Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 October 2026 completed 25 uninterrupted years as head of government, a milestone that drew congratulatory messages from chief ministers across the country who praised his record on governance, infrastructure, and social welfare. Modi's tenure began on 7 October 2001, when he was sworn in as Chief Minister of Gujarat, replacing Keshubhai Patel at a critical moment — the state was still reeling from the devastating Bhuj earthquake and facing acute administrative and political challenges.

A Milestone 25 Years in the Making

Modi served as Gujarat Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014 before transitioning to national politics. He has since completed three consecutive terms as Prime Minister of India, making him one of the country's longest-serving heads of government in the post-Independence era. His tenure has been marked by sweeping policy changes, large-scale welfare schemes, and an assertive foreign policy that has elevated India's standing in global forums.

In October 2001, Modi was brought in to stabilise a Gujarat administration under strain. What followed over the next 13 years in the state — from water conservation projects and girls' education campaigns to agricultural modernisation — became templates later scaled nationally, according to supporters.

Chief Ministers Across States Extend Greetings

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, posting on social media platform X, said: 'This journey, which began on 7 October 2001 as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, continues today with the unwavering resolve to build a Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat.' Dhami credited Modi with prioritising women's empowerment, youth upliftment, modern infrastructure, and the preservation of cultural heritage over the past 25 years.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also posted on social media, stating that 'every day of the Hon'ble Prime Minister ji's life has been devoted to the splendour of Mother India.' She described Modi's 25-year arc as one that has made 'service a tradition, duty a devotion, and national interest the very purpose of life', and credited him with awakening India's 'self-confidence' and infusing energy into its 'cultural consciousness'.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, also posting on X, framed the milestone as a 'continuous endeavour to realise the resolve of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas.' Yadav singled out the Centre's handling of the Covid pandemic, the abrogation of Article 370, operations against Naxalism, and flagship schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as defining achievements.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma called Modi's journey 'an extraordinary example of good governance and transparency', pointing to Gujarat-era experiments — water delivery to drought-affected villages, a girls' education movement, and the simultaneous push for industry and agriculture — as models now replicated nationally. Sharma credited Modi with steering India to 'new heights' across roads, railways, digital infrastructure, defence production, space, and semiconductors.

Gujarat to New Delhi: The Policy Thread

Analysts and supporters note that several policy ideas tested in Gujarat under Modi — including targeted infrastructure delivery, direct benefit transfers, and financial inclusion drives — were later expanded through central schemes. Critics, however, have raised questions about governance metrics and institutional independence during his tenure, points that remain subjects of ongoing national debate.

On the diplomatic front, Modi's governments have pursued greater engagement with major powers, a prominent role for India in the Global South, and deepened ties through multilateral forums including G20, BRICS, and the Quad. India hosted the G20 presidency and summit in 2023, widely seen as a high point of his international outreach.

What the Milestone Means Going Forward

The 25-year mark is as much a political moment as a governance one. With the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision now a central plank of government policy, the anniversary frames the next phase of Modi's leadership as a continuation — rather than a pivot — of a decades-long project. All four chief ministers who issued statements on Wednesday invoked the Viksit Bharat goal, signalling that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s messaging is increasingly anchored to the 2047 horizon.

How the government translates that ambition into measurable outcomes on employment, health, and per-capita income will determine the next chapter of a leadership story that now spans a quarter-century.