Modi and the Prime Ministers: Secrets of India’s Leadership Revealed

Over the past few decades, India has made remarkable progress, moving from the 9th position in 2010 to becoming the world’s 5th largest economy in 2024, following the US, China, Japan, and Germany. Reflecting on our country’s growth since gaining independence in 1947, India’s development has been consistent compared to other nations. This progress owes much to the decisions of notable prime ministers, including Narendra Modi.

Narendra Modi, the 14th Prime Minister of India, assumed office in 2014. During his tenure, he implemented various schemes and laws that contributed to India’s economic growth. This blog post will dig into some of the impactful decisions made by Modi and his predecessors that have shaped present-day India. Let’s explore these key developments together.

Prime Ministers Whose Decisions Made India a Global Power

Here is the list of some of the prominent Indian prime ministers who made sure that our country should be counted among the top powers in the global politics.

1. Narendra Modi

Narendra Damodardas Modi was sworn in as the 14th Prime Minister of India on 26th May 2014 and since then he has been heading the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Before becoming the prime minister, Mr. Modi was Gujarat’s Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014. During his tenure as the chief minister, he made Gujarat one of the fastest-growing states in India with respect to economy, which resulted in tremendous growth in agriculture and infrastructure sectors. 

Witnessing his works, Indians elected Narendra Modi as their prime minister and analyzing his past 10-year tenure, it is safe to say his decisions and policies have impacted India in a positive way. During his leadership, India joined major groups, like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), I2U2, and others. These inclusions have shown the true importance of India not only in the Indo-Pacific region but also in the global level. 

Along with this, Mr. Modi came up with the idea of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” to make India a manufacturing hub in the world. To make this possible, his government has introduced various schemes, like The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) and others. These schemes have attracted heavy investments, and it is interesting to know that in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, India received $71 billion in FDI. Gone are the days, when we used to purchase Made in China iPhones and other products, today the world is purchasing Made in India iPhones.

Not only from an economic perspective, India under Narendra Modi has also become one of the most dependable countries for other countries during their time of pandemic and natural calamities. India initiated the “Vaccine Maitri” mission to provide COVID-19 vaccines to countries in need. Not only this but “Operation Dost” was also initiated for earthquake-hit Türkiye in 2023, where India sent humanitarian assistance which helped saving thousands of people. 

With general elections happening this year, there are big chances of Narendra Modi getting reelected as the Prime Minister for the third time in a row. This will make him the longest-running PM after Jawaharlal Nehru. And, let’s wait and watch how his third tenure turns out for the overall growth story of India.

2. Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 and was succeeded by Narendra Modi. Before becoming the PM, Mr. Singh had headed a lot of important positions which have directly or indirectly helped in the growth of India. He was the Governor of RBI from 1982 to 1985 and was also the finance minister from 1991 to 1996 when he introduced the landmark budget for the Economic Liberalization of India. The India that we witness today is the result of the economic reforms done by Dr. Singh when the country was on the verge of bankruptcy.  

Apart from this, there are various other achievements of Manmohan Singh as the PM of India. One of which is the India-US Civil Nuclear Deal, which helped India gain civilian nuclear technology and fuel. That’s not it, it was during his tenure only when the country touched the GDP growth rate of 10% for the first time in history. He also introduced the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) Act 2005, which provided at least 100 days of wage employment for rural households in a year. 

3. Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the most loved Prime Minister of India who headed the PMO from 1998 to 2004. He was known for his impactful speeches and bold decisions during the Kargil War. It was under his leadership when India conducted Nuclear Tests at Pokhran in 1998 and joined the group of elite nations with nuclear capabilities. 

As a PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee has envisioned an India free of hunger and fear but equally strong enough to defend itself from terrorism. His biggest achievement as the Prime Minister of India was the introduction of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan which made education a fundamental right for children between age 6 to 14 years. Also, his New Telecom Policy made a big impact on India’s telecom penetration and his quote “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan” became an inspiration for many scientists across the country.

4. Indira Gandhi

When we speak about the most powerful leaders of India, Indira Gandhi will be considered on the top positions. She was named as the “Iron Lady of India” due to her bold and prompt decisions which uplifted the global position of the country. If we talk about her tenure, Mrs. Gandhi is the only female PM of India who headed the Parliament from 1966 to 1977 and 1980 to 1984. 

During her tenure, Indira Gandhi faced tough situations, like the India-Pakistan War in 1971 when Bangladesh was liberated from Pakistan and emerged as a newly independent country. It was during this time that India built a strong friendship with the USSR whose legacy continues with Russia. Her achievements as the PM include nationalization of 14 commercial banks, abolition of Privy Purse (removing Article 291 and Article 362), etc.

5. Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first and longest-running Prime Minister of India is the one whose policies and decisions helped a newly independent country take the first step toward becoming a global power. He was the Prime Minister of the Dominion of India from 15 August 1947 to 26 January 1950 and the Republic of India till 1964. When we speak about the legacy of Pandit Nehru, he was one of the prominent leaders in India’s freedom struggle and shaping modern India. He initiated the Non-Alliance Movement during the Cold War between the US and USSR. 

Along with these, Chacha Nehru also founded INCOSPAR which later became ISRO in 1962 and today, we all know where India stands in the Space Technology Industry globally. He always believed in equality irrespective of gender, caste, and religion, this was reflected in his decision to reform the ancient Hindu Civil Code and provide equal rights to Hindu widows with respect to inheritance and property. When it comes to education, Mr. Nehru established India’s first IIT and AIIMS. With these, the list goes on!

Conclusion

These individuals were key leaders whose commitment and effective decision-making contributed to India’s significant role in global politics. What’s particularly noteworthy is that the decisions and policies formulated by these leaders remain relevant today, with the current government carrying forward their legacy. However, it is not the sole responsibility of the government to make the country great, we, the citizens of India are equally responsible for its growth. So, let’s be a part of the growth story and build a new and strong India.