Jaishankar: Indians travel abroad with greater pride after 12 years of Modi govt
Synopsis
As PM Modi approaches 12 unbroken years in office — and a record 4,399 days as India's longest continuously elected Prime Minister — EAM Jaishankar used the milestone to catalogue a transformed MEA: 44 new missions, 21 mobility partnerships, and evacuations from four conflict zones. The diplomatic scorecard is the government's clearest statement yet that foreign policy is now a domestic electoral asset.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar credited 12 years of Modi government for transforming India's foreign policy and consular services.
The MEA has opened 44 new Embassies and Consulates and concluded 21 mobility partnerships for Indian workers abroad.
India evacuated nationals from conflict zones including Ukraine , Afghanistan , Sudan , and Israel .
On 10 June 2025 , PM Modi will surpass Jawaharlal Nehru to become India's longest-serving continuously elected Prime Minister with 4,399 days in office.
Modi's tenure spans three consecutive mandates — 2014 , 2019 , and 2024 — with three years still remaining.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday, 9 June 2025, credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for a sweeping transformation in India's foreign policy and consular services over the past 12 years, stating that Indians now travel abroad with 'greater confidence and a stronger sense of pride.' The remarks came as PM Modi prepares to complete 12 unbroken years at the helm of the Union government on 10 June.
Key Developments in Indian Foreign Policy
Jaishankar highlighted that passport issuance and document attestation have become significantly more streamlined under the current dispensation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expanded support for the Indian diaspora through its Embassies and increased deployment of the Indian Community Welfare Fund. Digital platforms for grievance redressal and citizen feedback have also been operationalised during this period.
The minister noted that India has concluded 21 mobility partnerships to date, facilitating Indian workers' access to the global labour market. Indian businesses have received diplomatic backing in securing market access overseas and boosting exports, including through development projects that have enabled entry of Indian products and services into new markets.
Crisis Evacuations and Welfare Measures
Jaishankar pointed to India's track record of responding to overseas emergencies, citing evacuations of Indian nationals from conflict zones including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Israel. He also underlined welfare measures instituted for Indian students abroad and efforts to promote Indian culture and heritage internationally.
'Opened 44 Embassies and Consulates to address the needs of Indians living and going abroad. Indian diplomacy works 24/7 for the nation. Indians travel abroad today with greater confidence and a stronger sense of pride,' Jaishankar wrote in a post on X.
Modi Set to Become India's Longest-Serving Continuously Elected PM
On 10 June, PM Modi will surpass Jawaharlal Nehru's record to become independent India's longest-serving continuously elected Prime Minister, clocking 4,399 days in office. Modi first took oath in 2014, secured a second mandate in 2019, and won a historic third consecutive term in 2024.
Notably, Nehru's tenure as Prime Minister began formally after the 1952 general elections — his earlier stint from 1947 to 1952 was as head of an interim government, before elections were institutionalised. Indira Gandhi served a total of approximately 14 years, but her tenure was fractured. Modi's 12-year unbroken run, with three more years remaining in the current term, sets him apart on the continuity metric.
What This Signals for Indian Diplomacy
The anniversary marks an occasion for the government to consolidate its foreign policy narrative — one centred on diaspora welfare, economic diplomacy, and crisis response capability. With 44 new diplomatic missions opened and mobility partnerships expanding, the MEA's footprint has grown considerably. How these gains translate into measurable outcomes for ordinary Indians abroad will be the benchmark going forward.
Point of View
But their impact on the average Indian worker abroad remains uneven; labour welfare complaints from Gulf countries have persisted despite the expanded Indian Community Welfare Fund. The record-breaking tenure narrative also papers over a key distinction: Nehru governed through India's foundational decades when institutional norms were being written, not merely inherited. The more consequential question is whether India's expanded diplomatic footprint has produced commensurate strategic leverage — on the border, in multilateral forums, and in trade — rather than just a larger consular network.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did EAM Jaishankar say about India's foreign policy under the Modi government?
Jaishankar said India's foreign policy and the MEA have undergone a fundamental transformation over the past 12 years, with improvements in passport services, diaspora welfare, crisis evacuations, and market access for Indian businesses. He stated that Indians now travel abroad with 'greater confidence and a stronger sense of pride.'
How many new Embassies and Consulates has India opened in 12 years?
India has opened 44 new Embassies and Consulates under the Modi government to better serve Indians living and travelling abroad, according to Jaishankar's statement on X.
When will PM Modi become India's longest-serving continuously elected Prime Minister?
PM Modi will surpass Jawaharlal Nehru's record on 10 June 2025, completing 4,399 days as Prime Minister — all in an unbroken, continuously elected tenure spanning 2014, 2019, and 2024 mandates.
From which conflict zones has India evacuated its nationals in recent years?
India has conducted evacuations of its nationals from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Israel, according to EAM Jaishankar, citing these as examples of the MEA's 24/7 crisis response capability.
What are India's mobility partnerships and how many exist?
Mobility partnerships are bilateral agreements that facilitate Indian workers' legal access to employment in foreign countries. As of Jaishankar's statement, India has concluded 21 such partnerships, aimed at expanding opportunities for Indians in the global labour market.
