Modi Government’s Decade in Power: Promises, Progress, and Polarization

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📌 Overview:

Narendra Modi's leadership since 2014 has fundamentally reshaped India's political, economic, and social landscape. Over ten years, the BJP-led government introduced sweeping reforms, launched high-impact welfare programs, and adopted an aggressive foreign policy stance. But these years were also marked by increasing polarization, protests, and charges of authoritarianism. Here's a comprehensive account of what happened under Modi’s rule — from historic legislation to national controversies.

🔍 Minute-by-Minute Breakdown

🟠 1️⃣ Economic Overhaul: From Disruption to Development

🔹 Demonetization: India’s Boldest Monetary Move

On 8th November 2016, PM Modi addressed the nation with a bombshell: ₹500 and ₹1000 currency notes would cease to be legal tender. The objective? Combat black money, fake currency, and corruption.
Impact:

  • Initial shockwaves: 86% of currency withdrawn overnight.

  • Long queues & cash shortages: ATMs ran dry; informal sectors suffered.

  • Digital boom: UPI, Paytm, and BHIM saw exponential growth.

  • Criticism: RBI later revealed 99.3% of the currency returned — raising questions about the policy’s effectiveness.

🔹 GST: One Nation, One Tax

Introduced in July 2017, GST subsumed multiple indirect taxes into one uniform structure.
Impact:

  • Unified tax system: Improved interstate business, easier compliance.

  • Initial glitches: Businesses struggled with e-way bills, filing complexities.

  • Revamped tax revenue: Mixed results with slow early adoption, now more stable.

🔹 Economic Reforms & Disinvestment

  • Air India sale: National carrier privatized after decades of losses.

  • LIC IPO: India’s biggest ever public offering.

  • Push for privatization: BPCL, BEML, and others in the pipeline.

  • Labour codes reform: Consolidation of 44 laws into 4 — though implementation is pending.

🟠 2️⃣ Social Welfare Revolution: Jan Dhan to Ayushman Bharat

🔹 Jan Dhan Yojana

World’s largest financial inclusion program.

  • 50+ crore accounts opened.

  • Enabled direct benefit transfers (DBT) during COVID.

🔹 Ujjwala Yojana

LPG connections to women from BPL households.

  • Over 9 crore beneficiaries.

  • Health & safety improved for rural women.

🔹 Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Sanitation drive to eliminate open defecation.

  • 10 crore+ toilets built.

  • Mass behavior change through campaigns & celebrity endorsements.

🔹 Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY

World’s biggest government health insurance scheme.

  • ₹5 lakh per family coverage.

  • 26,000+ hospitals empanelled.

  • Crossed 5 crore hospitalizations.

🔹 PM Awas Yojana

Housing for all by 2022.

  • Urban and rural schemes.

  • Over 3 crore houses sanctioned.

🟠 3️⃣ Nationalism, Identity, and Cultural Assertion

🔹 Abrogation of Article 370

  • Revoked Jammu & Kashmir’s special status on 5th August 2019.

  • Bifurcation into two Union Territories.

  • Massive security deployment; internet blackouts.

  • Global reactions mixed; domestically popular among BJP voters.

🔹 Ram Mandir Construction

  • SC verdict in 2019 gave disputed land to Hindus.

  • Bhoomi Pujan by PM Modi in Ayodhya in 2020.

  • Temple opened to public in Jan 2024.

🔹 CAA & NRC

  • Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed in 2019.

  • Proposed NRC sparked fear among minorities.

  • Nationwide protests erupted — especially led by students & women (Shaheen Bagh).

  • Law still not fully implemented.

🟠 4️⃣ Foreign Policy: India on the Global Stage

🔹 Assertive Diplomacy

  • Modi became a global face — G20, Quad, BRICS.

  • Focus on neighbourhood first, Indo-Pacific strategy.

  • Events like “Howdy Modi” in Houston and “Namaste Trump” showed soft power play.

🔹 Balakot & Surgical Strikes

  • 2016: Response to Uri attack — India crossed LoC for the first time.

  • 2019: After Pulwama, India struck Balakot terror camp in Pakistan.

  • National pride soared; BJP won 2019 election with larger margin.

🔹 Stand on China

  • Face-off in Doklam (2017) and Galwan Valley (2020).

  • India banned 250+ Chinese apps, including TikTok.

  • Trade and diplomacy rebalanced with focus on self-reliance.

🟠 5️⃣ Handling the Pandemic: Triumphs & Tragedies

🔹 COVID-19 Lockdown

  • March 24, 2020: Sudden national lockdown.

  • Migrant workers crisis highlighted gaps in social safety nets.

  • But early containment helped reduce first wave damage.

🔹 Vaccine Drive

  • India became vaccine manufacturing hub (Covaxin, Covishield).

  • CoWIN portal successfully rolled out.

  • Over 200 crore doses administered.

  • “Vaccine Maitri” diplomacy sent doses to 90+ countries.

🔹 Oxygen Crisis & Delta Wave

  • April-May 2021: Second wave devastated India.

  • Hospitals overflowed; oxygen supplies collapsed.

  • PM CARES Fund mobilized ventilators and infrastructure — but response was late.

🟠 6️⃣ Agriculture Reforms and Protests

🔹 Three Farm Laws (2020)

  • Aimed to liberalize agri markets, reduce middlemen.

  • Farmers feared loss of MSP and corporate dominance.

  • Protests began in Punjab, spread to Delhi borders.

  • Over 600 farmers reportedly died.

  • Laws repealed in Nov 2021 after year-long standoff.

🟠 7️⃣ Media, Judiciary, and Civil Liberties

🔹 Press Freedom

  • Reporters Without Borders downgraded India’s rank.

  • NDTV acquisition by Adani raised concerns.

  • Several journalists arrested on sedition, UAPA charges.

🔹 Judiciary Under Pressure?

  • Repeated tensions between executive and judiciary.

  • Post-retirement appointments of judges questioned.

  • Delays in judicial appointments & backlog criticism.

🔹 Dissent and Democracy

  • Internet shutdowns highest in the world.

  • Activists like Umar Khalid, Stan Swamy (died in custody) became symbols of alleged repression.

  • NGOs faced FCRA scrutiny; Amnesty shut India office.

🟠 8️⃣ Technology & Infrastructure Boom

🔹 Digital India

  • Aadhaar-enabled governance.

  • JAM trinity: Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile.

  • UPI growth made India a leader in digital transactions.

🔹 Vande Bharat Express

  • Flagship train on multiple routes.

  • Enhanced passenger comfort and speed.

  • Symbol of New India branding.

🔹 Road & Rail Expansion

  • Bharatmala and Sagarmala projects.

  • Freight corridors, new airports, expressways.

🔹 Chandrayaan & ISRO’s Rise

  • Chandrayaan-2 failed in soft landing.

  • Chandrayaan-3 succeeded in 2023 — proud lunar moment.

  • Gaganyaan human spaceflight planned.

🟠 9️⃣ Political Power Dynamics

🔹 Electoral Dominance

  • BJP swept 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

  • Modi’s personal brand eclipsed regional leaders.

  • Opposition fragmented — Congress in decline, AAP and regional parties rising.

🔹 Use of Agencies

  • ED, CBI, and Income Tax raids seen disproportionately against opposition.

  • Allegations of vendetta politics.

  • Pegasus spyware row raised surveillance concerns.

🔹 State vs Centre

  • Tensions with West Bengal, Delhi, Kerala governments.

  • Governor interference and ordinance politics became flashpoints.

🟠 🔎 Every Critical Angle Uncovered:

  • Supporters praise Modi for decisive leadership, global standing, and infrastructure blitz.

  • Critics argue the government trampled dissent, centralized power, and weakened institutions.

  • India's global perception improved in terms of diplomacy, but civil liberties rankings slipped.

  • Modi’s brand remains dominant, and 2024 elections will be a test of a decade-long legacy

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