When Prime Minister Narendra Modi first spoke about 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India), it was imagined by many as an ambitious dream that would take years, maybe decades, of tireless nation building, futuristic governance and public participation. Modi’s India, in its third decade of the 21st century, is becoming a reality that is increasingly realizing the dream of a developed, self-reliant and India of respect in the international community. India today is on an unprecedented trajectory of growth, confidence and resilience, due to his decisive governance style, futuristic policies, strong connect with his grassroots, and itinerant diplomacy.
Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat is much wider than the conventional understanding of economic development. It does not merely seek prosperity, but equity; does not merely look for technological advancement, but societal upliftment; does not merely facilitate national progress, but be a global leader based on ancient Indian wisdom. The road map for Modi’s developed India is based on economic rejuvenation, social transformation, environmental sustainability, innovation, and moral leadership on the world stage. He wants India to be counted among the most developed, inclusive and powerful nations of the world by 2047, the year when India will complete 100 years of independence.
A series of sweeping reforms and transformative initiatives across sectors formed the basis of Viksit Bharat. The economic rejuvenation of India was one of the early thrusts. Make in India and Startup India brought a new wave of entrepreneurship and manufacturing which has made India a global hub for innovation and industrial growth. The Atmanirbhar Bharat mission emphasised on self reliance in which critical sectors like defense, semiconductors, renewable energy were strengthened. In Modi's era, India became fifth largest economy of the world, as India kept recording 6–7% GDP growth despite global economic slowdown. The Indian economy proved resilient and dynamic, recording foreign direct investment surging to record levels, and its forex reserves among the strongest in the world.
There was a silent revolution on social welfare which for long had been plagued with corruption and inefficiencies. Modi’s governance model was based on targeted, corruption free and technology driven welfare delivery. Millions of families were given homes with schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the under privileged were able to fulfil their dream of owning a house. The Ayushman Bharat scheme saw an unprecedented leap, wherein tens of crore Indians were provided free medical treatment, making it the largest health assurance scheme of the world. Clean cooking fuel empowered women under the Ujjwala Yojana, that liberated them from hazardous traditional methods of cooking. Direct Benefit Transfer system that plugged leakages that plagued welfare delivery for decades, saved the government billions and restored the people’s faith in governance.
An other hallmark of Modi’s leadership was infrastructure development. Rapid modernization took place in roads, highways, railways and airports. Highway construction speed more than tripled, semi-high speed trains like Vande Bharat were launched in Indian Railways, and record electrification projects made remote regions closer to the national mainstream. The Udaan scheme connected tier 2 and tier 3 cities and the number of operational airports increased from 50 to 100. Under the Smart Cities Mission, urban transformation redefined the living standards of the urbanites, introducing modern amenities across cities and towns alike. Every project that Modi took up from Bharatmala to Sagarmala to Gati Shakti to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project was a testament to Modi's philosophy that infrastructure is a catalyst for national growth.
At the same time, a silent revolution had been taking place in the digital space. It was only with the Digital India campaign that India suddenly went from being digitally deficient to being a global leader in digital public infrastructure. The Aadhaar integration with the financial systems, the UPI success the like never before, the opening of over 50 crore Jan Dhan accounts democratized digital banking and digital transactions like never before. High speed broadband was brought to villages through BharatNet and made the rural India digitally empowered societies. India today accounts for nearly half of the world’s real-time digital transactions, a testimony to the scale and success of the digital transformation.
In Modi's view, economic development would not go hand in hand with environmental degradation. Viksit Bharat took green growth as an integral pillar. India also played a leadership role in renewable energy promotion, through the International Solar Alliance. Achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070 at COP26 was a balancing act of developmental needs and environmental responsibility, which the country put forward. India is now one of the countries with the largest installed renewable energy capacity, with massive investments in solar and wind power. The 'Panchamrit' strategy of Modi for climate action is also based on the idea that development and environmental stewardship can, and must, coexist.
Modi’s challenges were formidable. India demonstrated agility and innovation under the test of the COVID 19 pandemic. It was done with remarkable efficiency, saving countless lives in the world's largest free vaccination drive. India also made use of opportunities and turned crises into opportunities by luring industries aiming to diversify supply chains out of China. India showed agility and assertiveness on its diplomatic front. Under Modi’s leadership, India’s stature rose significantly whether it was leading the Global South, securing strategic gains through the Quad alliance, or hosting the G20 summit with the theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s South Pole and the fact that India is becoming a net defense exporter only consolidated India’s global image as a rising powerhouse.
Another defining feature of Viksit Bharat has been the spirit of inclusivity. Modi’s words of moto "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas" became a series of targeted programs that uplifted marginalized communities, minorities and women. Special schemes for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the minorities encouraged education, entrepreneurship and skill development. With passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, history was made in women’s empowerment with the guarantee of more women representation in Parliament and state legislatives. Women's presence in the workforce, in politics and in entrepreneurship exploded across sectors, as a society that was increasingly in favor of gender equality and social justice.
However, challenges remain, even with the remarkable strides. Issues of rising inequality, agrarian distress, environmental degradation in urban centers and preservation of social harmony persist. Deeper reforms in the labor, education and judicial systems have often been criticized by critics. Modi himself has, however, admitted that the road to 2047 will be a long and difficult one filled with continuous innovation, dynamic policy making, and a spirit of collective responsibility. Open criticism, active media and civil society participation are all part of vibrant democracy in India which is an important pillar in the process of refining the path towards Viksit Bharat.
The dream of Viksit Bharat under Modi’s leadership is not limited to statistics or infrastructure marvels. An India, where every citizen feels empowered, where every opportunity is open, where the dignity of the individual is respected, where the wisdom of centuries is the guide to modern aspiration. This is a vision where spiritual growth and economic prosperity together, technological advancement and ethical governance, and nationalism based on global responsibility.
India is moving ahead with a momentum built up in the last decade and the dream of Viksit Bharat feels closer than ever. Modi is the one who gave the vision, the blueprint, the energy to push this national revival. But this dream will be fully realized only through collective efforts by policymakers, entrepreneurs, farmers, scientists, students and soldiers.
In his speeches, Prime Minister Modi often tells the nation: "This is the time." This is the right time. India’s time has come." His call echoes in cities and villages, institutions. Viksit Bharat turned out to be no dream, but a living, breathing, living reality, with each innovation, with each policy, and with each citizen. This journey from a developing to a developed India is well under way and history will remember this era as the one in which a billion dreams took flight.

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