At 75, Modi’s key milestones tell a story of transformation: Article 370, GST, vaccines, toilets, tap water & more

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates his 75th birthday today, it’s time to take stock of the transformative policies and initiatives he has spearheaded over his 11-year tenure at the Centre.

From driving India’s digital revolution to overhauling governance and modernising infrastructure, Modi’s leadership has been marked by reforms designed to make a tangible difference in the everyday lives of citizens.

Politics and Governance

By 2014, coalition politics was the norm in India. Modi broke this trend, leading the BJP to a decisive majority, a feat last achieved by Indira Gandhi in 1980.


According to a TOI report, his influence extends beyond numbers, having reshaped India’s political landscape. He popularised Hindutva across a broader geographic spread, framed governance as a mission-driven endeavour, and instilled the ethos of “seva” into politics.

Even critics acknowledge the profound impact of his transformative policies, which opponents have had to recalibrate around.

Abrogation of Article 370

The abrogation of Article 370 ended Jammu & Kashmir’s special status, fulfilling a long-standing BJP objective. A TOI report highlights that Modi’s strategic manoeuvring ensured elections were conducted fairly, terrorism declined, and infrastructure and tourism began to flourish. While full statehood restoration remains pending, public support for the developmental dividend is evident.

Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor as a landmark military response to the Pahalgam tourist massacre by fundamentalist elements. The operation demonstrated India’s readiness for modern, high-stakes conflict and sent a clear message regarding Pakistan’s nuclear threats.

Precision strikes, intelligence-led coordination, and joint operations across forces neutralised key terror installations, bolstering India’s strategic autonomy.

Covid-19 Vaccination Drive

India’s vaccination strategy emphasised domestic production. Covaxin and Covishield were rolled out rapidly, with over 220 crore doses administered by January 2023.

TOI notes that nearly 97% of eligible adults received at least one dose, and 90% both doses, reflecting one of the world’s most comprehensive vaccination campaigns. Rural penetration and use of the CoWIN platform were particularly notable.

Economic Reforms

The rollout of GST in 2017 created a true “one nation, one tax” system. As quoted by TOI, the tax base has expanded to over 1.5 crore, simplifying compliance and reducing cascading taxes.

Modi also championed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, slashing NPAs from 9% in 2021 to 2.6% in 2025, and encouraging prompt resolution of debts.

Digital Infrastructure and Financial Inclusion

Aadhaar, combined with the Jan Dhan accounts and mobile phones (the JAM trinity), laid the foundation for India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, facilitating everything from LPG subsidies and UPI payments to DigiLocker and vaccination verification.

TOI data shows over 1.4 billion Aadhaar IDs now cover more than 95% of the population, while Jan Dhan accounts hold Rs 2.6 lakh crore across 56 crore accounts.

Social Security and Health

Ayushman Bharat, launched in 2018, is the world’s largest health insurance scheme, providing coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually.

TOI notes that 42 crore people are enrolled, with 9.5 crore hospitalisations covered. Food security initiatives like PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana have reached over 80 crore citizens, especially during the Covid pandemic.

Infrastructure and Housing

Highway construction has increased dramatically, with high-speed corridors expanding from 93 km in 2014 to nearly 5,000 km. PMAY has provided 3.9 crore rural houses and 94 lakh urban houses.

TOI highlights the scheme’s emphasis on women’s empowerment, with women being sole or joint owners of over 70% of houses.

Water, Energy, and Cleanliness

The Jal Jeevan Mission has provided tap water to 81% of rural households, while the PM Surya Ghar scheme has connected 20 lakh homes with rooftop solar. Under PM Ujjwala Yojana, over 10.3 crore BPL women now enjoy clean LPG connections, significantly improving air quality and reducing household drudgery. The Swachh Bharat Mission has built over 12 crore toilets, making India open defecation free and promoting solid and liquid waste management.

From digitisation to social welfare, infrastructure, and energy, PM Modi’s tenure reflects a focus on people-centric governance. These initiatives, often ambitious and transformative, continue to shape India’s socio-economic landscape, making the country more resilient, inclusive, and digitally empowered.

Inputs from TOI