Eleven Years of Transformative Governance in India

• A Look at Modi Government’s Socio-Economic Overhaul

As India marks eleven years under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the narrative of governance has taken on a distinctly transformative tone.

Spearheaded under the banner of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas” (Together with all, Development for all, Trust of all, Effort of all), the central government has unveiled an extensive retrospective of its policy landscape.

With a strong focus on inclusivity, welfare saturation and economic upliftment, the Modi administration claims it has laid the groundwork for a “Viksit Bharat”,  a developed India.

In a statement released by India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB), Prime Minister Modi emphasized the changing face of the country. “Bharat is changing and it is changing rapidly. People’s self-confidence, their trust in the government and the commitment to build a new Bharat is visible everywhere,” he stated.

This optimism is reflected in the government’s data-driven summary of major policy interventions and their social outcomes, with an emphasis on reaching the last mile through saturation of welfare schemes.

Universal Access to Basic Necessities

Over the past decade, India’s central government has taken a targeted approach to ensure that essential services reach every eligible citizen. Water, housing, electricity, sanitation, healthcare and financial security have been prioritized.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, over 15.59 crore rural households now have tap water connections, which is a quantum leap in public health and hygiene. This mission has achieved full coverage in eight states and three union territories.

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) has resulted in the completion of nearly 4 crore homes, with a notable gender-focused tilt: over 9 million urban homes are owned by women.

Electricity coverage has similarly expanded, with 2.86 crore homes electrified under the SAUBHAGYA scheme. The average daily power supply in rural areas has increased dramatically from 12.5 hours in 2014 to 22.6 hours in 2025, which is a clear indicator of improved rural infrastructure.

Sanitation, Healthcare and Food Security

India’s sanitation overhaul is evident in the impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission. More than 12 crore household toilets have been constructed, and over 560,000 villages have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus,  marking a critical shift in public health and dignity.

In healthcare, the Ayushman Bharat scheme provides insurance coverage to 55 crore individuals, making it the world’s largest government-funded health assurance program. The Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme, meanwhile, supports citizens aged 70 and above.

Responding to the COVID-19 crisis, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), ensuring free ration supplies to 81 crore citizens, with continued allocations projected until 2028, at an estimated cost of ₹11.80 lakh crore.

Clean Cooking Fuel and Urban Livelihoods

The Ujjwala Yojana has made clean cooking fuel accessible to over 10.33 crore households, significantly reducing the health hazards associated with traditional fuels. For street vendors, the PM SVANidhi scheme has disbursed loans to 6.8 million beneficiaries, helping integrate 7,628,000 vendors into the formal economy.

India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has surged, with 157,000 recognized startups and 118 unicorns,  companies valued at over $1 billion. The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has played a significant role, disbursing ₹33.33 lakh crore in loans to over 52 crore accounts, two-thirds of which were held by women.

Support for marginalized groups has also increased. The Stand-Up India scheme helps SC/ST and women entrepreneurs secure institutional credit. The PM Vishwakarma Yojana aids traditional artisans with training, loans and equipment, while the Lakhpati Didi initiative aims to turn three crore rural women into economically self-reliant earners through self-help groups (SHGs).

Poverty Reduction Recognized Globally

The impact of these initiatives is not just national; international organizations have acknowledged India’s progress. The World Bank’s Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief notes that 171 million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty. The rate has dropped from 16.2 percent in 2011–12 to just 2.3 percent in 2022–23.

Similarly, the UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Index highlights a reduction from 53.8 percent in 2005–06 to 16.4 percent in 2019–21, indicating broad improvements in health, education and living standards.

Rising rural consumption further corroborates this shift. The average monthly per capita expenditure in rural India has nearly tripled, growing from ₹1,430 in 2011–12 to ₹4,122 in 2023–24. Urban spending followed suit, increasing from ₹2,630 to ₹6,996 over the same period.

Inclusivity and Representation

Inclusivity remains at the core of government initiatives. Sixty percent of current Union Ministers hail from minority communities, reflecting an effort to bring underrepresented voices into the governance process.

Within rural housing, 44 percent of PMAY-G homes have been allocated to SC/ST households. More than half of scholarship recipients are from marginalized communities. In education, the number of Eklavya Model Residential Schools for tribal students has quadrupled to 477. Moreover, eleven Tribal Freedom Fighter Museums are in development to honour indigenous leaders.

To improve the delivery of welfare schemes, the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra has covered 260,000 gram panchayats and 4,000 urban local bodies, ensuring widespread dissemination and uptake of government services.

The Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP),  focused on 112 of India’s most underserved regions,  is showing measurable progress in critical areas like education, healthcare and connectivity.

Youth Empowerment through Internship Opportunities

Meanwhile, in a forward-looking move, the government has launched the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) to prepare youth for employment across various sectors. This initiative aims to create one crore internships over five years, targeting youth aged 21 to 24 with educational qualifications ranging from 12th-grade graduates to diploma holders.

The scheme includes a monthly stipend of ₹5,000, of which ₹4,500 is covered by the government, and ₹500 by the host company. A one-time grant of ₹6,000 and insurance under PMJJBY and PMSBY ensure that financial and health needs are also addressed.

More than 500 companies are participating, offering internships in 730 districts, spanning sectors like oil and gas, banking, hospitality, manufacturing and FMCG. The program has so far garnered over 621,000 applications, with 127,000 internships already listed and 487,000 youths completing their Know Your Customer (KYC) process.

Priority is being given to SC/ST/OBC and disabled candidates, ensuring broader representation and inclusivity. The success of this scheme has prompted the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to extend its application deadline and launch a second phase with more than 100,000 new internships.

The Road Ahead: Viksit Bharat by 2047

As India approaches 100 years of independence in 2047, the Modi government envisions a self-reliant, inclusive and prosperous Bharat.

With a decade of policy reform, digital governance and community participation as its foundation, the administration believes the path to development is not only aspirational but now increasingly achievable.

The journey of the past eleven years, as projected by the government, is not merely a record of statistics but a manifesto of transformation,  one that aims to bridge the gap between vision and ground reality through continued innovation, outreach and empowerment.