In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi guided the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to a spectacular victory in the Lok Sabha election, winning 303 seats in the Lower House of Parliament.
A party winning two massive mandates in back-to-back general elections was unheard of till then.
People wanted a promised of change from the Modi-led BJP.
The pandemic put a dent in the proceedings, bit for the most part, Modi has had a normal tenure.
The BJP commanded an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha, making it easier to pass legislations too.
In the Rajya Sabha also, the BJP got some of the most contentious legislation through, including the abrogation of Article 370 redundant and criminalizing the practice of triple talaq.
The Modi Government also eliminated redundant laws and eased the compliance burden for businesses, making setting up businesses in India easier, to dovetail with the ‘Make in India’ programme.
For the most part, the government has shown fiscal prudence when it comes to the economy Infrastructure development in J&K and national roadways under Union Minister Gadkari are highlights of the increased focus on infrastructre
While the Modi Government has done well on infrastructure and kept the economy growth rate at a steady tick, on the job generation front, its record is not very impressive.
The issue of employment generation in the absence of credible data has been a considerable challenge. The Agniveer protests and the railway recruitment protests come to mind, when talking about the problems faced by the country’s youth.
The jobless rate was 5.4 per cent when Modi assumed power in 2014 and jumped to a high of 8.72 per cent in 2016.
India will need to create 70 million new jobs over the next ten years and there does not seem to be any concrete roadmap to get us there.
Even as inflation bit after the pandemic and petrol and diesel prices soared, the government has been able to tackle it and kept the prices moderate for the essential commodities. After hitting a high of 7.7% in April 2022 due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the inflation has now eased to 4.7% in April 2023.
The Modi Government has also failed to launch a massive privatization programme.
‘Today, as we complete 9 years in service to the nation, I am filled with humility and gratitude. Every decision made, every action taken, has been guided by the desire to improve the lives of people. We will keep working even harder to build a developed India,’ the PM tweeted.