Namaskar,
Since this morning, Bharat Mandapam has become a vibrant platform. Just a few minutes ago, I had the opportunity to meet your team. This summit has been full of diversity. Many dignitaries have added colour to this summit. I believe your experience must have been very enriching as well. The large presence of youth and women in this summit has, in a way, become its unique feature. Especially, the experiences shared by our Drone Didis and Lakhpati Didis—when I met all these anchors just now, I could see the enthusiasm with which they were sharing their stories. They remembered every dialogue of theirs. This, in itself, has been a truly inspiring occasion.
Friends,
This is a reflection of the changing Bharat, which is raising its voice in every field. The biggest dream of this transforming Bharat is — a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047. Our country has the capability, the resources, and the willpower to achieve this. Swami Vivekananda used to say — “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.” Today, I can see that very spirit in every Indian. Such deliberations, such discussions, and especially the participation of youth, play a crucial role to achieve the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. You have organized such a wonderful summit, and for this, I heartily congratulate my friend Atideb Sarkar ji, my old colleague Rajneesh, and the entire ABP Network team.
Friends,
Today is a historic day for Bharat. Just a short while ago, I had a conversation with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom before coming here. I’m happy to share that the India–UK Free Trade Agreement has now been finalized. This agreement on mutual trade and economic cooperation between two of the world's major and open-market economies will add a new chapter to the development of both countries. This is great news, especially for our youth. It will give a boost to economic activity in Bharat and open up new opportunities for Indian businesses and MSMEs. As you know, we have recently signed trade agreements with countries like UAE, Australia, and Mauritius as well. This shows that Bharat is not just implementing reforms, but is also actively engaging with the world and transforming itself into a vibrant hub for trade and commerce.
Friends,
To make bold decisions and to achieve our goals, it is essential to put the nation’s interests first and to have faith in the country’s capabilities. Unfortunately, there was a prevailing contrary mind-set for decades in our country and the nation suffered greatly because of it. There was a time when before taking any major decision or step, leaders would think: What will the world think? Will it get us votes? Will the chair remain secure? Will the vote bank slip away? Major decisions and big reforms kept getting postponed because of various self-serving interests.
Friends,
No country can move forward in such a manner. A nation progresses only when the sole criterion for every decision is — Nation First. Over the past decade, Bharat has moved forward with this very policy. And today, we are witnessing its results.
Friends,
In the past 10–11 years, our government has made one decision after another — decisions that had been stuck, delayed, or derailed for decades, locked away due to lack of political will. Take, for example, our banking sector — which is the backbone of the economy. Earlier, no summit would be complete without discussing the losses of banks. And banks in our country were on the verge of complete collapse before 2014. But what is the situation today? Today, Bharat’s banking sector is among the strongest systems in the world. Our banks are posting record profits, and depositors are reaping the benefits. This has been possible because our government continuously carried out reforms in the banking sector — merging smaller banks in the national interest and enhancing their capabilities. You might also remember the previous state of Air India. Air India was sinking, and thousands of crores of rupees were being lost every year. Yet the earlier governments were afraid to take a decision. We took that decision and saved the country from continuous losses. Why? Because, the interest of the nation comes first for us.
Friends,
A former Prime Minister of our country once admitted that when the government sends one rupee to the poor, 85 paise gets lost along the way. Governments changed, years passed, but no concrete steps were taken to ensure that the full amount due to the poor actually reached them. Our goal was that if one rupee is sent from Delhi, then all 100 paise should reach the beneficiary. For this, we implemented the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. This stopped the leakage in government schemes and ensured that benefits directly reached the intended recipients. Let me explain — government files contained 10 crore fake beneficiaries. Yes, 10 crore! People who were never even born were receiving full government benefits. This system was created by the earlier governments. Our government removed these 10 crore fake names from the system and ensured that the entire amount reached the poor directly into their bank accounts via DBT. As a result, more than 3.5 lakh crore rupees — yes, over 3.5 lakh crore rupees— was saved from falling into the wrong hands. In other words, we saved your money. Your money was saved, but Modi was rebuked.
Friends,
Take the case of One Rank, One Pension (OROP). It had been pending for many decades. Earlier, it was dismissed with the excuse that it would burden the government treasury. But our government placed the interests of those who dedicated their lives to defending the nation above everything else. Today, lakhs of soldier families are benefiting from OROP. So far, our government has disbursed more than 1.25 lakh crore rupees to ex-servicemen under this scheme.
Friends,
For decades, there was only talk about giving reservation to poor families in the country, but no action was taken. Our government took the decision to implement it. Everyone in the country has also seen what has happened over the years regarding 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. There were vested interests behind delaying it. But this was necessary in the interest of the nation. That’s why our government enacted the Women’s Reservation Law for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, empowering Nari Shakti even further.
Friends,
There have been many such issues in the past that no one was even willing to discuss — for fear of upsetting vote banks. Take the issue of Triple Talaq, for example. It destroyed the lives of countless Muslim women. But those in power at the time remained indifferent. Our government enacted a law against Triple Talaq in the interest of women, and for the welfare of Muslim families. Similarly, for decades there was a felt need for essential reforms in the Waqf Act, but this noble cause was either ignored or maligned to appease vote banks. Now, finally, the necessary amendments have been made to the Waqf Act — reforms that will truly benefit Muslim mothers and sisters, as well as poor and marginalized (Pasmanda) Muslims.
Friends,
There is another major initiative that doesn’t get discussed as much — and that is the linking of rivers. Just now, Atideb ji asked about water — “What will be done?” For decades, river water in our country was turned into a subject of tension and disputes. But our government has launched a massive campaign to link rivers in coordination with state governments. Projects like the Ken-Betwa Link Project, the Parvati–Kalisindh–Chambal Link Project, will benefit lakhs of farmers. These days, there's a lot of discussion in the media about water — you all understand very quickly what that means. Earlier, even water that rightfully belonged to Bharat would flow outside our borders. Now, Bharat’s water will flow for Bharat’s benefit, stay in Bharat, and serve Bharat.
Friends,
People often mention that after so many decades, a new Parliament building has finally been constructed. But what is not often discussed is that after decades of waiting, it was our government that built the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Memorial here in Delhi. The idea had been initiated during Atal ji’s government, but the project remained stuck for a decade. Our government not only completed it but also developed key sites associated with Babasaheb across Bharat and the world as part of the Panchteerth initiative.
Friends,
In 2014, our government was formed at a time when the people’s trust in the system had almost collapsed. Some even began to question whether democracy and development could coexist in our country. But today, when anyone looks at Bharat, he can proudly say: “Democracy can deliver.” In the past decade, 25 crore people have come out of poverty, sending a clear message to the world that democracy can deliver. The millions of small entrepreneurs who received loans under the Mudra Yojana feel it — democracy can deliver. There were dozens of districts in our country once labelled as "backward" and left to their fate. Today, those very districts have transformed into Aspirational Districts, performing strongly on development indicators — clear proof that democracy can deliver. Very few people know this, but within our tribal communities, there were also extremely marginalized sub-groups that never saw the benefits of development. Today, thanks to the PM JANMAN Yojana, these communities are finally receiving government services — and they, too, have come to believe: Democracy can deliver. True democracy means ensuring that the development of the nation and its resources reach the last person in line, without discrimination — and that’s exactly what our government is doing.
Friends,
Today, we are building a new Bharat — one where the pace of development is rapid, and where our growth is enriched not just by thinking and resolve, but also by compassion. We have chosen the path of Human-Centric Globalization, where growth is not defined solely by markets. To us, giving people a life of dignity, and helping them realize their dreams, is the true measure of progress. We're moving away from a purely GDP-centric approach, and moving toward GEP-centric progress — where GEP stands for Gross Empowerment of People. This means empowerment for all. When a poor person gets a permanent home, they are empowered, and their self-respect rises. When a toilet is built in the home of a poor person, they are freed from the indignity and suffering of open defecation. When they receive 5 lakh rupees worth of free treatment through the Ayushman Bharat scheme, it removes a major worry from their lives. There are countless such examples — all reinforcing a path of compassionate development and truly empowering the people of this nation.
Friends,
Just a few days ago, I spoke about the mantra “Nagrik Devo Bhava” — the citizen is divine -- during Civil Services Day. This is a core principle of our government. We see Janata (the people) as Janardan (divine). In the past, the "Mai-Baap" (ruler-subject) culture dominated government functioning. Today, our government functions with a spirit of service to the people. The government now proactively reaches out to the citizens to deliver services. There are many young people here — nowadays, you fill out most forms online. But there was a time when you had to run around government offices just to get your own documents attested. Now, the same work can be done through self-attestation.
Friends,
There were similar outdated systems for senior citizens. Every year, elderly citizens had to physically go to their old office and prove they were alive — or go to the bank and say, “I am still living, I should receive my pension.” We found a solution to that. Now, senior citizens can submit their life certificate digitally, from anywhere. Whether it's applying for an electricity connection, getting a water tap installed, paying bills, booking a gas cylinder, or even receiving the delivery of the gas cylinder— people earlier had to make repeated visits or take leave from work just to get it done.
But today, that system has changed. Many such tasks are now done online. We are constantly working to ensure that every interface between citizens and government — whether it's applying for a passport, requesting a tax refund, or anything else — is simple, fast, and efficient. This is the true meaning of “Nagrik Devo Bhava.” And with this spirit, we are laying a strong foundation for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
Friends,
Today, Bharat is moving forward by embracing both its tradition and its progress. ‘Vikas’ (Development) and ‘Virasat’ (heritage) — this is our mantra. We are witnessing how tradition and technology can thrive together in Bharat. Today, we are among the top countries in the world in digital transactions. At the same time, we are taking yoga and Ayurveda, the treasures of our tradition, to the entire world. Today, the world is eager to invest in Bharat. Over the past decade, Bharat has received record levels of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment). Alongside this, stolen artefacts and other cultural items are also returning to Bharat in record numbers. Today, Bharat is the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world. At the same time, we are also leading in the production of millets, which are superfoods. The Bharat of the Sun Temple has now achieved a solar energy production capacity of 100 gigawatts.
Friends,
For progress, it is not necessary to abandon our culture or our roots. The deeper our connection to our roots, the stronger our bond with modernity will be. We are transforming our thousands of years old heritage into a source of strength for Bharat for thousands of years to come.
Friends,
Every step in this journey toward a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 has its own significance. Often, people don’t even realize how far-reaching the multiplier effect of a government’s decision today can be. Let me give you an example from just one sector — media and content creation. Think back to 10 years ago, when I used to talk about Digital India. Many people expressed a lot of doubts back then. But today, Digital India has become an integral part of our lives. Affordable data and inexpensive Made in India smartphones have triggered a new revolution. We all can see how Digital India has enhanced Ease of Living. But what is discussed less is how Digital India has created a whole new world of content and creativity.
Today, a woman in a village who cooks well is part of the million-subscriber club. A youth from a tribal area is connecting audiences around the world through his traditional art. A school-going youngster is explaining and showcasing technology in amazing ways. Recently, the first WAVES Summit was held in Mumbai. It brought together people from around the world who are involved in the media, entertainment, and creative industries. I also had the opportunity to be part of it. Someone told me that YouTube alone has paid 21,000 crore rupees to Indian content creators over the past three years — Twenty-One Thousand Crore Rupees! This means that today, our phones are not just tools for communication, but also powerful tools for creativity and income.
Friends,
Along with the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, there is another campaign that is closely partnered with it — and that is the campaign for Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India). Self-reliance has always been a part of our economic DNA. Yet, we were often told that Bharat is not a maker, only a market. But now, that tag is being removed. Today, Bharat is emerging as a major defence manufacturer and exporter in the world. Indian defence products are being exported to more than 100 countries. The figures for our defence exports are also steadily rising. Our country now has many indigenous warships like INS Vikrant, INS Surat, and INS Nilgiri — all built by Bharat’s own capabilities. Bharat is now performing impressively in many sectors that were not traditionally considered our strengths — take the electronics sector, for example. In recent years, Bharat has emerged as a major electronics exporter. Our local products are going global. Recently, export-related data was released. Last year, Bharat’s exports reached a record level of around $825 billion. This means that Bharat has nearly doubled its exports in just one decade. To accelerate this further and take it to new heights, we have announced a Mission Manufacturing in this year’s Budget. This manufacturing strength is shaping the identity of Indian people as creators, innovators, and disruptors in the world.
Friends,
This decade is going to define the direction Bharat will take for centuries to come. This is the period in which the nation’s new destiny is being written. I can see this spirit in every citizen of the country, in every institution, and in every sector. Even during this summit, the discussions we've had reflect the same energy and optimism. Once again, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the ABP Network for organizing this summit. And I would also like to thank all of you — even though it’s getting quite late at night, you are still present here in such large numbers. That, in itself, is a sign of a bright future. I especially want to appreciate the unique format you’ve adopted, and I was looking at your guest list — it includes young, experimental minds. They have new ideas, fresh courage. Anyone in the country who heard them must have felt a sense of confidence — a realization that yes, our country has such strength. So, you have done a remarkable job, a commendable one — and for that, you deserve congratulations. Thank you very much.
