Dharmendra Pradhan: Public trust is Modi govt's biggest achievement
Synopsis
At a Bhopal conclave, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan made the case that public trust — not infrastructure or GDP — is the Modi government's defining legacy, backing it with data: ₹51 lakh crore in direct transfers, universities nearly doubled, and startups up from 350 to 2.5 lakh since 2014. The pitch is as much about 2047 as it is about the last 12 years.
Key Takeaways
Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan at Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre, Bhopal on 13 June .
He said earning public trust is the biggest achievement of the Modi government over the last 12 years . ₹51 lakh crore has been directly transferred to beneficiaries' bank accounts, eliminating intermediary leakage, he claimed.
India's universities have grown from 723 to 1,338 and colleges from 36,634 to 52,081 since 2014 .
Recognised startups have risen from around 350 to 2.5 lakh in the same period.
New collaborations with IGNOU and IIMs announced to expand skills and entrepreneurship for women's self-help groups.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday, 13 June declared that earning the trust of the people remains the foremost achievement of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government, asserting that India has the potential to rise as a global superpower within the next two decades — provided every citizen actively participates in the nation's growth. Pradhan made the remarks while addressing the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan' at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre in Bhopal.
Key Remarks at the Sammelan
Speaking at the conclave, Pradhan said that securing public trust in a democracy was comparable to receiving divine blessing. He credited the last 12 years under PM Modi with ushering in an era of political stability, national confidence, and sustained development. The minister drew a sharp contrast with earlier administrations, invoking a remark attributed to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi — that only 15 paise out of every rupee sent from Delhi ever reached villages. Pradhan said that under the current dispensation, ₹51 lakh crore had been directly transferred into beneficiaries' bank accounts, eliminating intermediary leakage.
Women Entrepreneurs and Self-Reliance
Earlier in the day, Pradhan interacted with women entrepreneurs, self-help group members, and municipal representatives at the 'Atmanirbhar Mahila Samman' programme held at the newly constructed Atal Bhavan. After viewing products made by women-led groups, he said the vision of a developed India could only be realised through the active participation of women. He highlighted the Lakhpati Didi initiative as a benchmark not just in self-employment but also in education, skill development, and innovation.
Notably, Pradhan announced that new initiatives would be undertaken in collaboration with IGNOU to expand educational and skill-development opportunities for women. He also said efforts would be made to involve premier institutions such as IIMs to strengthen entrepreneurship and capacity-building among women's self-help groups. Projects involving the reuse of temple waste and implementation of schemes such as GOBARdhan were cited as examples of simultaneously promoting cleanliness, environmental protection, and economic self-reliance.
Education and Startup Growth Since 2014
Turning to the broader higher-education landscape, Pradhan cited figures to underscore the expansion of India's academic and innovation ecosystem. He said that in 2014, India had 723 universities and 36,634 colleges; today, those numbers stand at 1,338 universities and 52,081 colleges. The number of recognised startups, he added, had surged from approximately 350 to 2.5 lakh over the same period.
The Road to a Developed India
Pradhan concluded by reiterating that India's developmental aspirations demand collective participation across every section of society. He said that if each citizen contributes meaningfully, India could achieve superpower status within the next two decades. The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan is part of a broader government outreach to build consensus around the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision — India's centenary of independence.
Point of View
Colleges, and direct benefit transfers are verifiable and substantial — but the leap from institutional expansion to superpower status in two decades remains an assertion, not a roadmap. The invocation of the Rajiv Gandhi '15 paise' remark is a well-worn BJP talking point; what is newer is the explicit linkage of women's self-help groups to the Viksit Bharat 2047 narrative, suggesting the government is widening its political coalition ahead of state elections. Whether IGNOU-IIM partnerships for SHGs move beyond announcement to implementation is the question mainstream coverage will likely not follow up on.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Dharmendra Pradhan say at the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan in Bhopal?
Pradhan said that earning the trust of the people is the biggest achievement of the Modi government and that India can become a global superpower within two decades if every citizen participates. He also cited ₹51 lakh crore in direct benefit transfers and a near-doubling of universities since 2014.
What is the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan?
It is a government outreach conclave aimed at building public consensus around the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision — India's goal of becoming a developed nation by its centenary of independence. The Bhopal edition was held at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre on 13 June.
What announcements did Pradhan make for women entrepreneurs?
Pradhan announced new initiatives in collaboration with IGNOU to expand educational and skill-development opportunities for women. He also said IIMs would be involved to strengthen entrepreneurship and capacity-building among women's self-help groups.
How has India's higher education sector grown since 2014, according to Pradhan?
According to Pradhan, the number of universities has grown from 723 to 1,338 and colleges from 36,634 to 52,081 since 2014. Recognised startups have also risen from around 350 to 2.5 lakh over the same period.
What is the Lakhpati Didi initiative mentioned by Pradhan?
The Lakhpati Didi initiative is a government programme aimed at enabling women in self-help groups to earn annual incomes of at least ₹1 lakh. Pradhan cited it as a benchmark in self-employment, education, skill development, and innovation for women.
