Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became India’s longest-serving prime minister. He surpassed Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling’s previous record of 8,930 days to reach the milestone. Modi entered his 8,931 ton day of public life as head of government, first as chief minister of Gujarat and now as prime minister.
Modi was Prime Minister from October 2001 to May 2014, before being elected Prime Minister. He is also the first Prime Minister born after independence, and the third longest serving Prime Minister in India, behind Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. In October 2025, Prime Minister Modi entered the 25th year of his term as head of government.
Check out the complete list of India’s longest serving Prime Ministers
While Modi now tops the list, for the longest time, former Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling is the longest-serving chief minister, having been in office for 25 years from 1994 to 2019.
Read also: Prime Minister Modi became the longest serving head of government with 8,931 days in office
Third on the list is former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who held office from March 5, 2000 to June 12, 2024. The BJP leader is one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers.
Coming in fourth place on the list is veteran West Bengal leader Jyoti Basu, who ruled the state from 1977 to 2000 and emerged as one of India’s most enduring political figures. He remains the longest-serving Chief Minister of West Bengal, with his tenure spanning over 23 years.
The fifth is former Arunachal Pradesh President Jejong Abang who held office from January 1980 to January 1999 and again from 4 August 2003 to 9 April 2007.
Wishes are pouring in for Prime Minister Modi
Senior Union ministers praised Prime Minister Modi for achieving the feat. This achievement reflects his unwavering commitment to country-first governance, the welfare of the poor and raising India’s global standing, they said.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh noted that Modi has become the longest-serving Prime Minister in India, describing Modi’s journey as one of continuous service characterized by integrity, dedication and tireless efforts of citizens.
Home Minister Amit Shah said Modi’s decades of Seva defined an era of transformation, and credited him with reshaping India’s development path. Union ministers, including JP Nadda, Piyush Goyal and Ashwini Vaishnaw, and BJP leaders echoed similar sentiments, noting that the “Modi era” has set new standards in governance and national progress.
