PM Modi completes 25 years as head of government: VP hails poverty exit of 25 crore
Synopsis
A quarter-century at the helm — from rebuilding earthquake-hit Gujarat in 2001 to steering India toward Viksit Bharat by 2047. Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan’s tribute singles out the exit of 25 crore people from extreme poverty as the defining legacy of Modi’s 25 uninterrupted years in executive power, a continuity record that is difficult to match in independent India’s democratic history.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi completed 25 years of uninterrupted service as head of government on 7 October 2026 , counting from his oath as Gujarat Chief Minister on 7 October 2001 .
Radhakrishnan called liberating 25 crore people from extreme poverty the ‘greatest achievement’ of Modi’s leadership.
Modi was chosen to replace Keshubhai Patel as Gujarat CM in the wake of the Bhuj earthquake and served as CM until 2014 .
The Vice President invoked the Viksit Bharat by 2047 goal as the forward marker for Modi’s continued tenure.
Modi’s international profile has grown across the 25 years, with India playing a prominent role in the Global South and hosting the G20 Presidency in 2023 .
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on 7 October 2026 offered warm congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years of uninterrupted service as head of government, describing the liberation of 25 crore people from extreme poverty as the “greatest achievement” of Modi’s leadership — one that, in Radhakrishnan’s words, “human history can never forget.” The milestone is counted from 7 October 2001, when Modi was sworn in as Chief Minister of Gujarat.
The Vice President’s tribute
Taking to social media platform X, Vice President Radhakrishnan wrote: “Heartiest greetings and warm wishes to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji on completing 25 years of service to the Nation as Head of Government. Your journey as Pradhan Sevak has transformed the vision of inclusive development into a nationwide mission, guided by Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas.”
Radhakrishnan added that across his visits to states and Union Territories, he has personally witnessed India’s “visible transformation” through improved connectivity, digital advancement, expanding opportunities, and inclusive development. He concluded with a message: “May the Almighty bless you with good health, happiness and strength as you continue to serve Bharat on its journey towards an inclusive, prosperous and Viksit Bharat by 2047.”
25 years of continuous governance: a timeline
Prime Minister Modi’s 25-year run at the helm of government began when he was chosen in October 2001 to replace Keshubhai Patel as Gujarat Chief Minister — a state then grappling with the devastating aftermath of the Bhuj earthquake and deep administrative challenges. He served as Gujarat CM until 2014, when he transitioned to national politics, going on to win three successive terms as Prime Minister of India.
This marks a notable continuity in Indian democratic history: an unbroken stint at executive leadership across both state and Union levels spanning a quarter of a century, a record few politicians in independent India have matched.
Key pillars of Modi’s governance record
The Vice President’s remarks highlighted inclusive development as the defining thread of Modi’s tenure. According to government data, 25 crore people have been lifted out of extreme poverty during this period — a figure cited frequently by the administration and attributed to welfare schemes spanning housing, sanitation, direct benefit transfers, and financial inclusion.
Notably, India’s international standing has also risen during these years, with the government deepening diplomatic ties with major global powers, assuming a prominent role in the Global South, and hosting landmark multilateral forums including the G20 Presidency in 2023.
Looking ahead: Viksit Bharat 2047
The Vice President’s message invoked the government’s long-term development framework — Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047, the centenary of Indian independence. This vision encompasses targets across economic growth, infrastructure, and human development indices, and is increasingly cited as the overarching policy compass for the Modi government’s third term. As tributes continue to pour in from political and constitutional figures, attention will now turn to how the government translates these milestones into measurable outcomes over the next two decades.
Point of View
But its methodology — rooted in multidimensional poverty index estimates rather than income-based thresholds — continues to be debated by independent economists. The VP’s tribute is, at its core, a political statement ahead of several state elections, and it reinforces the BJP’s preferred frame: welfare delivery as transformational governance rather than routine administration. What is harder to dispute is the 25-year continuity itself: from post-earthquake Gujarat to G20 host and three consecutive national mandates, Modi’s executive record is structurally unlike anything Indian politics has produced in the post-Nehru era. The real question for the next chapter is whether the Viksit Bharat 2047 framework generates credible, independently verified milestones or remains an aspirational slogan.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 7 October 2026 significant for PM Modi?
It marks exactly 25 years since Narendra Modi was sworn in as Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7 October 2001, making it 25 years of uninterrupted service as head of government — spanning his Gujarat CM tenure through three terms as Prime Minister of India.
What did Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan say about PM Modi?
Radhakrishnan posted a tribute on X calling Modi’s journey as ‘Pradhan Sevak’ transformative, and described the lifting of 25 crore people out of extreme poverty as the ‘greatest achievement’ of his leadership and ‘a landmark historical achievement that human history can never forget.’
How many people has the Modi government claimed to have lifted out of extreme poverty?
The government’s stated figure, repeated by the Vice President in his tribute, is 25 crore people lifted out of extreme poverty during Modi’s tenure. This figure is based on multidimensional poverty index assessments cited by official sources.
When did PM Modi first become head of government and why?
Modi was appointed Gujarat Chief Minister in October 2001 to replace Keshubhai Patel at a challenging time — the state was recovering from the devastating Bhuj earthquake and facing administrative difficulties. He remained CM until 2014.
What is the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal referenced in the VP’s message?
Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 is the Modi government’s long-term development framework targeting India’s centenary of independence, with goals across economic growth, infrastructure, and human development. It serves as the overarching policy compass of his third term.
