Raman Suri
As India marks the 11th anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership on June 2, 2025, the nation reflects on a remarkable journey of growth, resilience, and bold reforms. Sworn in on May 26, 2014, Modi’s tenure, now in its third term since June 9, 2024, has been a period of unprecedented change across economic, military, legal, and developmental spheres. From empowering the marginalized to positioning India as a global leader, the Modi government’s initiatives over the past 11 years have reshaped the country’s trajectory. Let’s delve into 11 major works-one for each year-that highlight this transformative era, making it a fitting celebration of progress and vision.
Year 1 (2014-15): Launch of Make in India
In September 2014, the Modi government launched the Make in India initiative, a flagship program aimed at transforming India into a global manufacturing hub. By streamlining regulations and promoting ease of doing business, it sought to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and foster innovation. Over the years, this initiative has elevated India to the world’s second-most attractive manufacturing destination, significantly boosting sectors like electronics and defence. This is the reason India has become a global player in manufacturing of defence equipment and done away with middlemen who used to rob India of its money by striking arms deals.
Year 2 (2015-16): Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
Addressing the declining child sex ratio, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme was launched in January 2015 in Panipat, Haryana. This initiative focused on empowering the girl child through education and survival, targeting 100 districts with low child sex ratios. Over the decade, it has contributed to women’s empowerment by promoting gender equality, though challenges like uneven implementation across states and persistent societal biases remain. The program’s emphasis on celebrating daughters-encouraging families to plant five trees at their birth-symbolized a cultural shift championed by Modi.
Year 3 (2016-17): Demonetisation
On November 8, 2016, Modi announced the demonetisation of ?500 and ?1,000 notes, a radical move aimed at curbing black money, corruption, and terror funding. While it forced unaccounted money into the banking system and accelerated digital transactions, the decision sparked widespread debate. Critics highlighted the economic disruption, particularly for the informal sector, with 98.96% of the demonetised notes returning to banks, questioning its effectiveness. Nonetheless, it laid the groundwork for a more transparent financial ecosystem, aligning with Modi’s vision of a digital India.
Year 4 (2017-18): Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Introduced on July 1, 2017, the Goods and Services Tax was a landmark tax reform that unified India’s fragmented tax structure, replacing multiple indirect taxes with a single system. By 2023-24, GST collections reached ?20.18 lakh crore, reflecting an 11.7% rise from the previous year. The reform enhanced interstate trade and transparency, though initial implementation faced criticism for compliance burdens on small businesses. GST has been a cornerstone of Modi’s economic policy, strengthening India’s economic fabric despite ongoing debates over its exclusion of petroleum products. This was for the first time that several businessmen were heard speaking in favour of GST especially when they assessed safety that the Modi government ensured during the recent India-Pak conflict and agreed that paying taxes was in the larger interest of the nation.
Year 5 (2018-19): Ayushman Bharat
Launched in 2018, Ayushman Bharat became the world’s largest government-funded healthcare program, providing ?5 lakh per family per year in health coverage to over 12 crore families. This scheme has significantly reduced the financial burden of medical expenses for the poor, with 44% of beneficiaries in its first year belonging to scheduled castes and tribes. While it has been hailed as a game-changer for healthcare access, gaps in implementation, such as limited hospital networks in rural areas, highlight the need for further expansion to truly achieve universal coverage.
Year 6 (2019-20): Abrogation of Article 370
On August 5, 2019, the Modi government made a historic decision to abrogate Article 370, ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and integrating it fully with India. This move, accompanied by the bifurcation of the state into two Union territories, aimed to foster equal citizenship and extend central welfare schemes to the region. This is the reason why business houses, industrialists and those into travel and tourism are showing keen interest in investing in Jammu and Kashmir now. It was because of abrogation of Article 370 that all central laws were automatically extended to Jammu and Kashmir and women, besides Valmiki Samaj, refugees and Gorkha community got their rights to live with dignity at par with other citizens.
Year 7 (2020-21): Aatmanirbhar Bharat
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Modi unveiled the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in 2020, promoting self-reliance across sectors. With a ?27.1 lakh crore package, it aimed to revive the economy by supporting MSMEs, boosting domestic production, and reducing import dependency. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes under this initiative have attracted investments in electronics and pharmaceuticals, but skeptics argue that deeper structural reforms are needed to make India truly self-reliant, especially in manufacturing, where global competition remains fierce. These gaps too are going to be fulfilled in days to come and India will be one of the top most largest economies of the world.
Year 8 (2021-22): Digital India and UPI Revolution
The Digital India initiative, which gained momentum by 2021, revolutionized India’s payment ecosystem through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). By 2024-25, UPI processed 173.6 billion transactions worth over ?22 lakh crore monthly, accounting for 83% of digital payments in India. This digital transformation has made India a global leader in real-time payments, fostering financial inclusion. However, concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity persist, urging the government to strengthen regulations to protect users which is a global concern and not that of India alone. The opposition which never was in favour of digital payment mode is today convinced and am sure using this very mode to make payments making India leader in reducing its dependency on currency notes
Year 9 (2022-23): Agnipath Scheme
In 2022, the Agnipath scheme was introduced to modernize military recruitment by inducting soldiers, known as Agniveers, for a four-year term, with 25% retained for long-term service. Aimed at reducing the pension burden and creating a younger, tech-savvy force, the scheme has been praised for its forward-thinking approach. Though, it faced resistance from some quarters over job security concerns for recruits post-tenure, reflecting the challenge of balancing modernization with social welfare in defence reforms, yet these very agniveers showed their military might in recent conflict with Pakistan.
Year 10 (2023-24): Overhaul of Criminal Justice Laws
In December 2023, the Modi government replaced colonial-era laws-the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act-with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and BharatiyaSakshya Bill. This overhaul aimed to modernize India’s criminal justice system, enhancing conviction rates and accessibility. Now that these laws are being implemented and proper training is being imparted it will ensure effective enforcement, especially in rural areas thereby delivering justice to people at their doorsteps and in a fast manner.
Year 11 (2024-25): Operation Sindoor and National Security
The Modi government showcased its assertive defence stance with Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack. This operation, alongside earlier strikes like the 2016 Uri surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrike, underscored India’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism. Additionally, Operation Black Forest in April 2025 targeted Maoist insurgents, reflecting a robust internal security strategy. Critics, however, caution against the risk of escalating tensions with neighbors, urging a balanced diplomatic approach but the fact remains that now if at all talks are to be held with a rogue state like Pakistan then it has to be on Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and nothing else. The suspension of the Indus-Water treaty was another water bomb that the Modi government threw at Pakistan. A treaty that deprived India of its legitimate rights to use water for farmers was being given to Pakistan because of wrong policies.
A Legacy of Bold Vision
As the Modi government celebrates 11 years in power, these initiatives reflect a blend of ambition and pragmatism. From economic reforms like GST and Make in India to social welfare programs like Ayushman Bharat and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, the government has prioritized inclusive growth. Its military and legal reforms, such as Agnipath and the criminal justice overhaul, demonstrate a commitment to modernization, while operations like Sindoor highlight a strong national security stance. As India looks to the future under Modi’s third term, this 11-year milestone is not just a celebration of achievements but a call to address unresolved issues with the same vigor that has defined this transformative era.
(The writer is Executive Member J&K BJP)
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