Punjab Newsline, New Delhi :
Businessman-cum-philanthropist Monish Behl on 11 Years of Modi’s ruleIndia’s stocks have risen tremendously in the last 11 years, and one man who could be credited for it is the man at the helm—Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His flagship initiatives—Make in India, StartupIndia, and Digital India—havesignificantly strengthened the pillars of manufacturing, entrepreneurship, anddigital governance.
Under his leadership, India’s infrastructure witnessedrapid advancement: the metro rail network expanded across major cities, railwayelectrification more than doubled, the number of operational airports rose from74 to over 160, and national waterways saw a tenfold increase. With a steadyfocus on the mantra of “Reform, Perform, Transform,”India is progressing from being the world’s 10th largest economy towardbecoming the 5th—and potentially even the 3rd—largest in the near future.
Middle-East-based businessman and philanthropist Monish Behl has aptly summed it up: “The changes ininfrastructure under Modi are remarkable. Roads, airports, and industry are allthriving. India has become a confident country and just cruising under aconfident PM working 24X7.”
Introduction of Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana and other welfare schemesHe says social welfareschemes, housing, health & inclusion such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(PMAY) that promoted affordable housing, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aimed toeliminate open defecation in rural India by 2019 also did wonders. The Ujjwala Yojanaprovided LPG connections to millions of women, while Ayushman Bharat offeredhealth coverage to hundreds of millions. Digital governance and financial inclusionOne of Modi'sstandout policies has been the push for digital governance. Through the JanDhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity, the government simplified subsidy transfers,reduced corruption, and improved financial inclusion. More than 500 million JanDhan bank accounts were opened, giving people without bank access entry toformal financial systems. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), althoughdeveloped by the NPCI, experienced significant growth under Modi’s government.
By 2025, UPI had become the backbone of India’s digital payment landscape. According to Behl,“These programmes aren’t just numbers; they bring real improvements to thelives of millions.” Infrastructure has been a key focus area. Under Modi, Indiasaw rapid growth in highways, rural roads, electrification, and urban metrosystems. Bharatmala and Sagarmala projectsThe Bharatmala andSagarmala projects aimed to enhance road and port connectivity.
By 2024, Indiareportedly built over 12,000 km of highways each year, a notable increase overprevious decades. Introduction of GSTMoreover, the introductionof the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017, despite initial challenges,represented a significant step toward a unified national market. Defense Modernisation and OperationSindoorA pivotal momentoccurred with Operation Sindoor, a quick air-and-missile strike launched on May7, 2025, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The operation targeted ninemilitant camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, using indigenoussystems without raising tensions.
Modi pointed out that the name 'Sindoor'—asymbol of dignity for married women—was chosen to honour the widows of thevictims, stating that terror "wiped the sindoorfrom our sisters." He called it a “reflection of our resolve, courage, and atransforming India,” inspiring a sense of patriotism across the nation. Varioussources noted that families began naming newborn girls “Sindoor” in parts of UPand Rajasthan. Before this, theBalakot Strikes and surgical strikes in Uri were a reminder to Pakistan thatthere was a policy shift under the Modi regime and that zero tolerance towards terrorattacks in any form will be strictly dealt with.
Notably, the DRDO highlightedthe significant role of indigenous systems like BrahMos and Akashteer during OpSindoor. About Op Sindoor, Monish Behl points out, “Operation Sindoordemonstrated the strength of ‘Made in India’ defense and strategic autonomy.Our engineers built weapons that restored national dignity. All due to PM Modi.”Foreign Policy and Global Standing At the internationalstage, Modi has worked to elevate India’s profile. He visited variouscountries, addressed Indian diaspora events, and built strategic partnershipswith the U.S., Japan, Australia, Middle Eastern, and African nations. Indiaunder Modi has taken a stronger position in global affairs.
He advocated for abigger role in forums like the G20, QUAD, and BRICS, while highlighting“Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) as an economic vision for thepost-pandemic world. In 2023, India successfully hosted the G20 Summit in NewDelhi, showcasing its cultural heritage, digital leadership, and strategicindependence. Behl says, “Internationally, PM Modi has put India on a pedestalfrom which there is no looking back. We can only aspire to grow and fulfil PMModi’s Viksit India in 2047.”