Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday outlined his vision for the country and its place in the world, urging countries to compete with each other and citizens to step up efforts, even as he blamed Congress for hurting development during its decades in power.
In a speech at a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to celebrate his government completing 12 years in power and himself becoming India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister, Modi emphasized his government’s middle-class agenda, emphasized the reforms undertaken by his administration and said the India First agenda in the current dispensation has enabled quick decision-making and future planning, especially in critical sectors.
He said the pace of decision-making by the Union government would accelerate, but added that India must accelerate the “speed and scale” of action to meet the expectations of its people and the world. He added: “We have to stay one step ahead of others.”
He also urged countries to push towards self-sufficiency. “Now is the time for a new kind of healthy competition among the states; India’s progress will come from this progress by the states. Let us make the next decade not just a decade of achievement, but also of excellence,” he said.
On Wednesday, Modi became India’s longest-serving elected prime minister. According to the government, Modi completed 4,399 consecutive days as prime minister-elect on June 10, surpassing Jawaharlal Nehru’s record of 4,398 consecutive days in office between 1952 and 1964.
Highlighting the achievements of the BJP-led NDA government in the last 12 years, Modi said: “We have to keep our eyes on the target of ‘developed India by’ 2047 and accelerate our pace… Today, India’s share in global growth is rising steadily; hence, India must now take into account global standards, global competition and a global perspective. The world needs solutions from us, and we have to fulfill these expectations without wasting our time.” Time. Hai, sahi samay hai (This is the right time).”
Referring to the reforms as “conviction and not coercion” of the government, Modi said the NDA’s policies have positioned India as one of the major economies, despite global challenges.
He said: “Despite this global slowdown, India achieved a remarkable growth rate of 7.7% in the period 2025-2026. In the last quarter, which ended on March 31, India’s growth rate reached 7.8%. We have gone from being one of the ‘fragile five’ economies to the fastest growing economy in the world.”
Modi blamed the policies of the previous Congress government for the country’s slow growth and economic progress.
“…One of the major successes of the NDA in its 12 years in power is that the country has broken free from the vicious circle of Congress. Today, every citizen of the country dreams of Vixit Bharat. [developed India]He said.
Modi said changes in policy making and implementation have led to a system that delivers results. “Work is happening at speed and scale, rather than at a standstill. Therefore, the story from 2014 to 2026 is not just about numbers – it is about India realizing its full potential and moving forward. It is the story of a nation achieving great results and working hard to reach new heights,” he said.
Crediting people for voting for stability by choosing the NDA in 2014, the Prime Minister said Indians realize the importance of a stable government.
“For many decades before 2014, there was instability and the country suffered because of this. Now people appreciate the decisive policies of this stable government…” he said.
Modi said Congress had failed the people.
“The Congress Party had plunged the country into the abyss of impotence, want and inferiority complex. The nation had been conditioned to believe that India’s development inevitably moved at a slow pace, and that rapid growth was not possible here. With great deception, this slow growth was called the ‘Hindu growth rate’, implying that while the method, responsibility and failure were all the responsibility of the Congress, it attached a stigma to the country’s vast Hindu population,” he said.
“In fact, this phenomenon should have been called the ‘Congress Growth Rate’. This ‘Congress Growth Rate’ was characterized by a complete absence of judgement, policy, intent and decisiveness. The NDA government came to power for the first time under the leadership of Atal ji. Only then did we get a glimpse of what accelerated development looks like. But unfortunately, in 2004, the country once again fell into the vortex of instability and the stranglehold of the Congress.
“The fate of the nation changed again when the NDA government was formed in 2014. The country witnessed the pace of development when intentions, politics and decision-making align and work in unison. The nation witnessed tasks that used to take decades being accomplished in mere months,” he said.
“From 74 airports in 2014 to more than 160 by 2026; from 1,000 km of highways in 2014 to 6,700 km by 2026; from metro services in just five cities in 2014 to more than twenty cities by 2026; and from $700 crore in defense exports in 2014 to $23,000 crore by 2026, the country has come a long way. In 2014, there were only 25 crore internet users in the country; Today, more than 100 crore users are online. In 2014, digital payments were minimal; Today, India ranks first in digital transactions.
Modi said that while great strides have been made towards achieving self-reliance in energy security, there is a need to accelerate efforts to reach the 500 GW target.
The Prime Minister said that he never thought that he would get the opportunity to serve the people for such a long period. He credited the NDA partners for this achievement and said the past 12 years had been a team effort.
“I am overwhelmed and extremely grateful. As I chant the slogan Chariviti, Chariviti (keep moving forward) and have witnessed many ups and downs in this political journey, I never imagined that this milestone would one day be reached. I consider it a great honor to have had the opportunity to serve continuously as the longest-serving Prime Minister-elect,” he said.
