Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, October 7, completed 25 years as the head of an elected government in India. The milestone counts from the day he was sworn in as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001, and runs unbroken through his time as Prime Minister since May 2014.
The Union Cabinet marked the occasion with a formal resolution, BJP leaders held events across the country, and congratulatory messages came in from leaders of several nations. Modi himself used the moment to look back at the crises that shaped him and to restate his goal of a developed India by 2047.
From Gandhinagar to Delhi: A Quick Timeline
Modi took charge in Gujarat in October 2001, just months after the devastating Bhuj earthquake of January that year. He remained Chief Minister for more than 12 years before leading the BJP to a full majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. He has since won two more general elections and is in his third term as Prime Minister. In March 2026, he became the longest continuously serving elected head of government in India.
| October 7, 2001 | Sworn in as Chief Minister of Gujarat |
|---|---|
| May 2014 | Becomes Prime Minister of India |
| 2019 and 2024 | Re-elected for second and third terms as PM |
| March 2026 | Becomes India's longest continuously serving elected head of government |
| October 7, 2026 | Completes 25 years as head of government |
What the Cabinet Resolution Said
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefed reporters on a 10-point resolution passed by the Union Cabinet. He described Modi's journey as a vibrant example of Indian democracy. The resolution was built around five broad themes.
- Gujarat to India: It said ideas first tried in Gujarat, such as the SWAGAT online grievance system and the Jyotigram scheme that gave villages round-the-clock power, were later scaled up nationally.
- Welfare: It cited around 60 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts, about 4 crore houses built for the poor and the government's claim that 25 crore people have moved out of poverty.
- Reforms and infrastructure: It highlighted GST and a rise in central capital spending from around Rs 2 lakh crore to about Rs 12 lakh crore, along with growth in electronics manufacturing.
- Crisis management: It pointed to the COVID-19 vaccination drive and the military responses after the Uri and Pulwama attacks in 2016 and 2019.
- Global role: It mentioned India's G20 presidency, the African Union's entry into the G20 and the Vaccine Maitri programme.
These figures are the government's own claims, and opposition parties have often disputed how such numbers are measured, especially on poverty and jobs.
Modi Reflects on 25 Years
In his message, Modi looked back at the moments he says taught him the most. He spoke about the lessons of rebuilding Gujarat after the Bhuj earthquake, the national pride around the Chandrayaan mission, and the challenge of leading the country through the COVID-19 pandemic. On the goal of "Viksit Bharat" by 2047, his message was simple: "We will do it."
Home Minister Amit Shah, one of his closest colleagues since the Gujarat years, listed welfare schemes, manufacturing, digital payments, startups, semiconductors, defence and renewable energy as the areas where he felt the Prime Minister had left the deepest mark.
World Leaders Send Wishes
Several foreign leaders reached out on the occasion, and Modi thanked each of them publicly. Among them:
Why This Milestone Matters
Very few leaders in a parliamentary democracy hold executive office continuously for a quarter of a century. For the BJP, the anniversary is a chance to project stability and continuity. For critics, it is also a reminder of the contested chapters of his career, from the 2002 Gujarat riots during his early months as Chief Minister to present-day debates over institutions.
The timing is notable. The anniversary comes in the same week that opposition parties are on the streets of Delhi demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the revision of voter rolls, a sign that the political temperature remains high even as the government celebrates.
What Comes Next
Modi's third term runs until 2029. In the coming weeks, his diary includes the ASEAN-India summit in the Philippines and the government's continued push on its economic agenda, including GST reforms. How he uses the remaining years of this term will shape how the next chapter of the "25 years" story is written.
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