Twenty-five years of leadership, an India transformed

In my 48 years in public life, I have seen political parties rise and fall. I have seen leaders emerge with great promise and fade away. I have seen governments change, economies transform and technology alter our lives beyond recognition. One lesson has become increasingly clear to me: ultimately, leadership matters.

Comment | In 25 years, has Modi made lasting changes? 

In today’s world, technology, knowledge, capital and ideas are freely available. But the true differentiator for nations is leadership — one with vision, integrity, credibility and the ability to execute.

On October 7, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi completes 25 uninterrupted years in executive office — first as Chief Minister of Gujarat and, since 2014, as the Prime Minister of India. It is a remarkable journey of leadership sustained by public trust. Through changing circumstances, Mr. Modi has remained remarkably consistent in his purpose: the development of India and the empowerment of its people.

The world around us has been turbulent. We have witnessed a global financial crisis, a once-in-a-century pandemic, wars, geopolitical realignments, technological disruption and economic uncertainty. Several democracies have experienced frequent changes of leadership and consequent policy uncertainty. Through all this, India has remained steady at the wheel and an oasis of economic hope.

Leadership built on trust

Such stable leadership cannot sustain itself for 25 years merely through politics. It requires trust. Mr. Modi has earned that trust through an established track record, impeccable personal integrity and tireless self-discipline. In today’s world, public leaders effectively live in glass houses. Every decision and every action can be seen and questioned. To retain the confidence of people over decades under such scrutiny is an achievement in itself.

Mr. Modi brings a unique ability to understand people’s aspirations, translate them into action and communicate those results back to the people.

The results are visible. Over the last decade, India’s National Highway network has expanded from about 91,287 kilometres in 2014 to more than 1,46,000 km. The airport network has grown from 74 airports in 2014 to over 160. Railway electrification has accelerated dramatically. India’s installed renewable-energy capacity has now reached nearly 296 GW, including large hydro, with solar alone crossing 168 GW. Infrastructure today is being conceived not as isolated projects but as an integrated national network through initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti (Prime Minister Gati Shakti — National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity).