The Union Cabinet on Tuesday passed a resolution congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years of continuous leadership as the head of a government, tracing his journey from the Gujarat Chief Minister’s office in 2001 to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the resolution marked the period from October 7, 2001, when Modi first became Gujarat Chief Minister, to October 7, 2026. Cabinet colleagues also gave the Prime Minister a standing ovation during the meeting.
From Gujarat to Delhi
The resolution, structured around 10 themes, sought to connect Modi’s governance record in Gujarat with programmes subsequently implemented at the national level. It described his political journey as being guided by the principles of “Nation First” and “Citizen First”.
The Cabinet cited Modi’s electoral mandates in Gujarat and the BJP-led victories in three successive Lok Sabha elections as reflecting what the resolution described as sustained public trust in his leadership.
Modi took oath as Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, and remained in office until 2014. He became Prime Minister on May 26, 2014, and is currently serving his third consecutive term.
Gujarat initiatives highlighted
The resolution highlighted governance initiatives introduced during Modi’s tenure in Gujarat, including SWAGAT, an online grievance-redressal mechanism through which citizens could raise complaints directly with the Chief Minister’s Office.
SWAGAT received the United Nations Public Service Award in 2010. The Cabinet linked the programme to PRAGATI, the national-level platform subsequently introduced to review major projects, resolve implementation bottlenecks and coordinate between the Centre and states.
The resolution also cited Gujarat’s Jyotigram scheme, which separated electricity feeders for agricultural and non-agricultural consumption, as an example of a state initiative that influenced subsequent approaches elsewhere.
Welfare record cited
A significant part of the resolution focused on welfare programmes introduced by the Modi government since 2014.
It cited nearly 60 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts and more than 4 crore houses provided under government programmes. The resolution also referred to estimates that 25 crore people had moved out of multidimensional poverty.
Women’s empowerment was another focus, with the Cabinet pointing to approximately 3.5 crore “Lakhpati Didis” and the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam providing for reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
For farmers, the resolution said transfers under PM-KISAN had crossed Rs 4 lakh crore. It also highlighted PM-JANMAN, which focuses on improving socio-economic conditions among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
Reforms over 12 years
The Cabinet highlighted economic and administrative reforms undertaken since Modi became Prime Minister, including the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax and changes to welfare delivery.
The replacement of colonial-era criminal laws also figured in the resolution, alongside the government’s campaigns on cleanliness, digital payments and locally manufactured products.
The Cabinet characterised these measures as examples of the government’s willingness to pursue reforms despite political challenges. This assessment forms part of the Cabinet’s official appraisal of Modi’s record.
Infrastructure and manufacturing
Infrastructure expansion and efforts to increase domestic manufacturing formed another major component of the resolution.
The Cabinet said public capital expenditure had increased from around Rs 2 lakh crore to more than Rs 12 lakh crore during Modi’s tenure. It also highlighted highway construction, railway electrification and investment in transport infrastructure.
Electronics production had risen from around Rs 2 lakh crore to more than Rs 13 lakh crore, according to figures cited in the resolution.
The Cabinet also referred to the expansion of defence production and India’s push into semiconductor manufacturing as part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on imports.
Technology takes centre stage
The resolution highlighted the government’s use of technology for welfare delivery through the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile architecture and the rapid expansion of the Unified Payments Interface.
It also linked technological development with India’s scientific achievements, including the development of domestic Covid-19 vaccines and the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s successful soft landing near the Moon’s south polar region.
Private-sector participation in the space industry and investments in artificial intelligence, quantum technology and biotechnology were also cited as areas intended to expand India’s technological capabilities.
Security decisions cited
The Cabinet resolution devoted a section to national security, citing the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot air strikes and Operation Sindoor in 2025.
It also listed the abrogation of provisions under Article 370, implementation of One Rank One Pension and creation of the Chief of Defence Staff post among major decisions taken during Modi’s tenure.
The resolution further referred to the government’s approach towards Left-wing extremism and peace initiatives in the Northeast as elements of its security and internal stability policy.
Global role highlighted
India’s diplomatic engagement under Modi was another theme of the Cabinet resolution. It highlighted consensus-building during India’s G20 presidency, engagement through BRICS and the government’s advocacy for countries of the Global South.
The African Union’s admission as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency was cited as a major diplomatic development. The resolution also referred to Vaccine Maitri, under which India supplied Covid-19 vaccines to other countries.
The Cabinet linked these initiatives to what it described as India’s expanding influence in international affairs.
From Bhuj to disaster resilience
The resolution also traced Modi’s experience in disaster management to the reconstruction of Kutch after the devastating 2001 Bhuj earthquake, which occurred months before he became Gujarat Chief Minister.
At the national and international levels, it highlighted India’s role in establishing the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, an initiative focused on strengthening infrastructure against climate and disaster risks.
The Cabinet presented these efforts as part of a broader shift from responding to individual disasters towards building long-term resilience.
Focus on 2047
The resolution concluded by linking the 25-year milestone to the government’s stated goal of making India a developed country by 2047, when the country marks 100 years of Independence.
Vaishnaw said Modi’s longevity in elected executive office reflected public trust as well as the strength of India’s democratic system. The Cabinet’s resolution, however, was an official government assessment of the Prime Minister’s record rather than an independent evaluation of his tenure.
October 7 marks exactly 25 years since Modi first took charge as Gujarat Chief Minister. His uninterrupted tenure as the head of a state or Union government since then has taken him from Gandhinagar to three consecutive terms as Prime Minister, making the milestone a quarter-century of continuous executive leadership.