Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the principle of “Nation First” has been the driving force behind India’s transformation into a fast-growing, credible and reliable global power.
Addressing the Republic Summit 2026, Prime Minister Modi said the country’s achievements over the past decade were rooted in trust, stability and a commitment to the larger global good. Referring to his recent participation in the G7 Summit, he said world leaders recognise India’s unwavering commitment to putting national interests first, a philosophy that continues to shape the country’s policies and development agenda.
Highlighting the government’s 12 years in office, the Prime Minister said initiatives such as Swachh Bharat, Make in India, promotion of khadi and support for local products succeeded because citizens embraced the spirit of nation-building. He noted that Maoist violence was “breathing its last” due to a combination of strong security measures and rapid development in affected regions, where thousands of kilometres of roads, mobile towers, banking facilities and communication networks have been established. Modi also pointed to the success of the Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Programme, saying it had transformed some of India’s most underdeveloped regions into centres of growth and opportunity.
The Prime Minister said nearly 25 crore people had moved out of poverty in recent years, leading to the emergence of a large neo-middle class and boosting economic activity. He stressed that empowering the poor and middle class remained a key priority, citing affordable housing initiatives, tax reforms, healthcare schemes and improved urban infrastructure.
PM Modi said projects such as the SWAMIH Fund had enabled the completion of thousands of stalled housing units, while digital governance and simplified tax administration had reduced compliance burdens and improved transparency.
Emphasising India’s growing infrastructure network, the PM said metro systems now serve more than one crore passengers daily, while Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains, along with expanded highways and airports, have significantly improved connectivity. He also highlighted affordable medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras and expanded healthcare coverage for senior citizens, saying these measures had reduced out-of-pocket expenses for millions of families.
Concluding his address, PM Modi said India was entering a period of unprecedented opportunity despite global disruptions. He called on the country’s youth, entrepreneurs, innovators and startups to seize emerging opportunities and contribute to national development. Expressing confidence in India’s future, he said the collective efforts of 140 crore Indians would help realise the vision of a developed India, or Viksit Bharat, in the years ahead.
