Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a significant milestone on Wednesday, completing 25 years of continuous leadership in government. To commemorate the occasion, PM Modi offered prayers and performed aarti at the Shri Vinayak Mandir in Sarojini Nagar, Delhi, seeking blessings for the well-being and prosperity of the nation's 140 crore citizens. He reiterated his commitment to serving India with 'utmost dedication'.
A Quarter-Century of Governance
Modi's journey at the helm began on October 7, 2001, when he first took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. After serving over twelve years in the state, he led the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, becoming Prime Minister. He secured re-election in 2019 and 2024, making him the first Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to lead a government for three consecutive terms.
The Union Cabinet, in its meeting, recognized PM Modi's 'extraordinary journey' and passed a resolution congratulating him on his quarter-century of leadership. The resolution, guided by the principle of 'Nation First and Citizen First,' highlighted the connection between initiatives launched during his tenure as Gujarat CM, such as the SWAGAT grievance redressal system and the Jyotigram scheme, and subsequent national programs like PRAGATI.
Nationwide 'Seva Sankalp' Celebrations
The BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are observing this milestone with a month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' (Pledge for Service Campaign), which commenced on September 17. This campaign includes a variety of public service initiatives such as blood donation drives, cleanliness programs, welfare outreach, and cultural exhibitions.
On the milestone day, events were held across various states, featuring torch marches, motorcycle and cycle rallies, and public exhibitions. Delhi hosted the main 'Seva Jyoti' program at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex, attended by several prominent NDA leaders, including Pawan Kalyan, Eknath Shinde, N Chandrababu Naidu, Nara Lokesh, and Chirag Paswan. Traffic restrictions were implemented in central Delhi to facilitate these commemorative events.
Highlighting Key Achievements
The Union Cabinet's resolution cataloged a wide array of achievements under PM Modi's leadership. These include significant welfare schemes like the creation of nearly 60 crore Jan Dhan accounts, the construction of over 4 crore houses, and PM-KISAN transfers exceeding Rs 4 lakh crore. The resolution also cited economic reforms such as GST and UPI, along with advancements in digital welfare delivery.
Infrastructure development, including extensive highway construction and railway electrification, was also noted. Technological strides in electronics, defence, and semiconductor production, along with India's successful COVID-19 vaccine program and the Chandrayaan-3 mission, were celebrated. Furthermore, the resolution acknowledged strategic actions like the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot air strikes, the 2025 Operation Sindoor, the abrogation of Article 370, the implementation of One Rank One Pension, and the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff position. India's growing global influence, demonstrated through its role in the G20 and BRICS, and initiatives like Vaccine Maitri, were also underscored as steps toward a 'developed India' vision for 2047.