Polity Notes
SHRI. NARENDRA MODI 25 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS GOVERNANCE AS A HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT
Gujarat Chief Minister → Prime Minister of India (2001– 2026)
Narendra Modi’s 25-year milestone is accurately described as 25 years of continuous service as Head of Government. He became Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7 October 2001 and entered his 25th year of such service on 7 October 2026. This combines two different constitutional offices: Chief Minister of Gujarat and Prime Minister of India. He is 15th Prime Minister and 1st Prime Minister of India born after Independence . Modi is also the longest serving continuously elected Prime Minister of India. Jawaharlal Nehru served as Prime Minister for 17 years but his tenure from 1947 to 1952 was as interim Prime minister but not as an elected Prime minister. Similarly Mrs. Indira Gandhi served as Prime Minister for 15 years but not continuously. In states, Mr. Pawan Kumar Chamling served as Chief minster of Sikkim for 24 years and 165 days.
| Full Name | Narendra Damodardas Modi |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 September 1950, Vadnagar, Gujarat |
| Political Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Chief Minister of Gujarat | 7 October 2001 – May 2014 |
| Prime Minister of India | 26 May 2014 – Present |
| 25-year milestone | 7 October 2026 - Completed 25th year as Head of Government |
● The Chief Minister and Prime Minister are different constitutional offices; the common description is continuous service as Head of Government.
AS CHIEF MINISTER OF GUJARAT :(2001–2014)
● Modi assumed office on 7th October 2001 after Gujarat had suffered the devastating Kutch earthquake earlier that year.
● The state faced challenges involving reconstruction, drought, water availability, electricity supply, infrastructure and economic recovery.
● His Gujarat tenure is associated with administrative reform, agriculture, infrastructure, industry and technology-enabled governance.
Governance & Administration
● SWAGAT - technology-based grievance redressal connecting citizens with government administration.
● SWAGAT received the United Nations Public Service Award in 2010.
● Technology-based monitoring and time-bound implementation became recurring governance themes.
● Evening courts were introduced in Gujarat as an access-to-justice initiative.
Agriculture & Water
● Expansion of irrigation and water-management efforts.
● Attention to electricity supply for agriculture and rural areas.
● Jyotigram-related feeder reforms separated agricultural and non-agricultural electricity supply in rural Gujarat.
● Government accounts describe Gujarat as moving toward stronger agricultural performance despite its drought-prone geography.
Industry & Infrastructure
● Industrial development and investment promotion became major policy themes.
● Vibrant Gujarat summits were used as business and investment engagement platforms.
● Roads, electricity, water, urban infrastructure and industrial infrastructure received sustained attention.
Disaster Management
● Post-earthquake reconstruction became an important part of Gujarat’s administrative experience.
● Disaster preparedness and technology-supported management were later presented as lessons from the Gujarat period.
2013 - TRANSITION TO NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
● In 2013, Modi was announced as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
● In 2014, the BJP won an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and the NDA formed the government.
● Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister on 26 May 2014.
● His governance messaging prominently used the idea of 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance'.
FIRST PRIME-MINISTERIAL TERM: 2014–2019
| Initiative | Purpose / Significance |
|---|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana | Financial inclusion and access to formal banking. |
| Swachh Bharat Mission | Sanitation, toilets, cleanliness and behaviour-change campaign. |
| Make in India | Manufacturing, investment and industrial development. |
| Digital India | Digital infrastructure and e-governance. |
| Skill India | Skill development and employability. |
| Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana | LPG access for eligible poor households. |
| Startup India | Entrepreneurship, startups and innovation. |
| UDAN | Regional air connectivity. |
| Goods and Services Tax (2017) | Major indirect-tax reform creating a nationwide GST framework. |
| Saubhagya | Household electrification. |
| Ayushman Bharat / PM-JAY | Large-scale public health protection framework. |
SECOND TERM: 2019–2024 - MAJOR LANDMARKS
| Landmark | Details |
|---|---|
| Article 370-related changes, 2019 | Major constitutional development concerning Jammu & Kashmir. |
| Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 | Reorganised the former State of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories. |
| Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 | Amended the Citizenship Act, 1955. |
| Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 | Law concerning instant triple talaq. |
| National Education Policy, 2020 | Major restructuring framework for school and higher education. |
| COVID-19 response | Lockdown, vaccination, food support, economic measures and digital health systems. |
| Atmanirbhar Bharat | Domestic production, manufacturing and supply-chain resilience. |
| Jal Jeevan Mission | Household tap-water supply became a major rural infrastructure goal. |
| Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 | Constitutional framework for one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, subject to implementation conditions. |
| Chandrayaan-3, 2023 | Successful lunar soft landing near the south-polar region. |
| G20 Presidency, 2023 | New Delhi Summit; African Union admitted as permanent G20 member. |
COVID-19 & ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT
● COVID-19 created a public-health and economic emergency beginning in 2020.
● India implemented nationwide lockdown measures during the early phase.
● The government supported vaccination, food-grain distribution and economic-relief measures.
● India expanded domestic vaccine production and a large vaccination programme.
● Digital systems became important for vaccination registration and certification.
● Atmanirbhar Bharat emphasised domestic manufacturing, supply-chain resilience and strategic capabilities.
WELFARE & SOCIAL-SECTOR ARCHITECTURE
| Area | Major Components |
|---|---|
| Financial inclusion | Jan Dhan + DBT + formal banking |
| Food security | Government food-grain support |
| Housing | PM Awas Yojana |
| Health | Ayushman Bharat / PM-JAY |
| Cooking fuel | Ujjwala |
| Electricity | Saubhagya and electrification |
| Water | Jal Jeevan Mission |
| Farmers | PM-KISAN and agricultural support |
| Sanitation | Swachh Bharat |
| Women | Ujjwala, financial inclusion and constitutional reservation framework |
| Digital delivery | DBT, UPI and digital public infrastructure |
ECONOMY & STRUCTURAL REFORMS
GST: Implemented on 1st July 2017 as a major indirect-tax reform.
IBC: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 created a time-bound insolvency-resolution framework.
UPI: Expanded instant interoperable digital payments.
Jan Dhan + DBT: Built a direct-delivery architecture for many government benefits.
PLI: Production Linked Incentive schemes encouraged manufacturing in selected sectors.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: Promoted domestic production and strategic self-reliance.
Formalisation: Digital payments, tax systems and formal finance expanded the formal economic ecosystem.
DIGITAL INDIA & UPI
● Digital India focused on digital infrastructure and online government services.
● UPI enabled instant interoperable bank-to-bank payments using mobile and QR interfaces.
● Digital public infrastructure became an important part of India's financial and service-delivery ecosystem.
● DBT reduced the need for multiple intermediaries in many welfare transfers.
INFRASTRUCTURE
● National highways and expressways.
● Railway electrification and modernisation.
● Airports and regional connectivity.
● Ports and logistics infrastructure.
● Metro rail and urban transport.
● Rural roads and last-mile connectivity.
● Digital connectivity and public digital infrastructure.
WOMEN, YOUTH & FARMERS
● Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao - girl-child welfare and education awareness.
● Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 - constitutional framework for one-third reservation for women, subject to implementation conditions.
● Skill India - skill development.
● Startup India - entrepreneurship.
● PM-KISAN - direct income support to eligible farmers.
● Ujjwala - cleaner cooking fuel access.
● Jan Dhan - financial inclusion, including for women.
SCIENCE, SPACE & TECHNOLOGY
● Chandrayaan-3 achieved a successful lunar soft landing in August 2023; India became the first country to achieve a soft landing in the lunar south-polar region.
● Digital India and UPI expanded digital public infrastructure.
● Space-sector reforms increased the role of private entities in India's space ecosystem.
● Semiconductor and electronics manufacturing received increasing policy attention.
● Technology-enabled governance became a recurring feature of public-service delivery.
ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE
● International Solar Alliance - international cooperation to expand solar energy.
● LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) - behaviour-focused climate initiative.
● Renewable energy and green-energy investment became major policy themes.
● India's climate diplomacy increasingly linked development needs with energy transition.
FOREIGN POLICY & GLOBAL ROLE
| Theme | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Neighbourhood First | Priority to relations with neighbouring countries. |
| Act East Policy | Stronger engagement with Southeast and East Asia. |
| Indo-Pacific | Expanded strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific. |
| Quad | India, Australia, Japan and United States strategic grouping. |
| G20 | India's 2023 presidency and New Delhi Summit. |
| Global South | Greater emphasis on concerns of developing countries. |
| BRICS | India's 2026 presidency and New Delhi Summit |
| International Solar Alliance | India-led international solar cooperation. |
| Strategic partnerships | Expanded engagement with major powers and regions. |
G20 PRESIDENCY — 2023
● India held the G20 Presidency in 2022–23.
● The New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit was held on 9–10 September 2023.
● The African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during the New Delhi Summit.
● India highlighted development, digital public infrastructure, climate issues and Global South concerns.
DEFENCE & NATIONAL SECURITY
● 2016 — Surgical Strikes became a major national-security event.
● 2019 — Balakot air strike became a major development in India's counter-terror response.
● The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was created to improve coordination and integration among the armed forces.
● Defence manufacturing and indigenous production received stronger policy emphasis.
● Border infrastructure and strategic connectivity were expanded.
● 2025 — Operation Sindoor became a major national-security development.
THIRD TERM: 2024 ONWARDS
● The 2024 Lok Sabha election resulted in the BJP-led NDA forming the Union government.
● BJP did not win a majority on its own in 2024; the NDA formed the union Government with the support of Telugu Desham Party (TDP) and Janta Dal United ( JDU).
● Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term on 9 June 2024.
● He became the second person after Jawaharlal Nehru to serve as Prime Minister for three consecutive terms.
● Hosted BRICS Summit at Bharat Maandapam, New Delhi on 11- 12 September 2026 . India is having a presidency of BRICS for the period (01 - 01 - 2026 to 31- 12-2026 ).
● India will host the 2030 Commonwealth games at Ahmedabad.
● India has filed its application to host 2036 - Olympic Games at Ahmedabad. If our application is accepted by the international Olympic council, India will host the Olympic game for the first time.