Leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party described the anniversary as a landmark moment in India’s political and economic transformation. They credited the Modi administration with expanding financial inclusion through the Jan Dhan scheme, which has opened more than 55 crore bank accounts, and with improving household access to clean cooking fuel through the Ujjwala programme, which has distributed 10.5 crore liquefied petroleum gas connections.
Supporters also pointed to the Ayushman Bharat health insurance initiative, which provides medical coverage to nearly 50 crore citizens, as one of the government’s major achievements in public welfare. Alongside social welfare programmes, party leaders cited the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, rapid infrastructure development, and India’s emergence as the world’s fifth-largest economy as defining milestones of the past decade.
Senior leaders including Yogi Adityanath and Rajnath Singh said the Modi government had opened a new chapter focused on empowerment, national security, and economic progress.
However, the anniversary also triggered sharp criticism from the opposition. Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of failing to control rising fuel prices and unemployment. He highlighted reports showing nearly 40 percent unemployment among graduates aged 15 to 29 and criticised the depreciation of the Indian rupee from around ₹59 against the United States dollar in 2014 to nearly ₹97 per dollar.
Despite the political attacks, recent international approval surveys have continued to place Modi among the world’s most popular elected leaders. Polls conducted in recent months recorded his approval ratings between 68 and 70 percent, ranking him highest among 24 global leaders surveyed.
The 12th anniversary of Modi’s swearing-in has once again underscored the sharp political divide surrounding his administration. While supporters project the period as an era of welfare expansion, economic reforms, and stronger global standing for India, critics continue to question the government’s record on inflation, employment, and economic stability as the political debate intensifies ahead of future electoral battles.
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