CM Mohan Yadav Hails 12 Years of Modi's India First Policy
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Friday, 19 June 2026, took to X to mark 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, crediting the 'India First' doctrine with elevating India's standing on the world stage and establishing the country as a credible, respected global partner.
Context
In his post, Dr. Yadav wrote that under PM Modi's leadership, India has 'नई ऊंचाइयों को छूने' ('touched new heights') over the past 12 years, fulfilling its commitments and building a strong identity of self-respect on the global stage. He invoked the Sanskrit principle 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' — 'the world is one family' — as the philosophical anchor of India's foreign engagement. The post carried the hashtag #12YearsOfIndiaFirst, reflecting a coordinated BJP communication effort marking the anniversary of Modi's first swearing-in on 26 May 2014.
Policy Backdrop
The 'India First' foreign policy framework, pursued since 2014, has centred on expanding multilateral engagement while positioning India as a voice for the Global South. A landmark moment in this arc was India's G20 presidency from December 2022 to November 2023, held under the theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which produced the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration and secured permanent membership for the African Union in the grouping — a first in the G20's history. Dr. Yadav specifically cited the 'successful G20 presidency' as evidence of India's diplomatic credibility.
India's humanitarian diplomacy has been another pillar of this approach. The Vaccine Maitri initiative, launched during the 2020–21 COVID-19 crisis, supplied vaccines to more than 100 countries, reinforcing India's image as a responsible and capable partner for developing nations. Alongside G20, India's active participation in BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and its consistent advocacy for reformed multilateralism at the United Nations, have built on this pattern.
Stakeholders and Impact
Dr. Yadav argued that India's suggestions are now heard and its leadership trusted at major global forums — 'संवाद से सम्मान, सहयोग से सामर्थ्य और नेतृत्व से विश्वास' ('respect through dialogue, strength through cooperation, and trust through leadership'). The primary beneficiaries cited in the post are developing countries and the Global South, whose voices India has sought to amplify in multilateral negotiations. For domestic audiences, the messaging reinforces the BJP's governance narrative ahead of state and national political cycles.
What's Next
India's ability to sustain this diplomatic momentum will be tested in its forthcoming roles in multilateral bodies and any follow-up summits focused on Global South priorities. The framing of 12 years of foreign-policy gains as a unified arc suggests the BJP intends to make India's global standing a central theme in political communication through the remainder of the decade. Whether India secures additional leadership roles in bodies such as the UN Security Council or regional groupings will be closely watched as a measure of the 'India First' doctrine's continued reach.