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New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi enters his 25th consecutive year at the head of an elected government — first as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001 and then as Prime Minister of India since 2014 — it is not just a political milestone, but a civilizational pivot.
Such longevity is rare in a democracy as large, diverse and controversial as India. But even rarer is the transformative scale of change that a single leader has overseen – changes that take many nations to strive for in generations, if ever.
India today is not only progressing; It is being redefined – structurally, psychologically and morally. A new governance model has emerged: accountable, results-driven, participatory and generationally transformative. The Modi era is not just an era of leadership; This is an era of reimagining.
Akhilesh Mishra, CEO, Bluecraft Digital Foundation, outlines five unmistakable changes that define and exemplify the transformative impact of the Modi era.
Accountable governance: from anecdotes to analysis
Before 2014, governance in India was opaque, process-driven rather than result-oriented and allergic to accountability. Goals were set without deadlines, and results, if at all, were tracked loosely.
Under PM Modi, this has changed irreversibly. Dashboards, real-time monitoring and data-driven decision making are now the default norms in ministries. Schemes like Swachh Bharat, Jal Jeevan Mission and PM Awas Yojana are monitored with GPS-tagged assets, live dashboards and performance audits. Governance is no longer in paperwork, but in measurable results. The culture of “delivery” has replaced the legacy of drift.
From ‘Chalta Hai’ to ‘Badal Sakta Hai’: A nation’s changed mindset
India’s political culture was long defined by fatalism – the notorious “chalta hai” attitude. This changed dramatically under PM Modi. Today, the country believes in “change” – and this belief is supported by results.
In 2014, the previous government had set a target of 2043 for India to become the world’s third largest economy. Today, that milestone is within reach by 2027 – nearly two decades ahead of schedule. The change in national character is evident: from passive acceptance to confident aspiration.
Security policy presents another glaring contradiction. The timid reactions after 26/11 have now been replaced by assertive principles – Balakot, surgical strikes and a clear message: India will no longer be a silent victim. This is not just a tactical shift, but a psychological shift – an assertion of sovereignty and self-respect.
From “Ye Kaise Hoga?” to “How will it happen?”: Mission mode governance
Before 2014, India’s ambitions were often stalled at the altar of bureaucratic inertia and defeatism. “How would it be?” (How will this ever happen?) was a common belief in ministries and drawing rooms alike. Today, it has been replaced by a new mentality: “How could it not?” (How can this not happen?)
Take financial inclusion: Despite decades of rhetoric, as of 2014 only 58 percent of Indians had bank accounts. Within a year of PM Modi’s Jan Dhan Yojana, this number increased to more than 90 percent. Today, there are over 500 million Jan Dhan accounts in India – the largest such network in the world.
Or consider Article 370 – which was long considered politically untouchable. Was cancelled. Ram temple? Under construction. These are not just policies – they are symbols of a nation reclaiming its will. A “mission mode” approach now defines government functioning – with timelines, accountability and resolve.
A national recognition: “This is our time”
More than policy, what Prime Minister Modi has catalyzed is belief – a widespread, cross-generational conviction that this is India’s moment.
Be it standing up to China at Galwan, exposing global hypocrisy, or launching the Chandrayaan mission to the Moon’s south pole – India today acts with the confidence of a civilizational power that has finally woken up. No more hesitation, no more respect – India’s voice in global diplomacy, trade negotiations and multilateral forums is now that of a leader, not a supplicant.
This same belief is seen in India’s startup boom, its Olympic medal tally, its booming stock market and its digital public infrastructure. This is not just economic or geopolitical development – it is a manifestation of national self-confidence.
Civilizational Renaissance: A Nation Rediscovers Its Soul
While GDP growth, infrastructure and technology grab the headlines, PM Modi’s deepest legacy may be cultural: rekindling India’s civilizational confidence.
For decades, India was taught to view its traditions with suspicion, its identity as backward-looking, and its heritage as incompatible with modernity. PM Modi’s India challenges that narrative. From the grand new Parliament House to the cultural diplomacy of the G20, from the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor to the Ram Temple, a glorious civilizational consciousness is back at the center of national life.
This renaissance is not about nostalgia; It is about reconciling modernity with eternal values. This is India saying to the world: We are not just growing – we are returning. And in that return lies the future of the world’s largest democracy.
–IANS
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