Gujarat Foundation Day 2025: CM Bhupendra Patel calls state India's global gateway
Synopsis
On the eve of Gujarat's 66th Foundation Day, CM Bhupendra Patel painted an ambitious picture — from 8,750 MW to 53,000 MW in power capacity, semiconductor hubs rising in Sanand and Dholera, and an AI centre at GIFT City. The state claims India's lowest unemployment rate and 15% of its total renewable energy output, framing itself as a blueprint for India's Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel issued a Foundation Day message on 30 April 2025 , ahead of the state's 66th Foundation Day on 1 May .
Power generation capacity has grown from 8,750 MW to nearly 53,000 MW ; urban development budget raised by 40% in 2025.
Gujarat claims the lowest unemployment rate in India and contributes about 15% of the country's total renewable energy capacity.
Two semiconductor units are operational; two more under development, with Sanand and Dholera as emerging hubs.
An AI Centre of Excellence has been set up at GIFT City ; over 3 lakh households covered under the solar rooftop scheme.
Gujarat has set a 2035 milestone aligned with its 75th year of statehood and a broader Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday, 30 April 2025, issued a public message from Gandhinagar on the eve of the 66th Gujarat Foundation Day, asserting that the state has secured its place among India's foremost economic regions and now draws global attention for its governance and growth model. The Foundation Day, observed annually on 1 May, marks Gujarat's formation as a separate state on 1 May 1960.
Six Decades of Transformation
Chief Minister Patel traced the state's journey across two distinct phases — from 1960 to 2000 and the accelerated development period from 2001 onwards — noting a measurable shift in economic and social indicators across both eras. He credited the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit, launched in 2003 by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, as a turning point in attracting sustained investment and strengthening industrial momentum. Gujarat, he said, now records the lowest unemployment rate in the country, according to state assessments.
Infrastructure and Energy Milestones
On the infrastructure front, Patel highlighted a dramatic expansion in power generation capacity — from 8,750 megawatts to nearly 53,000 megawatts. He said the development of integrated electricity, gas, and water grid systems had strengthened basic service delivery across the state. Urban development has also been prioritised, with 2025 declared the 'Year of Urban Development' and the urban development budget raised by 40 per cent this year.
Semiconductors, AI and Renewable Energy
Gujarat has expanded into high-technology sectors, with two semiconductor manufacturing units already operational and two more under development. Sanand and Dholera have emerged as the state's primary semiconductor hubs. An Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence has been established at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). On the renewable energy front, Gujarat accounts for approximately 15 per cent of India's total renewable energy capacity, and more than three lakh households have been covered under the solar rooftop scheme.
Regional Planning and Long-Term Roadmap
The Chief Minister noted that the Surat Economic Region Development Plan has been prepared with support from NITI Aayog, while six regional economic master plans targeting Saurashtra, North Gujarat, and Central Gujarat are currently under preparation. Environmental initiatives — including Mission LiFE, the 'Catch the Rain' water conservation campaign, and the tree plantation drive 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' — were also cited as part of the state's ecological commitments. Looking ahead, Patel said Gujarat has aligned its long-term roadmap with India's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, while also targeting its own milestone in 2035 — completing 75 years of statehood. Welfare schemes including PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Awas Yojana, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, and Ayushman Bharat remain central to the state's inclusive growth agenda.
Point of View
More a national investment pitch. The claim of India's lowest unemployment rate, attributed to state assessments rather than independent data, deserves scrutiny; CMIE and PLFS figures have historically told a more complex story. The semiconductor and AI investments at Dholera and GIFT City are real, but their employment multiplier effect remains unproven at scale. What is notable is the deliberate framing of Gujarat's model as a template for Viksit Bharat 2047 — a signal that the state's political leadership sees itself as more than a regional success story.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gujarat Foundation Day and when is it celebrated?
Gujarat Foundation Day, observed on 1 May every year, marks the formation of Gujarat as a separate state on 1 May 1960. The 2025 celebration marks the state's 66th Foundation Day.
What did CM Bhupendra Patel say about Gujarat's development on Foundation Day eve?
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said Gujarat has become India's global gateway, citing the lowest unemployment rate in the country, a power capacity growth from 8,750 MW to nearly 53,000 MW, and Gujarat's contribution of around 15% of India's total renewable energy capacity.
What are Gujarat's semiconductor and technology initiatives?
Two semiconductor manufacturing units are already operational in Gujarat, with two more under development. Sanand and Dholera have emerged as semiconductor hubs, and an Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence has been set up at GIFT City in Gandhinagar.
What is the Surat Economic Region Development Plan?
The Surat Economic Region Development Plan has been prepared with support from NITI Aayog. Additionally, six regional economic master plans targeting Saurashtra, North Gujarat, and Central Gujarat are currently under preparation.
What is Gujarat's long-term development roadmap?
Gujarat has aligned its development roadmap with India's Viksit Bharat 2047 goal. The state also has an internal milestone for 2035, marking 75 years of its formation, with a focus on inclusive growth through welfare schemes such as PM Awas Yojana and Ayushman Bharat.
