Narendra Modi (born 17 September 1950)

He is the current Prime Minister of India, serving since 26 May 2014. Previously, he was Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the MP for Varanasi. Modi is affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization. He is the longest-serving prime minister not from the Indian National Congress.

Raised in Vadnagar, Gujarat, Modi joined the RSS at eight and became a full-time worker for the organization in 1971. He married Jashodaben Modi at 18 but publicly acknowledged her only four decades later. Modi was assigned to the BJP in 1985, becoming general secretary in 1998, and was appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001. His tenure was marred by criticism over the 2002 Gujarat riots, with official records showing over 1,000 deaths, mostly Muslims. Supreme Court-appointed team found no grounds for prosecution against him, though his administration was critiqued for handling the crisis poorly and not significantly improving health, poverty, and education.

In the 2014 general election, Modi led the BJP to a majority, the first since 1984. His administration increased foreign investment but reduced spending on healthcare and social welfare. Key initiatives included a sanitation campaign, controversial demonetization, the Goods and Services Tax, and changes to environmental and labor laws. Modi’s government conducted the 2019 Balakot airstrike against Pakistan, which failed but bolstered nationalist sentiments. The BJP won the 2019 election, and in its second term, Modi’s government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act, and faced widespread protests and riots. Controversial farm laws were repealed following farmer protests, and Modi’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw an estimated 4.7 million deaths, faced criticism.

In the 2024 election, Modi’s party lost its majority and now leads a coalition government. Under Modi, India has seen concerns over democratic backsliding and weakening institutions. Despite high approval ratings, Modi remains a contentious figure due to his Hindu nationalist agenda and his role in the Gujarat riots.

Politics:

Earlier:

In June 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India, which lasted until 1977 and led to the jailing of political opponents and banning of opposition groups. During this period, known as “the Emergency,” Narendra Modi, then general secretary of the “Gujarat Lok Sangharsh Samiti,” an RSS committee opposing the Emergency, went underground to evade arrest. He used disguises, including dressing as a monk and a Sikh, to avoid detection. Modi was involved in printing anti-government pamphlets, organizing demonstrations, and creating safe houses for activists. He also raised funds for political refugees and wrote a book, Sangharsh Ma Gujarat, about the Emergency.

In 1978, Modi became an RSS regional organizer, and by 1979, he was working in Delhi, researching the RSS’s history of the Emergency. He returned to Gujarat and was assigned to the BJP in 1985. Modi’s successful organization of the BJP’s Ahmedabad municipal election campaign in 1987 boosted his profile. When L. K. Advani became BJP president in 1986, Modi was placed in a key position within the party. Modi was elected BJP Gujarat organizing secretary in 1987 and later joined the National Election Committee in 1990, helping with major campaigns like Advani’s Ram Rath Yatra and Joshi’s Ekta Yatra.

After a brief hiatus in 1992 to establish a school and due to disagreements with BJP MP Shankersinh Vaghela, Modi returned to politics in 1994. His electoral strategy was crucial in the BJP’s 1995 state assembly victory. Modi was appointed BJP national secretary in November 1995, managing party activities in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. In 1998, following Vaghela’s defection to the Congress, Modi’s support for Keshubhai Patel’s faction helped the BJP secure a majority in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, leading to his promotion to BJP general secretary (organization).

CM of Gujarat:

In 2001, with Keshubhai Patel‘s health declining and the BJP losing state assembly seats, allegations of corruption and poor administration surfaced, exacerbated by Patel’s handling of the 2001 Bhuj earthquake. The BJP national leadership sought a replacement, and Narendra Modi, who had criticized Patel’s administration, was chosen. Modi declined an offer to be Patel’s deputy, insisting on full responsibility. On October 3, 2001, Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat, tasked with preparing for the December 2002 election. He was sworn in on October 7 and won a by-election in Rajkot II on February 24, 2002.

2002 Gujarat Riots:

On February 27, 2002, a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was burned near Godhra, killing about 60 people. Modi publicly blamed local Muslims, and violence erupted statewide during a bandh called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The riots led to significant anti-Muslim violence, with official records reporting 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus killed, while independent estimates suggest over 2,000 deaths, mostly Muslims. Approximately 150,000 were displaced, and the violence included mass rapes and mutilations. The state government’s response, including curfews and shoot-at-sight orders, failed to prevent escalation, and there were accusations of state complicity. Modi’s handling of the riots, including his statements and the differential treatment of victims, faced severe criticism. Investigations by the Supreme Court and Special Investigation Team (SIT) eventually cleared Modi of direct involvement, though this was contested by some scholars and activists.

Later Terms as Chief Minister:

After the riots, Modi faced calls for resignation but remained in office. The BJP won a decisive victory in the December 2002 election, securing 127 of 182 seats, largely due to Modi’s anti-Muslim rhetoric. Modi’s second term shifted focus to economic development, reducing the influence of Sangh Parivar organizations. His tenure continued to attract criticism from Muslims and Western nations, leading to visa bans that were later lifted after his rise to national prominence and election as Prime Minister in 2014.

Modi’s campaigns from 2007 to 2012 included elements of Hindu nationalism, despite a shift away from explicit Hindutva. His 2012 campaign featured high-tech strategies and references to controversial issues. Modi won the 2012 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election with the BJP retaining its majority. After being elected Prime Minister, Modi resigned as Gujarat Chief Minister and was succeeded by Anandiben Patel.

PM of India:

After the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a decisive victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 26, 2014. He was the first Indian PM born after independence in 1947. Modi began his second term in 2019 following another NDA victory. By December 6, 2020, he had become the fourth-longest-serving Prime Minister of India and the longest-serving non-Congress prime minister.

Governance and Initiatives:

In his first year, Modi centralized power significantly, bypassing Rajya Sabha constraints by passing ordinances. His administration introduced a bill to enhance executive control over judicial appointments and replaced the Planning Commission with the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), centralizing planning powers. The Modi government investigated numerous civil society and foreign NGOs, criticized as a witch hunt, and filed sedition cases against government critics. Modi repealed 1,200 outdated laws in his first three years, a notable increase from previous administrations.

Modi launched the Digital India program to improve electronic government services, expand high-speed internet, and promote digital literacy. In 2016, he initiated the Ujjwala scheme to provide free LPG connections to rural households, increasing LPG access by 24% by 2019. By 2022, LPG subsidies were only available to those under the Ujjwala program.

Since May 2023, ethnic violence in Manipur displaced over 36,000 people and killed nearly 100. Modi faced criticism for his response to the violence.

Hindutva:

Under Modi, Hindu nationalist activities increased, including conversion programs and campaigns against “Love Jihad,” an Islamophobic conspiracy. The BJP’s ties with the RSS strengthened, leading to RSS-affiliated individuals being appointed to key positions, such as Yellapragada Sudershan Rao as chairperson of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). The Modi administration made changes to history textbooks, downplaying Nehru’s role and emphasizing Modi’s contributions.

In 2019, the Modi government passed a citizenship law offering a path to Indian citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, sparking global criticism and protests. The law led to the 2020 Delhi riots, where Hindu mobs targeted Muslims, resulting in 53 deaths, mostly Muslim.

On August 5, 2020, Modi visited Ayodhya after the Supreme Court‘s 2019 decision awarded disputed land to a trust for a Hindu temple and allocated alternative land for a mosque.

In his second term, Modi enacted three major RSS-supported measures: criminalizing Triple Talaq, abrogating Article 370 to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy, and reorganizing it into union territories. The region faced a lockdown and internet suspension until February 2021, with thousands detained. Critics argue these actions demonstrate institutional subversion by the BJP.

During the 2024 election campaign, Modi labeled Muslims as “infiltrators” threatening India’s wealth, though he later claimed his remarks were about poverty, not religion. Fact-checkers have found evidence of communal targeting in his campaign speeches.

Under Narendra Modi‘s leadership, India pursued neoliberal economic policies, emphasizing privatization and liberalization. Foreign direct investment rules were relaxed, with significant investments in defense and railways. Labor reforms aimed at restricting union activities and simplifying hiring and firing faced backlash and some were rolled back. Social welfare funding decreased, with cuts in health and education spending, while infrastructure investment increased. Modi introduced the Make in India initiative to boost manufacturing but faced criticism for potentially favoring foreign corporations. A major tax reform, the Goods and Services Tax, was enacted in 2017.

Modi’s demonetization of 500 and 1000 notes in 2016 aimed to tackle corruption but led to cash shortages, job losses, and protests, though it did increase digital transactions. Economic growth slowed under Modi, with GDP growth averaging 5.5% during his first eight years, down from 7.03% under the previous administration. Unemployment rose to a 45-year high, exacerbated by demonetization and tax reforms. The economy shrank by 6.6% during the COVID-19 pandemic but rebounded with an estimated 8.2% growth the following year.

In health and sanitation, Modi’s government initially cut public health funding but later increased it with a focus on private healthcare. The Swachh Bharat Mission aimed to improve sanitation, building millions of toilets and increasing coverage, though usage fell short of targets. The government’s response to COVID-19 included a lockdown and vaccine rollout, with significant challenges during the second wave. The WHO’s higher death toll estimate was disputed by the Modi administration.

In foreign policy, Modi enhanced ties with the U.S., Israel, and Islamic nations, and continued the “Act East Policy” to strengthen relations with East Asia. Relations with China deteriorated after 2020 skirmishes. Modi’s administration also supported Afghanistan and developed a close relationship with Russia.

G20 Presidency

India hosted the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi, during which the African Union was added as a permanent member. Modi highlighted a human-centric development agenda, focusing on climate change, debt restructuring, and global cryptocurrency regulation. However, the Modi government faced criticism for demolishing slum neighborhoods in New Delhi, which displaced marginalized residents.

Defence

Military spending under Modi increased nominally but declined as a share of GDP and adjusted for inflation, with a significant portion allocated to personnel costs, limiting modernization. Modi’s administration carried out high-profile but controversial military actions against Pakistan, including a surgical strike in 2016 and airstrikes in 2019, with exaggerated claims and limited success. In 2020, clashes with China along the border led to several skirmishes. Modi’s government has faced criticism for allegedly ceding land to China. In December 2021, Modi signed a defense agreement with Russia and purchased the S-400 missile system, strengthening ties with Russia while remaining neutral on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, evacuating over 19,000 Indians from the conflict zone.

Environment

Modi renamed the Ministry of Environment and reduced its budget, leading to a dilution of environmental protections. Although Modi initially downplayed climate change, he later advocated for climate action, including the International Solar Alliance and a commitment to carbon neutrality by 2070. India is on track to meet its Paris Agreement goals and achieved ethanol blending ahead of schedule.

Democratic Backsliding

Modi’s tenure has been marked by concerns over democratic backsliding. His government has been accused of undermining democratic institutions, suppressing media and academic dissent, and prioritizing Hindu-nationalist agendas over economic development. His second term, in particular, has seen increased erosion of civil rights and press freedom.

Writings:

In 2008, Narendra Modi published a Gujarati book titled Jyotipunj, which profiles RSS leaders, with a detailed account of M. S. Golwalkar, whom Modi reveres as “Pujniya Shri Guruji” (“Guru worthy of worship”). The book aimed to explain RSS operations and reaffirm Modi’s ideological alignment with the organization.

As Prime Minister, Modi authored Exam Warriors, a guide for children on handling exams. He has also written eight other books, primarily short stories for children. Modi penned the lyrics for two Gujarati garba songs—Garbo and Maadi—released during autumn Navratri in 2023.

Additionally, the song Abundance in Millets, by Falu and Gaurav Shah, featuring Modi’s speech promoting millet, was nominated for Best Global Music Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards.