President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday, 17 September 2026, extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 75 today, praising his 25-year record across his tenures as Chief Minister and Prime Minister as having set new benchmarks in good governance and inclusive development. The message was posted on social media platform X.

What the President Said

“Heartfelt birthday greetings and best wishes to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji,” President Murmu wrote. “Over the past 25 years, during your tenure as Chief Minister and Prime Minister, you have established many new benchmarks of good governance and imparted unprecedented momentum and a new direction to inclusive development.”

She added: “While advancing on the path of modern progress with a sense of cultural pride, our countrymen are realising the harmony between heritage and development. I pray to God for your excellent health and long life, so that you may continue to relentlessly advance your campaign of public service and nation-building.”

From Vadnagar to Varanasi: Modi’s Political Journey

Prime Minister Modi was born on 17 September 1950 in Vadnagar, in present-day Gujarat — making him the first Prime Minister to have been born in independent India, three years after the country’s independence in 1947. He grew up in a modest family, helping at his family’s tea stall during his childhood.

Modi became a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak in Ahmedabad in 1972, embarking on a period of full-time organisational work. During the Emergency of 1975–77, he participated in activities opposing the suspension of civil liberties and seeking the restoration of democracy. He later completed a master’s degree in political science from Gujarat University.

He formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) structure as General Secretary in Gujarat in 1987, playing a key role in the party’s early civic victories including its first win in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation election. He was elevated to BJP national secretary in 1995 and subsequently rose to the position of General Secretary (Organisation).

Chief Minister to Prime Minister

Modi became the Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7 October 2001 and served in that role for over 12 years. His tenure as CM is often cited in discussions around industrial growth and governance reform in the state.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, he contested from both Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Vadodara in Gujarat, winning both seats. The BJP secured 282 seats in that election, giving the party an outright majority. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on 26 May 2014, with then President Pranab Mukherjee administering the oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

He retained Varanasi in both the 2019 and 2024 general elections. The BJP won 303 seats in 2019 and 240 seats in 2024 — below the 272 required for a standalone majority — leading Modi to take oath for a third consecutive term as Prime Minister at the head of a coalition government.

Significance of the 75th Birthday

Notably, President Murmu’s tribute frames Modi’s political career as a continuous 25-year arc, spanning his Gujarat CM years through his three terms as Prime Minister. The milestone birthday comes as the Modi-led government navigates a coalition dynamic in Parliament following the 2024 election outcome. Well-wishers from across the political spectrum and public life have been posting greetings through the day.