India’s transformation from an economy weakened by a decade of mismanagement under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to a rare, sought-after bright spot in today’s tumultuous world is a result of various effective policies, including the flagship Make in India initiative. It was launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi 10 years ago to reinvigorate job creation and stimulate economic growth.

The Make in India mission has delivered results that make the country a favoured investment destination. As PM Modi said, it is a roaring success that has made India the focus of global attention and curiosity. It has empowered businesses, especially MSMEs, to produce high-quality goods and transformed several sectors from being importers of sub-standard products to exporters of high-quality goods.

An example of this transformation is toy manufacturing, which has seen a 239% jump in exports while imports have halved. This has helped local manufacturers and sellers, and of course, the children, who were earlier exposed to hazardous, low-quality toys that were imported.

India’s journey has been exciting, and the future looks even more promising. The wide array of policies initiated by the Modi government to encourage investments and provide high-quality goods and services is now bearing fruit.

This exciting journey began from a precarious position. The scam-scarred UPA government had inherited a robust economy with strong macroeconomic fundamentals, but it left behind a mess that made citizens anxious and businesses pessimistic. The economy was in a state of disarray, plagued by high inflation, slow growth, an unstable rupee, vulnerable banking system and a neglected manufacturing sector. On top of that, the UPA government faced a series of corruption scandals involving mind-boggling sums of money.

However, after a decade of PM Modi’s visionary leadership, India has maintained manufacturing momentum despite formidable challenges like two wars and the devastating global pandemic. As the PM rightly said, “Make in India initiative illustrates the collective resolve of 140 crore Indians to make our nation a powerhouse of manufacturing and innovation. It’s noteworthy how exports have risen in various sectors, capacities have been built, and thus, the economy has been strengthened.”

In contrast to the UPA era, which was plagued by scandals, the Modi government has overseen a surge of innovation, with the Startup India initiative leading to the creation of about 15 lakh jobs. These startups are not just creating jobs; they are also providing solutions to reduce food wastage, provide better health care, empower women, help farmers, and improve sanitation. The government is also supporting manufacturing through initiatives like the development of 11 industrial corridors and 20 smart cities, attracting investments of ₹1.7 lakh crore and generating direct and indirect employment for thousands.

Additionally, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are transforming the country’s manufacturing sector. These schemes focus on critical sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and textiles to create ecosystems for sustained growth and ensure global competitiveness. These schemes have attracted ₹1.32 lakh crore in investments to significantly boost manufacturing output. More than 8.5 lakh jobs have been created directly and indirectly through this initiative.

India is now recognised as a key partner in high-tech and emerging technologies. Global companies are eager to invest in India, benefiting from the country’s manpower, management expertise, and improved infrastructure, which allows for efficient operations and competitive pricing in the global market.

Modernising infrastructure has been a key priority, with substantial investments leading to the development of modern highways, expressways, and world-class railway stations. India’s infrastructure spending has increased substantially. This year’s Union Budget allocated a record ₹11,11,111 crore capital expenditure that will have a multiplier effect on the economy and manufacturing.

Investor confidence in India is growing, with foreign CEOs and industry bodies regularly visiting, eager to participate in India’s growth story. For them, India offers the advantage of four Ds: Decisive leadership, demand from a 140 crore population, demographic dividend of a young workforce, and a vibrant democracy.

To support MSMEs, the government has taken numerous steps to improve the ease of doing business, including eliminating 42,000 compliance requirements and removing criminal penalties for minor offences. India has significantly improved its rank in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report, rising from 142nd in 2014 to 63rd in 2019.

The Modi government remains committed to improving the ease of doing business, regularly consulting stakeholders to introduce new, innovative reforms. PM Modi is determined to promote investment, support businesses, and secure a bright future for India’s youth. The Make in India initiative is a major step toward achieving these goals.

On September 25, the country observed 10 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s game-changing ‘Make in India’ initiative that is transforming India’s industrial landscape by encouraging job-creating investments and giving many ordinary citizens the confidence to become wealth creators.

It’s been a remarkable 10-year journey, which gave renewed vigour to industrial sectors turning these into engines of growth, meeting domestic demand as well as contributing to exports. The exciting journey began at a difficult time, when domestic investors were despondent because of the policy paralysis and poor governance by the indecisive Congress government. The economy was down, confidence was shattered, headlines were dominated by a regular dose of corruption scandals, inflation was soaring, interest rates were high and the rupee had an uncertain outlook.

To end the feeling of doom and gloom, the Indian voter decisively voted for PM Modi. Our Prime Minister came with a vision for India. He wanted to ensure that India becomes a global superpower. He wanted India to provide jobs and opportunities to the youth, recognising that manufacturing was critical to the country’s success story. That is when the PM launched the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Ten years has been a remarkable journey, but it would not have been possible but for the multidimensional and transformative changes done by the Modi government. Initiatives include GST, the Bankruptcy Code and a multitude of other reforms. To improve ease of doing business, as many as 42,000 compliance requirements were done away with and 3,700 provisions which provided for criminal penalties for minor offences were removed from various statutes to protect small businesses from harassment. India sharply improved its rank in World Bank’s Doing Business report – from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2019.

The government’s Startup India initiative has encouraged many job seekers to become job creators. This has helped the number of recognised startups increase to 1,40,803 in June this year, bringing in investments and creating more than 15 lakh jobs. These startups are driving the innovation ecosystem in the country, working on solutions to pressing issues in areas such as sanitation, space navigation, reducing food wastage, improving access to healthcare and empowering women.

The development of 11 industrial corridors is another focus area.There are 20 industrial smart cities being developed under the programme, which would help make these corridors the backbone of India’s manufacturing growth. Four of these smart cities have already become magnets of investment with infrastructure and clearances available to set up manufacturing units. Potential investments of ₹1.7 lakh crore are already committed which will provide direct employment to 80,000 persons and indirect to many more.

The government’s PLI schemes focus on critical sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, textiles and medical devices to create the eco-systems for sustained growth and ensure their global competitiveness. The PLI schemes have resulted in ₹1.32 lakh crore in investment and a significant boost in manufacturing output of around ₹11 lakh crore. More than 8.5 lakh jobs have been created directly and indirectly through this initiative.

The PM’s initiatives on infrastructure have been another shot in the arm for manufacturing. Apart from generating demand for goods and services, infrastructure development is a major facilitator of industrial activity. Today, India has a huge, and growing, network of expressways and highways. New, world-class railway stations are being built, while new freight corridors are coming up.

India is increasingly being seen as a very attractive destination for investment. The country provides the 4D advantage – Decisive leadership of PM Modi; Demographic dividend of our youthful, talented, skilled Indians; Demand that 140 crore Indians generate in the economy; and Democracy that ensures the safety and security of investors, and the rule of law which will never allow discrimination against one or the other. The 4D is a very, very compelling case to attract manufacturers to India.

There is a flurry of activity in the investor community. A series of delegations is visiting India, hungry for opportunities to invest and participate in the Indian growth story. Foreign governments and global CEOs are eyeing opportunities in India. Many countries are keen to sign trade deals with India.

The world is now looking at India as a manufacturing destination. And the key reason is India’s own competitive advantage, and robust economic fundamentals. Today, inflation is under control, economic growth is strong and the Modi government is following strict fiscal discipline. This is all the more commendable in the current global situation marred by conflict and uncertainty.

The initiatives of PM Modi have helped India rise from the unenviable situation of being regarded as one of the “Fragile Five” in the world in 2014, to being one of the Top Five. In effect, PM Modi’s initiatives like Make in India have contributed to making the last 10 years a transformational decade – a quantum jump over the lost decade of Congress rule.

At a time when global food supply is stressed by market vulnerability to war, weather and volatility, the situation in India is conspicuously comfortable both for consumers and farmers.

On Thursday, the Union cabinet raised the fair and remunerative price (FPR) of sugarcane by 8%, to benefit farmers, who are already getting the highest cane price in the world, while Gol ensures that Indian consumers get the cheapest sugar in the world. The ex-mill price of sugar has fallen 3.5-4% after the start of the new cane-crushing season. The ethanol-blending programme has boosted the viability of the industry, helping millers clear about 99.5% sugarcane dues in 2022-23. This is the lowest-ever pendency of dues, demonstrating this government’s focus on farmer welfare.

There is a series of such initiatives that combine farmer welfare with con- sumer interest. Earlier this month, the PM once again ensured the supply of grains for citizens at affordable prices with the launch of Bharat Rice’ at 29 a kg, carrying forward his mission to provide nutritious food to every citizen. Thanks to our farmers, Gol is providing free food grains to over 80 crore people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kal- yan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), and very reasonably priced food products for the rest of the population.

The Modi government has always acted swiftly to counter any abnormal rise in prices of sensitive food commodities. Last year, it launched ‘Bharat Dal’ at the highly subsidised rate of 60 a kg, and ‘Bharat Atta’ at 27.50 a kg. Similarly central agencies sell affordable onions. It even supplied tomatoes when prices were soaring, with Gol picking upa large bill for the differential. Sale of ‘Bharat food items has been quickly scaled up and is available at more than 18,000 outlets.

Never before has Gol sold food grains or pulses in the retail market. Last year, as soon as unseasonal rains disrupted tomato supply Gol swung into action and reversed the rise in prices. It has ensured that good quality dal, rice and atta are supplied at moderate rates. These mea- sures are implemented without discrimi- nation, to help every section of society.

Gol has also introduced a dedicated price stabilisation fund to create a buffer of agri-horticultural commodities for prompt market intervention. It took the landmark initiative to ensure availabili- ty and affordability of major pulses and onions with a cumulative budgetary sup- port of 27,489 crore.

Gol has given a strong message that any attempt to hoard supplies or manipulate the market will backfire. While a record wheat harvest is expected in a few mon- ths, Gol is not taking any chances. It has imposed stock limits on wheat and is ready to increase supply in the market.

Every day retail and wholesale prices of 22 essential food commodities are monitored. With inputs from 550 price- monitoring centres in 34 states/UTS, price trends are analysed for taking ap- propriate decisions for release of stocks from the buffer to cool down prices, and imposition of stock limits to prevent hoarding.

Cooking oil prices are at a two-year low following proactive steps, including ch anges in import duties. In the past year, retail prices of mustard oil are down 18.3%, soyabean oil 17.1%, sunflower oil 23.8% and RBD palmolein 12%. Gol is also tak- ing effective steps to control wheat pri- ces. All-India average prices of wheat and atta in the retail and wholesale markets are showing a declining trend.

Gol has restricted exports of wheat, rice and sugar to ensure adequate domestic supply and moderate prices, while mak- ing sure that farmers get remunerative prices. It has stepped up sales of rice and wheat under the ‘Open Market Sales Sch- eme’ to increase domestic supply Laun- ch of Bharat Rice’, which follows a seri- es of other measures, will go a long way in moderating rice prices.

The free-food scheme had helped Indi- ans withstand the pandemic. Post-Covid Gol’s generous welfare schemes conti nue. Gol has already committed 11.80 lakh crore in the next five years under PMGKAY. This scheme carries forward the PM’s record of running welfare sch- emes without compromising on fiscal discipline. Similarly, Gol ensures ethics and discipline in the market for essential food commodities.

As a result, the past decade has been India’s best in inflation control, despite the twin shocks of pandemic and war in Ukraine. This has been achieved despite inheriting a ‘Fragile 5’ economy with double-digit inflation.

Interim Budget proposals will accelerate the process of India achieving developed country status by 2047, aided by PM’s proven approach of sabka saath, sabka vikaas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayas. For this and for the Budget’s special emphasis on garib, yuva, annadata and nari. FM should be applauded.

Welfare with fiscal discipline – What is truly remarkable about the Budget is that generous, targeted welfare measures, a big increase in capital expenditure and fund allocation for work opportunities and employment generation will go hand in hand with fiscal discipline.

Targeted welfare increases purchasing power of beneficiaries and therefore consumption demand. And on fiscal discipline, it must be noted that this remains the focus even when the nation is preparing for general elections. Globally, most investors brace for fiscal recklessness when a country heads for elections, because govts often resort to reckless populism.

Investors cheer – Modi govt is different. Its strict adherence to fiscal discipline ensured that despite the twin shocks of the pandemic and Ukraine crisis, India emerged as the bright spot globally, by combining compassion with sensible economics. This year’s Budget is in the same spirit. Investors recognise this, and it is reflected in global interest in doing business with India. India’s stock markets also reflect this enthusiasm. India’s markets recently overtook Hong Kong to become the world’s fourth largest with a valuation of $4.33 trillion.

No 1 all the way – Capital expenditure has been raised by 11.1 percent to a historic high of Rs 11,11,111 crore. This will further improve and modernize India’s infrastructure, which is already dramatically better than what it was 10 years ago. Higher capital expenditure and implementation of large projects will create numerous opportunities for India’s young.

Modi Guarantee – PM has correctly observed that this year’s Budget is guaranteed to boost India’s Viksit Bharat ambition. The key part of this journey is the empowerment of poor by setting ambitious targets, achieving them and then encouraging even bigger aspirations.

This is evident in Modi govt’s approach to building homes. Govt has already built more than four crore houses for the poor in villages and cities. Govt has now set a target of building another two crore homes for the middle class.

Women-led development – Similarly, the target of creating 2 crore Lakhpati Didis has been increased by 50% to three crore. ASHA and Anganwadi workers will also get the benefit of Ayushman Bharat. Govt has also empowered women with 30 crore mudra loans. Enrolment of women in higher education has increased 28% in the past decade. In education, women constitute 43 percent of students in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses, among the highest in the world.

FM also announced that govt will encourage preventive vaccination against cervical cancer for girls in the 9-14 age group, demonstrating again Modi govt’s compassionate approach. And for synergy in implementation, various schemes for maternal and child care will be brought under one umbrella.

Middle-class gains – In line with govt’s strategy on making life easier for people and prevent harassment, the Budget announced withdrawal of some tax demands in cases where there are disputes. This will provide relief to one crore people. Previous govt had kept these disputes alive for decades. The middle class will also gain from improved infrastructure and the expected sharp increase in job creation.

Golden era for youth – India’s youth have the most to gain from PM’s vision of making India a developed country by 2047. The Budget has emphasized the importance of youth and announced measures to help them with employment opportunities. It has also supported start-ups and announced easy credit for innovators.

FM rightly said that for India’s tech-savvy youth, this will be a golden era. Govt will establish a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore to give interest-free loans for 50 years. This will encourage private companies to scale up research and innovation. FM highlighted the importance of programmes that combine the powers of India’s youth and technology.

Clean and Green – Modi govt is also focused on clean and green development. The Budget takes a giant leap in this direction. The Rooftop Solar Scheme will help one crore families get free electricity up to 300 units. What’s more, people will earn up to Rs 20,000 by selling excess power to the grid. It will also provide opportunities for entrepreneurship.

In many ways, PM has launched the era of sunshine after centuries of struggle. The Budget is an important milestone, laying the foundation of a strong, self-reliant, and confident Bharat 2047.

India is on a mission to become a world leader in providing top quality products that meet the highest global standards. This is in line with PM Modi’s call for ‘zero defect, zero effect’ in manufacturing.

Supply of quality products at competitive rates is a key part of PM’s mission to make India a developed country by 2047. GOI is taking determined steps to ensure ‘Made in India’ branding is a stamp of quality, a branding that both Indian and foreign consumers will delight in equally.

Interests at heart | PM emphasised that a profitable market can be sustained when there is a balance of interests of producers and consumers. A key plank of this strategy is a thrust on Quality Control Orders (QCOs), which mandate that specified products conform to prescribed norms of Bureau of Indian Standards.

This is a boon both for consumers, who are assured reliable, safe and high-quality products, and businesses, which have to deal with increasingly demanding and discerning consumers in the domestic and international markets.

Pulse of consumer |Digital India initiative has helped 140 crore Indians connect with the world and know about best products and practices. They routinely check customer reviews for performance, durability and dependability before buying a product. They publicly highlight deficiencies if dissatisfied with any given product. Therefore, striking a balance between product quality, price, and innovation is the need of the hour.

Expanding quality net | Modi government is focused on developing a robust quality ecosystem to provide safe, reliable and superior-quality goods, and promoting exports of Indian products.

Prior to May 2014, only 14 QCOs covering 106 products had been issued. The list has now been expanded to 148 QCOs covering 653 products. These include household products like ACs, toys and footwear.

Exporting quality | QCOs have accelerated the mission of ‘Make in India for the World’. Many products under QCOs are exported.

Cast iron products, solar DC cables, door fittings, ceiling fans, helmets, smart meters, hinges, air coolers and air filters are quality-controlled products exported at higher levels than they are imported. Cast-iron products covered by QCOs had exports of $535mn last year, while imports were barely $68mn. About 25 QCOs are applied to products where exports exceed imports.

Quality is safety | This clearly demonstrates that QCOs are focused on building robust quality consciousness in India. This also helps reduce dumping of poor quality goods into the country. Access to the best quality goods is the right of every Indian citizen in amrit kaal.

QCOs are also critical for people’s health and safety. Substandard products can be hazardous for households because of risks such as fires due to cheap electronics, and also hospitalisation of children because of toxic chemicals in toys and electrical short-circuits.

Control on quality | A shining example of how quality-control can dramatically upgrade manufacturing to help consumers and manufacturers is the toy industry. Prior to QCO implementation, the Indian toy market was plagued by cheap, substandard products.

A Quality Council of India survey in 2019 showed that barely one-third of toys adhered to relevant BIS Standards. Most of them were hazardous for children. This was completely unacceptable. GOI responded swiftly with a QCO for the sector from January 1, 2021.

Bringing the toys sector under QCO substantially improved their quality. A recent survey showed 84% of toys in the Indian market adhered to BIS standards. QCO has not only provided Indian children with safe, high-quality toys, but has also increased their exports by 60% in 2022-23 compared with 2018-19.

The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which came into effect one year ago, is a shining example of how major initiatives of the Narendra Modi government are meticulously planned after extensive consultation with all stakeholders, and executed effectively to benefit the common man and SMEs.

ECTA is a mutually beneficial agreement between the two cricket-loving nations, reflecting the world view of a confident and aspirational New India. It reinforces the strategic partnership between two parliamentary democracies that support the rule of law and have similar legal systems. Both are part of the Quad. Both have joined the trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) along with Japan, and the 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).

The FTA, India’s first trade agreement with a developed country in more than a decade, has a phenomenal potential. India primarily imports raw material and intermediate goods from Australia, while its exports are primarily finished products. So, the FTA will reduce input costs of Indian entrepreneurs and make their goods more competitive in domestic and international markets. It also gives Indian startups great opportunities to scale up.

Data shows that ECTA will help create lakhs of jobs in labour-intensive sectors, as Indian products get 100% duty-free access in the huge Australian market. India’s merchandise exports to Australia are up 14% in April-November 2023, a decisively superior performance compared with India’s trade with the rest of the world in a challenging global environment. Australia’s overall imports have fallen 4%, but its purchases from India have risen strongly. India’s imports from Australia have fallen 19%, reducing the trade deficit by 39%.

Exports to Australia under preferential lines grew strongly in job-creating sectors. Exports of engineering goods to Australia rose 24% in April-October 2023, against a 1% rise in total exports. In readymade garments, shipments to Australia rose 27%, while overall exports declined. ECTA also helped shipments of electronics goods and plastic to Australia outperform overall exports in these sectors.

India is exporting over 700 new items to Australia. These exports amount to $335 million in the first 10 months of 2023-24, including smartphones worth $65 million. Other new products include several items in the gems and jewellery sector, light oils, non-industrial diamonds as well as non-silk skirts and dresses.

India is on track to become a developed country by 2047. Our trading partners recognise this strength and appreciate our concerns about protecting our sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy. ECTA, along with the confidence in India’s growth trajectory, GoI’s investor-friendly policies and game-changing reforms has made India an even more attractive destination for Australian businesses.

Total FDI from Australia during January-September 2023 jumped to $307.2 million, seven times the $42.43 million received in the whole of 2022. FDI in consultancy services has jumped to $248 million from barely $0.15 million in 2022.

India’s exports of IT and business services continued their robust trajectory. The momentum of ECTA, complemented with other bilateral agreements with Australia in education, audiovisual services and mobility, provided the perfect backdrop for strong growth of more than 50% in business mobility and almost 100% in post-study work visas for Indian students.

India’s IT industry, relieved of double-taxation after ECTA, is now competing on a level playing field. According to industry estimates, it has saved tens of millions of dollars in the past year. Buoyed by ECTA’s success, Nasscom is putting in place a mechanism to facilitate SMEs in IT to expand their footprint in Australia.

ECTA, and a similar deal with the UAE last year, have been widely applauded by industry leaders. This is a big step forward from previous trade agreements, which did not involve such extensive consultations.

The PM is clear that every policy or agreement should be in national interest. It is in this spirit that India has signed trade deals with Mauritius, Australia and the UAE. The same guiding principles are shaping negotiations with other countries.

India aspires for fair, transparent and mutually beneficial agreements that make our businesses competitive, opening new markets for them. These FTAs expand trade and commerce and accelerate economic growth, thus creating jobs and business opportunities.

From the ramparts of Red Fort, PM Modi has articulated his grand vision of a long-lasting golden era of progress and prosperity for India, as Maa Bharti bounces back confidently after a thousand years of slavery. subjugation and impoverishment.

Modi, India’s first prime minister who was born after Independence, is optimistic about the country’s future. His confidence stems from tangible progress after more than nine years of relentless work to decisively uplift each member of the family of 140 crore Indians in every part of the country. irrespective of their religion, region. gender, caste, age or ethnic identity.

Every policy of the Modi government reflects his mantra of ‘reform, perform and transform, which is delivering results, particularly for the poor and the underprivileged. This has helped India make the quantum jump from being the world’s 10th largest economy to the fifth rank in nine years, and on track to become the third biggest soon.

This ascent has been propelled by sound economic policies, determined clampdown on corruption, plugging of leakages in government expenditure, in creased efficiency and transparency in go vernance, and generous welfare schemes.

A key part of the transformation is India’s women-led development. As PM said, India has more women pilots than any other country and they are at the fore- front of high-tech programmes like the Moon missions. It is a matter of pride that more girls are taking up science, tech- nology engineering and mathematics (STEM) than boys. PM aims to create two crore lakhpati didis in villages, and involve women in operating and repairing drones.

In this transformational journey, the Modi government is liberating the poor from their lifelong struggle for roti, kapda aur makaan. It has provided direct benefit transfers, free foodgrains to about 80 crore people, countrywide validity of ration cards, toilets that protect the dignity of women, electricity in every village, cooking gas, good roads, health insurance and affordable internet. Schemes to provide houses and piped drinking water to every household are progressing rapidly.

The Modi government has managed inflation much better than other countries or compared with the previous regimes, but as PM said, the government is not complacent. More steps will be taken to minimise the burden of inflation on our countrymen. PM’s caring and compassonate policies helped 13.5 crore people move out of poverty and join the ranks of the middle class in five years until 2021.

The aspirational youth of India are generating demand and entrepreneurial energy With the Modi government providing housing, healthcare and food to the masses, and crores of people moving out of the shackles of poverty, demand for various products is rising. This is creating new opportunities for our small businesses and traders. It is encouraging talented young men and women to create startups, which is converting job seekers into job creators.

Under the Modi government’s MUDRA loan scheme, 23 lakh crore have been disbursed to create eight crore new entre- preneurs. About 70% of them are women entrepreneurs and 51% of the beneficiaries are from SC/ST or OBC categories.

In this phase of optimism during Amrit Kaal, in which PM’s visionary leadership will make India a developed country, there are some people who are nervous. They seem rattled by PM’s call to combat three evils: corruption, dynastic politics and appeasement.

Their fears are understandable. The government has taken a series of initia- tives to weed out corruption with effecti- ve law enforcement, use of technology. and removal of archaic laws that have been misused to harass people and extort bribes. PM has also ensured that every government initiative treats all citizens as equals, unlike the policies of appeasement in the past, which have damaged social harmony.

PM Modi has correctly highlighted the evil of dynastic politics. In this brand of politics, members of a particu- lar family occupy the top position of a political party irrespective of merit, with no chance for a deserving party member to rise to the top.

The government’s determination to crush these evils has enthused the masses, but some opposition parties are gloomy They can’t conceal their negativity.

When one such party led a coalition government, it regularly faced corrup- tion scandals involving lakhs of crores of public money. Its prime minister once said this was a compulsion of coalition politics. There cannot be a more unfort unate situation than a PM being unable to provide honest administration because he has to keep the coalition intact. The
a system that gave it power without accountability.

In contrast, for PM Modi, governance is all about honesty, accountability. transparency and a burning desire to improve the lives of citizens. For him, ‘family’ means all the 140 crore people in India, who trust his caring and compas- sionate leadership, which makes him India’s most effective and most popular Pradhan Sevak.

With a government guided by PM Modi, India will stride on the path of development and reach its potential by the 100th year of Independence India is in a rare moment of equilibrium. It has begun to reap its demographic dividend. Remnants of red tape and corruption that slowed down its rise for decades are waning. The stark inequality that shackled the democracy of 1.4 billion people has started to thaw. The global recession that could torpedo India’s growth plans pre-2014, now face a more resilient economy that has learned to pivot, and spin them into opportunities for growth. India’s economy is no longer at the receiving end of the global order but is in the fray of the world’s most powerful future economies, with an unmatched growth rate. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says India and China will account for 50% of the total world gross domestic product growth in 2023, against 10% for the United States (US) and the Euro Zone.

What accounts for this optimism in India’s economy? The answer hinges on three umbrella approaches, 3Cs, that run as a common thread across sectors. The first is individual competitiveness, which begins by empowering those in need so that they can power the nation. Within this group, the government has placed its focus on two segments — young people (65%), and women (50%). This mandate is being carried out by every ministry through programmes designed for the two segments.

Then, by equipping each household with electricity, water, housing, subsidised cooking gas, quality education through the National Education Policy 2020, and safe hygiene through toilets and income transfers, this government is ensuring that its working population is channelised properly and absorbed into growth-inducing sectors. Simultaneously, those at the lowest rung of the economic ladder are being provided a safety net through direct benefits transfers. Enabled by the JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) trinity, this has allowed more than ₹22.4 lakh crore to directly reach their accounts — a feat neither witnessed by pre-2014 India, nor the rest of the world.

The power of technology has given a fillip to entrepreneurship. What was earlier a reserve of the privileged is now a national phenomenon, with 49% of India’s startups coming from tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Schemes such as MUDRA are creating a large pool of entrepreneurs, mostly young people and women from marginalised groups. It is noteworthy that about half of the government-recognised startups are led by women. From a global standpoint too, India’s ecosystem of startups is broader than in any other developing country. It is only a matter of time before these startups bloom into successful Indian MNCs, contributing to both India’s heft and perception in the world order.

The second foundational approach is the re-emergence of competitive federalism, in letter and spirit. Early on, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi signalled his resolve to build strong states to build a strong nation. He recast the erstwhile Planning Commission into the NITI Aayog to act as the glue between the Centre and the states. Then, in a departure from the big brother relationship between the two, the government replaced a Centre-to-State, one-way flow of policy, with a healthy partnership with the states. It empowered them with the resources and autonomy to experiment with their own development models.

For example, states now get a 42% share of the Centre’s tax revenue as compared to 32% earlier. In the last nine years, this strengthening of federalism has given birth to competitive federalism, where states — on the back of parameters such as ease of doing business, their industrial policies, and incentives — compete for investments. This spirit is palpable in the ongoing G20 summits where states are vying to get companies to sign deals and engage closely with investors. As expected, the post-Covid-19 recovery of the economy is being largely driven by bullish investment sentiment.

Alongside empowering individuals and states, the final approach is about India entering a competitive globalisation space, where the PM is showing the path of a human-centric, Indian way of globalisation, that espouses its age-old philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). This approach proved its mettle during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, when India’s assistance to more than 100 countries was applauded the world over. Since then, world leaders, including those in the Global North, look up to PM Modi for global solutions. The Australian PM’s most recent expression before a 20,000-strong Indian diaspora, “PM Modi is the boss,” is nothing short of a reaffirmation of India’s potential role as a force of global good. This makeover of India’s geopolitical standing has a potent ripple effect on various fronts. For instance, there is renewed interest in concluding some of the long-pending free trade agreements (FTAs) and clinching new ones. Resultantly, India’s goods exports hit a record $448 billion in 2022-23, despite the global slowdown.

On the home front, there is palpable interest among global businesses to diversify their supply chains in India. Thanks to the government’s mission to launch India in a business-friendly avatar, we have moved away from the “China plus one” to an “India-first” reputation. There is no surprise, therefore, that the biggest technology companies plan to extend their shops in India. For example, a quarter of all Apple iPhones will be made in India by 2025. Similarly, aerospace major Airbus has set up a C-295 aircraft manufacturing facility — a first for India.

Thus, there is no doubt that with the indigenous strength of its 1.4 billion people, and a government guided by the vision of PM Modi, Team India will continue to stride on the path of development, till it reaches its full potential by the Shatabdi Kaal. As of today, it stands strong in a position of power at the global negotiating table. It is mighty clear that not only will India pursue a Nation First policy, but it will also herald a new way of thinking that echoes One Earth, One Family and One Future.

The airing of the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unique monthly radio outreach, Mann Ki Baat, is a milestone. ‘Mann Ki Baat’ is central to the PM’s deep connection with the masses, who regard him as a caring, compassionate and decisive leader who is transforming the country to improve their lives.

Since the first episode of Mann Ki Baat on October 3, 2014, the PM has struck a rare chord with our countrymen, who have responded enthusiastically and reached out to him month after month to share their accomplishments, joys, concerns and their valuable suggestions for New India. This regular outreach to countrymen has no parallel in terms of reach and popularity – a fact that has been globally applauded. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently described PM Modi as the world’s “most loved” leader, while the US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo observed that the Indian Prime Minister was an “unbelievable visionary” and the world’s most popular leader with the commitment to move India forward as a global power.

Mann Ki Baat captures the pulse of the nation in its progress towards becoming a developed country, in Amrit Kaal. Mann Ki Baat has attracted and inspired crores of Indians. The number of listeners has risen with each episode. PM Modi has sought to educate, guide, mentor and motivate fellow Indians to work for social change and national development beginning with their communities. Importantly, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah pointed out, Mann Ki Baat has been completely apolitical in nature.

The PM’s Modi regular communication evokes a powerful sense of pride in the motherland. He has highlighted local art and artisans, giving them much-needed recognition and brand value to help them reach out to buyers in India and abroad. It has also promoted khadi, which boosts the rural economy. The impact of the programme can be comprehended from the fact that since Modiji’s mention of domestic toy-making and support for the local toy industry in Mann Ki Baat, the import of toys fell sharply by 70 per cent from $371 million in 2018-19 to $110 million in 2021. Exports grew to $326 million from $202 million.

During the Covid-19 pandemic which disrupted lives and economies across the world, the monthly address lifted the spirit of the nation and infused a sense of positivity and cheer. PM Modi reached out to truck drivers and pilots through this programme and boosted their morale. He also had a word of appreciation for all Covid warriors.

Another important dimension of Mann Ki Baat is that it gave a huge impetus to several flagship initiatives of the government and transformed them into mass movements. These include Swachh Bharat and Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao. Another eloquent example is the resounding success of “Selfie with Daughter”. Domestic tourism has got a huge boost. Apart from widespread social awareness of cleanliness thanks to the Swachhta Abhiyaan, the message of water conservation was disseminated nationally with a sense of urgency. Similarly, the protection of the environment has now evolved into a movement.

Mann Ki Baat acknowledges the strength and power of 140 crore people and motivates them to give their best in the mission of nation-building. It is now being broadcast in 23 Indian and 11 foreign languages recording the nation’s developmental journey under the PM’s extraordinary leadership. In these 100 broadcasts, he has covered and highlighted a wide array of topics, including weather, environment, cleanliness, social issues, indigenous crafts, examinations, clean India, fit India, saving and educating the girl child, water conservation, being vocal for local products, self-reliant India and celebrating the cultural diversity of our great nation.

Mann Ki Baat episodes feature inspirational stories about unsung heroes, grassroots champions and changemakers across India.

While drawing our attention to a host of burning topics, changemakers and grass roots heroes, the PM’s monthly dialogue also outlines the roadmap for the future. The spirit of Jan Bhagidari with which this journey of development is suffused, harnesses the creative energies of the entire nation, notably its youth.

To mark 75 years of Independence, PM Modi hoisted the national flag for the ninth time from the ramparts of the Red Fort and spelt out his vision for the future, predicated on “Panch Pran”. In line with this futuristic view, he took a pledge along with 140 crore fellow countrymen to rid the country of the colonial mindset in Amrit Kaal. As he observed with great clarity, “Today, our pathways are our own, our symbols are our own.”

In the course of these 100 episodes, PM Modi touched upon several patriotic, social and cultural causes which people have embraced wholeheartedly and adopted. This includes the call for the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, commemorating 75 years of independence and his popular campaign to hoist the national flag in every home — Har Ghar Tiranga.

Mann Ki Baat is an authentic record of the extraordinary development journey of Bharat over the last nine years under PM Modi’s leadership. His monthly interface with the nation reinforces his image of a down-to-earth, sensitive, visionary, and powerful mass leader.