Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, marked the 12th anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in with a tribute on X, calling the period a 'new chapter in India's civilisational and developmental journey.'

Context

Narendra Modi was first sworn in as Prime Minister on May 26, 2014, following the Bharatiya Janata Party's decisive victory in the general elections that year. The date has since become an annual marker for the ruling dispensation to take stock of governance milestones. Singh's post, running to several paragraphs, is among the more detailed tributes from a senior Cabinet colleague this year.

Singh described the day as one that brought 'a decisive shift in governance, vision, leadership, and national resolve.' He invoked a sweeping arc of policy — from economic development and social welfare to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, digital transformation, infrastructure growth, global leadership, and national security — as evidence of that shift.

Policy Backdrop

Several flagship initiatives anchor Singh's tribute. The Digital India programme, launched in 2015, expanded digital infrastructure and e-governance across the country. The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, announced in May 2020, set out to reduce import dependence and accelerate domestic manufacturing — with particular emphasis on defence indigenisation, an area Singh oversees directly as Defence Minister.

Singh placed special emphasis on the Antyodaya vision — the principle of prioritising the poorest and most marginalised — describing it as having been 'realised in its truest sense' under Modi's tenure. 'Millions who had remained unseen and unheard for decades became active participants in India's growth story,' he wrote. Welfare expansions including scaled-up food security schemes after 2014 are cited by the government as evidence of this outreach.

The governance slogan 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' ('Together for all, Development for all, Trust for all') featured prominently. Singh asserted it 'has not remained merely a slogan, but has reflected in governance and policy at every level.'

Stakeholders and Impact

Singh's tribute addresses multiple constituencies simultaneously: citizens who have benefited from welfare delivery, the defence establishment that has seen a push toward indigenisation, and an international audience to whom India's 'assertive global leadership' is being projected. As a senior BJP leader and former Home Minister and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Singh carries weight beyond his current portfolio when he speaks to the party's governance record.

The reference to Modi as a 'Pradhan-Sevak' ('Prime Servant') — a self-descriptor Modi has used — is deliberate. Singh wrote that Modi 'has dedicated every moment of his life to the service of Maa Bharati and her people,' and offered a prayer for 'his good health, long life and continued service to the nation.'

What's Next

Annual observances of May 26 typically precede fresh policy announcements or progress reports on flagship schemes. Attention will turn to upcoming targets under Aatmanirbhar Bharat — particularly defence indigenisation benchmarks — and welfare scheme coverage figures expected to feature in the next Union Budget. Parliamentary debates on national security architecture and inclusive growth metrics are also anticipated as the government enters the next phase of its term.