On Wednesday, April 17th, over 10,000 people from different backgrounds gathered at The Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru for an event called "An Evening of Music and Meditation with Viksit Bharat Ambassadors." The attendees included people from all walks of life, including Art of Living disciples, instructors, professionals, and educated individuals of various ages.

The VBA 2024 event was honoured by the presence of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, who served as the Chief Guest. He spoke about important topics, ranging from the importance of democratic participation to celebrating cultural and religious milestones.

One of the highlights of the evening was the screening of a film showcasing Viksit Bharat's journey and its transformative impact over the past decade.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment to governance, adherence to religious customs, and his leadership in fulfilling the aspiration of establishing the Ram Mandir.

Gurudev lauded PM Modi's role in fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of establishing the Ram Mandir, underscoring the emotional significance of celebrating Ram Navami at the birthplace of Bhagwaan Shri Ram after 500 years. He lamented that previous governments did not do enough about it and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended 'politics over Ram Mandir' and turned a centuries-old dream into reality in the shortest possible time.

"Despite historical challenges, Prime Minister Modi's resolute leadership has ensured the timely construction of a magnificent temple. His meticulous attention to detail and personal commitment during the consecration process have set a compelling example for others to emulate," he said.

Witnessing PM Modi's sincere efforts and strict adherence to religious customs, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that the Prime Minister doesn't believe in superficial things and does everything with a 'clean heart and strong resolve'.

"PM Modi followed the ascetic 11-day Yam Niyam before the Pran Pratistha ceremony of Ram Lalla. He also keeps fast on all nine days of Navratri. By strictly following the Hindu rituals, he has set a benchmark for his successors, and they will have a tough time meeting the standards set by PM Modi," said Ravi Shankar.

"PM Modi has set high governance standards in the last ten years. He doesn't socialize on Sunday; he does 'Mann Ki Baat' with the countrymen. He celebrates Diwali with the jawans on the borders. Whoever becomes his successor in times to come will have to maintain this standard," he said.

Gurudev remarked on the Prime Minister's high standards in governance and urged future leaders to uphold similar dedication and integrity. He emphasized the need for committed leadership to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat, a mission to achieve a developed India by 2047.

"Prime Minister Modi has raised the bar for future leaders by prioritizing duty over personal comfort. His commitment to spending Diwali with the army and engaging in regular public addresses like 'Mann Ki Baat' sets high standards, emphasizing the importance of selfless service and echoing the ideals of Lord Ram. This places significant challenges on future prime ministers, who must uphold these standards to advance India's development," he said.

"To set ourselves on the path of development, we have to unite our efforts and inculcate a positive mindset. You can't become a Viksit Bharat Ambassador unless you are eager and inspired to attain it. To achieve this mission, everyone should come together and contribute to it," he said.

Addressing the audience, Gurudev called on first-time voters to recognize their role as active participants in shaping the nation's future. He encouraged them to vote with a sense of responsibility and optimism, stressing that every vote contributes to the country's progress.

"You should think about yourself as an active participant of the vibrant democracy and vote with a positive mindset that your vote has the power to give direction to the country's growth," he said.

He appealed to first-time voters not to get discouraged and disoriented by local issues but to vote to take Bharat to new heights.

"To become an agent of change and a stakeholder in the country's development, you must cast your ballot," he told the Viksit Bharat Ambassadors.

"We are all citizens of the world's biggest democracy, and we must keep doing our bit to make it stronger and contribute, even if you consider it insignificant," he added.

In concluding remarks, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reiterated the collective responsibility to ensure India's development as Viksit Bharat. The event concluded on a note of optimism and determination, with attendees invigorated to contribute towards the nation's progress.

 

The Vision of Viksit Bharat: 140 crore dreams, 1 purpose

The Viksit Bharat Ambassador movement aims to encourage citizens to take responsibility for contributing to India's development. VBA meet-ups and events are being organized in various parts of the country to achieve this goal. These events provide a platform for participants to engage in constructive discussions, exchange ideas, and explore practical strategies for contributing to the movement.

Join the movement on the NaMo App:

https://www.narendramodi.in/ViksitBharatAmbassador

The NaMo App: Bridging the Gap

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's app, the NaMo App, is a digital bridge that empowers citizens to participate in the Viksit Bharat Ambassador movement. The NaMo App serves as a one-stop platform for individuals to:

Join the cause: Sign up and become a Viksit Bharat Ambassador and make 10 other people
Amplify Development Stories: Access updates, news, and resources related to the movement.
Create/Join Events: Create and discover local events, meet-ups, and volunteer opportunities.
Connect/Network: Find and interact with like-minded individuals who share the vision of a developed India.

The 'VBA Event' section in the 'Onground Tasks' tab of the 'Volunteer Module' of the NaMo App allows users to stay updated with the ongoing VBA events.

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PM Modi chairs 51st PRAGATI Meeting
May 27, 2026
PM reviews seven critical infrastructure projects across the Railways, Power and Road sectors
Projects reviewed span across 9 States with cumulative investment of around ₹30,000 crore
PM also reviews Ken Betwa Link Project and Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0
PM says Ken-Betwa River Inter-linking Project should serve as a model for other States to resolve inter-State water issues amicably
PM asks States to expedite the completion of solid waste management-related infrastructure, including waste processing plants and GOBARdhan plants
PM calls for mission-mode rooftop solar coverage in urban areas
Acting upon the advice of PM, system of monthly review of social sector schemes at State level operationalised, starting with review of Swachh Bharat Mission

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the 51st meeting of PRAGATI, the ICT-enabled, multi-modal platform aimed at fostering Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, by seamlessly integrating efforts of the Central and State governments, at Seva Teerth, earlier today.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed seven critical infrastructure projects across the Railways, Power and Road sectors covering nine States worth around ₹30,000 crore. These projects, pivotal to economic growth and public welfare, were reviewed with a focus on timelines, inter-agency coordination, and timely issue resolution. Prime Minister also reviewed Ken Betwa Link Project and Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.

While reviewing power sector projects, Prime Minister emphasized the need to accelerate rooftop solar adoption across urban areas, with a special focus on cities, residential clusters and public institutions. He underlined that rooftop solar should be taken up in mission mode to reduce electricity costs, improve energy security and promote clean energy at the household and community level.

While reviewing road and port connectivity projects, it was emphasised that Vadhavan Port should be developed as a model of port-led, multi-modal development, where every major mode of transport is seamlessly integrated to create a future-ready logistics ecosystem. The project should not be seen merely as a port, but as a national gateway connected through coastal shipping, inland waterways, dedicated freight corridors, high-speed rail connectivity, highways and airport linkages.

Prime Minister emphasised the need for effective implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 and underlined that the mission should move beyond infrastructure creation and ensure measurable outcomes through regular monitoring, citizen participation and convergence between various stakeholders. He asked States to expedite the completion of solid waste management-related infrastructure, including waste processing plants and GOBARdhan plants.

While reviewing Ken-Betwa River Inter-linking Project, Prime Minister observed that Ken-Betwa project should serve as a model for other States to resolve inter-State water issues through cooperation, timely clearances, technology-based monitoring and mission-mode execution. States were encouraged to identify similar opportunities where river-linking, water conservation, groundwater recharge and efficient irrigation can be taken up in an integrated manner to ensure long-term water security.

Prime Minister also underlined that the delay in the implementation of public projects leads not only to cost escalation but also deprives citizens of timely access to essential facilities and development benefits. He observed that every delay has a direct impact on people’s lives, regional growth and public resources. He stressed that Ministries, Departments and States must adopt a more proactive and time-bound approach to resolve pending issues, remove bottlenecks and ensure faster execution.

Prime Minister also emphasized that innovative use of canal networks should be explored, including installation of solar panels along canals and over canals for clean electricity generation. This would help optimize land use, reduce evaporation losses, generate renewable energy and create additional economic value from water infrastructure.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary informed that, in pursuance of the directions of the Prime Minister, a system of monthly review of social sector schemes at the State level has also been operationalised. This mechanism aims to ensure regular monitoring, faster resolution of implementation issues and greater accountability at the State and district levels. As part of this initiative, Swachh Bharat Mission has been taken up for review at the State level in the first instance.