently serves as the 14th Prime Minister of our country. Having served as Prime Minister since 2014, he previously held the office of Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014. Currently, he represents the Varanasi parliamentary constituency. Having begun his career as a Rashtriya Swayamsevak (RSS volunteer), he has set a record as the longest-serving non-Congress Prime Minister in the nation’s history. Modi was born in 1950 in Vadnagar (currently in Gujarat), which was then part of the undivided Bombay State. His father’s name was Damodardas Mulchand Modi, and his mother’s name was Heeraben Modi. Modi is the third of their six children. His father ran a tea stall at the Vadnagar railway station. At a very young age, he assisted his father in selling tea. This demonstrates his hardworking nature. In 1967, Narendra Modi completed his higher secondary education in Vadnagar. During his student days, he displayed a keen interest in theatre and actively participated in elocution competitions. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delhi in 1978. In 1983, he completed his post-graduation in Political Science from Gujarat University. He was introduced to the RSS at the age of eight. Laxmanrao Inamdar inducted him as a Bala Swayamsevak (child volunteer); Inamdar later became his political mentor. In 1971, he joined the RSS in Gujarat as a full-time Karyakarta (worker). During his youth, he served in the NCC. In 1985, the RSS deputed him to the BJP. He rose through the party ranks, eventually becoming the General Secretary by 1998. He assisted in organizing Advani’s Rath Yatra in 1990 and Murli Manohar Joshi’s ‘Ekta Yatra’ in 1991–92. He played a pivotal role in the BJP’s victory in the Gujarat Assembly elections held in 1995. That same year, he was transferred to Delhi, where he assumed responsibility for party affairs in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. In 1998, he earned widespread acclaim for playing a crucial role in helping the BJP secure an absolute majority and come to power in Gujarat. That same year, he was promoted to the position of BJP General Secretary. In 2001, following the earthquake in Bhuj—during which Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel’s performance drew criticism, compounded by his deteriorating health—Narendra Modi was appointed as the Chief Minister. On February 27, 2002, near Godhra, religious fanatics set fire to train coaches carrying Kar Sevaks (volunteers), resulting in the death of over 60 people who were burned alive. This incident triggered riots in Godhra. The then UPA government’s attempts to hold Modi responsible for these riots and somehow send him to jail ultimately proved futile. Eventually, with the Supreme Court also affirming his innocence, he emerged completely vindicated.
He served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for four terms. The developmental initiatives he undertook in Gujarat garnered widespread acclaim. Today, across the nation, the “Gujarat Model” has evolved into a distinct brand synonymous with development. He steered the BJP to victory in the Lok Sabha elections held in 2014, 2019, and 2024. Under the slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (Support of All, Development for All), he focused his efforts on development, national security, and social welfare programs. It is noteworthy that Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister to have been born after India attained independence. Furthermore, the profound influence of Swami Vivekananda on Modi’s life is a significant aspect worth noting.
In 2014—for the first time since 1984—a single political party secured an absolute majority. During this period, coalition governments were in power. Consequently, the years between 1984 and 2014 are regarded in our nation’s history as the “Era of Coalition Governments.” The Modi government significantly boosted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Through initiatives such as UPI payments and Digital India, internet connectivity was made accessible even to rural areas. Schemes like Ayushman Bharat, PM Kisan, and Ujjwala Yojana were introduced. The construction of Vande Bharat Express trains, new highways, and airports is proceeding at a rapid pace. He played a pivotal role in securing the United Nations’ recognition of June 21st as the International Day of Yoga. By removing the red beacons from official vehicles, the “VVIP culture” was abolished. Transparency was enhanced by ensuring that benefits were deposited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, thereby minimizing the involvement of intermediaries. He brought Hindu cultural nationalism into the political mainstream. He took bold decisions, such as revoking the special autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir through the abrogation of Article 370. Moving away from the nation’s previous policy of neutrality, his diplomatic approach positioned India as a key global player on the international stage. Following the Supreme Court verdict that resolved the decades-long Ram Janmabhoomi dispute, the Modi government constituted the “Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra” Trust. On January 22, 2024, the consecration ceremony (Prana Pratishtha) of the Ram Temple was performed by Modi. This stands as a historic milestone in India’s cultural history. Providing protection to Muslim women, the “Triple Talaq” law was brought into force in 2019. Abolishing indirect taxes, a single nationwide tax—GST—was implemented. In a sensational move aimed at eradicating black money and counterfeit currency, a decision was taken to demonetize 500 and 1000 rupee notes. This initiative played a pivotal role in steering the nation toward digital payments. Through surgical strikes, it was unequivocally demonstrated that India had shifted its policy regarding terrorism. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was enacted to grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Jains, and Parsis who had migrated to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan after facing religious persecution. In 2023, a historic bill was enacted to provide 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies; this legislation is known as the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.’
Narendra Modi is also an author; he penned a book titled “Exam Warriors” specifically for children. He ranks among the global leaders with the largest following on social media platforms.
To date, Narendra Modi has received over 29 awards from various nations. He has set a historical record as the Indian leader to have garnered the highest number of accolades. In addition to these, he also received the ‘Champions of the Earth’ award (2018) from the United Nations. These international awards are not merely personal honors; rather, they serve as symbols of the robust diplomatic ties shared between our nation and these respective countries. These awards stand as a testament to India’s emergence as a formidable power on the global stage. Muslim nations such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Palestine have demonstrated their friendship with our country by conferring their highest national honors upon him. The recognition of his leadership by nations like Russia, France, and the United States reflects India’s pivotal role in global peace. Several foreign universities have conferred honorary doctorates upon him. The world-renowned Forbes and TIME magazines have, on multiple occasions, recognized him as one of the most powerful leaders in the world. Since assuming office as Prime Minister in 2014, he has undertaken 99 foreign tours and visited 79 countries to date. His foreign visits serve not merely to foster diplomatic ties but also contribute significantly to enhancing India’s global image across the sectors of defense, investment, and technology.
As of March 30, he set a record as the first Indian to have served the longest cumulative tenure as both a State Chief Minister and the country’s Prime Minister. By that date, he had remained in office for a total of 8,932 days. Prior to this, Pawan Kumar Chamling had served as the Chief Minister of Sikkim (1994–2019) for 8,930 days; Naveen Patnaik as the Chief Minister of Odisha (2000–2024) for 8,848 days; and Jyoti Basu as the Chief Minister of West Bengal (1977–2000) for 8,234 days. In the list of individuals who have served the longest tenure specifically as Prime Minister, Modi currently holds the second position. Jawaharlal Nehru served as Prime Minister for 16 years and 286 days (a total of 6,130 days). To date, he remains the longest-serving Prime Minister of our country. On July 25, 2025, Modi surpassed Indira Gandhi’s record to rise to the second position on this list. Indira Gandhi held the office of Prime Minister for a continuous tenure of 11 years and 59 days. Modi set a record as the first non-Congress leader to serve as Prime Minister for the longest duration, having been elected for three consecutive terms. He is the only leader to have served as a Head of Government continuously—without a single day’s break—from 2001 to the present day. He holds the distinction of having led his party to victory six times at both the state and central levels.
Overall, the Modi government is formulating and implementing plans with the ambitious goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. Currently the world’s fifth-largest economy, India is projected to soon emerge as the third-largest economy globally.
