After winning a huge victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the NDA government is set to take the reins to India once again. Officials have said that prime minister Modi, whose second term has been dubbed Modi 2.0, has already begun working on a 1000-day plan. This three-year-plan will include social welfare schemes and scientific & technological advancements.
A popular American political tradition is to decide on a president’s competence and will to push legislation through the state machinery by evaluating their first 100 days as an elected official. This tradition has filtered into cultures across the globe, including in India where eyes were on Modi for his first 100 days plan.
The Hindustan Times reported Modi is taking this tradition a step further by apparently asking administrators to work on a 1,000 days plan. This plan will be spread across almost three years and is expected to come to full fruition by 2022.
Officials close to the development told the Hindustan Times, “We have been directed to chalk out agenda for the first 1,000 days and the new ministers and department heads will have to frame a comprehensive strategy to meet these objectives by 2022.”
Everything the Modi government is focusing on for the next 1000 days
India’s digital progress is on the forefront of Modi’s agenda for 2019.
Business Standard reports that the NDA government is looking to boost Indian software and tech start-ups by 2025 through the National Policy on Software Products. The NDA wants to create employment in tech start-ups by establishing a pool of prospective IT professionals and students.
BS adds that the government also wants to push for more infrastructure and research and development initiatives. To tie up all the loose ends, the NDA said it will monitor the progress of these programmes through the National Software Products Mission.
Employment has been a particularly contentious issue because a report by the NSSO shows that unemployment in India has been at 45 year an all-time high of 6.1% since the Modi’s demonetisation move.
This report was allegedly “buried” and two members of the NSSO even resigned from their positions in protest.
In the technology space, the NDA also wants to deliver on its promise of setting up 40,000 megawatts of rooftop solar projects and generate 100 gigawatts of solar energy. Moreover, it is focused on Chandrayaan 2, India’s first manned space mission to the moon, that is likely to take place between July 9 and July 16.
On social welfare, the government has shifted its focus to farmers through policies such as PM-KISAN, a direct cash transfer scheme that will give farmers Rs 6,000 annually, increased loans upto Rs 11.68 lakhs, and better access to irrigation schemes and fertilisers.
Ripples of the NDA-agenda between 2019 and 2024 seem to put the spotlight on digital advancements, farmers’ income, and renewable energy.
How Modi took the Lok Sabha
After a long and divisive election cycle, the NDA government has won a landslide in the Lok Sabha elections 2019. More pandits predicted that the NDA would be in power with another term, but likely with a lower seat share than in the previous general election.
However, crossing its tally of 272 seats in 2014, the NDA came back in full force with 302 seats on Sunday. While the Congress also won more seats this year than it did in 2014— 51 and 44 seats respectively— it fell short of expectations.
The Congress Working Committee is currently meeting in Delhi to evaluate its huge losses and figure out a way forward. Rumours floated that Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered to step down, but senior party leaders refused to accept his resignation.
However, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has clarified that neither has Gandhi offered a resignation nor has the party decided on his future as the president.
On Sunday, Gandhi tweeted his gratitude to those who voted and campaigned for him. He also congratulated Modi on his win.
“I accept the verdict of the people of India. Congratulations to the winners, mr Modi & the NDA. Thank you to the people of Wayanad for election me as your MP. Thank you also to the people of Amethi. Thank you Congress workers & leaders for your hard work in this campaign”, he said.
Rhea Arora is a Staff Writer at Qrius
