Jammu, Feb 26
In a significant address at the News 9 Global Summit held in New Delhi today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised India’s readiness for a transformative leap forward under the theme ‘India: Poised for the Big Leap.’
The Prime Minister commended TV 9’s diverse reporting team, recognising its representation of India’s rich tapestry of cultures and languages. He lauded TV 9 for serving as a beacon of India’s vibrant democracy through its multi-language news platforms.
Highlighting the pivotal role of engaged citizens in shaping India’s trajectory, the Prime Minister asserted that a defeatist mindset cannot lead to victory. He contrasted the negative outlook of past leadership with India’s current standing as one of the top five global economies. Modi emphasized India’s commitment to excellence, stating, “India of the 21st century does not think small.”
Drawing attention to the achievements of the past decade, Prime Minister Modi credited the government’s rigorous monitoring, particularly through the PRAGATI initiative, for overseeing projects worth 17 lakh crore. He highlighted expedited projects such as Atal Setu, the Parliament Building, Jammu AIIMS, Rajkot AIIMS, IIM Sambalpur, the new terminal at Trichy Airport, IIT Bhilai, the Goa Airport, an undersea cable to Lakshadweep, Banas Dairy in Varanasi, and Dwarka Sudarshan Setu.
Illustrating the scale of progress, the Prime Minister listed activities from a single week, including a massive educational push from Jammu, dedication of five AIIMS from Rajkot, and over 2000 projects, including revamping more than 500 Amrit Stations. He emphasized India’s transition to leading the fourth industrial revolution.
“We lagged in the first, second and third revolutions, now we have to lead the world in the fourth revolution”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to resolving old challenges, emphasizing critical decisions such as the abrogation of Article 370, construction of the Ram Mandir, ending of triple talaq, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, One Rank One Pension, and creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff.
“Our government is moving forward keeping the principle of Nation First paramount”, the Prime Minister remarked, as he mentioned the critical decisions taken by the government to resolve old challenges. He touched upon the abrogation of Article 370, construction of the Ram Mandir, ending of triple talaq, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, One Rank One Pension, and creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff. He underlined that the government completed all such incomplete tasks with the thinking of Nation First.
Referring to recent reports on consumption patterns, the Prime Minister noted the decline in poverty to single digits and a 2.5-fold increase in consumption compared to a decade ago, particularly in rural areas. He attributed this to the government’s focus on rural development and infrastructure.
“For the first time in India, food expenditure has become less than 50 per cent of the total expenditure. That is, the family which earlier used to spend all its energy in procuring food, today its members are able to spend money on other things”, the Prime Minister added.
The Prime minister mentioned the record increase in FDI from 300 billion US dollars to 640 billion US dollars, India’s digital revolution, trust in India’s Covid vaccine and the growing number of taxpayers in the country which symbolizes the increasing trust of the people in the government.
Speaking about mutual fund investments in the country, the Prime Minister informed that people had invested Rs 9 lakh crore in 2014 while 2024 has seen a meteoric rise to Rs 52 lakh crores. “This proves to the citizens that the nation is moving forward with strength”, PM Modi continued, “The level of trust toward self and the government is equal.”
The Prime Minister emphasised the necessity of a change in approach for progress, citing examples of long-pending projects that were finally completed under the current government’s tenure. Projects such as the Saryu Canal Project in Uttar Pradesh, Sardar Sarovar Yojana, and Krishna Koena Pariyojana in Maharashtra, which had languished for decades, were successfully concluded. He highlighted the Atal Tunnel, initiated in 2002 but left incomplete until 2014, and the Bogibeel Bridge in Assam, started in 1998 and finished in 2018, along with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, initiated in 2008 and completed in 2023.
He continued by furnishing the details of the nation’s progress. He gave figures like two new colleges daily, a new university every week, 55 patents and 600 trademarks every day, 1.5 lakh Mudra loans daily, 37 startups daily, daily UPI transaction of 16 thousand crore rupees, 3 new Jan Aushadhi Kendras per day, construction of 14 km road every day, 50 thousand LPG connections every day, one tap connection every second and 75 thousand people came out of poverty every day.
Pointing out the trend of vote bank politics adopted by the previous government, the Prime Minister underscored that India has broken out of the scarcity mindset in the last 10 years by putting an end to corruption and ensuring that the benefits of development are distributed equally. “We believe in governance of saturation instead of politics of scarcity”, PM Modi emphasizsd, “We have chosen the path of santushti (contentment) of the people instead of tushtikaran.” This, the Prime Minister said, has been the mantra of the government for the past decade. “This is Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”, the Prime Minister said, elaborating that the government has transformed vote bank politics into politics of performance.
Highlighting the Modi Ki Guarantee Vehicle, the Prime Minister said that the government of today is going door-to-door and providing facilities to the beneficiaries. “When saturation becomes a mission, there is no scope for any kind of discrimination”, PM Modi exclaimed.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to prepare the India of the 21st century and threw light on the rapidly progressing plans. “From space to semiconductor, digital to drones, AI to clean energy, 5G to Fintech, India has today reached the forefront of the world”, he said. He highlighted India’s growing prowess as one of the biggest forces in digital payments in the global world, the fastest-growing country in Fintech Adoption Rate, the first country to land a rover on the south pole of the Moon, among the leading countries in the world in Solar Installed Capacity, leaving Europe behind in the expansion of 5G network, rapid progress in the semiconductor sector and rapid developments on future fuels like green hydrogen.
Key highlights:
Key policy reforms like Art 370 abrogation demonstrate govt’s commitment to national security
Establishment of new educational institutions in J&K & advancements in patents and startups
Record increase in FDI, digital revolution, and rising taxpayer numbers showcase India’s economic progress.
Completion of long-pending infrastructure projects like Atal Tunnel and Bogibeel Bridge
Highlights Technological Advancements, Solar Power, and 5G
Governance reforms aim to end corruption and ensure equitable development
India’s progress in technology sectors positions it as a global innovation leader
