Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the significant milestone of completing 12 years in office. Speaking at the Bharat Mandapam, the Prime Minister highlighted the transformative journey India has undertaken since 2014. With this tenure, PM Modi has also set a record for being the longest-serving Prime Minister of the country, while during his address, he expressed deep gratitude for the honor bestowed upon him, stating that serving 'Bharat Mata' for such an extended period is only possible through special divine grace. For him, the citizens of the country represent the form of God, and he has always viewed this service as a spiritual practice or 'Adhyatmik Sadhana'.
A Collective Effort for National Growth
The Prime Minister emphasized that his journey has not been a solitary one but a collective 'Yagya' or sacrifice, where numerous colleagues and citizens have contributed with a sense of duty. He praised the wisdom and maturity of the Indian electorate, noting that the people have understood the critical importance of political stability at the national level. According to PM Modi, it's this maturity of the 'Janata Janardan' that has allowed him to serve in this position for so long. He noted that the country is now witnessing the tangible results of a stable government, which was a distant dream in previous decades. Reflecting on the 2014 victory, he recalled saying that a new hope had dawned in the common man, and protecting that hope was a major responsibility for the government.
Economic Transformation and the End of 'Congress Growth Rate'
PM Modi stated that today, every citizen is filled with the dream of a 'Developed India', which has become a collective resolve. He highlighted that a major success of the NDA's 12 years is that the country is now free from the 'vicious cycle' of the Congress. He criticized the previous administration for pushing the country into a pit of helplessness and inferiority, while he remarked that the country was once made to believe that rapid development was impossible in India, cleverly labeling slow growth as the 'Hindu Growth Rate'. However, the PM asserted that this culture should have actually been called the 'Congress Growth Rate'. He credited the first NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee for showing a glimpse of how development could be accelerated, though the country later fell back into instability and scams between 2004 and 2014.
From Fragile Five to Global Leader
The Prime Minister highlighted the economic shift that occurred after 2014 when intention, policy, and decision-making aligned. 7 percent in 2025-26.8 percent. He emphasized that this success wasn't easy, as India moved out of the 'Fragile Five' category to become the world's fastest-growing economy. This stability, he said, has been maintained even during volatile global periods, proving the strength of the Indian system.
Infrastructure and Digital Revolution
The Prime Minister provided a detailed comparison of India's progress between 2014 and the projections for 2026. In 2014, there were 74 airports, a number expected to exceed 160 by 2026. Similarly, expressways have expanded from 1,000 kilometers in 2014 to a projected 6,700 kilometers by 2026. Metro services, which were limited to only five cities in 2014, will be available in more than twenty cities by 2026. In the defense sector, exports have surged from 700 crore rupees in 2014 to an expected 23,000 crore rupees by 2026. The digital landscape has also seen a massive shift, with internet users growing from 25 crore in 2014 to over 100 crore today. India has also become the global leader in digital transactions, moving away from a system that used to stall work to one that ensures immediate results. PM Modi concluded by stating that the middle class is the carrier of the country's aspirations, and a 'Developed India' is being nurtured within the womb of today's aspirational India.