When ‘Lok Seva’ Became the Creed of the Pradhan Sevak

Tarun Chugh

June 10, 2026 has been etched in golden letters in the democratic history of India. On this day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed 4,399 consecutive days in office, establishing a record that no elected Prime Minister had achieved since Independence. India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, had served continuously for 4,398 days after the first general elections; by surpassing that mark, Prime Minister Modi has earned the distinction of becoming India's longest continuously serving democratically elected Prime Minister. Having first taken the oath of office on May 26, 2014, this leader of the masses secured the people's unprecedented mandate three successive times-in 2014, 2019 and 2024-proving that when intent is pure and policy is clear, the people repose their trust again and again. Yet this is not merely a play of numbers; it is a testament to the unbroken faith that 140 crore countrymen have placed in their 'Pradhan Sevak'. Prime Minister Modi never called himself the Prime Minister-he called himself the Pradhan Sevak, the prime servant, and over these twelve years he has made the mantra of 'Jan Seva hi Prabhu Seva'-service to the people is service to God-the very purpose of his life.

The soul of these twelve years lives in Prime Minister Modi's own words: "I come from a poor family and I want the poor to receive dignity." This sensitivity has been the greatest capital of this era. For decades after Independence, the slogan of 'Garibi Hatao' echoed across the land, yet poverty remained exactly where it was. Prime Minister Modi transformed the politics of slogans into the politics of outcomes. 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas' became not merely an electoral formula but a philosophy of governance, and it is in this spirit of Antyodaya-reaching the last person in the line-that more than 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty since 2014. Rural poverty, which stood at 26 percent in 2014, has fallen to a mere 5 percent in 2026-a historic decline of 81 percent. This is no accident; it is the fruit of planned, compassionate and relentless effort.

Modi Government realised the dream of a pucca roof over the head of the poor. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, more than 4 crore families received permanent homes, freeing them from the torment of cold, heat and rain, and bringing dignity to the lives of crores of families who once lived in slums and kachcha houses. Under PMAY-Gramin, 3 crore houses have already been handed over, with a target of nearly 5 crore homes by 2029-of which 75 percent are owned by women, the most beautiful picture of respect for Nari Shakti. Over 81 crore countrymen are receiving free foodgrains so that no one sleeps hungry, and this scheme has been further extended for five years from January 1, 2024. The construction of more than 12 crore toilets made 5 lakh villages free of open defecation-ending the indignity of waiting for darkness and bringing about a sharp decline in water-borne diseases.

The task of financial inclusion that banks could not accomplish in a hundred years, Modi Government achieved in a single decade. More than 58 crore Jan Dhan accounts were opened-the largest financial inclusion initiative in the world. Those who had never seen a bank were connected to banking. Through the trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM), more than Rs. 51 lakh crore reached beneficiaries directly in their accounts, and the era of middlemen came to an end. Under the Pradhan Mantri SVANidhi Yojana, collateral-free, easy and affordable loans worth more than Rs. 17 thousand crore reached over 74 lakh street vendors-more than 43 percent of them women beneficiaries and most from OBC/SC/ST communities-liberating them from the clutches of usurious moneylenders. Under the Mudra Yojana, crores of youth received cheap and guarantee-free loans, and through Stand-Up India, loans exceeding Rs. 15,000 crore reached SC/ST entrepreneurs-turning the job-seeker into a job-creator.

This declaration of Prime Minister Modi resides in the heart of every karyakarta: "Hard work never tires me; rather, the smile that hard work brings to the faces of the poor gives me a feeling of immense satisfaction." That same tireless effort was visible in the Jal Jeevan Mission, where nearly 16 crore rural households received tap water at home and 81 percent of families gained access to safe drinking water. Under the Ujjwala Yojana, nearly 11 crore free LPG connections liberated our mothers and sisters from the smoke of the chulha. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, with an outlay of more than Rs. 75,000 crore, set the target of providing rooftop solar to 1 crore families, and connections have already been installed in nearly 37 lakh homes. The PM Vishwakarma Yojana connected 30 lakh traditional artisans, providing training to more than 24 lakh and toolkits to more than 16 lakh-restoring new dignity to India's centuries-old craft tradition. Per capita income rose in a single decade from Rs. 86,000 to more than Rs. 2 lakh.

Modi Government carried the sun of development to those sections of society that had remained in darkness for decades. Under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, an investment of more than Rs. 79,000 crore was directed towards the development of 64 thousand tribal villages and more than 5 crore tribal citizens. Through PM-JANMAN, an investment of over Rs. 24,000 crore took housing, health, nutrition and livelihood schemes to 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. Off-grid solar and lighting reached more than 1 lakh remote tribal homes. Through e-Shram, more than 31 crore unorganised workers were linked to insurance, pension and welfare schemes, and for the first time gig and platform workers were brought within the ambit of social security-1 crore workers received Rs. 5 lakh health cover under Ayushman Bharat. In the Lakhpati Didi Abhiyan, more than 3 crore women became Lakhpati Didis with a target of 6 crore-a living example of 'women-led development'.

The annadata, the farmer, remained paramount for the Modi Government. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, more than Rs. 4.3 lakh crore reached farmers' accounts directly through DBT-and the greatest proof of trust is that, upon becoming Prime Minister for the third time, Prime Minister Modi's very first act was to release the 17th instalment of this scheme. Record procurement worth more than Rs. 26 lakh crore took place at MSP, and procurement of 22 crops at minimum support price gave farmers the guarantee of assured income-procurement during 2014-26 rose by 71 percent over 2004-14. Neem-coated urea saved Rs. 10,000 crore and improved soil health. The budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare grew fivefold from Rs. 27,663 crore to Rs. 1.40 lakh crore, while the fertilizer subsidy tripled to Rs. 2.21 lakh crore. Nearly 26 crore Soil Health Cards and around 8 crore Kisan Credit Card accounts promoted scientific farming. In 2024-25, India achieved record foodgrain production of 357.73 million metric tonnes, became number one in milk production, and agricultural exports crossed $52 billion. Shri Anna (millets) gained global recognition, taking India into the Top-10 in agricultural exports; the e-NAM digital platform empowered the farmer from seed to market-with nearly 2 crore farmers and around 3 lakh traders registered-and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is building modern farm infrastructure. The 'One Acre, One Season' mantra of the National Natural Farming Mission connected more than 18 lakh farmers. This is the foundation of an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' being laid in the village and the field-for as Prime Minister Modi says, "When the traditional knowledge of our farmers, the power of science and Government support come together, not only will our farmers prosper, but our Mother Earth will also remain healthy."

The middle class, which had been a victim of every Government's neglect for decades, was given a new flight by the Modi Government. Prime Minister Modi rightly observes: "Today our middle class is full of confidence, and this is unprecedented. This is, in itself, a great strength for the country." In Budget 2025-26, annual income up to Rs. 12.75 lakh was made tax-free, granting the middle class the largest tax relief ever-tax relief was extended for the fourth time in twelve years, and 88 percent of taxpayers are directly benefiting from it. The Next-Gen GST reform of 2025 simplified taxation by retaining only two slabs of 5 percent and 18 percent, resulting in annual savings of Rs. 48,000 crore for families across the country. The price per GB of data became 97 percent cheaper-what cost Rs. 269 in 2014 now stands at Rs. 8-10. A metro network of 1,155 kilometres now spans 26 cities, whereas in 2014 it existed in only 5; today India's metro network is the third largest in the world. More than 9 crore passengers travelled on the modern Vande Bharat Express, and the dream of the common citizen in 'hawai chappal' flying in an aeroplane became reality through the UDAN scheme, in which more than 1.6 crore people travelled. 'Badlaav dikhta hai'-change is visible-and that is the identity of this era.

'Rashtra Nirman hi Mission'-nation-building is the mission-and with this mantra the Modi Government launched an infrastructure revolution. Expenditure on infrastructure grew sixfold from Rs. 2 lakh crore to Rs. 12.2 lakh crore. A total of 164 Vande Bharat trains made travel smooth and fast, 99.6 percent of the broad gauge railway network was electrified, and world-class trains like the RRTS built multimodal connectivity. The new Parliament building, Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi became symbols of a New India, while hundreds of projects such as the Chenab Bridge, the Pamban Bridge and the Atal Tunnel gave speed to progress. On the economic front, India has emerged as a mahashakti-in 2025-26, India's economy crossed Rs. 345 lakh crore, foreign exchange reserves of nearly Rs. 67 lakh crore now provide 11 months of import cover, direct tax collection in 2024-25 stood at Rs. 27 lakh crore, and FDI of more than Rs. 70 lakh crore flowed in between 2014 and 2025-proof of the world's trust in India. Record exports of Rs. 79 lakh crore were achieved, the PLI scheme generated sales of more than Rs. 20 lakh crore and created over 12 lakh jobs by March 2026, mobile exports grew 163 times, and a total of 9 FTAs were concluded covering 38 countries. UPI transactions grew 12,000 times to reach Rs. 314 lakh crore of digital payments-India is today number one in the world in digital payments, with more than 66 crore average daily transactions on UPI.

GYAN-Garib, Yuva, Annadata and Nari, the poor, the youth, the farmer and women-these are the four pillars through whose empowerment Modi Government is building national capability. Nari Shakti is the axis of this journey. More than 32 crore Jan Dhan accounts belong to women, more than 91 lakh self-help groups have benefited over 10 crore rural women, and more than 4.5 crore PM Sukanya Samriddhi accounts have been opened to secure the future of our daughters. Women constitute 48 percent of directors in DPIIT-recognised startups, and more than 105 crore sanitary pads were provided at just Rs. 1 through Jan Aushadhi Kendras. The transformation of twelve years is visible in the numbers themselves-the sex ratio at birth improved from 918 to 929, institutional deliveries rose from 68 percent to 98 percent, the number of women officers in the security forces grew from 3,000 to more than 11,000, and paid maternity leave was extended from 12 to 26 weeks. This is the living form of 'Nari Shakti Vandan'.

Yuva Shakti was made the engine of New India by the Modi Government. India is the youngest country in the world, and the implementation of the New National Education Policy aligned education with the demands of the 21st century. 2.2 lakh startups were registered, generating more than 23 lakh jobs, and the combined valuation of 120 big startups reached Rs. 33.5 lakh crore. The Semiconductor Mission attracted investment of Rs. 1.60 lakh crore, and 12 semiconductor projects were approved under the Semicon India programme with an investment of Rs. 1.64 lakh crore-the chip that was imported until yesterday will now be made in India. Through Rozgar Melas, nearly 12 lakh appointment letters have been issued, and more than 1.6 crore candidates have been trained under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

A healthy India is the foundation of a strong India, and in this direction the Modi Government has scripted history. Prime Minister Modi's resolve is clear: "India today is working on a vast vision of disease prevention and holistic health." Under Ayushman Bharat, more than 43 crore cards have been issued, and under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana every family receives free treatment of up to Rs. 5 lakh per year; AB-PMJAY has empanelled more than 36,000 hospitals, treated over 12 crore patients and saved citizens more than Rs. 1.25 lakh crore. More than 6 crore senior citizens above the age of 70 received free health cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh. More than 19,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras provide affordable, quality medicines to over 15 lakh people daily, saving citizens more than Rs. 40,000 crore. The number of medical colleges rose from 842 to more than 2100, AIIMS grew from 8 to 23, and MBBS seats increased from 51,348 to 1,28,976-the shortage of doctors was addressed, and the benefit of modern medicine became available within one's own state. For just Rs. 436, an insurance cover of Rs. 2 lakh became available through the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana; under the PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, more than 7.3 crore pregnant women received free check-ups; and under Mission Indradhanush, more than 5.4 crore children received free vaccination so that no child is left behind. By administering more than 220 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses, India demonstrated its capability to the world. This is the healthy, empowered and self-confident picture of a 'Viksit Bharat' that every Indian is now envisioning.

'Rashtra Pratham hi Mantra'-Nation First is the only mantra-and this policy of a strong, prosperous and secure India gave the country a new identity on the world stage. During India's historic G-20 Presidency, the Delhi Declaration was adopted with the consent of 100 percent of the leaders-a diplomatic triumph for India. By opening 39 new embassies between 2014 and 2026, India's missions abroad rose to 219. The India-EU FTA secured tariff concessions on 99 percent of trade value, and the India-New Zealand FTA made all tariff categories duty-free. Foreign remittances exceeding Rs. 13 lakh crore remained the highest in the world, and under Vaccine Maitri, India sent more than 30 crore doses of COVID vaccines to 99 countries-a living example of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. In national security, the policy was zero tolerance against terror-the befitting response after the Uri and Pulwama attacks, and Operation Sindoor as a new doctrine against terrorism, made it clear that the New India strikes back inside the enemy's own home. Defence exports reached a record level of Rs. 38,400 crore, and with the resolve of a Naxal-mukt Bharat, the Red Corridor is now transforming into a Green Growth Zone.

'Virasat bhi, Vikas bhi'-heritage as well as development-this saga of cultural renaissance is the distinctive identity of the Modi era. With 44 UNESCO World Heritage sites, India stands second in the Asia-Pacific; the number of classical languages has risen to 11 668; artefacts have been brought back home-the figure in 2014 was just 13-and more than 12 lakh antiquities and over 11,000 monuments have been digitally preserved. The construction of the grand and divine Ram Mandir at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, the rebuilding of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Mahakal Mahalok and Kedarnath Dham, the rapid development of the Buddha Circuit and the Ram Circuit, and the development of pilgrimage sites worth more than Rs. 1,700 crore under the PRASHAD scheme-all of this symbolises the cultural self-confidence that had been suppressed for decades. Yoga became India's soft power, with 177 countries supporting the observance of International Yoga Day on June 21. With the resolve of liberation from the colonial mindset, Rajpath became Kartavya Path, the Mughal Garden became Amrit Udyan, the Sengol was installed in the new Parliament, 21 islands were named after Param Vir Chakra awardees, Port Blair is now Sri Vijayapuram, and the target of complete freedom from the colonial mindset by 2035 has been set.

From technology to every citizen-Digital India scripted a new definition of ease of living. India's global Ease of Doing Business ranking improved from 142 to 63, more than 6 crore people gained digital literacy under PMGDISHA, and as 'One Nation, One Market', GST collections in 2024-25 exceeded Rs. 22 lakh crore-with the monthly collection touching an all-time high of Rs. 2.42 lakh crore in April 2026. The PRAGATI platform and the Faceless Tax System enhanced transparency. The Northeast, neglected for decades, is now close to both the heart and to Delhi-the Prime Minister himself made more than 83 visits to the Northeast, a new story of development was written in the eight states of the 'Ashtalakshmi', the economy of the Northeast grew threefold, 100 percent railway electrification was achieved in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram, and Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh received air connectivity for the first time. Between 2014 and 2025, 14.3 crore passports were issued-where 91 lakh passports were made annually in 2014, the figure now stands at 1.4 crore-and more than 3.5 lakh overseas Indians were assisted through the Indian Community Welfare Fund.

In the context of Punjab, the contribution of the Modi Government is incomparable. This is the very Punjab that is the land of the Gurus, the soil of martyrs and the annadata of the nation. The reverence with which Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured the faith of this sacred land will remain indelible in history. The construction of the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and the opening of its gateway was that historic decision of Modi Government which ended the seven-decade-long anguish of crores of devotees who, until then, had been unable to pay obeisance at Gurudwara Sri Darbar Sahib across the border. By celebrating the 550th Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the 400th Prakash Parv of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at the national level with grandeur, the Government expressed its profound devotion to the Sikh Guru tradition. The declaration of December 26 as 'Veer Bal Diwas' to inscribe the unparalleled sacrifice of the Sahibzades in the national memory is proof of Prime Minister Modi's sensitivity, which understands the very soul of Punjab. The renovation of the Jallianwala Bagh memorial, giving new life to the memory of the martyrs, is also a part of this same dedication.

Modi Government accorded the highest priority to both the development and the security of Punjab. As a border state, the security of Punjab is the security of the nation-by strengthening modern fencing, anti-drone technology and the Border Security Force, Modi Government took decisive steps towards striking at the cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons. World-class connectivity projects such as the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, the linking of the Vande Bharat Express with Punjab, and the expansion of national highways are connecting Punjab to the mainstream of development. Institutions like AIIMS Bathinda are making world-class healthcare available to the citizens of Punjab within their own state. The hardworking farmers of Punjab have received the greatest benefit from record procurement at MSP, the direct financial assistance of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and the fertilizer subsidy-this is the very Central Government that is giving the annadata of Punjab both respect and security.

It is a matter of misfortune that Punjab has today been placed in the hands of a state Government that fails even to deliver the benefits of the Centre's welfare schemes properly to the people. The people of Punjab understand all too well this gap between the intent of the Centre and the inaction of the state. Modi Government stands ready to extend every possible cooperation for the development of Punjab-whether it be central assistance for de-addiction, incentives for industry, or the development of border areas. The future of Punjab is bright, and with the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', the prosperity of this brave land will be assured.

Prime Minister Modi himself has said: "The real strength of any system lies in its people. It is jan-shakti that becomes rashtra-shakti." This philosophy is the essence of these twelve years. This journey of 4,399 days is not merely a record, but a symbol of that Amrit Kaal of service, good governance and welfare of the poor, in which every Indian is receiving dignity, opportunity and respect. Under the leadership of this Pradhan Sevak, who has made 'Lok Seva hi Sankalp'-public service is the resolve-the mantra of his life, India today marches forward on the path of trust, development and public welfare, advancing with firm steps towards the resolve of a 'Viksit Bharat' and an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' by 2047. This is the New India-one that does not bow, does not stop and does not tire. Every karyakarta of the Bharatiya Janata Party takes pride in this historic achievement and extends heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the nation's illustrious Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji.

(Author is National General Secretary of the BJP)