Since Narendra Modi assumed office as Prime Minister in 2014, India has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its global positioning, emerging as a pivotal player in international affairs through strategic diplomacy, economic reforms, and proactive engagement with the world community.
Under Modi's leadership, India's foreign policy has evolved from a reactive stance to a proactive and assertive approach, exemplified by the "Neighborhood First" policy that has strengthened ties with South Asian nations, the "Act East" policy that has deepened engagement with Southeast Asian countries, and the "Link West" policy that has revitalized relationships with Middle Eastern nations, collectively positioning India as a bridge between various global regions.
The Modi government's diplomatic outreach has been unprecedented in scale and scope, with the Prime Minister undertaking over 70 foreign visits to more than 60 countries, engaging with world leaders through innovative formats like the informal summit model used with China and Russia, and leveraging personal diplomacy to elevate bilateral relationships to strategic partnerships.
India's economic trajectory under Modi has reinforced its global relevance, with the country rising to become the world's fifth-largest economy in 2019, overtaking the United Kingdom and France, and according to IMF projections, poised to become the third-largest economy by 2027 with a GDP expected to surpass $5 trillion, driven by structural reforms including the Goods and Services Tax implementation, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and initiatives like "Make in India" and "Digital India" that have attracted significant foreign direct investment, which reached a record $84.8 billion in FY 2021-22.
The Modi administration's handling of India's G20 presidency in 2023 showcased the country's capacity to lead global consensus-building, with India successfully championing the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent G20 member, facilitating the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration despite geopolitical tensions, and positioning itself as the voice of the Global South by advocating for developing nations' concerns on climate finance, debt restructuring, and digital public infrastructure. India's space program has achieved new heights under Modi's tenure, with the successful Mars Orbiter Mission making India the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit and the first country to do so in its maiden attempt, the Chandrayaan-3 mission in 2023 making India the fourth country to land on the moon and the first to land near the lunar south pole, and the Gaganyaan mission preparing to send Indian astronauts to space, all while maintaining ISRO's reputation as the most cost-effective space agency globally.
The International Solar Alliance, co-founded by India and France in 2015 and headquartered in India, exemplifies Modi's climate leadership, with 116 countries now signed on to this initiative that aims to mobilize $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030, while India's own renewable energy capacity has expanded dramatically from 76 GW in 2014 to over 180 GW in 2024, positioning the country as the world's fourth-largest renewable energy installer. Defense modernization and strategic autonomy have been central to India's rising stature, with defense exports growing from ₹2,000 crore in 2014 to over ₹15,000 crore in 2023, the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" initiative in defense reducing import dependency, and India's participation in multilateral groupings like the Quad (with the US, Japan, and Australia) enhancing its strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Modi government's humanitarian diplomacy has earned global recognition, particularly through Operation Ganga that evacuated over 22,000 Indian nationals and foreign citizens from Ukraine during the 2022 crisis, the Vaccine Maitri initiative that supplied COVID-19 vaccines to over 95 countries earning India the moniker "pharmacy of the world," and rapid disaster relief operations across neighboring countries that have reinforced India's image as a responsible first responder.
India's technological prowess has gained international acknowledgment, with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processing over 10 billion transactions monthly and being adopted by countries like France, UAE, and Singapore, the Aadhaar digital identity system serving as a model for developing nations, and India's IT services sector maintaining its dominance with exports exceeding $190 billion annually. The country's soft power has expanded significantly through initiatives like the International Day of Yoga recognized by the UN with 177 co-sponsoring nations, the revival of ancient universities like Nalanda, and increased global interest in Indian culture, cinema, and cuisine, while the Indian diaspora of over 32 million people across the globe has become an invaluable bridge for diplomatic and economic engagement.
India's ascension to various leadership positions in international organizations, including non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for the eighth time (2021-22), presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and chairmanship of numerous UN bodies, reflects growing global confidence in Indian leadership. However, this rising stature also comes with challenges including managing complex relationships with major powers like the United States, China, and Russia simultaneously, addressing concerns about democratic backsliding raised by some international observers, balancing economic growth with environmental commitments, and meeting the expectations of a young population of 1.4 billion people who aspire for greater prosperity and global recognition.
Nevertheless, India's trajectory under Modi's leadership suggests a nation that has moved from being a passive observer to an active shaper of global affairs, leveraging its demographic dividend, democratic credentials, technological capabilities, and strategic location to carve out a distinctive position in the emerging multipolar world order, where it is increasingly seen not just as a rising power but as an indispensable partner in addressing global challenges from climate change and pandemic preparedness to terrorism and cyber security, thereby fulfilling Modi's vision of India as a "Vishwaguru" or global leader that contributes to international peace, prosperity, and sustainable development while protecting its national interests and strategic autonomy

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