History seldom moves in a straight line. Every generation confronts its own challenges and must find answers suited to its time. India’s journey from Independence to the present has been shaped by leaders who responded to the needs of different eras.
When India gained independence in 1947, its leadership faced extraordinary challenges. The country needed to establish democratic institutions, integrate a vast and diverse population, build an administrative framework, develop scientific capabilities, and chart a path toward economic growth despite severe resource constraints.
By 2014, however, India stood at a very different juncture. The challenge was no longer institution-building. Instead, the question was how to make existing institutions more responsive, efficient, and capable of delivering meaningful outcomes to a population of 1.4 billion in an increasingly interconnected world. In many respects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s contribution has been to align governance with the aspirations of a rapidly changing India.
Over the past decade, India has witnessed governance initiatives on a scale rarely seen anywhere in the world. Millions of citizens who had previously remained outside the formal banking system were brought into the financial mainstream. More than 56 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened, making it one of the largest financial inclusion efforts globally. Notably, more than half of these accounts belong to women, underscoring how access to formal financial systems has expanded economic opportunity and strengthened individual empowerment across millions of households. Access to essential services including sanitation, housing, electricity, healthcare, and clean cooking fuel has expanded significantly across the country.
A defining feature of this period has been the strategic use of technology in governance. Prime Minister Modi recognized early that digital transformation would shape the future of public service delivery. Under his lead, India has evolved from being a major consumer of digital technologies to becoming a global innovator in digital public infrastructure. Platforms such as Aadhaar-enabled services, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), CoWIN, and other digital initiatives have demonstrated how technology can be leveraged not merely for convenience but for inclusion, transparency, and empowerment. Today, countries across the world are studying India’s digital governance model. 
The impact of these changes is perhaps most evident in India’s growing international stature. Prime Minister Modi’s leadership has played a significant role in elevating India’s global profile. Having had the privilege of representing India in key diplomatic capitals, including Washington, I have witnessed firsthand the shift in how India is perceived around the world.
The India that engages with the global community today is viewed differently than it was a decade ago. It is increasingly seen as a trusted economic partner, a leader in digital innovation, a voice for the Global South, and an important contributor to conversations on climate action, healthcare, supply chain resilience, emerging technologies, and strategic stability. India’s successful G20 presidency, its advocacy on behalf of developing nations, and its growing influence in shaping future technologies have strengthened its position as an indispensable player on the world stage.
Another defining feature of Prime Minister Modi’s tenure has been the evolution of India’s national security posture. India has long faced the challenge of cross-border terrorism, and successive governments have had to balance restraint, preparedness, and response. In the past decade, however, there has been a visible shift towards a more assertive
approach—one that combines defence preparedness, stronger border infrastructure, intelligence-led operations, diplomatic mobilisation, and a clear message that terrorism and dialogue cannot proceed together.
The 2016 Surgical Strikes across the Line of Control after the Uri terror attack marked an important moment in India’s security policy. India publicly demonstrated its willingness to undertake calibrated counter-terror operations against terrorist launch pads across the border. The 2019 Balakot air strike after the Pulwama attack further reinforced this message, signalling that India’s response to terrorism would not be limited by older assumptions or geographical constraints.
More recently, Operation Sindoor reflected India’s continued resolve against terrorism and its capacity to respond decisively when national security is challenged. I had the privilege of being part of the multi-party parliamentary delegation that engaged policymakers, lawmakers, strategic experts, and opinion leaders across the Americas in the aftermath of the attack. What stood out during these interactions was the growing international understanding of India’s position that terrorism cannot be justified, compartmentalised, or treated as an instrument of state policy.
This operational shift has been accompanied by sustained investment in border infrastructure. Roads, tunnels, bridges, forward airfields, and connectivity projects along India’s northern and western frontiers have improved mobility and operational preparedness. Border regions that were once viewed primarily through a security lens are increasingly being integrated into broader development strategies, bringing both economic opportunity and strategic resilience.
Beyond these specific policies and programmes, the past decade has been marked by a renewed sense of national confidence. Across sectors and regions, there is a growing belief that India can think bigger, move faster, and aspire higher. This confidence is reflected in the ambitions of young entrepreneurs, the achievements of Indian innovators, the growing participation of women in economic life, and the willingness of Indian businesses and startups to compete on a global stage.
As Prime Minister Modi crosses this historic milestone, the significance lies not merely in the length of his tenure but in the scale of transformation he has sought to achieve. The vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 reflects an ambition that extends beyond economic growth alone. It embodies the aspiration to build a developed, inclusive, innovative, and globally influential India by the centenary of Independence.
In a vibrant democracy, history will continue to debate policies, programmes, and outcomes and rightly so. Yet one conclusion is already difficult to ignore: the Modi era has expanded the scale and scope of governance in India. It has sought to make the state more responsive, technology more accessible, development more inclusive, and India more confident in its place in the world.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
