On May 25, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership over the past 12 years, describing this period as a transformative era for India. Fadnavis remarked that the country has shed its image of dependency, evolving into an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ with increased global stature and self-respect. He noted that the achievements during this time have been marked by significant structural, economic, and social reforms that dismantled decades of policy paralysis.
During the release of a special coffee table book titled ‘Rashtra Nirmanachi Tapapoorti’ (The Completion of an Era in Nation Building), Fadnavis reflected on the profound changes in India's economic and social landscape since May 26, 2014. He emphasized that Modi's pro-poor and citizen-centric policies have successfully lifted over 25 crore individuals out of extreme poverty, a remarkable feat he deemed unparalleled globally. Furthermore, he highlighted that India's GDP has surged from over ₹103 lakh crore in 2013-14 to approximately ₹357 lakh crore under Modi's stewardship.
- Structural reforms like GST — have unified the market and attracted significant foreign investment.
- Defence exports reached ₹50,000 crore — showcasing India's transition from a major importer to a strong exporter.
- Focus on four societal pillars — empowering the poor, farmers, youth, and women under Modi's governance.
Fadnavis discussed critical reforms such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which he stated have revolutionized the economy by facilitating seamless transactions and reducing corruption. He further acknowledged the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity that has streamlined direct benefit transfers to the needy.
In terms of foreign policy and defense, Fadnavis pointed to India's growing stature in defense exports, which now stand at ₹50,000 crore. He cited recent military operations and the development of border infrastructure as indicators of India's enhanced strategic preparedness. The CM concluded by asserting that the PM Modi-led government’s focus on empowering essential societal groups marks a significant shift towards grassroots empowerment, as documented in the newly released book.
