New Delhi: From the Chief Minister’s office in Gujarat to the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi, and from there to the global stage as one of India’s most prominent voices — Narendra Modi’s 25-year journey at the helm of government marks a significant chapter in the country’s political and administrative history.
Modi took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001. On October 7, 2026, he completed 25 years as the head of a government. The Union Cabinet passed a resolution on October 6 congratulating him on completing 25 years of continuous leadership as a head of government.
The journey that began in Gujarat subsequently expanded to the national level and then to a broader effort to strengthen India’s presence and influence on the global stage.
From earthquake-hit Gujarat to a development-focused model
When Modi became Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001, the state was recovering from the devastating Kutch earthquake earlier that year. Alongside reconstruction, the government focused on water conservation, irrigation and infrastructure development.
The expansion of check dams, development of the Narmada canal network and the Jyotigram Yojana aimed at improving rural electricity supply were among the initiatives associated with Gujarat’s development drive.
The state also sought to attract investment through the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, while infrastructure development at ports such as Mundra, Hazira and Pipavav strengthened Gujarat’s industrial and logistical capacity.
The Gujarat government also enacted the Gujarat Disaster Management Act in 2003, strengthening the institutional framework for disaster management.
The BJP retained power in the 2002 Gujarat Assembly election, and Modi remained Chief Minister until 2014, serving for more than 12 years.
During this period, the phrase “Gujarat model” gained prominence in national political discourse, with emphasis on infrastructure, industrial investment, irrigation, administrative efficiency and faster decision-making.
From Gandhinagar to Delhi
Modi’s political journey had already extended beyond Gujarat through his organisational responsibilities in the BJP. He became the party’s national secretary in 1995 and subsequently handled organisational responsibilities in several northern states. In 1998, he became the BJP’s National General Secretary (Organisation).
In 2013, the BJP declared him its Prime Ministerial candidate. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP won 282 seats, securing a single-party majority in the Lok Sabha for the first time since 1984.
Modi consequently moved from the Gujarat Chief Minister’s office to the country’s highest elected executive office.
Three terms as Prime Minister
Modi became Prime Minister in 2014 and returned to office after the 2019 Lok Sabha election. In 2024, he took oath for a third consecutive term with support from alliance partners.
During his years at the Centre, several governance and development initiatives were expanded nationally.
The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 brought multiple indirect taxes under a common national framework. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was introduced to create a structured mechanism for resolving corporate insolvency, while measures were also taken to address stressed assets and bad loans in the banking sector.
The expansion of digital governance
Technology-driven governance became another defining feature of the period.
The expansion of UPI-based digital payments, digital identity infrastructure and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) transformed several aspects of public-service delivery. Government benefits increasingly moved directly to beneficiaries, while the rapid growth of digital payments significantly altered India’s payments ecosystem.
The integration of technology with public administration also became an important feature of India’s digital governance approach.
COVID-19, vaccination and Atmanirbhar Bharat
During the COVID-19 pandemic, India undertook a large-scale vaccination programme while simultaneously attempting to strengthen domestic production capacity.
The Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative placed emphasis on expanding domestic capabilities in manufacturing, technology and defence production.
The policy approach during this period sought to combine development priorities with social-security measures and expanded access to essential services.
Poverty reduction and infrastructure expansion
India’s development indicators have also drawn attention from international institutions. According to updated World Bank estimates, extreme poverty in India, measured using the international extreme-poverty line, declined from 16.2% in 2011-12 to 2.3% in 2022-23. The World Bank has also highlighted substantial improvements in infrastructure and access to basic services.
India’s economic growth continues to attract international attention. The IMF has described India as a key driver of global growth and the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with its 2026 growth projection at around 6.4%.
India’s expanding voice on the global stage
Modi’s 25-year governance journey has extended beyond domestic administration. Over the past decade, India’s diplomatic engagement and visibility on the global stage have expanded.
Alongside strengthening relations with major global powers, India has sought a greater role in representing the concerns of Global South countries.
Direct communication with citizens has also remained an important part of Modi’s political style. Large public meetings, social media outreach and programmes such as Mann Ki Baat have provided platforms for direct communication with the public.
A delivery-oriented approach, with emphasis not only on announcing government initiatives but also on implementation and measurable outcomes, has become another prominent feature of the Modi era.
25 years: From Gujarat to Viksit Bharat
What began on October 7, 2001, with Modi taking oath as Gujarat Chief Minister, reached the national stage in 2014 and has now completed 25 years of continuous leadership at the head of a government.
The approach that began with reconstruction, irrigation, electricity, infrastructure and industrial investment in Gujarat expanded nationally through initiatives including GST, IBC, Digital India, UPI, Direct Benefit Transfer and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Public outreach, administrative speed, technology-driven governance, infrastructure expansion, economic reforms and India’s increasingly visible global presence have all marked different phases of the 25-year journey.
The Union Cabinet’s October 2026 resolution itself highlighted the continuity between Modi’s governance experience in Gujarat and his leadership at the national level.
After 25 years at the helm of government, the journey that began in Gujarat continues at the national level with the stated objective of building a Viksit Bharat.
