On September 17, 2025, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches a remarkable milestone as he celebrates his 75th birthday. Born in the small town of Vadnagar in Gujarat’s Mehsana district on this day in 1950, Modi has transformed from a chaiwala’s son to one of the world’s most influential leaders. His birthday is being marked not with personal festivities, but true to his character, with the launch of nationwide service initiatives and welfare programs that reflect his lifelong commitment to public service.
PM Modi’s Life Journey: Key Milestones from Birth to 75th Birthday
The Birthday Celebrations: Service Above Self
Unlike conventional political leaders who celebrate their birthdays with grand parties, PM Modi’s 75th birthday exemplifies his philosophy of “service above self”. He traveled to Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh to launch the ‘Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan’ (Healthy Women, Empowered Family Campaign), a comprehensive initiative focusing on maternal and child healthcare. The program aims to enhance nutrition standards and healthcare access for women and children across the nation, demonstrating Modi’s continued emphasis on empowering the most vulnerable sections of society.
Narendra Modi waving to a large crowd during his birthday celebration event in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has organized a 15-day ‘Sewa Pakhwada’ (Service Fortnight) from September 17 to October 2, coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. This nationwide campaign features blood donation drives, cleanliness campaigns, health camps, and various developmental programs across BJP-ruled states. The initiative reflects Modi’s belief that political leadership should translate into tangible benefits for citizens rather than personal glorification.
A Legacy of Transformational Leadership
Early Life and Political Journey
Modi’s remarkable journey began in modest circumstances in Vadnagar, where he was introduced to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of eight. His early exposure to the RSS shaped his disciplined approach to public service and organizational skills that would later define his political career. After becoming a full-time RSS worker in Gujarat in 1971, he was assigned to the BJP in 1985, marking the beginning of a political career that would span decades.
His rise through the party hierarchy was marked by dedication and organizational acumen, eventually becoming Gujarat’s Chief Minister in 2001. During his tenure as Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014, Modi transformed Gujarat into a model of development and governance, setting the stage for his eventual elevation to national leadership.
Prime Ministerial Tenure: A Decade of Transformation
Since becoming Prime Minister in May 2014, Modi has fundamentally reshaped India’s governance paradigm. His administration has been characterized by decisive policy implementation, massive infrastructure development, and welfare schemes that have touched millions of lives. The transformation from what Union Home Minister Amit Shah described as “policy paralysis” to a “politics of performance” has been one of Modi’s most significant achievements.
Major Government Initiatives and Their Impact
Major Government Schemes Under PM Modi: Beneficiaries in Millions
Financial Inclusion and Digital Revolution
The Jan Dhan Yojana, launched early in Modi’s tenure, has opened over 500 million bank accounts, bringing unprecedented financial inclusion to India’s rural and urban poor. This initiative laid the foundation for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) systems that have revolutionized welfare delivery and reduced corruption.
India’s digital transformation under Modi has been equally remarkable, with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) making India the global leader in real-time digital payments. Today, half of the world’s digital transactions occur in India, demonstrating the success of Modi’s digital inclusion vision.
Healthcare and Social Welfare
The Ayushman Bharat scheme, the world’s largest healthcare program, provides free medical coverage up to ₹5 lakh for over 500 million beneficiaries. By July 2021, Ayushman cards issued numbered 16.14 crores, with hospitalizations crossing 30 million valued at ₹35,000 crores.
The Ujjwala Yojana has provided free LPG connections to over 100 million rural households, significantly improving health outcomes by reducing indoor air pollution from traditional cooking methods. This initiative has been particularly transformative for women’s health and empowerment.
Infrastructure and Clean India Mission
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan stands as one of Modi’s most visible achievements, constructing over 12 crore toilets and eliminating open defecation across India. This massive cleanliness campaign has fundamentally changed sanitation practices and improved public health outcomes nationwide.
The Saubhagya Scheme achieved the historic milestone of providing electricity to over 2.86 crore previously unelectrified homes, bringing the benefits of modern life to India’s remotest villages. Similarly, the Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide tap water connections to every rural household, with significant progress already achieved.
Global Recognition and International Awards
PM Modi’s leadership has earned unprecedented international recognition, making him the most internationally decorated Indian Prime Minister in history. He has received 29 international awards from countries spanning every continent, including the highest civilian honors from nations as diverse as Saudi Arabia, Russia, France, and the United States.
Narendra Modi receiving international awards and honors at diplomatic and formal events
Some of his most notable international recognitions include:
- Order of St. Andrew from Russia (2019) – the highest civilian honor
- Legion of Merit from the United States (2020) – the highest degree
- Order of Zayed from UAE (2019) – the highest civilian honor
- Legion of Honour from France (2023) – the highest civilian honor
- Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis from Namibia (2025) – the most recent addition
Beyond state honors, Modi has received prestigious awards from international organizations, including the UN Champions of the Earth Award (2018) for environmental leadership, the Seoul Peace Prize (2018), and the Global Goalkeepers Award (2019) from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Foreign Policy Achievements
Modi’s foreign policy has been characterized by proactive engagement, multi-alignment, and neighborhood-first approach. His administration has successfully balanced relationships with major powers while advancing India’s strategic interests.
Key foreign policy achievements include:
- Membership in major export control regimes including MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, and Australia Group
- Successful hosting of the G20 Presidency in 2023, positioning India as a global leader
- Strategic partnerships with Gulf countries, transforming India’s energy security and diaspora relations
- Act East Policy deepening engagement with Southeast Asian nations
- Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh, resolving decades-old border disputes
Personal Leadership Style and Public Connect
Modi’s leadership style has been marked by his direct connection with citizens through various innovative channels. He is the only Prime Minister to have addressed the nation over 100 times through ‘Mann Ki Baat’, his monthly radio program that has become a cultural phenomenon. This direct communication has enabled him to build an unprecedented connect with ordinary citizens across India.
His empathy and hands-on approach have been evident in moments of crisis and celebration alike. Whether embracing ISRO chief K. Sivan after the Chandrayaan-2 setback, washing the feet of sanitation workers at Kumbh Mela, or spending every Diwali with soldiers, Modi has consistently demonstrated his commitment to connecting with all sections of society.
Birthday Traditions: A Decade of Service
Modi’s approach to celebrating his birthday has remained consistent over the past decade – always in service of others rather than personal aggrandizement. Each year has seen him engaged in public service activities:
- 2014: Focused on flood relief for Jammu and Kashmir, met disabled children
- 2018: First birthday celebration in his constituency Varanasi, distributed educational materials to students
- 2020: Record COVID-19 vaccination drive during the pandemic
- 2022: Released Namibian cheetahs in Kuno National Park as part of species reintroduction
- 2024: Inaugurated 26 lakh houses under PM Awas Yojana in Odisha
- 2025: Launched maternal and child healthcare initiatives in Madhya Pradesh
Economic Achievements and Growth
Under Modi’s leadership, India has become the fastest-growing large economy in the world, with significant achievements in various sectors. The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 represented the most significant tax reform since independence, creating a unified national market.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code has strengthened the banking sector by providing a robust framework for resolving bad loans. Similarly, initiatives like Make in India, Startup India, and Digital India have created new opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Challenges and Criticisms
While Modi’s tenure has seen significant achievements, it has not been without challenges and criticisms. His administration faced scrutiny over issues such as the 2002 Gujarat riots, concerns about democratic institutions, and handling of various social and economic issues. However, his electoral success in three consecutive general elections demonstrates continued public support for his leadership.
Global Wishes and International Recognition
Modi’s 75th birthday has attracted congratulations from world leaders across the globe. US President Donald Trump personally called to wish Modi, thanking him for support on ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Leaders from Bhutan, Italy, France, Russia, and numerous other countries have extended their wishes, reflecting his global stature.
The international recognition of Modi’s birthday celebrations highlights India’s rising global profile and the respect he commands on the world stage. From AI-generated videos featuring world leaders at his birthday party to formal diplomatic greetings, the global response underscores his significance as a world leader.
Conclusion: A Leader at 75
As PM Modi celebrates his 75th birthday, his journey from a tea seller’s son in Vadnagar to one of the world’s most influential leaders represents the democratic promise of India. His decade-plus tenure as Prime Minister has been marked by transformational policies, unprecedented global recognition, and an unwavering commitment to public service.
The choice to mark his 75th birthday through service initiatives rather than personal celebrations perfectly encapsulates Modi’s leadership philosophy. As India moves toward its centenary year of independence in 2047, Modi’s vision of a developed India continues to inspire the nation’s 1.4 billion citizens.
His legacy at 75 encompasses not just the numerous awards and international recognition he has received, but more fundamentally, the lives he has touched through welfare schemes, the institutions he has strengthened, and the global respect he has earned for India. Whether one agrees with all his policies or not, there is no denying that Narendra Modi has fundamentally altered India’s trajectory and its position in the world order.
As wishes pour in from across the globe and millions of Indians participate in service activities during the Sewa Pakhwada, Modi’s 75th birthday serves as both a celebration of his personal journey and a renewal of commitment to the transformative agenda that has defined his leadership. The boy from Vadnagar who dreamed of serving his nation continues to lead India toward what he envisions as its rightful place as a global superpower.