In former times, prior to heading into battle, kettle-drums were sounded, and grand bugles were blown, instilling a sense of excitement in the departing individuals. Thank you, Das! My salutations to all the viewers of TV9 and to all of you gathered here. I frequently speak about Bharat's diversity, a trait that is vividly apparent in TV9's newsroom and amongst its reporting team. TV9 boasts media platforms in various Indian languages, serving as a testament to Bharat's vibrant democracy. I extend my congratulations to all the journalists working at TV9 across different states and languages, as well as to your technical team.
Friends,
Today, the TV9 team has chosen a compelling theme for this summit: "India: Poised For The Next Big Leap." Significant progress can only be made when we are filled with enthusiasm and energy. A despondent country or individual cannot aspire to make that 'Big Leap'. The very choice of this theme reflects the confidence and aspirations of contemporary Bharat. If the world perceives that Bharat is prepared to embark on a major leap forward, it is backed by a robust foundation or 'launch pad' established over the past decade. What changed in these ten years to bring us to this juncture? It is a transformation of mindset, a newfound self-confidence and trust, and the efficacy of good governance.
Friends,
There is an age-old adage – "Man ke haare haar hai, man ke jeete jeet" (One who is defeated in mind is indeed defeated, and one who is victorious in mind is indeed victorious). While listening to Das's quote, I hold a slightly different viewpoint. He remarked that history is essentially the biography of great personalities. While this may be the perspective of the West, in India, the biography of an ordinary individual is history. This encapsulates the true strength of our nation; amidst the comings and goings of notable figures, the country remains eternal.
Friends,
It is immensely challenging to achieve victory with a defeated mindset. Hence, the remarkable shift in mindset over the past decade, and the strides we have taken, are truly remarkable. Those who governed for decades prior to today lacked faith in the strength of Indianness. They underestimated the capabilities of Indians, labelling them as pessimistic and resigned to defeat. From the ramparts of the Red Fort, it was declared that Indians were indolent and averse to hard work. When the leadership of a nation is steeped in despair, it becomes challenging to foster hope among its people. Consequently, many in the country resigned themselves to the belief that things would perpetually remain stagnant. Furthermore, widespread corruption, colossal scams, policy paralysis, and nepotism had eroded the nation's foundations.
In the past decade, we have steered the country away from that dire situation and propelled it to where it stands today. Within a mere 10 years, Bharat has ascended to become one of the top five economies globally. Presently, crucial policies are formulated swiftly in the nation, accompanied by expedited decision-making. A shift in mindset has yielded remarkable results. Contemporary Bharat in the 21st century has abandoned small-scale thinking; whatever endeavours we undertake now, we strive for the best and the grandest. The world stands astounded by Bharat's accomplishments, recognizing the benefits of aligning with our nation. The response of "India has also achieved this?" has become the norm in today's world. Enhanced credibility epitomizes Bharat's current identity. Compare the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) figures from a decade ago to the present day. During the previous government's tenure, Bharat attracted FDI amounting to $300 billion over 10 years. In contrast, under our administration, FDI worth $640 billion has flowed into the country within the same timeframe. The digital revolution witnessed over the past decade, the confidence instilled in vaccine efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growing number of taxpayers signify the increasing trust of the Indian populace in the government and the system.
Consider another statistic: the majority of individuals in this hall likely invest in mutual funds. In 2014, the country's citizens had invested approximately Rs 9 lakh crore in mutual funds. Fast forward to 2024, and the figure has surged to over Rs 52 lakh crore. This surge reflects every Indian's belief in the nation's robust forward momentum, coupled with unwavering self-confidence. Every Indian is thinking – I can do anything; nothing is impossible for me. TV9 viewers will also observe that our performance has exceeded the expectations of many experts.
Friends,
The primary catalyst for this shift in mindset and trust lies in the work culture and governance fostered by our government. Despite retaining the same officers, offices, systems, and files, the outcomes have evolved significantly. Government offices are now viewed as allies rather than obstacles by the citizens. This paradigm is setting new benchmarks for governance in the years ahead.
Friends,
To propel Bharat's development and facilitate a Big Leap, it was imperative to shift gears from the previous trajectory on which Bharat was operating. Allow me to illustrate how Bharat was entrenched in reverse gear under previous governments. The Saryu Canal Project in Uttar Pradesh had its foundation stone laid in the 1980s, yet remained stagnant for four decades. Following our government's inception in 2014, we expedited its completion. Similarly, the Sardar Sarovar Project, initiated by Pandit Nehru in the 1960s, languished for 60 years until our government undertook its completion, inaugurating it in 2017. Maharashtra's Krishna Koyna project, initiated in the 1980s, also lingered until 2014 when our administration brought it to fruition.
Friends,
In recent days, you have witnessed stunning images of snowfall around the Atal Tunnel. Despite its foundation stone being laid in 2002, the tunnel remained incomplete until 2014. Our government ensured its completion, inaugurating it in 2020. The Bogibeel Bridge in Assam, approved in 1998, endured delays until our tenure, when it was swiftly completed and inaugurated in 2018 after 20 years. Similarly, the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, sanctioned in 2008, saw completion in 2023, 15 years later. I could cite at least 500 such projects. Hundreds of initiatives were expeditiously completed after our government assumed power in 2014.
Utilizing technology, we have established a modern system in the Prime Minister's Office - the PRAGATI platform. Monthly, I personally scrutinize each project file, reviewing data and addressing longstanding issues. Online, chief secretaries from all states and government secretaries are present, facilitating comprehensive analysis. In the past decade, I have reviewed projects worth over Rs 17 lakh crore, and it's through this rigorous process that these projects were completed.
Consider this: in a country where previous administrations operated at such sluggish speeds, how could we have made the 'Big Leap'? Our government has departed from that old sluggish approach. Allow me to cite examples from our tenure: Mumbai's Atal Setu, the nation's largest sea bridge, had its foundation stone laid in 2016 and was recently inaugurated. The new Parliament building had its foundation stone laid in 2020 and was unveiled last year. Jammu AIIMS, with its foundation stone laid in 2019, was inaugurated last week on February 20th. Similarly, Rajkot AIIMS, with its foundation stone laid in 2020, was launched just yesterday. Likewise, IIM Sambhalpur, with its foundation stone laid in 2021, was inaugurated in 2024. The new terminal of Trichy Airport, with its foundation stone laid in 2019, was also inaugurated recently. IIT Bhilai, with its foundation stone laid in 2018, was inaugurated a few days ago. The foundation stone of Goa's new airport was laid in 2016 and was inaugurated in 2022. The challenging task of laying optical fibre under the sea to Lakshadweep commenced in 2020 and was recently completed.
The foundation stone of Banas Dairy in Banaras was laid in 2021 and was inaugurated just a few days ago. Yesterday, you witnessed marvellous images of the Sudarshan Bridge in Dwarka, Bharat's longest cable bridge, adding to the nation's pride. Its foundation stone was also laid by our government in 2017. This exemplifies what I often refer to as Modi's guarantee: when there is such speed, willingness to work fast and respect for taxpayers' money, the country progresses, and it is poised for a 'Big leap' forward.
Friends,
The scale of work underway in Bharat today is unprecedented, beyond imagination. Allow me to provide you with more examples from just the past week. On February 20th, I simultaneously inaugurated numerous Higher Education Institutes across the country, including IITs, IIMs, and IIITs, from Jammu. On February 24th, I inaugurated five AIIMS facilities across the nation simultaneously from Rajkot. This morning, I laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of over 500 railway stations in 27 states, along with commencing work on over 1500 overbridges and underpasses nationwide in the same programme. Prior to attending this event, I shared a thread on social media platform X outlining my agenda for the next two days. Tomorrow morning, I'll be visiting Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, with engagements related to space, MSME, ports, green hydrogen, and farmers. Bharat can only take a big leap forward by operating at such a scale. Having lagged behind in the first, second, and third industrial revolutions, it's imperative for us to lead the world in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. So, the country's momentum is derived from the daily development projects happening across Bharat.
Every day in Bharat, numerous advancements unfold. Two new colleges and one university are established every day and every week, respectively. Additionally, every single day 55 patents and 600 trademarks are registered, around 1.5 lakh Mudra loans are disbursed, 37 new startups are launched, UPI transactions worth sixteen thousand crore rupees are processed, three new Jan Aushadhi Centres are opened, fourteen kilometres of railway tracks are constructed, and more than 50 thousand LPG connections are facilitated. And every second, a tap water connection is provided in Bharat. Moreover, 75 thousand people are lifted out of poverty daily. We often heard slogans about eradicating poverty, but it's under our government's tenure that 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty in just 10 years.
Friends,
A recent report on consumption in Bharat has unveiled a new trend, indicating that poverty in the country has reached its lowest level ever, now in single digits. According to this data, consumption has surged 2.5 times compared to the past decade, signifying an increased capacity among Indians to spend on various services and amenities. Furthermore, it has been revealed that consumption in rural areas has escalated at a much faster pace than in urban areas over the last decade, indicating a rise in economic power among rural residents and their enhanced spending ability. This transformation is not coincidental but rather the outcome of our focused efforts aimed at villages, the impoverished, and farmers. Since 2014, our government has prioritized rural infrastructure development, improved connectivity between villages and cities, created new employment opportunities, and devised means to augment women's income, thereby empowering rural Bharat with this model of development. Additionally, for the first time in Bharat, food expenditure has fallen below 50 percent of total expenditure, indicating that families previously preoccupied with procuring food can now allocate funds to other necessities.
Friends,
Another aspect of earlier governments' mindset was their inclination towards maintaining the populace in poverty, doling out token benefits to the impoverished during elections to serve their selfish interests. This approach birthed the concept of vote bank politics, whereby governments catered solely to those who voted for them.
But friends,
In the last 10 years, Bharat has transcended this scarcity mindset, curbing corruption and ensuring equitable distribution of developmental benefits across all regions of the country. We reject the politics of scarcity but we believe in governance of saturation. Instead of appeasement, we have chosen the path of gratifying the countrymen. Our mantra over the last decade has been 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. We have transitioned from vote bank politics to performance-based governance. Where there is scarcity, corruption and discrimination thrive, but where there is saturation, there is contentment and harmony.
Today, the government is actively reaching out door-to-door to ensure that beneficiaries receive the necessary facilities. You may have heard about Modi's vehicle of guarantee. Never before has it occurred in the country that government officials traverse from village to village in their vehicles, inquiring whether individuals have availed and received the benefits of the government schemes. Presently, our government is directly engaging with citizens at their doorsteps, urging them to take advantage of government initiatives. This underscores our commitment to ensuring widespread access to these schemes. Hence, I affirm that when saturation becomes a priority, the scope of any kind of discrimination diminishes. This further underscores our allegiance to national policy over politics.
Friends,
Our government prioritizes the principle of putting the Nation First. Previous administrations found it easy to evade responsibilities, but such a work culture cannot build a nation or drive progress. Hence, we made decisions in the national interest, addressing long standing challenges. From the repeal of Article 370—not a fictitious portrayal—to the establishment of the Ram Mandir, from ending triple talaq to promoting women's reservation, and from implementing One Rank One Pension to establishing the post of Chief of Defence Staff, we tackled these pending issues with a focus on 'Nation First'.
Friends,
We must prepare Bharat for the challenges of the 21st century today. Hence, Bharat is swiftly advancing in its future plans, from space to semiconductors, digitalization to drones, AI to clean energy, 5G to Fintech. Bharat now stands at the forefront of the world in digital payments and has the fastest-growing Fintech Adoption Rate. It is the first country to land on the south pole of the Moon, a leader in Solar Installed Capacity, ahead of Europe in the expansion of the 5G network, and making rapid progress in the semiconductor sector and future fuels like green hydrogen.
Today, Bharat is tirelessly working day and night towards a promising future. Bharat is forward-thinking, and as a result, the sentiment echoing everywhere now is, "India is the future." The upcoming period holds paramount importance, particularly the next five years. Addressing the audience present here, I emphasize with great responsibility that in our third term, we must propel Bharat's potential to unprecedented heights. These forthcoming five years mark a crucial phase in Bharat's journey towards development and acclaim on the global stage. With this aspiration and unwavering faith, whether or not this seminar would have taken place, Bharat's 'Big Leap' would undoubtedly continue. Organizing the Big Leap event has provided me with the opportunity to share these thoughts, and I extend my best wishes to you for its success! Having likely engaged in discussions and brainstorming throughout the day, I hope you have an enjoyable and enriching evening.
Thank you very much!
