How history will remember PM Modi, 50 years later

File photo of PM Modi (AFP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the architect of several milestones for a nation of 1.4 billion people, celebrates a personal landmark on September 17 as he turns 75. For a leader who has spent nearly one-third of his life (24 years) as an elected official, it is often difficult to fully enumerate the sheer number of watershed decisions that have become the highlights of his career. Yet, many decisions under the Modi regime have defined the very course of India's destiny and left a deep impact on its citizens - economically, politically, socially and even culturally.

The bold demonetisation move, landmark GST reforms, a new doctrine on terror — PM Modi has given India a definitive post-Congress direction that has now become the political fuel powering his formidable BJP. As the nation and the world celebrate the Prime Minister's landmark birthday, here's a look at some of the decisions by Modi that will go down in history books and will endure in the nation’s memory long after his tenure.

Read also: 5 little-known stories that reveal the human side of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Demonetisation (2016)

In one of the most dramatic economic measures in independent India, PM Modi on November 8, 2016 declared Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes invalid overnight — giving just a four-hour notice to the citizens. The move was aimed at curbing black money, counterfeit currency and terror financing.

While the jury will always be out on the efficacy of note ban, especially due to the widespread disruption it caused, the drastic action reflected the Prime Minister's resolve to take hard decisions in pursuit of reform. Moreover, the disruption acted as a catalyst for digital payments in India, giving UPI the push it needed to scale rapidly. As per the latest data, UPI processed 20.01 billion transactions in August 2025, a whopping 200,000 times growth in 9 years.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) Reform

The landmark Goods and Services Tax (GST) was rolled out during the first tenure of PM Modi's government on July 1, 2017. GST brought together a bevy of state and central levies into a unified national tax. It also established a “one nation, one market” framework and promoted ease of doing business in India.

On August 15, 2025, PM Modi announced the next-generation GST reforms which further simplified the regime by eliminating the two slabs of 12% and 28%. The rationalisation, dubbed as a "Diwali gift" for Indians, will come into effect on September 22, the first day of Navratri. Despite initial concerns over multiple slabs, GST is still regarded as one of the most transformative economic reforms in India since its independence.

Abrogation of Article 370 (2019)

In one of the most significant political decisions, the Modi government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and reorganised the state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.

The bold action, considering the tense security situation of the region, faced political backlash from multiple parties and widespread concerns within J&K. However, six years on, the decision is being hailed as historic as it helped integrate J&K  fully with the Indian Union. Over the years, the UT has seen  economic prosperity and a marked reduction in terrorism as well as incidents of stone-pelting.

Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) (2019)

The passage of the CAA also marked a landmark shift in India’s citizenship framework, offering fast-tracked naturalisation to persecuted minorities — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians — from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Lauded by supporters as humanitarian and derided by critics as exclusionary, the Act ignited one of the most polarising debates of Modi’s tenure.

Ram Mandir resolution and construction (2019–2024)

In 2019, the Supreme Court’s verdict in the decades-old Ram Janmabhoomi case brought closure to the highly sensitive issue that has been the cornerstone of BJP's rise in Indian politics. It also paved the way for the construction of a grand temple at Ayodhya, which was pushed actively by the Modi government.  PM Modi led the groundbreaking of the temple on August 5, 2020. Four years later, he inaugurated the grand Mandir in a resplendent ceremony that signalled the religious awakening of India under Modi’s leadership. The January 2024 event not only became historic, but also symbolised the BJP’s ideological journey from the margins to the mainstream.

Triple Talaq abolition (2019)

By criminalising instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat), Modi’s government enacted a long-pending reform in Muslim personal law. The step was hailed as a watershed for gender justice and women’s empowerment, giving Muslim women stronger legal safeguards and protections against arbitrary divorce.

New doctrine on terror

Under PM Modi, India has taken a radical approach in dealing with Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, giving a befitting reply to the neighbour each time terror reared its ugly head.

In 2016, the Modi government authorised the surgical strikes following the Uri attack to target terror hideouts in PoK. In 2019, India responded to the deadly Pulawama attack by launching airstrikes in Balakot, destroying well-known terror camps. During the recent Operation Sindoor, still fresh in the memory of every Indian, the forces successfully avenged the dastardly Pahalgam attack by targeting nine terror facilities deep inside Pakistan. In the four-day intense military conflict that followed, India thwarted Pakistani offensive and launched an unprecedented attack on its strategic airbases - bringing Islamabad to heel.

Each of these actions sent shockwaves through Pakistan and delivered a clear message: the new Bharat will strike at the very heart of terror — and this is the new normal. Despite the two countries coming close to a full-blown war, the Modi government never hesitated in giving a firm reply to terrorists and their masters.

Make in India & Atmanirbhar Bharat

Launched soon after assuming office, Make in India emerged as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship initiative to transform the country into a global manufacturing hub. The vision gained renewed momentum during the Covid-19 pandemic when the government introduced the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework to reduce import dependence, foster local entrepreneurship and position India as a self-reliant yet globally competitive economy.

Together, these initiatives have reshaped India’s industrial policy and global outlook. As global trade faced disruptions from Donald Trump’s policies, PM Modi doubled down on the idea of "Atmanirbharta" as both a shield and a strategy. His consistent push for Swadeshi products, the call to be “vocal for local” and the cultivation of a self-reliance mindset have charted a confident course for India as it advances toward 100 years of independence.