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{{short description|Prime Minister of India since 2014}}
{{Redirect|Modi}}
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{{Good article}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = <!-- Do not add any styles/titles here per [[BP:NCIN]] -->
| honorific-prefix    = <!-- Do not add any styles/titles here per [[WP:NCIN]] -->
| honorific-suffix    = <!-- Do not add any styles/titles here per [[BP:NCIN]] -->
| honorific-suffix    = <!-- Do not add any styles/titles here per [[WP:NCIN]] -->
| image              = File:Official portrait of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, November 2020 (cropped).jpg
| image              = Official portrait of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, November 2020 (cropped).jpg<!--DO NOT CHANGE THE IMAGE WITHOUT CONSENSUS ON THE TALK PAGE-->
| image_size          =
| caption            = Official portrait, 2020
| caption            = Official portrait, 2020
| order              = 14th
| order              = 14th
| office              = Prime Minister of India
| office              = Prime Minister of India
| president          = [[Pranab Mukherjee]]<br />[[Ram Nath Kovind]]
| president          = [[Pranab Mukherjee]]<br />[[Ram Nath Kovind]]<br>[[Draupadi Murmu]]  
| 1blankname          = Vice President
| 1blankname          = Vice President
| 1namedata          = [[Mohammad Hamid Ansari]]<br />[[Venkaiah Naidu]]
| 1namedata          =  
{{unbulleted list
|[[Mohammad Hamid Ansari]]
|[[Venkaiah Naidu]]}}
| term_start          = 26 May 2014
| term_start          = 26 May 2014
| term_end            =  
| term_end            =  
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| term_start2        = 26 May 2014
| term_start2        = 26 May 2014
| predecessor2        = [[Sushilkumar Shinde]]
| predecessor2        = [[Sushilkumar Shinde]]
| office4            = 14th [[List of chief ministers of Gujarat|Chief Minister of Gujarat]]
| office4            = 14th [[List of Chief Ministers of Gujarat|Chief Minister of Gujarat]]
| governor4          = {{ubl|[[Sunder Singh Bhandari]]|[[Kailashpati Mishra]]|[[Balram Jakhar]]|[[Nawal Kishore Sharma]]|[[S. C. Jamir]]|[[Kamla Beniwal]]}}
| governor4          = {{ubl|[[Sunder Singh Bhandari]]|Kailashpati Mishra|[[Balram Jakhar]]|Nawal Kishore Sharma|[[S. C. Jamir]]|[[Kamla Beniwal]]}}
| term_start4        = 7 October 2001
| term_start4        = 7 October 2001
| term_end4          = 22 May 2014
| term_end4          = 22 May 2014
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| term_start3        = 5 June 2014
| term_start3        = 5 June 2014
| term_end3          =  
| term_end3          =  
| predecessor3        = [[Murli Manohar Joshi]]
| predecessor3        = Murli Manohar Joshi
| successor3          =  
| successor3          =  
| office5            = [[Member of the Legislative assembly (India)|Member]] of [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]]
| office5            = [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly|Member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency5      = [[Maninagar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Maninagar]]
| constituency5      = Maninagar
| term_start5        = 15 December 2002
| term_start5        = 15 December 2002
| term_end5          = 16 May 2014
| term_end5          = 16 May 2014
| predecessor5        = [[Kamlesh Patel (politician)|Kamlesh Patel]]
| predecessor5        = Kamlesh Patel
| successor5          = [[Suresh Patel]]
| successor5          = Suresh Patel
| constituency6      = [[Rajkot West|Rajkot II]]
| constituency6      = Rajkot II
| term_start6        = 24 February 2002
| term_start6        = 24 February 2002
| term_end6          = 19 July 2002
| term_end6          = 19 July 2002
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| birth_name          = Narendra Damodardas Modi
| birth_name          = Narendra Damodardas Modi
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1950|9|17|df=y}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1950|9|17|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Vadnagar]], [[Bombay State]], [[India]]  <!-- Modi is the first PM to be born in the Republic of India, everybody else were in the British India, so let it be written clearly --> (present-day [[Gujarat]])
| birth_place        = [[Vadnagar]], [[Bombay State]], [[India|Republic of India]]  <!-- Modi is the first PM to be born in the Republic of India, everybody else were in the British India, so let it be written clearly --> (present-day [[Gujarat]])
| party              = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| party              = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| otherparty          = [[National Democratic Alliance]]
| otherparty          = [[National Democratic Alliance]]
| spouse              = [[Jashodaben Modi]] ({{abbr|m.|married}}&nbsp;1968; estranged)<ref name=ndtvchild>{{#invoke:Cite web|| url=https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/jashodaben-named-by-narendra-modi-as-his-wife-prays-for-him-to-become-pm-557031?&tb_cb=1 |title = Jashodaben, named by Narendra Modi as his wife, prays for him to become PM |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=11 April 2014 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |access-date=12 June 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200717104500/https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/jashodaben-named-by-narendra-modi-as-his-wife-prays-for-him-to-become-pm-557031 |archive-date=17 July 2020}}</ref>
| spouse              = Jashodaben Modi ({{abbr|m.|married}}&nbsp;1968; estranged)<ref name=ndtvchild>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/jashodaben-named-by-narendra-modi-as-his-wife-prays-for-him-to-become-pm-557031?&tb_cb=1 |title = Jashodaben, named by Narendra Modi as his wife, prays for him to become PM |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=11 April 2014 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |access-date=12 June 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200717104500/https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/jashodaben-named-by-narendra-modi-as-his-wife-prays-for-him-to-become-pm-557031 |archive-date=17 July 2020}}</ref>
| father              = Damodardas Mulchand Modi
| father              = Damodardas Mulchand Modi
| mother              = Hiraben Modi
| mother              = Hiraben Modi
| residence          = [[7, Lok Kalyan Marg]], [[New Delhi]], [[Delhi]], India {{refn|group=fn|previously known as 7, Race Course Road}}
| residence          = 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, [[New Delhi]], [[Delhi]], India
| alma_mater          = *'''[[Political science|Political Science]]'''<br />[[University of Delhi]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[Gujarat University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])
| alma_mater          = [[University of Delhi]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />Gujarat University ([[Master of Arts|MA]])
| net_worth          = [[₹]] 2.85 [[Crore]]<ref name="Modi richer">{{cite news |last1=Shrivastava |first1=Rahul |title=PM Modi richer than last year, Amit Shah's net worth takes a hit: PMO |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-amit-shah-cabinet-ministers-net-worth-latest-asset-declaration-pmo-1731700-2020-10-15 |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=[[India Today]] |date=15 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref><br />{{small|(June 2020)}}
| awards              = [[#State honours|List of state honours]]<!--{{Flatlist|
| awards              = [[#State honours|List of state honours]]<!--{{Flatlist|
* [[Legion of Merit]]
* [[Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud]]
* [[Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud]]
* [[Amir Amanullah Khan Award|State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan]]
* [[Amir Amanullah Khan Award|State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan]]
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* [[Order of St. Andrew]]
* [[Order of St. Andrew]]
* [[Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin]]
* [[Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin]]
* [[King Hamad Order of the Renaissance]]
* King Hamad Order of the Renaissance}}-->
* [[Legion of Merit]]
* [[Order of the Dragon King]]}}-->
| signature          = Signature of Narendra Modi (Hindi).svg
| signature          = Signature of Narendra Modi (Hindi).svg
| website            = {{url|narendramodi.in|Official website}}<br />{{url|https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/|Government website}}
| website            = {{url|narendramodi.in|Official website}}<br />{{url|pmindia.gov.in|Government website}}
| nickname            = [[List of nicknames of the prime ministers of India#Narendra Modi|see article]]
| nickname            = [[List of nicknames of the prime ministers of India#Narendra Modi|see article]]
}}
}}
{{Pp-semi-vandalism|small=yes}}{{Narendra Modi series}}
'''Narendra Damodardas Modi''' (born 17 September 1950) is an [[India]]n politician. He is the current [[Prime Minister of India]] serving since 2014. He was the 14th [[Chief Minister]] of the state of [[Gujarat]].<ref>{{cite news|title=BJP banking on Modi effect|url=http://blogs.thehindu.com/elections2009/?p=2148|accessdate=20 April 2014|newspaper=The Hindu - Blog|date=27 April 2009}}</ref> Modi was elected [[Prime Minister of India]] in May 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/16/us-india-election-idUSBREA4E0XG20140516|title = Modi wins India's election with a landslide, early results show|date = 16 May 2014|accessdate = 16 May 2014|website = Reuters|publisher = |last = |first = |archive-date = 16 May 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140516070841/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/16/us-india-election-idUSBREA4E0XG20140516|url-status = dead}}</ref> He is a member of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].
'''Narendra Damodardas Modi''' ({{IPA-gu|ˈnəɾendɾə dɑmodəɾˈdɑs ˈmodiː|lang|Narendra Modi pronouncing his name at swearing in 2014.ogg}}; born 17 September 1950){{Efn|''Narendra Modi'' was born ''Narendrabhai Damodardas Modi'' on 17 September 1950. He used ''Damodardas'', his middle name - [[Gujarati people|Gujaratis]] have a tradition of using the names of their fathers as their middle names - but he is widely known as ''Narendra Modi''. {{harvard citation|Marino|2014|pp=4–5}}|name="foo"|group=}} is an Indian politician serving as the [[List of Prime Ministers of India|14th]] and current [[prime minister of India]] since 2014. Modi was the [[List of chief ministers of Gujarat|chief minister of Gujarat]] from 2001 to 2014 and is the [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] from [[Varanasi (Lok Sabha constituency)|Varanasi]]. He is a member of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS), a right-wing [[Hindutva|Hindu nationalist]] paramilitary volunteer organisation. He is the first prime minister to have been born after India's [[Indian Independence Act 1947|independence]] in 1947 and the second prime minister not belonging to the [[Indian National Congress]] to have won two consecutive majorities in the [[Lok Sabha]], or lower house of Indian of parliament.
 
Born and raised in [[Vadnagar]], a small town in northeastern [[Gujarat]], Modi completed his secondary education there. He was introduced to the RSS at age eight. He has drawn attention to having to work as a child in his father's tea stall on the Vadnagar railway station platform, a description that has not been reliably corroborated. At age 18, Modi was married to [[Jashodaben Modi|Jashodaben Chimanlal Modi]], whom he abandoned soon after. He left his parental home where she had come to live.  He first publicly acknowledged her as his wife more than four decades later when required to do so by Indian law, but has made no contact with her since.  Modi has asserted he had travelled in northern India for two years after leaving his parental home, visiting a number of religious centres, but few details of his travels have emerged. Upon his return to Gujarat in 1971, he became a full-time worker for the RSS. After the [[The Emergency (India)|state of emergency]] declared by prime minister [[Indira Gandhi]] in 1975, Modi went into hiding. The RSS assigned him to the BJP in 1985 and he held several positions within the party hierarchy until 2001, rising to the rank of general secretary.{{Efn|Sources stating that [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] had a deep impact on the political heriarchy of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]], specially in the case of Narendra Modi.<ref name="Asrar">{{#invoke:Cite web||url=https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/narendra-modis-political-journey-from-rss-worker-to-bjps-pm-candidate-534530|website=[[NDTV]]|title=Narendra Modi's political journey from RSS worker to BJP's PM candidate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808041721/https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/narendra-modis-political-journey-from-rss-worker-to-bjps-pm-candidate-534530|archive-date=8 August 2020|last=Asrar|first=Nadim|date=26 February 2014|access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite web||url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/pm-modi-turns-69-a-timeline-of-his-political-career-761937.html|website=[[Deccan Herald]]|title=PM Modi turns 69: A timeline of his political career|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115073300/https://www.deccanherald.com/national/pm-modi-turns-69-a-timeline-of-his-political-career-761937.html|archive-date=15 January 2021|date=17 September 2019|access-date=13 January 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite web||first=Ravish|last=Tiwari|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20141208-rss-sangh-nda-bjp-l-k-advani-narendra-modi-cover-story-806098-2014-11-27|title=The low-profile RSS apparatchik is the newface of power in the NDA|website=[[India Today]]|date=27 November 2014|access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref>|name=|group=}}
 
Modi was appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001 due to [[Keshubhai Patel]]'s failing health and poor public image following the [[2001 Gujarat earthquake|earthquake in Bhuj]]. Modi was elected to the legislative assembly soon after. His administration has been considered complicit in the [[2002 Gujarat riots]] in which 1044 people were killed, three-quarters of whom were Muslim,{{efn|Sources describing Modi's administration as complicit in the 2002 violence.<ref name="Bobbio" /><ref name="The Clash Within" /><ref name="Shani" /><ref name="Buncombe" /><ref name="Jaffrelot2013" />}} or otherwise criticised for its management of the crisis. The [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] remarked that Narendra Modi was like a Modern-day [[Nero]], looking the other way as innocent women and children were burning.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 March 2010|title=India's 'modern-day Nero' to be grilled over Muslim bloodbath|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/india-s-modernday-nero-to-be-grilled-over-muslim-bloodbath-1923803.html|access-date=6 November 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref> A [[Supreme Court of India]]-appointed Special Investigation Team found no evidence to initiate prosecution proceedings against Modi personally.{{efn|In 2012, a court stated that investigations had found no evidence against Modi.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-17664751|title=India Gujarat Chief Minister Modi cleared in riots case|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=10 April 2012|access-date=17 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220174351/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-17664751|archive-date=20 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sit-finds-no-proof-against-modi-says-court/article3300175.ece|title=SIT finds no proof against Modi, says court|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=10 April 2012|access-date=17 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221082846/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sit-finds-no-proof-against-modi-says-court/article3300175.ece|archive-date=21 December 2016|last1=Dasgupta|first1=Manas}}</ref>}} While his policies as chief minister—credited with encouraging economic growth—have received praise, his administration has been criticised for failing to significantly improve health, poverty and education indices in the state.{{efn|Sources stating that Modi has failed to improve human development indices in Gujarat.<ref name="Buncombe" /><ref name="Jaffrelot2013" />}}
 
Modi led the BJP in the [[2014 Indian general election|2014 general election]] which gave the party a majority in the Indian [[lower house]] of parliament, the [[Lok Sabha]], the first time for any single party since [[1984 Indian general election|1984]]. Modi's administration has tried to raise foreign direct investment in the Indian economy and reduced spending on healthcare and social welfare programmes. Modi has attempted to improve efficiency in the bureaucracy; he has centralised power by abolishing the [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]]. He began a [[Swachh Bharat Mission|high-profile sanitation campaign]], controversially initiated a [[2016 Indian banknote demonetisation|demonetisation of high-denomination banknotes]] and [[Goods and Services Tax (India)|transformation of taxation regime]], and  weakened or abolished environmental and labour laws.
 
Under Modi's tenure, India has experienced democratic backsliding.<ref name=welzel-etal-2019>{{citation|last1=Welzel|first1=Christian|last2=Inglehart|first2=Ronald|last3=Bernhangen|first3=Patrick|last4=Haerpfer|first4=Christian W.|editor1-last=Welzel|editor1-first=Christian|editor2-last=Inglehart|editor2-first=Ronald|editor3-last=Bernhangen|editor3-first=Patrick|editor4-last=Haerpfer|editor4-first=Christian W.|
chapter=Introduction|title=Democratization|year=2019|pages=4, 7|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0IN8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA7|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-873228-0|quote=&nbsp;(p.7) Our diagram ... reveals that India’s score in comprehensive democracy is at best half the Western level, which conflicts with the standard democracy measures by Polity and Freedom House where India scores much higher. On the other hand, India’s modest democracy performance in the V-Dem data fully confirms Alexander, Welzel, and Inglehart (2012) who argue that India’s state of democracy is overestimated by standard measures and needs to take account of serious deficiencies in rule of law and human rights enforcement (cf. Inglehart and Welzel 2005; Welzel and Inglehart 2006; Alexander and Welzel 2011).’ The recent considerable drop of the ‘Indic East’ mainly reflects India’s democratic backsliding under the Hindu-nationalist administration of Modi. (<small>p.4 The 'Indic East' comprises those nations in South Asia whose history was shaped by Indian culture.)</small>}}</ref><ref name=chidambaram-2022>{{citation|last=Chidambaram|first=Soundarya|chapter=India's Inexorable Path to Autocratization: Looking beyond Modi and the populist lens|year=2022|title=Routledge Handbook of Autocratization in South Asia|editor-last=Widmalm|editor-first=Sten|publisher=Routledge|pages=130&ndash;148|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fNBUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT138|doi= 10.4324/9781003042211-11|s2cid=245210210|quote=(T)he electoral success of populist parties has also coincided with a decline of democracy across the globe (Giinther and Liihrmann, 2018). The focal point in this regard is the rise of populist demagogues and authoritarian strongmen who have caused democratic decline by cracking down on political dissent and curbing the autonomy of the judiciary and the free press, thus creating the conditions for democratic backsliding and decline (Levitsky and Ziblatt, 2018). The path of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in India since 2014 seems to fit this description. The BJP’s hegemonic control of Indian politics has been coterminous with aggressive cultural nationalist rhetoric manifesting itself as routinized intimidation and killing of journalists and political critics, vigilante lynching of Muslims, and a general clampdown on dissent (Kesavan, 2017). Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister and leader of the BJP epitomizes the populist strongman with his charismatic appeal, centralization of power (Vaishnav, 2019), and ability to connect with the masses through clever use of media (Martelli and Jaffrelot, 2017; Vaishnav, 2021). Not surprisingly, scholars and commentators looking at contemporary Indian politics converge on the idea that Modi's populist leadership of the BJP is the reason for the havoc being wreaked on democratic institutions in the country (Kinnvall, 2019; Chatterji et al., 2019; Basu, 2018; Chacko, 2018; Nilsen, 2018)}}</ref>{{Efn||name="lo9"|group=lower-alpha}} Following his party's victory in the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 general election]], his administration [[Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir|revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir]] and also introduced the [[Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019|Citizenship Amendment Act]], which resulted in [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests|widespread protests]] across the country. Described as engineering a political realignment towards [[right-wing politics]], Modi remains a figure of controversy domestically and internationally over his Hindu nationalist beliefs and his handling of the 2002 Gujarat riots, cited as evidence of an [[Social exclusion|exclusionary social]] agenda.{{efn|Sources discussing the controversy surrounding Modi.<ref name="Buncombe">{{#invoke:cite news||title=A rebirth dogged by controversy |first=Andrew |last=Buncombe |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/a-rebirth-dogged-by-controversy-2357157.html |work=[[The Independent]] |date=19 September 2011 |access-date=10 October 2012 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225024707/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/a-rebirth-dogged-by-controversy-2357157.html |archive-date=25 December 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Visweswaran |first=Kamala |title=Perspectives on Modern South Asia: A Reader in Culture, History, and Representation|date=April 2011|publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell]] |isbn=978-1-4051-0062-5|page=188|url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Perspectives_on_Modern_South_Asia/m-EYXNnvMugC?hl=en&gbpv=0|oclc=682895189|editor=Visweswaran, Kamala|quote=The chief minister of Gujarat, a young up-and-coming leader of the Hindu nationalists called Narendra Modi, quoted Isaac Newton to explain the killings of Muslims. "Every action", he said, "has an equal and opposite reaction."|access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="Stepan" >{{cite journal |last1=Stepan |first1=Alfred |s2cid=153861198 |title=India, Sri Lanka, and the Majoritarian Danger |journal=[[Journal of Democracy]] |volume=26 |pages=128–140 |language=en |doi=10.1353/jod.2015.0006 |date=7 January 2015|url=https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/3590a4efe3e1f4f0d5f37d4d1f8fa3fd1e353d97|access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="Ganguly 2014" /><ref name="CBC">{{#invoke:cite news||title=Indian PM Narendra Modi still mired in controversy, says expert|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=16 April 2015|access-date=17 February 2017|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/indian-pm-narendra-modi-still-mired-in-controversy-says-expert-1.3036836|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014073116/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/indian-pm-narendra-modi-still-mired-in-controversy-says-expert-1.3036836|archive-date=14 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="Robinson">{{#invoke:cite news||title=India's Voters Torn Over Politician |first=Simon |last=Robinson |url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1693370,00.html |journal=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=11 December 2007 |access-date=10 October 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023030008/http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1693370,00.html |archive-date=23 October 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Burke">{{#invoke:cite news||title=Gujarat leader Narendra Modi grilled for 10&nbsp;hours at massacre inquiry |first1=Jason |last1=Burke |author-link=Jason Burke |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/28/gujarat-narendra-modi-massacre-inquiry-india |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=28 March 2010 |access-date=10 October 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909181320/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/28/gujarat-narendra-modi-massacre-inquiry-india |archive-date=9 September 2013 }}</ref>|name=|group=}}
 
== Early life and education ==
Narendra Damodardas Modi was born on 17 September 1950 to a [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] [[Hindu]] family of grocers in [[Vadnagar]], [[Mehsana district]], [[Bombay State]] (present-day [[Gujarat]]). He was the third of six children born to Damodardas Mulchand Modi ({{Circa|1915–1989}}) and Hiraben Modi (born {{Circa|1920}}).{{sfn|Marino|2014|pp=13, 15, 29–30, 74}}{{Efn|name="foo"||group=}} Modi's family belonged to the [[Modh]]-[[Ghanchi]]-[[Teli]] (oil-presser) community,<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:cite news||url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-narendra-modi-belongs-to-modh-ghanchi-caste-which-was-added-to-obcs-categories-in-1994-says-gujarat-government-1986389|title=Narendra Modi belongs to Modh-Ghanchi caste, which was added to OBCs categories in 1994, says Gujarat government|date=9 May 2014|work=[[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]]|access-date=19 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204174201/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-narendra-modi-belongs-to-modh-ghanchi-caste-which-was-added-to-obcs-categories-in-1994-says-gujarat-government-1986389|archive-date=4 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-modi-brother-asks-teli-community-to-adopt-modi-prefix-4386125/|title=PM Modi's brother asks Teli community to adopt 'Modi' prefix|date=20 November 2016|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=19 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309032700/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-modi-brother-asks-teli-community-to-adopt-modi-prefix-4386125/|archive-date=9 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=" TOI Modh-Ghanchi-Teli" /> which is categorised as an [[Other Backward Class]] by the Indian government.<ref name=" TOI Modh-Ghanchi-Teli">{{#invoke:cite news||url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Modi-is-a-Teli-Ghanchi-OBC-BJP/articleshow/34084111.cms|title='Modi is a Teli-Ghanchi OBC': BJP|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=23 April 2014|access-date=17 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206064221/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Modi-is-a-Teli-Ghanchi-OBC-BJP/articleshow/34084111.cms|archive-date=6 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/the-office-of-prime-minister-a-largely-north-indian-upper-caste-hindu-affair-114050700846_1.html|title=The office of Prime Minister: A largely north Indian upper-caste, Hindu affair|last=Ghai|first=Rajat|date=7 May 2014|work=[[Business Standard|Business Standard India]]|access-date=19 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619200229/http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/the-office-of-prime-minister-a-largely-north-indian-upper-caste-hindu-affair-114050700846_1.html|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref>
 
Modi had only infrequently spoken of his family background during his 13 years as chief minister of Gujarat. In the run up to the 2014 national elections, he began to regularly draw attention to his low-ranking social origins and to having to work as a child in his father's tea shop on the [[Vadnagar railway station]] platform,<ref name=chatterji-Hansen-Jaffrelot-tea>{{citation|last1=Chatterji|first1=Angana P.|last2=Hansen|first2=Thomas Blom|last3=Jaffrelot|first3=Christophe|editor1-last=Chatterji|editor1-first=Angana P.|editor2-last=Hansen|editor2-first=Thomas Blom|editor3-last=Jaffrelot|editor3-first=Christophe|chapter=Introduction|title=Majoritarian State: How Hindu Nationalism Is Changing India|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2019|page=3|isbn=978-0-19-007817-1|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcObDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA3|quote=In 2014, Modi, in spite of being chief minister of Gujarat for thirteen years, presented himself as an alternative for and of the people because he came from a plebian background ... While he had not very often referred to this pedigree in Gujarat, he successfully projected himself as an ordinary man from humble origins during the 2014 election campaign. ... Modi highlighted his low social background (in belonging to the OBC caste) and that he had to work in his father's tea shop on the railway station platform when he was a child.}}</ref> a description that the evidence of neighbours does not entirely corroborate.<ref name=roberts-tea-stall>{{citation|last=Roberts|first=Adam|title=Superfast Primetime Ultimate Nation: The Relentless Invention of Modern India|publisher=Public Affairs|year=2017|isbn=9781610396707|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9tLuDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT212|quote=Kamuben Modi’s voice crackled with age—she was eighty-five—and the two largest toes on her left foot were missing. 'The house next door, where the family lived, was not in good condition. They had no attic, no proper roof, just a tin roof,' she recalled. Modi was a stubborn and forceful child, she said: 'I remember he would never get beaten by other children, he would beat the others.' As for helping with his father’s business: 'He did not work, not regularly, on the tea stall. The mother wanted him to help, but he didn’t.'}}</ref><ref name=adam-roberts-economist>{{citation|last=Roberts|first=Adam|title=Special Report, India: Modi's many tasks|publisher=Economist|location=London|date=May 23, 2015|url=https://www.economist.com/sites/default/files/20150523_india.pdf|quote=The railway station is single-track. Next to it, where the celebrity’s father once ran a tea stall, is a motorbike-repair shop. Over the road is his modest, whitewashed former school. Only in a street nearby, beyond a Sufi shrine, do you find hints of the great man. Neighbours all introduce themselves with the same surname: Modi, Modi, Modi. Most of them recall something of the childhood of Narendra Modi, such as when he brought home a baby crocodile from a lake. They speak with respect more than fondness. He rarely helped his father with the tea stall. Friends from the school recall that he liked theatre and insisted on taking the part of a king. From childhood his passion was politics, and he soon joined the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) movement. A fellow RSS member recounts a playground scrap with Muslim rivals. A neighbour attended his teenage wedding. An unwilling groom, he soon fled town, leaving his wife behind. He rarely goes back.}}</ref> Modi completed his [[Higher Secondary Examination|higher secondary education]] in Vadnagar in 1967, where teachers described him as an average student and a keen gifted debater, with interest in theatre.<ref name="Jose Caravan">{{#invoke:cite news||url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/emperor-uncrowned?page=1,1|title=The Emperor Uncrowned: The Rise of Narendra Modi|last=Jose|first=Vinod K.|date=1 March 2012|work=[[The Caravan]]|pages=2–4|author-link=Vinod Jose|access-date=11 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111220259/http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/emperor-uncrowned?page=1,1|archive-date=11 November 2013}}</ref> Modi preferred playing larger-than-life characters in theatrical productions, which has influenced his political image.{{sfn|Mukhopadhyay|2013|p=82}}<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||first=Shilpa|last=Raina|url=http://www.newkerala.com/news/2014/fullnews-24257.html |title=Modi's life dominates publishing space (Election Special) |work=newkerala.com |date=14 March 2014 |access-date=4 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315130016/http://www.newkerala.com/news/2014/fullnews-24257.html |archive-date=15 March 2014 }}</ref>
 
When eight years old, Modi was introduced to the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) and began attending its local ''shakhas'' (training sessions). There, Modi met [[Lakshmanrao Inamdar]], popularly known as Vakil Saheb, who inducted him as a ''[[Swayamsevak (RSS)|balswayamsevak]]'' (junior cadet) in the RSS and became his political mentor.{{sfn|Marino|2014 |p=24}} While Modi was training with the RSS, he also met Vasant Gajendragadkar and Nathalal Jaghda, [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]] leaders who were founding members of the BJP's Gujarat unit in 1980.<ref name="Pathak TNN">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Pathak|first=Anil|date=2 October 2001|title=Modi's meteoric rise|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Modis-meteoric-rise/articleshow/1459210533.cms?referral=PM|access-date=11 April 2013}}</ref>
 
In a custom traditional to Narendra Modi's caste, his family arranged a [[betrothal]] to a girl, [[Jashodaben Chimanlal Modi]], leading to their marriage when she was 17 and he was 18.<ref name=gowen1>{{#invoke:cite web||first=Annie|last=Gowen|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date= 25 January 2015|title=Abandoned as a child bride, wife of Narendra Modi hopes he calls|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/abandoned-as-a-child-bride-indias-first-lady-still-hopes-her-husband-will-call/2015/01/25/3509dac5-5ac1-49e3-8b44-7d92e027c9ec_story.html|quote="The wife, Jashodaben Chimanlal Modi, is a retired teacher who lives in a small town in Modi’s home state of Gujarat ... Narendra Modi, the son of a man who sold tea in a railway station, comes from a lower caste called Ghanchi. He and his wife were promised to each other as young adolescents in keeping with the traditions of their community. They were then married in a small ceremony when she was 17 and he was 18."|access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref><ref name=shultz-kumar1>{{#invoke:cite web||first1=Kai|last1=Schultz|first2=Hari|last2=Kumar|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Narendra Modi's Estranged Wife Escapes Unhurt From Car Crash in India|date=7 February 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/world/asia/india-narendra-modi-wife.html|quote="The marriage, which was arranged, occurred about 50 years ago in a small town in Gujarat when Mr. Modi and Ms. Chimanlal were teenagers"|access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref> Soon afterwards, he abandoned his bride,<ref name=gowen2>{{#invoke:cite web||first=Annie|last=Gowen|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date= 25 January 2015|title=Abandoned as a child bride, wife of Narendra Modi hopes he calls|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/abandoned-as-a-child-bride-indias-first-lady-still-hopes-her-husband-will-call/2015/01/25/3509dac5-5ac1-49e3-8b44-7d92e027c9ec_story.html |quote="Narendra Modi left shortly thereafter to wander in the Himalayas with little more than a change of clothing in his rucksack, ...  Modi never returned to his wife but never divorced her, even as he became the high-profile chief minister of Gujarat and, last year, India’s premier. He never publicly spoke of his wife"|access-date= 31 August 2021}}</ref> and left home, never divorcing her, but the marriage remaining unmentioned in Modi's public pronouncements for many decades.<ref name=shultz-kumar2>{{#invoke:cite web||first1=Kai|last1=Schultz|first2=Hari|last2=Kumar|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Narendra Modi's Estranged Wife Escapes Unhurt From Car Crash in India|date=7 February 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/world/asia/india-narendra-modi-wife.html|quote="For most of his political career, Mr. Modi did not publicly acknowledge that he was married. He left his marital status blank on several election registration forms when he was chief minister of the state of Gujarat."|access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref> In April 2014, shortly before the national elections that swept him to power, Modi publicly affirmed that he was married and his spouse was Jashodaben; the couple has remained married, but estranged.<ref name=CNN1>{{#invoke:cite web||title= Narendra Modi Fast Facts|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=12 September 2018|archive-date=13 September 2018|url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/01/19/world/narendra-modi-fast-facts/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913201412/https://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/19/world/narendra-modi-fast-facts/index.html|quote="Marriage: Jashodaben (Chimanlal) Modi (1968–present, separated) ... Entered into an arranged marriage as a teenager to Jashodaben Chimanlal. When he filed his nomination for prime minister, he was forced to acknowledge the marriage after almost 50 years of claiming to be single."|access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref>
 
Modi spent the ensuing two years travelling across Northern and North-eastern India, though few details of where he went have emerged.{{sfn|Marino|2014|p=25}} In interviews, Modi has described visiting Hindu ashrams founded by [[Swami Vivekananda]]: the [[Belur Math]] near [[Kolkata]], followed by the [[Advaita Ashrama]] in [[Almora]] and the [[Ramakrishna Mission]] in [[Rajkot]]. Modi remained only a short time at each, since he lacked the required college education.<ref><br />
* {{harvnb|Marino|2014|pp=30–33}}
* {{harvnb|Mukhopadhyay|2013|pp=128–129}}
* {{#invoke:cite news||url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-05-26/news/50099180_1_narendra-modi-swami-vivekananda-belurmath|title=Narendra Modi invited to Ramakrishna Mission's headquarter in Belurmath|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=26 May 2014|access-date=17 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031144902/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-05-26/news/50099180_1_narendra-modi-swami-vivekananda-belurmath|archive-date=31 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Vivekananda has been described as a large influence in Modi's life.<ref name=ts0716>{{#invoke:cite news||title=The tale of two Narendras: Narendra Modi and Swami Vivekananda|url=http://www.thestatesman.com/india/the-tale-of-two-narendras-narendra-modi-and-swami-vivekananda-152114.html|work=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]|date=4 July 2016|access-date=18 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218070819/http://www.thestatesman.com/india/the-tale-of-two-narendras-narendra-modi-and-swami-vivekananda-152114.html|archive-date=18 February 2017}}</ref>
 
In the early summer of 1968, Modi reached the [[Belur Math]] but was turned away, after which Modi wandered through [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]] and [[Assam]], stopping in [[Siliguri]] and [[Guwahati]]. Modi then went to the [[Ramakrishna Ashram Marg metro station|Ramakrishna Ashram]] in [[Almora]], where he was again rejected, before travelling back to [[Gujarat]] via [[Delhi]] and [[Rajasthan]] in 1968–69. Sometime in late 1969 or early 1970, Modi returned to Vadnagar for a brief visit before leaving again for [[Ahmedabad]].{{Sfn|Marino|2014|pp=26-29}}{{Sfnm|1a1=Guha|1y=2007|1pp=491-492|2a1=Panda|2y=2016|2pp=96|3a1=Mahurkar|3y=2017|3pp=7-9}} There, Modi lived with his uncle, working in the latter's [[Cafeteria|canteen]] at the [[Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation]].{{sfn|Mukhopadhyay|2013|pp=131, 138}}
 
In Ahmedabad, Modi renewed his acquaintance with Inamdar, who was based at the Hedgewar Bhavan (RSS headquarters) in the city.<ref name="vakilsaheb">{{#invoke:cite web||last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|title=The man behind Modi: Lakshmanrao Inamdar|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-lakshmanrao-inamdar-rss/1/359926.html|website=[[India Today]]|location=Ahmedabad|date=19 May 2014|access-date=22 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521043822/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-lakshmanrao-inamdar-rss/1/359926.html|archive-date=21 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="livemint-modi-growth">{{#invoke:cite web||last=Mukhopadhyay|first=Nilanjan|title=Narendra Modi: The making of the political leader|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/9NIOOTsZCFWnuFX5OO9XNL/Narendra-Modi-The-making-of-the-political-leader.html|date= 14 May 2014|access-date=22 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517072258/http://www.livemint.com/Politics/9NIOOTsZCFWnuFX5OO9XNL/Narendra-Modi-The-making-of-the-political-leader.html|archive-date=17 May 2014|work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]}}</ref>{{sfn | Marino | 2014 |p=35}} Modi's first known political activity as an adult was in 1971 when he, as per his remarks, joined a [[Jana Sangh]] Satyagraha in Delhi led by [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] to enlist for the battlefield during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite web||first=Shubbhabrata|last=Sengupta|url=https://thewire.in/history/a-sataygrah-and-asatyagraha-narendra-modi-and-the-liberation-of-bangladesh|title=A Sataygrah [sic] and Asatyagraha: Narendra Modi and the Liberation of Bangladesh|website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]|date=27 March 2021|access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite web||first=Ishadrita|last=Lahiri|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/was-modi-arrested-for-bangladesh-satyagraha-in-1971-here-is-what-we-know#read-more|title=Was Modi Arrested for Bangladesh Satyagraha? Here's What We Know|date=27 March 2021|access-date=31 August 2021|work=[[The Quint]]}}</ref> But the [[Indira Gandhi]]-led central government disallowed open support for the [[Mukti Bahini]] and Modi, according to his own claim, was put in [[Tihar Jail]] for a short period.<ref>{{#invoke:cite web||date=27 March 2021|title=Delhi confidential: The Satyagraha|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/delhi-confidential/narendra-modi-satyagraha-bangladesh-liberation-fighters-delhi-confidential-7247247/|access-date=22 June 2021|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref><ref name=tribune>{{#invoke:cite web||title=Political slugfest over PM Modi's 'Satyagraha for Bangladesh' remarks|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/political-slugfest-over-pm-modis-satyagraha-for-bangladesh-remarks-230844|date=26 March 2021|access-date=22 June 2021|work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite web||title=Modi's satyagraha talk in Dhaka sparks online war {{!}} India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/modis-satyagraha-talk-in-dhaka-sparks-online-war/articleshow/81717548.cms|date=27 March 2021|access-date=22 June 2021|work=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}</ref> After the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], he stopped working for his uncle and became a full-time ''[[pracharak]]'' (campaigner) for the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]],{{sfn|Mukhopadhyay|2013|p=138}} working under Inamdar.{{sfn|Marino|2014|pp=35–40}} Shortly before the war, Modi took part in a non-violent protest against the Indian government in New Delhi, for which he was arrested (as per his claim); this has been cited as a reason for Inamdar electing to mentor him.{{sfn|Marino|2014|pp=35–40}} Many years later Modi would co-author a biography of Inamdar, published in 2001.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||title=Mentoring Modi |first=Prateek |last=Goyal |date=18 May 2014 |url=http://www.punemirror.in/pune/cover-story/Mentoring-Modi/articleshow/35270364.cms |work=[[Pune Mirror]] |access-date=21 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621191042/http://www.punemirror.in/pune/cover-story/Mentoring-Modi/articleshow/35270364.cms |archive-date=21 June 2015 }}</ref> Modi's claim that he was part of a Satyagraha led to a political war.<ref name=tribune/> Applications were filed with the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|PMO]] under the [[Right to Information Act, 2005|RTI Act]] seeking details of his arrest. In reply, the PMO claimed that it maintains official records on Modi only since he took charge as the Prime Minister of India in 2014. Despite this claim, the official website of the PMO contains specific information about Modi which dates back to the 1950s.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||date=27 March 2021|title=RTI filed seeking info on Modi’s claim of his arrest for supporting Bangladesh’s independence|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/03/27/rti-filed-seeking-info-on-modi-s-claim-of-his-arrest-for-supporting-bangladesh-s-independence|work=Dhaka Tribune|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||date=19 June 2021|title=PMO cites a cut-off year of 2014 for recordkeeping on Modi|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/prime-ministers-office-has-cited-a-cut-off-year-of-2014-for-recordkeeping-on-modi/cid/1819344|work=Telegraph India|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref>
 
In 1978 Modi received a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[political science]] from the [[School of Open Learning]] (SOL)<ref name=SOL>{{#invoke:cite news||url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-degree-controversy-delhi-university-rti/1/903745.html |title=Narendra Modi degree row: DU college says it has no data of students passing out in 1978 |work=[[India Today]] |date=14 March 2017 |access-date=9 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317223653/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-degree-controversy-delhi-university-rti/1/903745.html |archive-date=17 March 2017 }}</ref> at the [[University of Delhi]],<ref name="IT13092013" /> graduating with a [[Academic grading in India|third class]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/Narendra-Modi%E2%80%99s-degree-%E2%80%98authentic%E2%80%99-Delhi-University-Registrar-Tarun-Das/article14311846.ece |title=Narendra Modi's degree 'authentic': Delhi University Registrar Tarun Das |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=10 May 2016 |access-date=9 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114130635/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/Narendra-Modi%E2%80%99s-degree-%E2%80%98authentic%E2%80%99-Delhi-University-Registrar-Tarun-Das/article14311846.ece |archive-date=14 November 2017 }}</ref> Five years later, in 1983, he received a [[Master of Arts]] degree in political science from [[Gujarat University]], graduating with a [[Academic grading in India|first class]]<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Avasthi|first=Yogesh|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/globetrotting-pm-modi-was-weakest-in-international-relations/articleshow/52200607.cms|title=Globetrotting PM Modi was weakest in 'International Relations'|access-date=17 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729123651/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/globetrotting-pm-modi-was-weakest-in-international-relations/articleshow/52200607.cms|archive-date=29 July 2017|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=10 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=23 December 2007|title=Modi proves to be an astute strategist|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-proves-to-be-an-astute-strategist/article1-264941.aspx|url-status=dead|access-date=20 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083702/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-proves-to-be-an-astute-strategist/article1-264941.aspx|archive-date=19 August 2014}}</ref> as an external [[Distance education|distance learning]] student.<ref name="GU Modi">{{#invoke:cite web||title=Degree row- PM Modi MA with first class: Gujarat University|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-modi-scored-62-3-in-ma-from-gujarat-univerisity-vc-2779138/|website=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=29 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729093536/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-modi-scored-62-3-in-ma-from-gujarat-univerisity-vc-2779138/|archive-date=29 July 2017|date=2 May 2016}}</ref> But there is a big{{Peacock term|date=December 2021}} controversy surrounding his educational qualification.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||date=16 June 2018|title=The curious case of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/the-curious-case-of-prime-minister-narendra-modis-degree|work=National Herald|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||date=3 October 2020|title=The curious case of TOI's report on Modi's 'dear friend'|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/10/03/the-curious-case-of-tois-report-on-modis-dear-friend|work=Newslaundry|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref> Replying to an RTI query, the SOL said it did not have any data of students who received a BA degree in 1978.<ref name=SOL/> Jayantibhai Patel, a former political science professor of Gujarat University, claimed that the subjects listed in Modi's MA degree were not offered by the university when Modi was studying there.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||date=12 May 2016|title=Huge discrepancy in Modi's MA degree, claims ex-Gujarat University professor|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/huge-discrepancy-in-pm-modis-ma-degree-claims-former-gujarat-university-professor-323174-2016-05-12|work=India Today|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||date=13 May 2016|title=Subjects listed in Narendra Modi's Gujarat University degree were not in syllabus, says ex-professor|url=https://scroll.in/latest/808057/subjects-named-in-narendra-modis-gujarat-university-ma-degree-were-not-in-syllabus-ex-professor|work=Scroll.in|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref>
 
== Early political career ==
In June 1975, Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] declared a [[The Emergency (India)|state of emergency]] in India which lasted until 1977. During this period, known as "The Emergency", many of her political opponents were jailed and opposition groups were banned.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=493–494}}{{sfn|Kochanek|Hardgrave|2007|p=205}} Modi was appointed general secretary of the "Gujarat Lok Sangharsh Samiti", an RSS committee co-ordinating opposition to the Emergency in Gujarat. Shortly afterwards, the RSS was banned.{{sfn|Marino|2014|pp=36–40}} Modi was forced to go underground in Gujarat and frequently travelled in disguise to avoid arrest. He became involved in printing pamphlets opposing the government, sending them to Delhi and organising demonstrations.{{sfn|Marino|2014|p=43}}{{sfn|Mukhopadhyay|2013|p=150}} Modi was also involved with creating a network of safe houses for individuals wanted by the government, and in raising funds for political refugees and activists.{{Refn|{{harvnb|Marino|2014|p=65}}; {{harvnb|Natarajan and Pooja|2019|pp=98–99}}; {{harvnb|Sen|2016|pp=145–151}}; {{harvnb|Hall|2016|p=90}}; {{harvnb|Mukhopadhyay|2013|pp=56–57}}}} During this period, Modi wrote a book in [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], ''Sangharsh Ma Gujarat'' (''In The Struggles of Gujarat''), describing events during the Emergency.<ref name="Aakar-PoetModi">{{#invoke:Cite web||last=Patel |first=Aakar |title=The poetic side of Narendra Modi |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131222/commentary-columnists/commentary/poetic-side-narendra-modi |website=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |date=22 December 2013 |access-date=25 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524050207/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131222/commentary-columnists/commentary/poetic-side-narendra-modi |archive-date=24 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||first=Harit|last=Mehta|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Gujarat-not-enamoured-by-poet-Narendra-Modi/articleshow/757261.cms|title=Gujarat not enamoured by poet Narendra Modi|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=28 June 2004|access-date=6 January 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023124625/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Gujarat-not-enamoured-by-poet-Narendra-Modi/articleshow/757261.cms|archive-date=6 January 2016}}</ref> Among the people he met in this role was trade unionist and socialist activist [[George Fernandes]], as well as several other national political figures.{{sfn|Marino|2014|pp=38–43, 46–50}} In his travels during the Emergency, Modi was often forced to move in disguise, once dressing as a monk, and once as a [[Sikh]].{{Sfnm|1a1=Marino|1y=2014|1pp=71-74|2a1=Natarajan and Pooja|2y=2019|2pp=98-101}}
 
Modi became an [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS ''sambhag pracharak'']] (regional organiser) in 1978, overseeing RSS activities in the areas of [[Surat]] and [[Vadodara]], and in 1979 he went to work for the RSS in Delhi, where he was put to work researching and writing the RSS's version of the history of the Emergency. He returned to Gujarat a short while later, and was assigned by the RSS to the BJP in 1985. In 1987 Modi helped organise the BJP's campaign in the Ahmedabad municipal election, which the BJP won comfortably; Modi's planning has been described as the reason for that result by biographers.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shekhar|first=Himanshu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOJfCgAAQBAJ|title=Management Guru Narendra Modi|date=2015<!--An error currently displays the publication year of this book as '1901' on Google. According to amazon.in its publication year is '2015'.-->|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-288-2803-4|location=|pages= 64|language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Marino|2014|pp=45-48, 54-59}} After [[L. K. Advani]] became president of the BJP in 1986, the RSS decided to place its members in important positions within the BJP; Modi's work during the Ahmedabad election led to his selection for this role, and Modi was elected organising secretary of the BJP's Gujarat unit later in 1987.{{Sfnm|1a1=Guha|1y=2007|1pp=|2a1=Marino|2y=2014|2pp=56|3a1=Panda|3y=2016|3pp=fontcover|4a1=Rao|4y=2020|4pp=228}}
[[File:Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi in October 12, 2001.jpg|left|thumb|240x240px|Modi with [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] in {{Circa|2001}}.]]
Modi rose within the party and was named a member of the BJP's National Election Committee in 1990, helping organise [[L. K. Advani]]'s 1990 [[Ram Rath Yatra]] in 1990 and [[Murli Manohar Joshi]]'s 1991–92 ''Ekta Yatra'' (Journey for Unity).<ref name="Jose Caravan" />{{sfn|Mukhopadhyay|2013|pp=68–69}}{{sfn|Marino|2014|pp=60–63}} However, he took a brief break from politics in 1992, instead establishing a school in Ahmedabad; friction with [[Shankersinh Vaghela]], a BJP MP from Gujarat at the time, also played a part in this decision.{{sfn|Marino|2014|pp=60–63}} Modi returned to electoral politics in 1994, partly at the insistence of Advani, and as party secretary, Modi's electoral strategy was considered central to the BJP victory in the 1995 state assembly elections.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||title=Gujarat-CM candidates: Gujarat Assembly Elections 2012: Narendra Modi profile|work=[[Zee News]]|location=Gujarat|url=http://zeenews.india.com/slideshow/gujarat-cm-candidates_69.html|url-status=live|date=11 December 2012|access-date=21 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420090836/http://zeenews.india.com/slideshow/gujarat-cm-candidates_69.html|archive-date=20 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Jain|E|2018|pp=17–21}}; {{Harvard citation no brackets|Komireddi|2019|pp=67–69}}; {{Harvard citation no brackets|Kochanek|Hardgrave|2007|pp=44–49}}; {{Harvard citation no brackets|Marino|2014|p=49}}; {{Harvard citation no brackets|Panda|2016|p=95}}; {{Harvard citation no brackets|Kanrad|2018|pp=87–91}}.</ref> In November of that year Modi was appointed BJP national secretary and transferred to New Delhi, where he assumed responsibility for party activities in Haryana and [[Himachal Pradesh]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Mehta|first=Harit|date=1 April 2014|title=Six-year banishment led to Narendra Modi's metamorphosis|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Six-year-banishment-led-to-Narendra-Modis-metamorphosis/articleshow/33040649.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401022501/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Six-year-banishment-led-to-Narendra-Modis-metamorphosis/articleshow/33040649.cms|archive-date=1 April 2014}}</ref> The following year, Shankersinh Vaghela, a prominent BJP leader from Gujarat, defected to the [[Indian National Congress]] (Congress, INC) after losing his parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha elections.<ref name="Jose Caravan" /> Modi, on the selection committee for the [[1998 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|1998 Assembly elections in Gujarat]], favoured supporters of BJP leader [[Keshubhai Patel]] over those supporting Vaghela to end factional division in the party. His strategy was credited as key to the BJP winning an overall majority in the 1998 elections,<ref name="Venkatesan Frontline">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Venkatesan|first=V.|author-link=V. Venkatram|date=26 October 2001|volume=Volume 18 - Issue 21|title=A pracharak as Chief Minister|website=frontlineonnet.com|publisher=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|location=New Delhi|type=magazine|url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1821/18210310.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=11 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405081524/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1821/18210310.htm|archive-date=5 April 2013}}</ref> and Modi was promoted to BJP general secretary (organisation) in May of that year.{{Sfnm|1a1=Marino|1y=2014|1pp=78-79|2a1=Mukhopadhyay|2y=2013|2pp=78-95}}
 
== Chief Minister of Gujarat ==
 
=== Taking office ===
In 2001, Keshubhai Patel's health was failing and the BJP lost a few state assembly seats in [[by-election]]s. Allegations of abuse of power, corruption and poor administration were made, and Patel's standing had been damaged by his administration's handling of the [[2001 Gujarat earthquake|earthquake in Bhuj in 2001]].<ref name="Venkatesan Frontline" /><ref name="Phadnis BS">{{cite book |last=Phadnis |first=Aditi |title=Business Standard Political Profiles of Cabals and Kings |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qT7QvviGoJsC&pg=PA116 |year=2009 |publisher=Business Standard Books |isbn=978-81-905735-4-2 |pages=116–21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103043003/http://books.google.com/books?id=qT7QvviGoJsC&pg=PA116 |archive-date=3 January 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1821/18210300.htm |title=A new oarsman |work=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]] |date=26 October 2001|volume=Volume 18 - Issue 21 |access-date=11 April 2013 |last=Bunsha |first=Dionne|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060828024053/http://www.frontline.in/fl1821/18210300.htm|archive-date=28 August 2006}}</ref> The BJP national leadership sought a new candidate for the chief ministership, and Modi, who had expressed misgivings about Patel's administration, was chosen as a replacement.<ref name="Jose Caravan" /> Although [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] leader L. K. Advani did not want to ostracise Patel and was concerned about Modi's lack of experience in government, Modi declined an offer to be Patel's [[Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat|deputy chief minister]], telling Advani and [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] that he was "going to be fully responsible for Gujarat or not at all". On 3 October 2001 he replaced Patel as Chief Minister of Gujarat, with the responsibility of preparing the BJP for the December 2002 elections.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||first=Ritesh K.|last=Srivastava|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/general-elections-2014/pm-candidates/narendra-modi-%E2%80%93-leading-the-race-to-7-rcr_921104.html|title=Narendra Modi – Leading the race to 7 RCR|work=[[Zee News]]|date=8 April 2014|access-date=25 August 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824042517/http://zeenews.india.com/news/general-elections-2014/pm-candidates/narendra-modi-%E2%80%93-leading-the-race-to-7-rcr_921104.html|archive-date=24 August 2014}}</ref> Modi was sworn in as Chief Minister on 7 October 2001,<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Dasgupta|first1=Manas|title=Modi sworn in Gujarat CM amidst fanfare|url=http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/2001/10/08/stories/02080001.htm|access-date=11 October 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 October 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141011204504/http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/2001/10/08/stories/02080001.htm|archive-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> and entered the Gujarat state legislature on 24 February 2002 by winning a by-election to the [[Rajkot West|Rajkot – II]] constituency, defeating Ashwin Mehta of the INC by 14,728 votes.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Venkatesan|first1=V.|title=A victory and many pointers|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1905/19050240.htm|volume=Volume 19 - Issue 05|date=15 March 2002|access-date=11 October 2014|work=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106133029/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1905/19050240.htm|archive-date=6 January 2016}}</ref>
 
=== 2002 Gujarat riots ===
{{Main|2002 Gujarat riots}}
On 27 February 2002, a train with several hundred passengers [[Godhra train burning|burned near Godhra]], killing approximately 60 people.{{efn|The exact number of people killed in the train burning is variously reported. For example, the [[BBC]] says it was 59,<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12605659 |title=Eleven sentenced to death for India Godhra train blaze |date=1 March 2011 |access-date=25 June 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624025021/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12605659 |archive-date=24 June 2014 }}</ref> while ''[[The Guardian]]'' put the figure at 60.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/22/godhra-train-fire-verdict |title=Godhra train fire verdict prompts tight security measures |work=[[The Guardian]] |first=Jason |last=Burke |date=22 February 2011 |access-date=10 March 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023065143/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/22/godhra-train-fire-verdict |archive-date=23 October 2013 }}</ref>}}<ref name="leaders_failed_2021_11_15_dhaka_tribune">Ghosh, Partha S.  ([[Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi]]; formerly, [[Indian Council of Social Science Research|ICSSR]] National Fellow, and Professor of South Asian Studies at [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]]): [https://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/longform/2021/11/15/south-asia-s-leaders-have-failed-their-region OP-ED: South Asia’s leaders have failed their region,"] opinion and historical analysis, 15 November 2021, ''[[Dhaka Tribune]],'' retrieved 15 November 2021</ref> The train carried a large number of Hindu pilgrims returning from [[Ayodhya]] after a religious ceremony at the site of the demolished [[Babri Masjid]].<ref name="Communal Riots">{{cite journal|last1=Jaffrelot|first1=Christophe|author-link=Christophe Jaffrelot|date=July 2003|title=Communal Riots in Gujarat: The State at Risk?|url=http://www.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/archiv/4127|url-status=live|journal=Heidelberg Papers in South Asian and Comparative Politics|volume=|pages=|doi=10.11588/heidok.00004127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607062723/http://www.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/archiv/4127/|archive-date=7 June 2007|access-date=17 February 2017|via=}}</ref><ref name="BBC1">{{cite news|title=Gujarat riot death toll revealed|work=[[BBC News]]|date=11 May 2005|access-date=17 February 2017|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4536199.stm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226131020/http://news.indiainfo.com/2005/05/11/1105godhra-rs.html|archive-date=26 February 2009}}</ref> In making a public statement after the incident, Modi declared it a terrorist attack planned and orchestrated by local Muslims.<ref name="Shani">{{cite book|last1=Shani|first1=Orrit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ouAB7o63B9IC|title=Communalism, Caste and Hindu Nationalism: The Violence in Gujarat|date=2007|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=978-0-521-68369-2|location=|pages=168–173}}</ref><ref name="Communal Riots" /><ref name="Murphy 2010">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Murphy|first=Eamon|editor-first1=Richard|editor-last1=Jackson|editor-first2=Eamon Murphy|editor-last2=Murphy|editor-first3=Scott|editor-last3=Poynting|encyclopedia=Contemporary State Terrorism|title='We have no orders to save you': state terrorism, politics and communal violence in the Indian state of Gujarat, 2002|year=2010|publisher=[[Routledge]]|location=New York, New York, USA|isbn=978-0-415-49801-2|pages=84–103}}</ref> The next day, the [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad]] called for a ''[[bandh]]'' across the state.<ref name="articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com">{{cite news|first1=Bharat|last1=Desai|first2=Anil|last2=Pathak|date=1 March 2002|title=Mobs rule Ahmedabad streets|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2002-03-01/news/27355597_1_mobs-death-toll-ahmedabad|url-status=live|access-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104094217/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2002-03-01/news/27355597_1_mobs-death-toll-ahmedabad|archive-date=4 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="Curfew imposed in 26 cities">{{cite news |first=Manas|last=Dasgupta|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2002/03/01/stories/2002030103030100.htm |title=140 killed as Gujarat bandh turns violent |date=1 March 2002 |access-date=17 April 2014 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303163112/http://www.thehindu.com/2002/03/01/stories/2002030103030100.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=3 March 2015 }}</ref> Riots began during the ''bandh'', and [[Anti-Muslim violence in India|anti-Muslim violence]] spread through Gujarat.<ref name="Communal Riots" /><ref name="articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com" /><ref name="Curfew imposed in 26 cities" /> The government's decision to move the bodies of the train victims from Godhra to Ahmedabad further inflamed the violence.<ref name="Communal Riots" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/decision-to-bring-godhra-victims-bodies-taken-at-top-level/article2876244.ece |title=Decision to bring Godhra victims' bodies taken at top level |work=[[The Hindu]]|date=10 February 2012 |access-date=12 April 2013 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212181131/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/decision-to-bring-godhra-victims-bodies-taken-at-top-level/article2876244.ece |archive-date=12 February 2013 }}</ref> The state government stated later that 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed.<ref name="BBC1" /> Independent sources put the death toll at over 2000,<ref name="Communal Riots" /><ref name="leaders_failed_2021_11_15_dhaka_tribune" /><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Campbell |editor1-first=John |editor2-first=Chris |editor2-last=Seiple |editor3-first=Dennis R. |editor3-last=Hoover |editor4-first=Pauletta |display-editors = 3 |editor4-last=Otis|title=The Routledge Handbook of Religion and Security|year=2012|publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-0-415-66744-9|page=233}}</ref> the vast majority Muslims<ref name="leaders_failed_2021_11_15_dhaka_tribune" /> Approximately 150,000 people were driven to refugee camps.<ref name="Brass">{{cite book|author-link=Paul Brass|last=Brass|first=Paul R.|title=The Production of Hindu-Muslim Violence in Contemporary India|publisher=[[University of Washington Press]]|isbn=978-0-295-98506-0|page=388|date=15 July 2005}}</ref> Numerous women and children were among the victims; the violence included mass rapes and mutilations of women.<ref name="The Clash Within">{{cite book|last=Nussbaum|first=Martha Craven|author-link=Martha Nussbaum|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JLMQh4oc38gC|title=The Clash Within: Democracy, Religious Violence, and India's Future|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|year=2008|isbn=978-0-674-03059-6|location=|pages=17–28, 50–51|jstor=27639120}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/12/09/blood-and-soil-in-narendra-modis-india|title=Blood and Soil in Narendra Modi's India|last=Filkins|first=Dexter|author-link=Dexter Filkins|date=2 December 2019|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|language=en|access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref>
 
The government of Gujarat itself is generally considered by scholars to have been complicit in the riots,<ref name="Bobbio">{{cite journal |last=Bobbio |first=Tommaso |s2cid=154422056 |title=Making Gujarat Vibrant: Hindutva, development and the rise of subnationalism in India |journal=Third World Quarterly |volume=33 |issue=4 |date=1 May 2012 |pages=657–672 |doi=10.1080/01436597.2012.657423|url=https://zenodo.org/record/1047619}}</ref><ref name="The Clash Within" /><ref name="Shani" /> (with some blaming chief minister Modi explicitly<ref name="The Clash Within" /><ref name="leaders_failed_2021_11_15_dhaka_tribune" />) and has otherwise received heavy criticism for its handling of the situation.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/world/asia/29india.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120830124248/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/world/asia/29india.html |title=Shadows of Violence Cling to Indian Politician |last=Sengupta|first=Somini|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=28 April 2009|archive-date=30 August 2012|access-date=12 May 2013}}</ref> Several scholars have described the violence as a [[pogrom]], while others have called it an example of [[state terrorism]].<ref>{{cite journal|first=Chris|last=Ogden|s2cid=54615047|year=2012|title=A Lasting Legacy: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and India's Politics|journal=[[Journal of Contemporary Asia]]|volume=42|issue=1|doi=10.1080/00472336.2012.634639|pages=22–38}}</ref><ref name="Pandey 2005">{{cite book|last=Pandey|first=Gyanendra|title=Routine violence: nations, fragments, histories|date=2006|publisher=[[Stanford University Press]]|isbn=978-0-8047-5264-0|pages=[https://archive.org/details/routineviolencen0000pand/page/187 187–188]|url=https://archive.org/details/routineviolencen0000pand/page/187}}</ref><ref name="Baruah 2012">{{cite book|last=Baruah|first=Bipasha|url=https://www.ubcpress.ca/asset/9339/1/9780774819275.pdf|title=Women and Property in Urban India|year=2012|publisher=[[University of British Columbia Press]]|isbn=978-0-7748-1928-2|page=41}}</ref> Summarising academic views on the subject, [[Martha Nussbaum]] said: "There is by now a broad consensus that the Gujarat violence was a form of ethnic cleansing, that in many ways it was premeditated, and that it was carried out with the complicity of the state government and officers of the law."<ref name="The Clash Within" /> The Modi government imposed a curfew in 26 major cities, issued shoot-at-sight orders and called for the army to patrol the streets, but was unable to prevent the violence from escalating.<ref name="articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com" /><ref name="Curfew imposed in 26 cities" /> The president of the state unit of the BJP expressed support for the ''bandh'', despite such actions being illegal at the time.<ref name="Shani" /> State officials later prevented riot victims from leaving the refugee camps, and the camps were often unable to meet the needs of those living there.<ref name="Hampton 2002">{{cite book |last=Hampton |first=Janie |title=Internally Displaced People: A Global Survey |year=2002 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-85383-952-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/internallydispla0000unse_b0v3/page/116 116] |url=https://archive.org/details/internallydispla0000unse_b0v3/page/116 }}</ref> Muslim victims of the riots were subject to further discrimination when the state government announced that compensation for Muslim victims would be half of that offered to Hindus, although this decision was later reversed after the issue was taken to court.<ref name="Gujarat Model">{{cite journal|last=Jaffrelot|first=Christophe|author-link=Christophe Jaffrelot|year=2015|title=What 'Gujarat Model'?—Growth without Development— and with Socio-Political Polarisation|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00856401.2015.1087456|journal=South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies|volume=38|issue=4|pages=820–838|doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1087456|issn=0085-6401|via=|s2cid=146854210}}</ref> During the riots, police officers often did not intervene in situations where they were able.<ref name="The Clash Within" /><ref name="Murphy 2010" /><ref name="Gujarat 2002">{{cite journal|last=Jaffrelot|first=Christophe|author-link=Christophe Jaffrelot|date=25 February 2012|title=Gujarat 2002: What Justice for the Victims?|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2012/08/special-articles/gujarat-2002-what-justice-victims.html|journal=[[Economic & Political Weekly]]|volume=47|issue=8|pages=|via=}}</ref>
 
Modi's personal involvement in the 2002 events has continued to be debated. During the riots, Modi said that "What is happening is a chain of action and reaction."<ref name="The Clash Within" /> Later in 2002, Modi said the way in which he had handled the media was his only regret regarding the episode.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/world/asia/wish-for-change-animates-voters-in-india-election.html| title=Wish for Change Animates Voters in India Election | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=7 April 2014 | access-date=30 May 2014 | author=Barry, Ellen | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527224752/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/world/asia/wish-for-change-animates-voters-in-india-election.html?_r=0 | archive-date=27 May 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> In March 2008, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] reopened several cases related to the 2002 riots, including that of the [[Gulbarg Society massacre]], and established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the issue.<ref name="NYT" /><ref name="ZakiavsModi-timeline" /><ref name="NHRCvsGujarat-2009-judgment">{{cite web|title=National Human Rights Commission vs. State of Gujarat & Ors. – Writ Petition (Crl.) No. 109/2003|url=http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/temp/10920034152009p.txt|publisher=[[Supreme Court of India]]|access-date=23 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523113740/http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/temp/10920034152009p.txt|archive-date=23 May 2014}}</ref> In response to a petition from Zakia Jafri (widow of [[Ehsan Jafri]], who was killed in the Gulbarg Society massacre), in April 2009 the court also asked the SIT to investigate the issue of Modi's complicity in the killings.<ref name="ZakiavsModi-timeline">{{cite news|title=Timeline: Zakia Jafri vs Modi in 2002 Gujarat riots case|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/timeline-zakia-jafri-vs-modi-in-2002-gujarat-riots-case/article1-1166448.aspx|access-date=23 May 2014|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=26 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319001910/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/timeline-zakia-jafri-vs-modi-in-2002-gujarat-riots-case/article1-1166448.aspx|archive-date=19 March 2014}}</ref> The SIT questioned Modi in March 2010; in May, it presented to the court a report finding no evidence against him.<ref name="ZakiavsModi-timeline" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SIT-clears-Narendra-Modi-of-wilfully-allowing-post-Godhra-riots/articleshow/7031569.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |first=Dhananjay |last=Mahapatra |title=SIT clears Narendra Modi of wilfully allowing post-Godhra riots |date=3 December 2010 |access-date=17 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708044253/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SIT-clears-Narendra-Modi-of-wilfully-allowing-post-Godhra-riots/articleshow/7031569.cms |archive-date=8 July 2014 }}</ref> In July 2011, the court-appointed ''[[amicus curiae]]'' [[Raju Ramachandran]] submitted his final report to the court. Contrary to the SIT's position, he said that Modi could be prosecuted based on the available evidence.<ref name="hindu-raju-report">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3393808.ece?homepage=true |title=Proceed against Modi for Gujarat riots: amicus |work=[[The Hindu]]|date=9 May 2012 |access-date=17 April 2014 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705174724/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3393808.ece?homepage=true |archive-date=5 July 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3401728.ece?homepage=true |title=SIT rejects amicus curiae's observations against Modi |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=10 May 2012 |access-date=17 April 2014 |location=Chennai, India |first=Manas |last=Dasgupta |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705173155/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3401728.ece?homepage=true |archive-date=5 July 2014 }}</ref> The Supreme Court gave the matter to the magistrate's court. The SIT examined Ramachandran's report, and in March 2012 submitted its final report, asking for the case to be closed. Zakia Jafri filed a protest petition in response. In December 2013 the magistrate's court rejected the protest petition, accepting the SIT's finding that there was no evidence against the chief minister.<ref name="2013 Clean chit">{{cite news|last1=Khan|first1=Saeed|last2=Kaushik|first2=Himanshu|title=2002 Gujarat riots: Clean chit to Modi, court rejects Zakia Jafri's plea|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2002-Gujarat-riots-Clean-chit-to-Modi-court-rejects-Zakia-Jafris-plea/articleshow/27968858.cms|access-date=4 June 2014|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=26 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004001413/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2002-Gujarat-riots-Clean-chit-to-Modi-court-rejects-Zakia-Jafris-plea/articleshow/27968858.cms|archive-date=4 October 2014}}</ref>
 
=== 2002 election ===
{{main|2002 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election}}
[[File:The Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Narendra Modi calls on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on June 30, 2004.jpg|thumb|244x244px|Modi meeting with then [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]], [[Manmohan Singh]] in 2004.]]
In the aftermath of the violence there were widespread calls for Modi to resign as chief minister from within and outside the state, including from leaders of the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] and the [[Telugu Desam Party]] (allies in the BJP-led [[National Democratic Alliance]] coalition), and opposition parties stalled Parliament over the issue.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/03godhra.htm |title=Congress demands Modi's resignation over Bannerjee report |date=3 March 2006 |access-date=17 November 2007 |work=[[Rediff.com]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106060953/http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/03godhra.htm |archive-date=6 January 2008 }}</ref> Modi submitted his resignation at the April 2002 BJP national executive meeting in Goa, but it was not accepted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/apr/12train.htm|title=BJP national exec rejects Modi's resignation|work=[[Rediff.com]]|date=12 April 2002|access-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303153818/http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/apr/12train.htm|archive-date=3 March 2014}}</ref> His cabinet had an emergency meeting on 19 July 2002, after which it offered its resignation to the Gujarat Governor S. S. Bhandari, and the state assembly was dissolved.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2002-07-19/news/27337221_1_gujarat-cabinet-polls-gujarat-assembly|title=Gujarat Assembly dissolved, early poll sought|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=19 July 2002|access-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220005547/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2002-07-19/news/27337221_1_gujarat-cabinet-polls-gujarat-assembly|archive-date=20 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/07/20/stories/2002072002640100.htm|title=Modi resigns; seeks Assembly dissolution|work=[[The Hindu Business Line]]|date=19 July 2002|access-date=9 May 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050125132528/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/07/20/stories/2002072002640100.htm|archive-date=25 January 2005}}</ref> Despite opposition from the election commissioner, who said that a number of voters were still displaced, Modi succeeded in advancing the election to December 2002.<ref name="Jaffrelot T&NM">{{cite journal|last=Jaffrelot|first=Christophe|author-link=Christophe Jaffrelot|s2cid=145758627|title=Narendra Modi and the Power of Television in Gujarat|journal=Television & New Media|year=2015|doi=10.1177/1527476415575499|volume=16|issue=4|pages=346–353}}</ref> In the elections, the BJP won 127 seats in the 182-member assembly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/statisticalreports/SE_2002/StatReport_GUJ2002.pdf |title=Statistical Report on General Election, 2002 to the Legislative Assembly of Gujarat |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=12 April 2013 |page=228 |location=New Delhi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117040227/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2002/StatReport_GUJ2002.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2012 }}</ref> Although Modi later denied it, he made significant use of anti-Muslim rhetoric during his campaign,<ref name="India Review" /><ref name="Brasted">{{cite book|last=Brasted|first=Howard V.|title=Islam in World Politics|year=2005|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-0-415-32411-3|page=119|editor1-first=Nelly |editor1-last=Lahoud |editor2-first=A. H. |editor2-last=Johns|quote=the successful anti-Muslim campaign run in Gujarat in December 2002 by its provincial chief minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;– a hardline Hindu nationalist preacher turned politician&nbsp;– has ominous implications.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Corbridge|first=Stuart|title=India Today: Economy, Politics and Society|year=2012|publisher=[[Polity Press]] |isbn=978-0-7456-6112-4|page=185|author2=John Harriss, Craig Jeffrey|quote=December 2002, the BJP&nbsp;– led by Narendra Modi, who conducted a vicious campaign, making many stridently anti-Muslim statements}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |pages=210–211 |title=Prospects For Peace in South Asia |editor1-first=Rafiq |editor1-last=Dossani |editor2-first=Henry S. |editor2-last=Rowen |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-8047-5085-1 |chapter=Hindu Nationalism and the BJP: Transforming Religion and Politics in India |first=Robert L. |last=Hardgrave, Jr. |quote=In the campaign, Modi fused religion and politics and, as a spur to anti-Muslim sentiment, made Islamic terrorism and its ties to Pakistan a central plank in the BJP platform" etc}}</ref> and the BJP profited from religious polarisation among the voters.<ref name="Jaffrelot T&NM" /> He won the Maninagar constituency, receiving {{formatnum:113589}} of {{formatnum:154981}} votes and defeating INC candidate Yatin Oza by 75,333 votes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Modi wins Maninagar seat by 75,333 votes|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Modi-wins-Maninagar-seat-by-75333-votes/articleshow/31344603.cms|access-date=16 October 2014|work=[[The Times of India]]|agency=TNN|date=15 December 2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023123523/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Modi-wins-Maninagar-seat-by-75333-votes/articleshow/31344603.cms|archive-date=9 February 2016}}</ref> On 22 December 2002, Bhandari swore Modi in for a second term.<ref>{{cite news|title=Narendra Modi sworn in as Gujarat CM|url=http://www.rediff.com/election/2002/dec/22guj.htm|access-date=16 October 2014|work=[[Rediff]]|date=22 December 2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123214/http://www.rediff.com/election/2002/dec/22guj.htm|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> Modi framed the criticism of his government for human rights violations as an attack upon Gujarati pride, a strategy which led to the BJP winning two-thirds of the seats in the state assembly.<ref name="Bobbio" /><ref name="India Review" />
 
=== Second term ===
During Modi's second term the rhetoric of the government shifted from [[Hindutva]] to Gujarat's economic development.<ref name="Phadnis BS" /><ref name="Bobbio" /><ref name="India Review">{{cite journal|last1=Jaffrelot|first1=Christophe|author-link=Christophe Jaffrelot|date=9 May 2016|title=Narendra Modi Between Hindutva and Subnationalism: The Gujarati Asmita of a Hindu Hriday Samrat|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2016/05/09/narendra-modi-between-hindutva-and-subnationalism-gujarati-asmita-of-hindu-hriday-samrat-pub-66446|journal=India Review|volume=15|issue=2|pages=196–217|doi=10.1080/14736489.2016.1165557|via=|s2cid=156137272}}</ref> Modi curtailed the influence of [[Sangh Parivar]] organisations such as the [[Bharatiya Kisan Sangh]] (BKS) and the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] (VHP),<ref name="Umat TNN">{{cite news|last=Umat|first=Ajay|date=9 February 2013|title=Once Hindutva twins, Narendra Modi and Pravin Togadia no longer conjoined|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Once-Hindutva-twins-Narendra-Modi-and-PravinTogadia-no-longer-conjoined/articleshow/18410549.cms?referral=PM|url-status=live|access-date=11 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023123500/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Once-Hindutva-twins-Narendra-Modi-and-PravinTogadia-no-longer-conjoined/articleshow/18410549.cms?referral=PM|archive-date=29 March 2016}}</ref> entrenched in the state after the decline of Ahmedabad's textile industry,<ref name="Phadnis BS" /> and dropped [[Gordhan Zadafia]] (an ally of former Sangh co-worker and VHP state chief [[Praveen Togadia]]) from his cabinet. When the BKS staged a farmers' demonstration Modi ordered their eviction from state-provided houses, and his decision to demolish 200 illegal temples in [[Gandhinagar]] deepened the rift with the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]].<ref name="Umat TNN" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-religious-leaders-demand-rebuilding-of-temples-1209291 |title=Religious leaders demand rebuilding of temples |work=[[DNA India]] |date=25 November 2008 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |access-date=12 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111232520/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-religious-leaders-demand-rebuilding-of-temples-1209291 |archive-date=11 November 2013 }}</ref> Sangh organisations were no longer consulted or informed in advance about Modi's administrative decisions.<ref name="Umat TNN" /> Nonetheless, Modi retained connections with some Hindu nationalists. Modi wrote a foreword to a textbook by [[Dinanath Batra]] released in 2014, which stated that ancient India possessed technologies including [[test-tube babies]].<ref name=testtubes>{{cite news |first=Anuradha|last=Raman|title=Test-Tubes in Hastinapur |newspaper=[[Outlook India]] |date=11 August 2014 |access-date=28 September 2014 |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/TestTubes-In-Hastinapur/291554 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003180314/http://www.outlookindia.com/article/TestTubes-In-Hastinapur/291554 |archive-date=3 October 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Manor" />
 
Modi's relationship with Muslims continued to attract criticism. Prime Minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] (who asked Modi for tolerance in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat violence and supported his resignation as chief minister)<ref>{{cite news |last=Dasgupta |first=Manas |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2002/04/05/stories/2002040509161100.htm |title=Vajpayee's advice to Modi |date=4 April 2002 |access-date=2 April 2013 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106133029/http://www.thehindu.com/2002/04/05/stories/2002040509161100.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=6 January 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Vajpayee,+Advani+differed+over+Modi%27s+resignation/1/5984.html |title=Vajpayee, Advani differed over Modi's resignation |work=[[India Today]] |date=20 March 2008 |access-date=2 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111224239/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Vajpayee,+Advani+differed+over+Modi%27s+resignation/1/5984.html |archive-date=11 November 2013 }}</ref> distanced himself, reaching out to North Indian Muslims before the [[2004 Indian general election|2004 Lok Sabha elections]]. After the elections Vajpayee called the violence in Gujarat a reason for the BJP's electoral defeat and said it had been a mistake to leave Modi in office after the riots.<ref name="TellisWills">{{cite book|last1=Tellis|first1=Ashley J.|last2=Wills|first2=Michael|title=Domestic political change and grand strategy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oNvb4RBmZQUC&pg=PA193|date=September 2007|publisher=[[National Bureau of Asian Research]]|isbn=978-0-9713938-8-2|pages=193–4|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106133029/https://books.google.com/books?id=oNvb4RBmZQUC&pg=PA193|archive-date=6 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Yogendra|first=Kanwar|date=13 June 2004|title=Not removing Modi was a mistake, says Vajpayee|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/14/stories/2004061411630100.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=2 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106133029/http://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/14/stories/2004061411630100.htm|archive-date=6 January 2016}}</ref>
 
Questions about Modi's relationship with Muslims were also raised by many Western nations during his tenure as chief minister. Modi was barred from entering the United States by the [[United States Department of State|State Department]], in accordance with the recommendations of the [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom|Commission on International Religious Freedom]] formed under the aegis of the [[International Religious Freedom Act of 1998|International Religious Freedom Act]],<ref name="2005 ban" /><ref name="visa denied">{{cite news|last=|first=|date=18 March 2005|title=No entry for Modi into US: visa denied|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-entry-for-Modi-into-US-visa-denied/articleshow/1055543.cms|url-status=live|access-date=15 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913024227/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-entry-for-Modi-into-US-visa-denied/articleshow/1055543.cms|archive-date=13 September 2014}}</ref> the only person [[List of people barred or excluded from the United States|denied a US visa]] under this law.<ref name="2005 ban">{{cite news|last1=Mann|first1=James|title=Why Narendra Modi Was Banned From the U.S.|url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303380004579520041301275638|date=2 May 2014|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=3 June 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215181710/http://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303380004579520041301275638|archive-date=15 December 2014|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> The UK and the [[European Union]] refused to admit him because of what they saw as his role in the riots. As Modi rose to prominence in India, the UK<ref>{{cite news|last=Burke|first=Jason|author-link=Jason Burke|date=22 October 2012|title=UK government ends boycott of Narendra Modi|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/22/uk-ends-boycott-narendra-modi|url-status=live|access-date=12 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914031502/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/22/uk-ends-boycott-narendra-modi|archive-date=14 September 2013}}</ref> and the EU<ref>{{cite news|date=6 March 2013|title=Germany delinks Narendra Modi's image from human rights issues|work=|publisher=[[NDTV]]|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/germany-delinks-narendra-modi-s-image-from-human-rights-issues-338646|url-status=live|access-date=6 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308142057/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/germany-delinks-narendra-modi-s-image-from-human-rights-issues-338646|archive-date=8 March 2013}}</ref> lifted their bans in October 2012 and March 2013, respectively, and after his election he was invited to Washington as the nation's prime minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/16/readout-president-s-call-prime-ministerial-candidate-narendra-modi-india|title=Readout of the President's Call with Prime Ministerial Candidate Narendra Modi of India|date=16 May 2014|access-date=14 June 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216153654/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/16/readout-president-s-call-prime-ministerial-candidate-narendra-modi-india|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|archive-date=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="newyorker-may14">{{cite news|last=Cassidy|first=John|title=What Does Modi's Victory Mean for the World?|url=http://www.newyorker.com/rational-irrationality/what-does-modis-victory-mean-for-the-world|newspaper=[[The New Yorker]]|date=16 May 2014|access-date=21 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924070852/http://www.newyorker.com/rational-irrationality/what-does-modis-victory-mean-for-the-world|archive-date=24 September 2014}}</ref>
 
During the run-up to the [[2007 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election]] and the [[2009 Indian general election]], the BJP intensified its rhetoric on terrorism.<ref>{{cite news|last=Naqvi|first=Saba|date=22 December 2008|title=When fear didn't enter the booth|pages=26–28|work=[[Outlook India]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TDEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32|url-status=live|access-date=11 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103042837/http://books.google.com/books?id=TDEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32|archive-date=3 January 2014}}</ref> In July 2006, Modi criticised Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] "&nbsp;for his reluctance to revive anti-terror legislation" such as the 2002 [[Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002|Prevention of Terrorism Act]]. He asked the national government to allow states to invoke tougher laws in the wake of the [[2006 Mumbai train bombings]].<ref name="Telegraph India">{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060719/asp/nation/story_6496620.asp |title=Mahatma on lips, Modi fights Centre |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] |location=Kolkata, India |date=19 July 2006 |access-date=9 May 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611064943/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060719/asp/nation/story_6496620.asp |archive-date=11 June 2008 }}</ref> In 2007 Modi authored ''Karmayog'', a 101-page booklet discussing manual scavenging. In it, Modi argued that scavenging was a "spiritual experience" for Valmiks, a sub-caste of [[Dalit]]s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shah|first=Rajiv|author-link=Rajiv Shah|date=24 November 2007|title='Karmayogi' swears by caste order 'Scavenging A Spiritual Experience For Valmiks'|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQS8yMDA3LzExLzI0I0FyMDA3MDA%3D|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208073404/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQS8yMDA3LzExLzI0I0FyMDA3MDA%3D|archive-date=8 February 2017|access-date=17 February 2017|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=23 April 2014|title=Narendra Modi is 'anti-Dalit': Congress|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-narendra-modi-is-anti-dalit-congress-1981434|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215205905/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-narendra-modi-is-anti-dalit-congress-1981434|archive-date=15 February 2017|access-date=17 February 2017|website=[[Zee News|DNA]]}}</ref> However, this book was not circulated that time because of the election code of conduct.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gupta|first=Smita|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/modi-biased-against-dalits/article5913200.ece|title=Modi against dalits|date=15 April 2014|access-date=17 February 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607013306/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/modi-biased-against-dalits/article5913200.ece|archive-date=7 June 2014}}</ref> After the November [[2008 Mumbai attacks]], Modi held a meeting to discuss the security of Gujarat's {{convert|1600|km|adj=on}}-long coastline, resulting in government authorisation of 30 high-speed surveillance boats.<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|date=28 November 2008|title=Modi wants 3-layer ring to secure coast|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Modi_wants_3-layer_ring_to_secure_coast/articleshow/3766781.cms|url-status=live|access-date=17 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723235701/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Modi_wants_3-layer_ring_to_secure_coast/articleshow/3766781.cms|archive-date=10 December 2013}}</ref> In July 2007 Modi completed 2,063 consecutive days as chief minister of Gujarat, making him the longest-serving holder of that post,<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|date=20 December 2012|title=Narendra Modi wins Maninagar by 70,000 votes|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Specials/Coverage/Gujarat-Assembly-Elections-2012/Chunk-HT-UI-GujaratAssemblyElections2012-TopStories/Narendra-Modi-wins-Maninagar-by-70-000-votes/SP-Article10-976853.aspx|url-status=dead|access-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207150752/http://www.hindustantimes.com/specials/coverage/gujarat-assembly-elections-2012/chunk-ht-ui-gujaratassemblyelections2012-topstories/narendra-modi-wins-maninagar-by-70-000-votes/sp-article10-976853.aspx|archive-date=7 December 2013}}</ref> and the BJP won 122 of 182 state-assembly seats in that year's election.<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|date=14 September 2009|title=BJP adds 5 seats in Gujarat Assembly by-polls|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/25090/banner-300x250.swf|url-status=live|access-date=17 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516141234/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/25090/banner-300x250.swf|archive-date=16 May 2013}}</ref>
 
=== Development projects ===
[[File:Sardar Sarovar Dam 2006, India.jpg|thumb|The [[Sardar Sarovar Dam]] during a 2006 height increase.|244x244px]]
 
As Chief Minister, Modi favoured privatisation and [[small government]], which was at odds with the philosophy of the RSS, usually described as anti-privatisation and anti-globalisation. His policies during his second term have been credited with reducing corruption in the state. He established financial and technology parks in Gujarat and during the 2007 [[Vibrant Gujarat]] summit, real-estate investment deals worth {{INRConvert|6.6|t|year=2007}} were signed.<ref name="Phadnis BS" />
 
The governments led by Patel and Modi supported NGOs and communities in the creation of groundwater-conservation projects. By December 2008, 500,000 structures had been built, of which 113,738 were [[check dam]]s, which helped recharge the [[aquifer]]s beneath them.<ref name="Shah BS">{{cite book|last=Shah|first=Tushaar|title=Business Standard India 2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ba0XAU9Q-A0C&pg=PA197|year=2011|publisher=Business Standard Books|isbn=978-93-80740-04-1|pages=195–199|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106133029/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ba0XAU9Q-A0C&pg=PA197|archive-date=6 January 2016}}</ref> Sixty of the 112 [[tehsil]]s which had depleted the [[water table]] in 2004 had regained their normal groundwater levels by 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/a-green-rising/1/100211.html |title=A green rising |work=[[India Today]] |date=4 June 2010 |access-date=12 April 2013 |last=Mahurkar |first=Uday |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411085152/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/a-green-rising/1/100211.html |archive-date=11 April 2013 }}</ref> As a result, the state's production of [[Bt cotton|genetically modified cotton]] increased to become the largest in India.<ref name="Shah BS" /> The boom in cotton production and its semi-arid land use<ref name="Farm growth Hindu">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/gujarat-maharashtra-record-highest-growth-in-farm-sector/article2221709.ece |title=Gujarat, Maharashtra record highest growth in farm sector |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=12 July 2011 |access-date=12 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801034125/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/gujarat-maharashtra-record-highest-growth-in-farm-sector/article2221709.ece |archive-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref> led to Gujarat's agricultural sector growing at an average rate of 9.6 percent from 2001 to 2007.<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Shah |first1=Tushaar |last2= Gulati |first2= Ashok |last3= Hemant |first3=P. |last4= Shreedhar |first4=Ganga |last5=Jain |first5= R. C.|jstor=25663939 |url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2009/52/review-agriculture-review-issues-specials/secret-gujarats-agrarian-miracle-after |title=Secret of Gujarat's Agrarian Miracle after 2000 |journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]] |date=26 December 2009 |volume=44 |issue=52 |pages=45–55}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Public irrigation measures in central and southern Gujarat, such as the [[Sardar Sarovar Dam]], were less successful. The Sardar Sarovar project only irrigated 4–6% of the area intended.<ref name="Shah BS" /> Nonetheless, from 2001 to 2010 Gujarat recorded an agricultural [[Compound annual growth rate|growth rate]] of 10.97 percent – the highest of any state.<ref name="Farm growth Hindu" /> However, sociologists have pointed out that the growth rate under the 1992–97 INC government was 12.9 percent.<ref name="Business Standard Vibrant Gujarat">{{cite news|last=Mishra|first=Mayank|title=Did Narendra Modi make Gujarat Vibrant?|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/did-narendra-modi-make-gujarat-vibrant-113072000740_1.html|access-date=29 April 2014|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|date=20 July 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420180153/http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/did-narendra-modi-make-gujarat-vibrant-113072000740_1.html|archive-date=20 April 2014}}</ref> In 2008 Modi offered land in Gujarat to [[Tata Motors]] to set up a plant manufacturing the [[Nano (car)|Nano]] after a popular agitation had forced the company to move out of West Bengal. Several other companies followed the Tata to Gujarat.<ref name="Modi-nomics" />
 
The Modi government finished the process of bringing electricity to every village in Gujarat that its predecessor had almost completed.<ref name="Business Standard Vibrant Gujarat" /> Modi significantly changed the state's system of power distribution, greatly impacting farmers. Gujarat expanded the [[Jyotigram Yojana]] scheme, in which agricultural electricity was separated from other rural electricity; the agricultural electricity was rationed to fit scheduled irrigation demands, reducing its cost. Although early protests by farmers ended when those who benefited found that their electricity supply had stabilised,<ref name="Shah BS" /> according to an assessment study corporations and large farmers benefited from the policy at the expense of small farmers and labourers.<ref name="Shah 2008">{{cite journal|last1=Shah|first1=Tushaar|last2=Verma|first2=Shilp|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2008/07/special-articles/co-management-electricity-and-groundwater-assessment-gujarats|title=Co-Management of Electricity and Groundwater: An Assessment of Gujarat's Jyotirgram Scheme|journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]]|date=16 February 2008|volume=43|issue=7|pages=59–66|jstor=40277613}}</ref>
 
=== Development debate ===
[[File:Modi at GNLU.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|alt=Modi speaking at flower-decked podium|Modi addressing graduates of the [[Gujarat National Law University]] in 2012.|left]]
 
A contentious debate surrounds the assessment of Gujarat's economic development during Modi's tenure as chief minister.<ref name="Basu 2014" /> The state's GDP growth rate averaged 10% during Modi's tenure, a value similar to other highly industrialised states, and above that of the country as a whole.<ref name="Modi-nomics">{{cite journal|last1=Schöttli|first1=Jivanta|last2=Pauli|first2=Markus|s2cid=155579981|title=Modi-nomics and the politics of institutional change in the Indian economy|journal=Journal of Asian Public Policy|year=2016|volume=9|issue=2|pages=154–169|doi=10.1080/17516234.2016.1165332|url=http://doras.dcu.ie/24337/|access-date=10 May 2020|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225204014/http://doras.dcu.ie/24337/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gujarat also had a high rate of economic growth in the 1990s, before Modi took office, and some scholars have stated that growth did not much accelerate during Modi's tenure,<ref name="Ghatak">{{cite journal|last1=Ghatak|first1=Maitreesh|last2=Roy|first2=Sanchari|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2014/15/commentary/did-gujarats-growth-rate-accelerate-under-modi.html|title=Did Gujarat's Growth Rate Accelerate under Modi?|journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]]|date=12 April 2014|volume=49|issue=15|pages=12–15}}</ref> although the state is considered to have maintained a high growth rate during Modi's Chief Ministership. Under Narendra Modi, Gujarat topped the [[World Bank]]'s "ease of doing business" rankings among Indian states for two consecutive years.<ref>{{cite news|title = Gujarat tops ease of doing business ranking among states – The Economic Times on Mobile|url = http://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/indicators/gujarat-tops-ease-of-doing-business-ranking-among-states/articleshow/48964454.cms|access-date = 16 September 2015|newspaper = [[The Economic Times]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180110175758/https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/indicators/gujarat-tops-ease-of-doing-business-ranking-among-states/articleshow/48964454.cms|archive-date = 10 January 2018|url-status=live|df = dmy-all|date = 15 September 2015}}</ref> In 2013, Gujarat was ranked first among Indian states for "economic freedom" by a report measuring governance, growth, citizens' rights and labour and business regulation among the country's 20 largest states.<ref name="Modi-nomics" /><ref>{{cite web|title = Gujarat tops list of economically-free states|url = http://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gujarat-top-ranked-state-in-terms-of-economic-freedom-study/article1-1196878.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319072718/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gujarat-top-ranked-state-in-terms-of-economic-freedom-study/article1-1196878.aspx|website=[[hindustantimes.com]]|date = 19 March 2014|archive-date = 19 March 2014|access-date = 16 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the later years of Modi's government, Gujarat's economic growth was frequently used as an argument to counter allegations of communalism.<ref name="Bobbio" /> Tax breaks for businesses were easier to obtain in Gujarat than in other states, as was land. Modi's policies to make Gujarat attractive for investment included the creation of [[Special Economic Zones]], where labour laws were greatly weakened.<ref name="India Review" />
 
Despite its growth rate, Gujarat had a relatively poor record on human development, poverty relief, nutrition and education during Modi's tenure. In 2013, Gujarat ranked 13th in the country with respect to rates of poverty and 21st in education. Nearly 45 percent of children under five were underweight and 23 percent were undernourished, putting the state in the "alarming" category on the [[India State Hunger Index]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Shah |first=Ghanshyam |s2cid=155022285 |title=Politics of Governance: A Study of Gujarat |journal=[[Studies in Indian Politics]] |volume=1 |issue=1 |date=June 2013 |pages=65–77 |doi=10.1177/2321023013482788}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="Hariss 2015" /> A study by [[UNICEF]] and the Indian government found that Gujarat under Modi had a poor record with respect to [[immunisation]] in children.<ref name="Economist 2015">{{cite news|title=Sparing Mr Modi's blushes|url=https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21656239-missing-data-should-embarrass-prime-minister-sparing-mr-modis-blushes|access-date=9 November 2016|date=27 June 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130055250/http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21656239-missing-data-should-embarrass-prime-minister-sparing-mr-modis-blushes|archive-date=30 January 2017|newspaper=[[The Economist]]}}</ref>


Over the decade from 2001 to 2011, Gujarat did not change its position relative to the rest of the country with respect to poverty and female literacy, remaining near the median of the 29 Indian states.<ref name="Gujarat Model" /> It showed a marginal improvement in rates of infant mortality, and its position with respect to individual consumption declined.<ref name="Gujarat Model" /> With respect to the quality of education in government schools, the state ranked below many Indian states.<ref name="Gujarat Model" /> The social policies of the government generally did not benefit Muslims, [[Dalit]]s, and [[Adivasi]]s, and generally increased social inequalities.<ref name="Gujarat Model" /> Development in Gujarat was generally limited to the urban middle class, and citizens in rural areas or from lower castes were increasingly marginalised. In 2013 the state ranked 10th of 21 Indian states in the [[Human Development Index]].<ref name="Jaffrelot2013">{{cite journal |last=Jaffrelot |first=Christophe |s2cid=154404089 |author-link=Christophe Jaffrelot |title=Gujarat Elections: The Sub-Text of Modi's 'Hattrick'—High Tech Populism and the 'Neo-middle Class' |journal=[[Studies in Indian Politics]] |volume=1 |issue=1 |date=June 2013 |pages=79–95 |doi= 10.1177/2321023013482789|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270671263|access-date=29 August 2021}}</ref> Under Modi, the state government spent less than the national average on education and healthcare.<ref name="Gujarat Model" />
==Early life==
Narendra Modi was born into a Gujarati family in Vadnagar. As a child, he used to help his Father, who ran a tea stall at [[Vadnagar]] railway station.  Later, he and his brother ran a tea stall of their own at a [[bus]] [[terminus]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oneindia.com/international/i-have-special-association-with-tea-modi-tells-lankan-tamils-2433622.html|title='I have a special association with tea', Modi tells Lankan Tamils|work=www.oneindia.com|access-date=23 September 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last = Sinha| first = N. C.| title = High School Essays| date = 19 January 2021| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ALWaDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1| publisher = Prabhat Prakashan| language = en| isbn = 978-93-5186-604-6| page = 20 }}</ref>


=== Final years ===
In 1978, Modi received a [[B.A.]] degree in [[political science]] from [[School of Open Learning]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-degree-controversy-delhi-university-rti/1/903745.html |title=Narendra Modi degree row: DU college says it has no data of students passing out in 1978 |work=[[India Today]] |accessdate=9 June 2017 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317223653/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-degree-controversy-delhi-university-rti/1/903745.html |archivedate=17 March 2017}}</ref> at [[University of Delhi]], graduating with a [[Academic grading in India|third class]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/Narendra-Modi%E2%80%99s-degree-%E2%80%98authentic%E2%80%99-Delhi-University-Registrar-Tarun-Das/article14311846.ece |title=Narendra Modi's degree 'authentic': Delhi University Registrar Tarun Das |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=9 June 2017 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114130635/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/Narendra-Modi%E2%80%99s-degree-%E2%80%98authentic%E2%80%99-Delhi-University-Registrar-Tarun-Das/article14311846.ece |archivedate=14 November 2017  }}</ref> Five years later, in 1983, he received a [[Master of Arts]] degree in political science from [[Gujarat University]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Avasthi|first=Yogesh|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/globetrotting-pm-modi-was-weakest-in-international-relations/articleshow/52200607.cms|title=Globetrotting PM Modi was weakest in 'International Relations'|accessdate=17 February 2017|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729123651/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/globetrotting-pm-modi-was-weakest-in-international-relations/articleshow/52200607.cms|archivedate=29 July 2017|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=10 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-proves-to-be-an-astute-strategist/article1-264941.aspx |title=Modi proves to be an astute strategist |work=Hindustan Times |date=23 December 2007 |accessdate=17 April 2014 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083702/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-proves-to-be-an-astute-strategist/article1-264941.aspx |archivedate=19 August 2014  }}</ref> as an external [[Distance education|distance learning]] student.<ref name="GU Modi">{{cite web|title=Degree row- PM Modi MA with first class: Gujarat University|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-modi-scored-62-3-in-ma-from-gujarat-univerisity-vc-2779138/|website=[[The Indian Express]]|accessdate=29 July 2017|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729093536/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-modi-scored-62-3-in-ma-from-gujarat-univerisity-vc-2779138/|archivedate=29 July 2017|date=May 2016}}</ref>
{{Further|2012 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election}}
Despite the BJP's shift away from explicit Hindutva, Modi's election campaign in 2007 and 2012 contained elements of Hindu nationalism. Modi only attended Hindu religious ceremonies, and had prominent associations with Hindu religious leaders. During his 2012 campaign he twice refused to wear articles of clothing gifted by Muslim leaders.<ref name="India Review" /> He did, however, maintain relations with [[Dawoodi Bohra]].<ref name="India Review" /> His campaign included references to issues known to cause religious polarisation, including to Afzal Guru and the [[Death of Sohrabuddin Sheikh|killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh]]. The BJP did not nominate any Muslim candidates for the assembly election of 2012.<ref name="India Review" /> During the 2012 campaign, Modi attempted to identify himself with the state of Gujarat, a strategy similar to that used by Indira Gandhi during the Emergency, and projected himself as protecting Gujarat against persecution by the rest of India.<ref name="India Review" />[[File:Narendra Modi submitting his resignation as Gujarat Chief Minister to the Governor.jpg|thumb|Narendra Modi submits his resignation as [[List of chief ministers of Gujarat|Gujarat Chief Minister]] to the [[Governor of Gujarat|Governor]].|244x244px]]


While campaigning for the 2012 assembly elections, Modi made extensive use of holograms and other technologies allowing him to reach a large number of people,<ref name="Jaffrelot T&NM" /> something he would repeat in the 2014 general election. In the 2012 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections, Modi won the constituency of Maninagar by 86,373 votes over Shweta Bhatt, the INC candidate and wife of [[Sanjiv Bhatt]].<ref name="big win">{{cite news |publisher=[[NDTV]] |title=Big win for Narendra Modi, defeats Shweta Bhatt by huge margin |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=20 December 2012 |access-date=5 September 2021 |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/assembly-polls/big-win-for-narendra-modi-defeats-shweta-bhatt-by-huge-margin-307772anan}}</ref> The BJP won 115 of the 182 seats, continuing its majority during his tenure<ref>{{cite book |page=198 |title=Pogrom in Gujarat: Hindu Nationalism and Anti-Muslim Violence in India |first=Parvis |last=Ghassem-Fachandi |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-691-15177-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p5s8hooZfekC&pg=PA198 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106133029/https://books.google.com/books?id=p5s8hooZfekC&pg=PA198 |archive-date=6 January 2016 }}</ref> and allowing the party to form the government (as it had in Gujarat since 1995).<ref name="SL-20121220">1.{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_action-continues-narendra-modi-makes-lotus-bloom-again-in-gujarat_1779889 |title=Action continues: Narendra Modi makes lotus bloom again in Gujarat |work=[[DNA India]] |date=20 December 2012 |access-date=17 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223061750/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_action-continues-narendra-modi-makes-lotus-bloom-again-in-gujarat_1779889 |archive-date=23 December 2012 }}<br />2. {{cite news |url=http://www.saharasamay.com/nation-news/676520489/gujarat-elections-results-live-narendra-modi-bjp-congress-bharat.html |title=Gujarat results 2012 Live :Modi's claim for PM's post gets stronger |work=[[Sahara Samay Channel|Samay Live]] |date=20 December 2012 |access-date=21 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102154044/http://www.saharasamay.com/nation-news/676520489/gujarat-elections-results-live-narendra-modi-bjp-congress-bharat.html |archive-date=2 January 2015 }}</ref> After his election as prime minister, Modi resigned as the chief minister and as an MLA from [[Maninagar]] on 21 May 2014. [[Anandiben Patel]] succeeded him as the chief minister.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-farewell-gujarat-chief-minister-anandiben-patel/1/362827.html|title=Anandiben Patel named new Gujarat chief minister|work=[[India Today]]|date=21 May 2014|access-date=1 October 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006112948/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-farewell-gujarat-chief-minister-anandiben-patel/1/362827.html|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>
==2019 Polls==


== Premiership campaigns ==
Modi led the BJP in the 2014 Indian general election which gave the party a majority in the Indian lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, the first time for any single party since 1984.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=May 17|first1=TNN {{!}} Updated|last2=2014|last3=Ist|first3=08:27|title=Election results 2014: India places its faith in Moditva - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/election-results-2014-india-places-its-faith-in-moditva/articleshow/35224486.cms|access-date=2021-11-14|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> He soon became Prime Minister of India.
===2014 Indian general election===
{{Main|Bharatiya Janata Party campaign for the 2014 Indian general election}}[[File:Narendra Modi hands over his resignation as Maninagar MLA to the Speaker of the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha.jpg|thumb|left|Narendra Modi hands over his resignation as [[Maninagar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Maninagar]] MLA to the Speaker of the [[Gujarat Vidhan Sabha]].|240x240px]]
{{external media| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgeKLJuJMp8 BJP announces Shri Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate for Loksabha Elections.] Bharatiya Janata Party on [[YouTube]], 13 September 2013}}
In September 2013 Modi was named the BJP's candidate for prime minister ahead of the [[2014 Indian general election|2014 Lok Sabha election]].<ref name="Chhibber"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-announces-modi-as-prime-ministerial-candidate/article5124375.ece|title=BJP announces Modi as prime ministerial candidate|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 September 2013 |location=Chennai, India |first=B. Muralidhar |last=Reddy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017133715/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-announces-modi-as-prime-ministerial-candidate/article5124375.ece |archive-date=17 October 2013}}</ref> Several BJP leaders expressed opposition to Modi's candidature,<ref name="Jaffrelot 2015">{{cite journal|last1=Jaffrelot|first1=Christophe|author-link=Christophe Jaffrelot|year=2015|title=The Modi-centric BJP 2014 election campaign: new techniques and old tactics|url=https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/the-modicentric-bjp-2014-election-campaign-new-techniques-and-old-tactics(04c598b8-4a4b-49ae-a08b-e4863265a717).html|journal=Contemporary South Asia|volume=23|issue=2|pages=151–166|doi=10.1080/09584935.2015.1027662|via=|s2cid=142912068}}</ref> including BJP founding member L. K. Advani, who cited concern with leaders who were "concerned with their personal agendas".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Advani-grabs-lifeline-meekly-withdraws-resignation/articleshow/20546245.cms?referral=PM|title=Advani grabs lifeline, meekly withdraws resignation|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=12 June 2013|access-date=15 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013054344/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Advani-grabs-lifeline-meekly-withdraws-resignation/articleshow/20546245.cms?referral=PM|archive-date=13 October 2014}}</ref> Modi played a dominant role in the BJP's election campaign.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Srivastava|first1=Ritesh K.|title=Election 2009 dissected: How parties cut the vote pie|url=http://zeenews.india.com/home/election-2009-dissected-how-parties-cut-the-vote-pie_532875.html|work=[[Zee News]]|date=30 August 2011|access-date=4 June 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606222425/http://zeenews.india.com/home/election-2009-dissected-how-parties-cut-the-vote-pie_532875.html|archive-date=6 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="T&NM 2015" /> Several people who voted for the BJP stated that if Modi had not been the prime-ministerial candidate, they would have voted for another party.<ref name="Chhibber">{{cite journal|last1=Chhibber|first1=Pradeep K.|last2=Ostermann|first2=Susan L.|year=2014|title=The BJP's Fragile Mandate: Modi and Vote Mobilizers in the 2014 General Elections|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2321023014551870|journal=[[Studies in Indian Politics]]|volume=2|issue=2|pages=137–151|doi=10.1177/2321023014551870|issn=0958-4935|via=|s2cid=155080682}}</ref><ref name="Chacko" /><ref name="Srivastava">{{cite journal|last1=Srivastava|first1=Sanjay|s2cid=145367170|title=Modi-Masculinity: Media, Manhood, and "Traditions" in a Time of Consumerism|journal=Television & New Media|date=April 2015|volume=16|issue=4|doi=10.1177/1527476415575498|pages=331–338}}</ref> The focus on Modi as an individual was unusual for a BJP election campaign.<ref name="Jaffrelot 2015"/><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Narayan|first1=Badri|date=17 May 2014|title=Modi's Modus Operandi in the 2014 Elections|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2014/20/commentary/modis-modus-operandi-2014-elections.html|journal=[[Economic & Political Weekly]]|volume=49|issue=20|pages=12–14}}</ref> The election was described as a referendum on Narendra Modi.<ref name="Basu 2014">{{cite journal|last1=Basu|first1=Dipankar|last2=Misra|first2=Kartik|date=June 2014|title=BJP's Demographic Dividend in the 2014 General Elections: An Empirical Analysis|url=https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/105783|journal=Economics Department Working Paper Series Via EconStor|volume=|pages=|via=}}</ref>


[[File:Narendra Modi meets his mother after winning the 2014 elections.jpg|thumb|Modi meets his mother after winning the [[2014 elections in India|2014 elections]].|244x244px]]During the campaign, Modi focused on the corruption scandals under the previous INC government, and played on his image as a politician who had created a high rate of GDP growth in Gujarat.<ref name="Jaffrelot 2015"/> Modi projected himself as a person who could bring about "development," without focus on any specific policies.<ref name="Jaffrelot 2015"/> His message found support among young Indians and among middle-class citizens. The BJP under Modi was able to downplay concerns about the protection of religious minorities and Modi's commitment to [[secularism]], areas in which he had previously received criticism.<ref name="Basu 2014" /> Prior to the election Modi's image in the media had centered around his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots, but during the campaign the BJP was able to shift this to a focus on Modi's [[neoliberalism|neoliberal]] ideology and the Gujarat model of development,<ref name="T&NM 2015" /> although Hindutva remained a significant part of its campaign.<ref name="Jaffrelot 2015"/><ref name="Chacko" /><ref name="Ganguly 2014">{{cite journal|last1=Ganguly|first1=Sumit|s2cid=154421269|title=India's Watershed Vote: The Risks Ahead|journal=[[Journal of Democracy]]|date=October 2014|volume=25|issue=4|pages=56–60|doi=10.1353/jod.2014.0077|url=https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/0d1972096ec288e4b0c58679a16bf66172fdb31e|access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref> The BJP's campaign was assisted by its wide influence in the media.<ref name="Hariss 2015">{{cite journal|last1=Harriss|first1=John|s2cid=147615034|title=Hindu Nationalism in Action: The Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian Politics|journal=South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies|year=2015|volume=38|issue=4|pages=711–718|doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1089826|url=https://zenodo.org/record/1230188}}</ref> Modi's campaign blitz cost approximately {{INRConvert|50|b}},<ref name="Basu 2014" /> and received extensive financial support from corporate donors.<ref name="Hariss 2015" /> In addition to more conventional campaign methods, Modi made extensive use of social media,<ref name="Basu 2014" /><ref name="Jaffrelot 2015"/> and addressed more than 1000 rallies via [[hologram]] appearances.<ref name="Ganguly 2014" />
PM Modi's administration has tried to raise foreign investment in the Indian economy and cut spending on healthcare and social welfare programmes. Moreover, The Modi government has also amendments to existing environmental and labour laws.


The BJP won 31% of the vote,<ref name="Stepan" /> and more than doubled its tally in the [[Lok Sabha]] to 282, becoming the first party to win a majority of seats on its own since [[1984 Indian general election|1984]].<ref name="T&NM 2015">{{cite journal|last1=Chakravartty|first1=Paula|last2=Roy|first2=Srirupa|year=2015|title=Mr. Modi Goes to Delhi: Mediated Populism and the 2014 Indian Elections|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1527476415573957|journal=Television & New Media|volume=16|issue=4|pages=311–322|doi=10.1177/1527476415573957|via=|s2cid=145151089}}</ref><ref name="Chacko" /> Voter dissatisfaction with the INC, as well as with regional parties in North India, was another reason for the success of the BJP,<ref name="Chacko" /> as was the support from the RSS.<ref name="Jaffrelot 2015"/> In states such as Uttar Pradesh in which the BJP performed well, it drew exceptionally high support from upper-caste Hindus, although the 10 percent of Muslim votes won was more than it had won before. It performed particularly well in parts of the country that had recently experienced violence between Hindus and Muslims.<ref name="Chacko" /> The magnitude of the BJP's victory led many commentators to say that the election constituted a political realignment away from [[progressivism|progressive parties]] and towards the right-wing.<ref name="Ganguly 2014" /><ref name="Basu 2014" /><ref name="Chacko">{{cite journal|last1=Chacko|first1=Priya|last2=Mayer|first2=Peter|title=The 'Modi lahar [wave]' in the 2014 Indian national election: A critical realignment?|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10361146.2014.937392|journal=Australian Journal of Political Science|year=2014|volume=49|issue=3|pages=518–528|doi=10.1080/10361146.2014.937392|s2cid=154806289}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sridharan|first1=Eswaran|s2cid=154421269|title=India's Watershed Vote: Behind Modi's Victory|journal=[[Journal of Democracy]]|date=October 2014|volume=25|issue=4|pages=20–23|doi=10.1353/jod.2014.0068|url=https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/indias-watershed-vote-behind-modis-victory/|access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Palshikar|first1=Suhas|last2=Suri|first2=K. C.|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2014/39/national-election-study-2014-special-issues/indias-2014-lok-sabha-elections.html|title=India's 2014 Lok Sabha elections: Critical shifts in the long term, caution in the short term|journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]]|year=2014|volume=49|pages=39–76}}</ref> Modi's tweet announcing his victory was described as being emblematic of the political realignment away from a secular, socialist state towards capitalism and Hindu cultural nationalism.<ref name="Kaur 2015">{{cite journal|last1=Kaur|first1=Ravinder|s2cid=53451635|title=Good Times, Brought to you by Brand Modi|journal=Television & New Media Via University of Copenhagen|year=2015|volume=16|issue=4|pages=323–330|doi=10.1177/1527476415575492|url=https://curis.ku.dk/ws/files/137464936/Good_Times_Brand_Modi_TVNM.pdf|type=Submitted manuscript}}</ref>
Following his party's victory in the 2019 Indian general election, introduced the [[Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019|Citizenship Amendment Act]], which resulted in [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests|widespread protests]] across the country.


Modi himself was a candidate for the Lok Sabha in two constituencies: [[Varanasi]] and [[Vadodara (Lok Sabha constituency)|Vadodara]].<ref name="grand roadshow">{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/elections/article/election-2014/narendra-modi-files-nomination-in-vadodara-after-grand-roadshow-506183|title=Narendra Modi files nomination in Vadodara after grand roadshow|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=9 April 2014|access-date=17 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416204113/http://www.ndtv.com/elections/article/election-2014/narendra-modi-files-nomination-in-vadodara-after-grand-roadshow-506183|archive-date=16 April 2014}}</ref> He won in both constituencies, defeating [[Aam Aadmi Party]] leader [[Arvind Kejriwal]] in Varanasi and [[Madhusudan Mistry]] of the INC in Vadodara by {{formatnum:570128}} votes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/modi-s-vadodara-victory-margin-not-highest-ever-114051601712_1.html|title=Modi's Vadodara victory margin not highest-ever|work=[[Business Standard]]|date=16 May 2014|access-date=17 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412130937/http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/modi-s-vadodara-victory-margin-not-highest-ever-114051601712_1.html|archive-date=12 April 2017}}</ref> Modi, who was unanimously elected leader of the BJP, was appointed prime minister by India's president.<ref name=appointment-prez>{{cite web|title=President appoints Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, Oath taking ceremony on May 26|url=http://presidentofindia.nic.in/pr200514.html|publisher=[[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] via [[National Informatics Centre]] |date=20 May 2014 |access-date=26 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521032033/http://presidentofindia.nic.in/pr200514.html|archive-date=21 May 2014}}</ref><ref name=appointment-IE>{{cite news |title=Narendra Modi appointed PM, swearing-in on May 26 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/swearing-in-of-modi-govt-on-may-26/ |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |date=20 May 2014 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |access-date=26 May 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520152512/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/swearing-in-of-modi-govt-on-may-26/ |archive-date=20 May 2014 }}</ref> To comply with the law that an MP cannot represent more than one constituency, he vacated the Vadodara seat.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/prime-minister-modi-resigns-as-vadodara-mp-to-retain-varanasi-seat/article1-1224002.aspx | title=Modi thanks Vadodara, looks forward to serve Ganga | work=[[Hindustan Times]] | date=29 May 2014 | agency=[[Press Trust of India]] | access-date=29 May 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529163731/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/prime-minister-modi-resigns-as-vadodara-mp-to-retain-varanasi-seat/article1-1224002.aspx | archive-date=29 May 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
Modi was appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001. Modi was elected to the legislative assembly soon after. His administration oversaw the 2002 Gujarat riots, and he was criticized on how he handled it initially which was his starting career as a chief minister .<ref>{{cite book| last = Menon| first = Kalyani Devaki| title = Everyday Nationalism: Women of the Hindu Right in India| year = 2012| publisher = The University of Pennsylvania Press| isbn = 978-0-8122-2234-0| page = 26| quote = Yet, months after this violent pogrom against Muslims, the Hindu nationalist chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, went to the polls and won a resounding victory }}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last = Mishra| first = Pankaj| editor-last = Visweswaran| editor-first = Kamala| title = Perspectives on Modern South Asia: A Reader in Culture, History, and Representation| date = April 2011| publisher = Wiley-Blackwell| isbn = 978-1-4051-0062-5| page = 188| quote = The chief minister of Gujarat, a young up-and-coming leader of the Hindu nationalists called Narendra Modi, quoted Isaac Newton to explain the killings of Muslims. "Every action", he said, "has an equal and opposite reaction." }}</ref><ref name="Robinson">{{cite news |title=India's Voters Torn Over Politician |first=Simon |last=Robinson |url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1693370,00.html |journal=[[Time Magazine]] |date=11 December 2007 |accessdate=10 October 2012 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023030008/http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1693370,00.html |archivedate=23 October 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Burke">{{cite news |title=Gujarat leader Narendra Modi grilled for 10&nbsp;hours at massacre inquiry |first1=Jason |last1=Burke |authorlink=Jason Burke |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/28/gujarat-narendra-modi-massacre-inquiry-india |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=28 March 2010 |accessdate=10 October 2012 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909181320/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/28/gujarat-narendra-modi-massacre-inquiry-india |archivedate=9 September 2013 }}</ref>


===2019 Indian general election===
As a Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has had high approval ratings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indians adore Modi|last=Zainulbhai|first=Hani|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/09/17/indians-adore-modi/|date=17 September 2015|accessdate=17 February 2017|website=Pew Research|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114103530/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/09/17/indians-adore-modi/|archivedate=14 November 2016}}</ref> In early 2017, a survey from [[Pew Research Center]] showed Modi to be the most popular figure in Indian politics.<ref>{{cite news|title=PM Narendra Modi 'By Far' Most Popular Figure in Indian Politics: Pew Survey|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-by-far-most-popular-figure-in-indian-politics-says-survey-by-american-think-tank-pew-1776032|date=16 November 2017|work=NDTV|access-date=26 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040218/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-by-far-most-popular-figure-in-indian-politics-says-survey-by-american-think-tank-pew-1776032|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{External media|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoORekBf6pE BJP announced manifesto and Shri Narendra Modi as prime minister candidate.] Bharatiya Janata Party on [[YouTube]], 8 April 2019.}}{{Main|Bharatiya Janata Party campaign for the 2019 Indian general election}}
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi taking charge of the office of the Prime Minister of India, at South Block, in New Delhi on May 27, 2014.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking charge of the office of the Prime Minister of India, at [[South Block]], in [[New Delhi]] on 27 May 2014.|left|240x240px]]
On 13 October 2018, Modi was renamed as the BJP candidate for prime minister for the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 general election]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Narendra Modi: It's all about Narendra Modi as India prepares for mammoth 2019 election|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/its-all-about-narendra-modi-as-india-prepares-for-mammoth-2019-election/articleshow/67070925.cms?from=mdr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106155250/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/its-all-about-narendra-modi-as-india-prepares-for-mammoth-2019-election/articleshow/67070925.cms?from=mdr|archive-date=6 January 2021|date=13 December 2018|access-date=13 September 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The chief campaigner for the party was BJP's president [[Amit Shah]]. Modi launched the [[Main Bhi Chowkidar]] campaign ahead of the general election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 March 2019|title=PM Modi launches 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign for 2019 elections|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-urges-people-to-be-a-proud-chowkidar-of-nation/articleshow/68435831.cms|url-status=live|access-date=18 November 2020|work=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}</ref> In the year 2018, end [[BJP|Party's]], second-biggest alliance [[Telugu Desam Party]] split from [[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]] over the matter of special-status for [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite web|first=Arvind|last=Gunasekar|title=In Setback For Chandrababu Naidu, 4 Lawmakers Of His Party Join BJP|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2-of-6-telugu-desam-party-rajya-sabha-mps-say-they-are-joining-bjp-2056491|date=21 June 2019|access-date=11 January 2021|website=[[NDTV.com]]}}</ref>


The campaign was started by [[Amit Shah]] on 8 April 2019. In the campaign, Modi was targeted by the opposition on corruption allegations over [[Rafale deal]] with [[France/Government|France government]]. Highlighting this [[Rafale deal controversy|controversy]] the campaign "[[Chowkidar Chor Hai]]" was started, which was contrary to "[[Main Bhi Chowkidar]]" slogan.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Chowkidar Narendra Modi': PM changes Twitter handle name to counter Rahul Gandhi's chor jibe|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/chowkidar-narendra-modi-pm-changes-twitter-handle-name-to-counter-rahul-gandhis-chor-jibe/articleshow/68448053.cms|url-status=live|date=17 March 2019|access-date=11 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417003757/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/chowkidar-narendra-modi-pm-changes-twitter-handle-name-to-counter-rahul-gandhis-chor-jibe/articleshow/68448053.cms|archive-date=17 April 2019}}</ref> Modi made defence and national security among the foremost topics for the [[Campaigning in the 2019 Indian general election|election campaign]], especially after [[2019 Pulwama attack|Pulwama attack]], and the retaliatory attack of [[2019 Balakot airstrike|Balakot airstrike]] was counted as an achievement of the [[Premiership of Narendra Modi|Modi administration]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 November 2019|title=Book review: How Pulwama made Modi's Balakot response his 1971 moment|work=[[Business Standard|Business Standard India]]|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/book-review-how-pulwama-made-modi-s-balakot-response-his-1971-moment-119113000964_1.html|url-status=live|access-date=11 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528125841/https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/book-review-how-pulwama-made-modi-s-balakot-response-his-1971-moment-119113000964_1.html|archive-date=28 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=D. K.|date=27 February 2019|title=5 ways Modi's Pakistan air strike 'bombed' opposition's election strategy|url=https://theprint.in/politics/5-ways-modis-pakistan-air-strike-bombed-oppositions-election-strategy/198460/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230215159/https://theprint.in/politics/5-ways-modis-pakistan-air-strike-bombed-oppositions-election-strategy/198460/|archive-date=30 December 2020|access-date=11 January 2021|website=[[ThePrint]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Other topics in the campaign were development and [[Foreign policy of the Narendra Modi government|good foreign relations]] in the first premiership.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bommakanti|first=Kartik|title=Indian national security and defence in 2019: Modi ticks three boxes|url=https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/indian-national-security-defence-2019-modi-ticks-three-boxes-59563/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128034740/https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/indian-national-security-defence-2019-modi-ticks-three-boxes-59563/|date=27 December 2019|archive-date=28 November 2020|access-date=11 January 2021|website=[[Observer Research Foundation|ORF]]|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Personal life==
In 1968, he married [[Jashodaben]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/i-like-to-read-about-him-narendra-modi...-i-know-he-will-become-pm-wife-jashodaben/1222311 |title=Narendra Modi's 'wife' Jashodaben finally speaks, 'I like to read about him (Modi)&nbsp;... I know he will become PM' |work=The Financial Express |date=1 February 2014 |accessdate=13 April 2014 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102151633/http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/i-like-to-read-about-him-narendra-modi...-i-know-he-will-become-pm-wife-jashodaben/1222311 |archivedate=2 January 2015 }}</ref> However, the couple has been separated. Narendra has a close relationship with his mother, Hiraben.<ref>{{cite news|title=PM Narendra Modi takes blessings from mother Hiraba on his 66th birthday|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Narendra-Modi-takes-blessings-from-mother-Hiraba-on-his-66th-birthday/articleshow/54373357.cms|accessdate=17 September 2016|work=The Times of India|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922064717/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Narendra-Modi-takes-blessings-from-mother-Hiraba-on-his-66th-birthday/articleshow/54373357.cms|archivedate=22 September 2016}}</ref> He is a [[vegetarian]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/10-facts-to-know-about-narendra-modi-pm-india-6602.html?page=4|title=10 facts to know about Prime Minister Narendra Modi|date=23 October 2012|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923163307/https://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/10-facts-to-know-about-narendra-modi-pm-india-6602.html?page=4|archive-date=23 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>


Modi contested the Lok Sabha elections as a candidate from [[Varanasi (Lok Sabha constituency)|Varanasi]]. He won the seat by defeating Shalini Yadav of the [[Samajwadi Party]], who fought on [[Samajwadi Party|SP]]-[[Bahujan Samaj Party|BSP]] alliance by a margin of {{formatnum:479505}} votes.<ref>{{Cite news|date=23 May 2019|title=Election Results 2019: PM Narendra Modi storms to victory in Varanasi|language=en|work=[[India Today]]|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/lok-sabha-elections-2019-prime-minister-narendra-modi-varanasi-1532443-2019-05-23|url-status=live|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029055802/https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/lok-sabha-elections-2019-prime-minister-narendra-modi-varanasi-1532443-2019-05-23|archive-date=29 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Lok Sabha Election result 2019: Narendra Modi secures big lead in Varanasi; Congress' Ajay Rai trails|website=[[businesstoday.in]]|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019/news/lok-sabha-election-result-2019-narendra-modi-big-lead-in-varanasi-congress-ajay-rai-trails/story/349240.html|url-status=live|date=23 May 2019|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029051752/https://www.businesstoday.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019/news/lok-sabha-election-result-2019-narendra-modi-big-lead-in-varanasi-congress-ajay-rai-trails/story/349240.html|archive-date=29 October 2020}}</ref> Modi was unanimously appointed the prime minister for a second time by the [[National Democratic Alliance]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=Narendra Modi to be sworn in as PM for 2nd term on May 30|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/narendra-modi-government-to-take-oath-on-may-30/articleshow/69506065.cms|date=26 May 2019|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref> after the alliance won the election for the second time by securing 353 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]] with the [[BJP]] alone won 303 seats.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alliance Wise Election Live Results 2019: Lok Sabha Elections Result Live Alliance Wise, Party Wise|url=https://www.news18.com/lok-sabha-elections-2019/alliance-wise-tally-live-results/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111232305/https://www.news18.com/lok-sabha-elections-2019/alliance-wise-tally-live-results/|archive-date=11 November 2020|access-date=13 September 2020|website=[[News18]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=24 May 2019|title=BJP wins 302 seats on its own in Lok Sabha election 2019, propels NDA alliance to a final tally of 353 seats in Lower House – Politics News, Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/bjp-wins-302-seats-on-its-own-in-lok-sabha-election-2019-propels-nda-alliance-to-a-final-tally-of-353-seats-in-lower-house-6693991.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029041632/https://www.firstpost.com/politics/bjp-wins-302-seats-on-its-own-in-lok-sabha-election-2019-propels-nda-alliance-to-a-final-tally-of-353-seats-in-lower-house-6693991.html|archive-date=29 October 2020|access-date=13 September 2020|website=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref>
==References==
 
== Prime Minister ==
{{Main|Premiership of Narendra Modi}}
[[File:Shri Narendra Modi sworn in as Prime Minister.jpg|thumb|Narendra Modi takes the oath of office as the [[Prime Minister of India]], with President [[Pranab Mukherjee]] administering the oath.]]
[[File:The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind administering the oath of office of the Prime Minister to Shri Narendra Modi, at a Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 30, 2019 (3).jpg|thumb|Narendra Modi takes the oath of office as the [[Prime Minister of India]] for the [[Second swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi|second time]], with President [[Ram Nath Kovind]] administering the oath.]]
After the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] led [[National Democratic Alliance]] won a landslide in the [[2014 Indian general election|2014 Lok Sabha election]], Narendra Modi was [[First swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi|sworn in as the Prime Minister of India]] on 26 May 2014. He became the first Prime Minister born after India's [[Indian Independence Act 1947|independence]] from the [[British Empire]] in 1947.<ref name="TOI-20140520">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home/Lok-Sabha-Elections-2014/News/Narendra-Modi-appointed-Prime-Minister-swearing-in-on-May-26/articleshow/35388297.cms|title=Narendra Modi appointed Prime Minister, swearing in on May 26|date=20 May 2014|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=21 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520183449/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Narendra-Modi-appointed-Prime-Minister-swearing-in-on-May-26/articleshow/35388297.cms|archive-date=20 May 2014}}</ref> Modi started his second term after the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] led [[National Democratic Alliance]] won again in the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 Lok Sabha election]]. Modi became the 4th longest serving Prime Minister of India and the longest serving Non-[[Indian National Congress|Congress]] Prime Minister in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url =https://www.ndtv.com/people/pm-narendra-modi-becomes-longest-serving-non-congress-prime-minister-2279112|title =PM Modi Becomes Longest Serving Non-Congress Prime Minister|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date =13 August 2020|author1 =Akhilesh Sharma|author2 =Divyanshu Dutta Roy|access-date =24 August 2020}}</ref>
{{For timeline|Timeline of the premiership of Narendra Modi}}
 
=== Governance and other initiatives ===
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing the Nation on the occasion of 74th Independence Day from the ramparts of Red Fort, in Delhi on August 15, 2020 (2).jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation on India's 74th [[Independence Day (India)|Independence Day]].|left|240x240px]]
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi walking towards the dais to address the Nation at Red Fort, on the occasion of 75th Independence Day, in Delhi on August 15, 2021 (2).jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking towards the dais to address the Nation at Red Fort, on the occasion of 75th Independence Day, in Delhi on 15 August 2021.]]
Modi's first year as prime minister saw significant centralisation of power relative to previous administrations.<ref name="Manor" /><ref name="Wyatt">{{cite journal|last1=Wyatt|first1=Andrew|title=India in 2014: Decisive National Elections|journal=Asian Survey|year=2015|volume=55|issue=1|pages=33–47|doi=10.1525/AS.2015.55.1.33|hdl=1983/e5eeb791-2072-45b8-94b5-fc003dbb5a24|url=http://research-information.bristol.ac.uk/files/34843877/FINAL_PDF_offprint_AS5501_04_Wyatt_India.pdf}}</ref> His efforts at centralisation have been linked to an increase in the number of senior administration officials resigning their positions.<ref name="Manor" /> Initially lacking a majority in the [[Rajya Sabha]], or upper house of Indian Parliament, Modi passed a number of ordinances to enact his policies, leading to further centralisation of power.<ref name="Ronojoy">{{cite journal|last1=Sen|first1=Ronojoy|s2cid=147683722|title=House Matters: The BJP, Modi and Parliament|journal=Journal of South Asian Studies|year=2015|volume=38|issue=4|pages=776–790|doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1091200}}</ref> The government also passed a bill increasing the control that it had over the appointment of judges, and reducing that of the [[Judiciary of India|judiciary]].<ref name=Stepan />
 
In December 2014 Modi abolished the [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]], replacing it with the National Institution for Transforming India, or [[NITI Aayog]].<ref name="Reuters 2015">{{cite news | url=http://in.reuters.com/article/india-planningcommission-modi-idINKBN0KA1NA20150101 | work=[[Reuters]] | title=Modi replaces Planning Commission, aiming to boost growth | date=1 January 2015 | access-date=17 February 2017 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023124648/http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/01/01/india-planningcommission-modi-idINKBN0KA1NA20150101 | archive-date=4 October 2015 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Sengupta">{{cite journal|last1=Sengupta|first1=Mitu|s2cid=156027018|title=Modi Planning: What the NITI Aayog Suggests about the Aspirations and Practices of the Modi Government|journal=Journal of South Asian Studies|year=2015|volume=38|issue=4|pages=791–806|doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1088609}}</ref> The move had the effect of greatly centralising the power previously with the planning commission in the person of the prime minister.<ref name="Ronojoy" /><ref name="Reuters 2015" /><ref name="Sengupta" /><ref name="Ruparelia">{{cite journal|last1=Ruparelia|first1=Sanjay|date=12 January 2016|title='Minimum Government, Maximum Governance': The Restructuring of Power in Modi's India|journal=Journal of South Asian Studies|volume=38|issue=4|pages=755–775|doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1089974|issn=0085-6401|doi-access=free|s2cid=155182560}}</ref><ref name="Patnaik">{{cite journal|last1=Patnaik|first1=Prabhat|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2015/4/commentary/planning-commission-niti-aayog.html|title=From the Planning Commission to the NITI Aayog|journal=[[Economic & Political Weekly]]|date=24 January 2015|volume=50|issue=4}}</ref> The planning commission had received heavy criticism in previous years for creating inefficiency in the government, and of not filling its role of improving social welfare: however, since the economic liberalisation of the 1990s, it had been the major government body responsible for measures related to social justice.<ref name="Sengupta" />
 
The Modi government launched investigations by the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] against numerous civil society organisations and foreign non-governmental organisations in the first year of the administration. The investigations, on the grounds that these organisations were slowing economic growth, was criticised as a [[witch-hunt]]. International [[humanitarian aid]] organisation [[Medecins Sans Frontieres]] was among the groups that were put under pressure.<ref name="Manor" /> Other organisations affected included the [[Sierra Club]] and [[Avaaz]].<ref name="Ruparelia" /> Cases of sedition were filed against individuals criticising the government.<ref name="Manor" /> This led to discontent within the BJP regarding Modi's style of functioning and drew comparisons to the governing style of Indira Gandhi.<ref name="Manor" /><ref name="Ronojoy" />
 
Modi repealed 1,200 obsolete laws in first three years as prime minister; a total of 1,301 such laws had been repealed by previous governments over a span of 64 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Goodbye, old laws: Modi government scraps 1,200 redundant Acts, 1,824 more identified for repeal |url=http://m.indiatoday.in/story/narendra-modi-law-ministry-ravi-shankar-prasad/1/984539.html |work=[[India Today]] |date=22 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628215103/http://m.indiatoday.in/story/narendra-modi-law-ministry-ravi-shankar-prasad/1/984539.html |archive-date=28 June 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Vishwa|last=Mohan|title=1,159 obsolete laws scrapped by Modi govt; 1,301 junked in previous 64 years |url=http://timesofindia.com/india/1159-obsolete-laws-scrapped-by-Modi-govt-1301-junked-in-previous-64-years/articleshow/52333875.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=19 May 2016|access-date=17 February 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Report card: Two years later, here's how much Modi has delivered on his promises |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-two-years-of-modi-sarkar-what-was-promised-and-what-delivered-2216613 |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |date=26 May 2016 |access-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124121024/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-two-years-of-modi-sarkar-what-was-promised-and-what-delivered-2216613 |archive-date=24 November 2016 }}</ref> He started a monthly radio programme titled "[[Mann Ki Baat]]" on 3 October 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=PM Modi thanks nation on 'Mann Ki Baat' anniversary, AIR plans survey |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-modi-thanks-nation-on-mann-ki-baat-anniversary-air-plans-survey |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=3 October 2015 |access-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208201835/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-modi-thanks-nation-on-mann-ki-baat-anniversary-air-plans-survey/ |archive-date=8 February 2017 }}</ref> Modi also launched the [[Digital India]] programme, with the goal of ensuring that government services are available electronically, building infrastructure to provide high-speed Internet access to rural areas, boosting manufacturing of electronic goods in the country, and promoting [[digital literacy]].<ref>{{cite web |first1=Saurabh|last1=Kumar|first2=Moulishree|last2=Srivastava|title=Govt launches 22 new schemes under Digital India programme |url=http://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/QgFspv8UzykQP99AukcSjI/Govt-launches-22-new-schemes-under-Digital-India-programme.html |work=[[Live Mint]] |date=29 December 2015 |access-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208074749/http://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/QgFspv8UzykQP99AukcSjI/Govt-launches-22-new-schemes-under-Digital-India-programme.html |archive-date=8 February 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Leslie|last1=D'Monte|first2=Moulishree|last2=Srivastava|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/dzh7hnHafnvVI8hoIlNqPI/GST-to-take-care-of-many-of-ecommerce-firms-tax-issues-IT.html |title=GST to take care of many of e-commerce firms' tax issues: IT minister |work=[[Live Mint]] |date=21 November 2014 |access-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309213915/http://www.livemint.com/Politics/dzh7hnHafnvVI8hoIlNqPI/GST-to-take-care-of-many-of-ecommerce-firms-tax-issues-IT.html |archive-date=9 March 2017 }}</ref>
 
Modi launched [[Ujjwala scheme]] to provide free LPG connection to rural households. The scheme led to an increase in LPG consumption by 56% in 2019 as compared to 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ujjwala scheme boosts India's LPG consumption to a record high in FY19 |url=https://wap.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/ujjwala-scheme-boosts-india-s-lpg-consumption-to-a-record-high-in-fy19-119050300261_1.html |work=[[Business Standard]] |date=3 May 2019 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> In 2019, a law was passed to provide 10% reservation to Economically weaker sections.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill on 10% reservation for upper caste poor passes Parliament test: 10 things to know |url=https://m.businesstoday.in/story/bill-on-10pc-reservation-for-upper-caste-poor-passes-parliament-test-10-things-to-know/1/308641.html |work=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]] |date=10 January 2019 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>
 
He was again [[Second swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi|sworn in as prime minister]] on 30 May 2019. On 30 July 2019, [[Parliament of India]] declared the practice of [[Triple talaq in India|Triple Talaq]] as illegal, unconstitutional and made it punishable act from 1 August 2019 which is deemed to be in effect from 19 September 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/lok-sabha-passes-triple-talaq-bill-over-to-rajya-sabha-now/articleshow/70381627.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107230128/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/lok-sabha-passes-triple-talaq-bill-over-to-rajya-sabha-now/articleshow/70381627.cms|title=Lok Sabha passes instant talaq bill; JDU walks out|website=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=26 July 2019|archive-date=7 November 2020|date=25 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/triple-talaq-bill-passed-in-rajya-sabha-1575309-2019-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730134908/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/triple-talaq-bill-passed-in-rajya-sabha-1575309-2019-07-30|title= Triple talaq bill passed in Rajya Sabha |website=[[India Today]]|access-date=30 July 2019|archive-date=30 July 2019|date=30 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/fresh-triple-talaq-bill-introduced-in-lok-sabha-oppositon-members-protest/articleshow/69891244.cms|title=Fresh triple talaq Bill introduced in Lok Sabha|website=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=31 July 2019|date=21 June 2019}}</ref> On 5 August 2019, the government moved resolution to scrap Article 370 in the Rajya Sabha,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kashmir-unrest-amit-shah-parliament-reservation-bill-amendment-artcle-370-1577275-2019-08-05|title=No Article 370 for Jammu & Kashmir, historic move by Modi govt|newspaper=[[India Today]]|language=en|date=5 August 2019|access-date=5 August 2019}}</ref> and also reorganise the state with [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] serving as one of the union territory and [[Ladakh]] region separated out as a separate union territory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/jammu-and-kashmir-crisis-live-updates-1564981600854.html|title=Full state status will be restored to J&K at appropriate time: Amit Shah in RS|date=5 August 2019|access-date=6 August 2019|work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]}}</ref>
 
Under Modi's tenure, India has experienced [[democratic backsliding]].{{Efn|Sources describing that India has experienced a [[Democratic backsliding|backslide in democracy]]:<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Brunkert|first1=Lennart|last2=Kruse|first2=Stefan|last3=Welzel|first3=Christian|date=3 April 2019|title=A tale of culture-bound regime evolution: the centennial democratic trend and its recent reversal|url=http://fox.leuphana.de/portal/de/publications/a-tale-of-culturebound-regime-evolution-the-centennial-democratic-trend-and-its-recent-reversal(2b6baaf4-3942-4491-92ca-55782d455a62).html|journal=Democratization|volume=26|issue=3|pages=422–443|doi=10.1080/13510347.2018.1542430|s2cid=148625260|issn=1351-0347}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Khaitan|first=Tarunabh|date=26 May 2020|title=Killing a Constitution with a Thousand Cuts: Executive Aggrandizement and Party-state Fusion in India|url=https://www.degruyter.com/view/journals/lehr/14/1/article-p49.xml|journal=Law & Ethics of Human Rights|language=en|volume=14|issue=1|pages=49–95|doi=10.1515/lehr-2020-2009|s2cid=221083830|issn=2194-6531}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Ganguly|first=Sumit|title=India's Democracy Is Under Threat|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/18/indias-democracy-is-under-threat/|date=18 September 2020|access-date=27 November 2020|website=[[Foreign Policy]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=|first=|date=2021|title=India: Freedom in the World 2021 Country Report|url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/india/freedom-world/2021|journal=[[Freedom House]]|volume=|pages=|via=|quote=While India is a multiparty democracy, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has presided over discriminatory policies and increased violence affecting the Muslim population. The constitution guarantees civil liberties including freedom of expression and freedom of religion, but harassment of journalists, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and other government critics has increased significantly under Modi.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first1=Vindu|last1=Goel|first2=Jeffrey|last2=Gettleman|date=2 April 2020|title=Under Modi, India's Press Is Not So Free Anymore|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/world/asia/modi-india-press-media.html|access-date=9 March 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>|name="lo9"|group=lower-alpha}} According to one study, "The BJP government incrementally but systemically attacked nearly all existing mechanisms that are in place to hold the political executive to account, either by ensuring that these mechanisms became subservient to the political executive or were captured by party loyalists."<ref name=":2" /> Scholars also point to how he Modi government has used state power to intimidate and stifle critics in the media and academia, thus undermining freedom of expression and alternative sources of information.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> [[Reporters Without Borders]] in 2021 characterised Modi as a predator for curbing press freedom in India since 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Predator Narendra Modi|url=https://rsf.org/en/predator/narendra-modi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705110013/https://rsf.org/en/predator/narendra-modi|access-date=23 July 2021|website=[[Reporters Without Borders]]|date=July 2021|archive-date=5 July 2021|url-status=live|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
=== Economic policy ===
[[File:Informal meeting of the BRICS during the 2019 G20 Osaka summit.jpg|thumb|Modi with other BRICS leaders in 2019. Left to right: [[Xi Jinping|Xi]], [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]], [[Jair Bolsonaro|Bolsonaro]], Modi and [[Cyril Ramaphosa|Ramaphosa]].|left|240x240px]]
 
[[File:Narendra Modi launching the APIX (Application Programming Interface Exchange) a global Fintech Platform with the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. T. Shanmugaratnam, at the Singapore Fintech Festival, in Singapore.JPG|thumb|
Modi and [[Tharman Shanmugaratnam]], Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore officially launched [[Application Programming Interface Exchange|APIX]], a global Fintech Platform at the [[Singapore FinTech Festival]] in 2018.|244x244px]]
 
The economic policies of Modi's government focused on privatisation and liberalisation of the economy, based on a [[neoliberal]] framework.<ref name="Ruparelia" /><ref name="Shah & Lerche">{{cite journal|last1=Shah|first1=Alpa|last2=Lerche|first2=Jens|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2015/41/book-reviews/indias-democracy-illusion-inclusion.html|title=India's Democracy: Illusion of Inclusion|journal=[[Economic & Political Weekly]]|date=10 October 2015|volume=50|issue=41|pages=33–36}}</ref> Modi liberalised India's [[foreign direct investment]] policies, allowing more foreign investment in several industries, including in defence and the railways.<ref name="Ruparelia" /><ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-07/news/52555932_1_defence-sector-cent-fdi-railways-sector | work=[[The Times of India]]| title=Cabinet approves raising FDI cap in defence to 49 percent, opens up railways | date=7 August 2014 | access-date=27 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807044440/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-07/news/52555932_1_defence-sector-cent-fdi-railways-sector | archive-date=7 August 2015 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/modi-presses-reform-for-india-but-is-it-enough-1416466742 | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | first=Raymond | last=Zhong | title=Modi Presses Reform for India—But Is it Enough? | date=20 November 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329123224/http://www.wsj.com/articles/modi-presses-reform-for-india-but-is-it-enough-1416466742 | archive-date=29 March 2016 | access-date=29 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Other proposed reforms included making it harder for workers to form unions and easier for employers to hire and fire them;<ref name="Shah & Lerche" /> some of these proposals were dropped after protests.<ref name="ET March 2018">{{cite news |title=Modi renews labour reforms push as jobs regain focus before polls|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/modi-renews-labour-reforms-push-as-jobs-regain-focus-before-polls/articleshow/63297358.cms |access-date=6 February 2019 |work=[[The Economic Times]] |date=14 March 2018}}</ref> The reforms drew strong opposition from unions: on 2 September 2015, eleven of the country's largest unions went on strike, including one affiliated with the BJP.<ref name="Shah & Lerche" /> The [[Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh]], a constituent of the Sangh Parivar, stated that the underlying motivation of labour reforms favoured corporations over labourers.<ref name="Ruparelia" />
 
The funds dedicated to poverty reduction programmes and social welfare measures were greatly decreased by the Modi administration.<ref name="Manor">{{cite journal|last1=Manor|first1=James|s2cid=155472230|title=A Precarious Enterprise? Multiple Antagonisms during Year One of the Modi Government|journal=South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies|year=2015|volume=38|issue=4|pages=736–754|doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1083644}}</ref> The money spent on social programmes declined from 14.6% of GDP during the Congress government to 12.6% during Modi's first year in office.<ref name="Ruparelia" /> Spending on health and family welfare declined by 15%, and on primary and secondary education by 16%.<ref name="Ruparelia" /> The budgetary allocation for the [[Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan]], or the "education for all" programme, declined by 22%.<ref name="Ruparelia" /> The government also lowered corporate taxes, abolished the [[wealth tax]], increased sales taxes, and reduced customs duties on gold, and jewellery.<ref name="Ruparelia" /> In October 2014, the Modi government deregulated diesel prices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/narendra-modi-government-deregulates-diesel-prices-681104|title=Narendra Modi Government Deregulates Diesel Prices|first=Rahul|last=Shrivastava|date=18 October 2014|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=17 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129152524/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/narendra-modi-government-deregulates-diesel-prices-681104|archive-date=29 November 2016}}</ref>
 
In September 2014, Modi introduced the [[Make in India]] initiative to encourage foreign companies to manufacture products in India, with the goal of turning the country into a global manufacturing hub.<ref name="Ruparelia" /><ref>{{cite web|first=Gaurav|last=Choudhury|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/live-coverage-launch-of-modi-s-make-in-india-campaign/article1-1268119.aspx|title=Look East, Link West, says PM Modi at Make in India launch|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=25 September 2014|access-date=17 February 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817060606/http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/live-coverage-launch-of-modi-s-make-in-india-campaign/article1-1268119.aspx|archive-date=17 August 2015}}</ref> Supporters of economic liberalisation supported the initiative, while critics argued it would allow foreign corporations to capture a greater share of the Indian market.<ref name="Ruparelia" /> Modi's administration passed a land-reform bill that allowed it to acquire private agricultural land without conducting a social impact assessment, and without the consent of the farmers who owned it.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Guha|first1=Abhijit|title=Dangers of Indian Reform of the Colonial Land Acquisition Law|journal=Global Journal of Human-Social Science|year=2015|volume=15|issue=1}}</ref> The bill was passed via an executive order after it faced opposition in parliament, but was eventually allowed to lapse.<ref name="Ronojoy" /> Modi's government put in place the [[Goods and Services Tax (India)|Goods and Services Tax]], the biggest tax reform in the country since independence. It subsumed around 17 different taxes and became effective from 1 July 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=3 years of Modi govt: 6 economic policies that have made BJP stronger, harder to defeat |url=http://m.businesstoday.in/story/from-demonetisation-to-gst-heres-what-pm-modi-did-on-economic-reforms-in-last-3-years-in-office/1/252249.html |work=[[Business Standard]] |date=16 May 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030062641/http://m.businesstoday.in/story/from-demonetisation-to-gst-heres-what-pm-modi-did-on-economic-reforms-in-last-3-years-in-office/1/252249.html |archive-date=30 October 2017 }}</ref>
 
[[File:Narendra Modi launches Make in India.jpg|thumb|Modi at the launch of the ''[[Make in India]]'' programme.|244x244px]]
 
In his first cabinet decision, Modi set up a team to investigate [[black money]].<ref>{{cite web |title=SIT formed to unearth black money – Narendra Modi Cabinet's first decision |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SIT-formed-to-unearth-black-money-Narendra-Modi-Cabinets-first-decision/articleshow/35636667.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=27 May 2014 |access-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222203013/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SIT-formed-to-unearth-black-money-Narendra-Modi-Cabinets-first-decision/articleshow/35636667.cms |archive-date=22 December 2016 }}</ref> On 9 November 2016, the government [[2016 Indian banknote demonetisation|demonetised ₹500 and ₹1000 banknotes]], with the stated intention of curbing corruption, black money, the use of counterfeit currency, and terrorism.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rs 500, Rs 1000 currency notes stand abolished from midnight: PM Modi |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/narendra-modi-prime-minister-address-to-the-nation4364609 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=9 November 2016 |access-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215004810/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/narendra-modi-prime-minister-address-to-the-nation4364609/ |archive-date=15 February 2017 }}</ref> The move led to severe cash shortages,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/demonetisation-chaos-grows-queues-get-longer-at-banks-atms-on-weekend-4371373/|title=Demonetisation: Chaos grows, queues get longer at banks, ATMs on weekend|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=12 November 2016|access-date=17 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204213631/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/demonetisation-chaos-grows-queues-get-longer-at-banks-atms-on-weekend-4371373/|archive-date=4 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/india-demonetisation-chaos-atms-run-dry-161109061403011.html|title=India demonetisation: Chaos as ATMs run dry|publisher=[[Al Jazeera]]|date=9 November 2016|access-date=9 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110164223/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/india-demonetisation-chaos-atms-run-dry-161109061403011.html|archive-date=10 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/demonetisation-move-chaos-grows-queues-get-longer-at-banks-atms-on-weekend/article9337803.ece|title=Queues get longer at banks, ATMs on weekend|date=12 November 2016|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref> a steep decline in the Indian stock indices [[BSE SENSEX]] and [[NIFTY 50]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/markets/stock-market-news-november-9-2016/article9322930.ece|title=Sensex crashes 1,689 points on black money crackdown, U.S. election|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=9 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109070820/http://www.thehindu.com/business/markets/stock-market-news-november-9-2016/article9322930.ece|archive-date=9 November 2016|date=9 November 2016|last1=Rukhaiyar|first1=Ashish}}</ref> and sparked widespread protests throughout the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/11/28/world/asia/ap-as-india-currency-protest.html|title=Thousands Protest Across India Against Currency Policy|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=28 November 2016|access-date=4 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201114411/http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/11/28/world/asia/ap-as-india-currency-protest.html?_r=0|archive-date=1 December 2016}}</ref> Several deaths were linked to the rush to exchange cash.<ref name="Aljazeera-1">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/india-demonetisation-takes-toll-poor-161116172745225.html|title=India: Demonetisation takes its toll on the poor|date=16 November 2016|publisher=[[Al Jazeera]]|access-date=17 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117012410/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/india-demonetisation-takes-toll-poor-161116172745225.html|archive-date=17 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Shivam|last=Vij|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/11/15/demonetisation-death-toll-rises-to-25-and-its-only-been-6-days/|title=Demonetisation Death Toll Rises To 25 And It's Only Been 6 Days|website=[[The Huffington Post ]]|date=15 November 2016|access-date=15 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116020908/http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/11/15/demonetisation-death-toll-rises-to-25-and-its-only-been-6-days/|archive-date=16 November 2016}}</ref> In the subsequent year, the number of income tax returns filed for individuals rose by 25%, and the number of digital transactions increased steeply.<ref>{{cite web |title=PM Narendra Modi's demonetisation move pays off as income tax net widens |url=http://www.businesstoday.in/current/policy/narendra-modi-demonetisation-income-tax-returns-arun-jaitley/story/257957.html |work=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]] |date=8 August 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815102938/http://www.businesstoday.in/current/policy/narendra-modi-demonetisation-income-tax-returns-arun-jaitley/story/257957.html |archive-date=15 August 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Demonetisation effect: Digital payments India's new currency; debit card transactions surge to over 1 billion |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/digital-payments-indias-new-currency-debit-card-transactions-surge-to-over-1-billion/articleshow/58863652.cms |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] |date=27 May 2017 |access-date=8 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607055853/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/digital-payments-indias-new-currency-debit-card-transactions-surge-to-over-1-billion/articleshow/58863652.cms |archive-date=7 June 2017 |last1=Bhakta |first1=Pratik }}</ref>
 
Over the first four years of [[Premiership of Narendra Modi|Modi's premiership]], India's GDP grew at an average rate of 7.23%, higher than the rate of 6.39% under the previous government.<ref name="BT Feb 2019">{{cite news |title=Budget 2019: Who gave India a higher GDP – Modi or Manmohan? |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/budget-2019/news/budget-2019-indian-economy-gdp-growth-rate-under-narendra-modi-manmohan-singh/story/315848.html |access-date=6 February 2019 |work=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]] |date=1 February 2019}}</ref> The level of income inequality increased,<ref name="CNBC Nov 2018">{{cite news |last1=V. |first1=Harini |title=India's economy is booming. Now comes the hard part |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/15/india-economy-modi-faces-inequality-black-money-and-taxes.html |access-date=6 February 2019 |publisher=[[CNBC]] |date=14 November 2018}}</ref> while an internal government report said that in 2017, unemployment had increased to its highest level in 45 years. The loss of jobs was attributed to the [[2016 Indian banknote demonetisation|2016 demonetisation]], and to the effects of the [[Goods and Services Tax (India)|Goods and Services Tax]].<ref name="NYT Jan 2019">{{cite news |last1=Gettleman |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Kumar |first2=Hari |title=India's Leader Is Accused of Hiding Unemployment Data Before Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/world/asia/india-unemployment-rate.html |access-date=7 February 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=31 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="Reuters Jan 2019">{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Manoj |last2=Ghoshal |first2=Devjyot |title=Indian jobless rate at multi-decade high, report says, in blow to Modi |url=https://in.reuters.com/article/us-india-economy-jobs/indian-jobless-rate-at-multi-decade-high-report-says-in-blow-to-modi-idINKCN1PP0FX|date=31 January 2019 |access-date=7 February 2019 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>
 
In the next year, after 2018, [[Indian economy]] started a gradual recovery with a [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] growth of 6.12% in 2018-19 [[Financial Year|FY]], with an inflation rate of 3.4%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2020/October/weo-report|access-date=8 April 2021|website=[[International Monetary Fund|IMF]]|language=en}}</ref> Same year, India was successful in making a good economy in trade and manufacturing sector.{{Sfnm|1a1=Chatterjee|1y=2020|1pp=78-79|2a1=Rao|2y=2020|2pp=156-159}} While in the [[Financial Year|FY]] of 2019–20, due to the [[2019 Indian general election|general election]], Modi government focused more on their [[2019 Bharatiya Janata Party campaign for Indian general election|election campaign]]. In the year 2019–20, the [[GDP]] growth rate was  4.18% and inflation rate also increased to 4.7% from 3.4% in the previous year. Though being high unemployment, increase in inflation rate and budget deficiency, Modi's leadership won in [[2019 elections in India|2019 elections]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Beniwal|first=Vrishti|date=20 May 2019|title=Lok sabha election: 2019 general elections: The winner gets an economy riddled with problems|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/2019-general-elections-the-winner-gets-an-economy-riddled-with-problems/articleshow/69406323.cms?from=mdr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220180312/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/2019-general-elections-the-winner-gets-an-economy-riddled-with-problems/articleshow/69406323.cms?from=mdr|archive-date=20 February 2020|access-date=8 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 pandemic]], numerous [[rating agencies]] downgraded India's GDP predictions for FY21 to negative figures,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Noronha|first=Gaurav|title=India's GDP to see 5% contraction in FY21, says Icra|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/indias-gdp-to-see-5-contraction-in-fy21-says-icra/articleshow/75847028.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626043921/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/indias-gdp-to-see-5-contraction-in-fy21-says-icra/articleshow/75847028.cms|date=20 May 2020|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=26 June 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> signalling a recession in India, the most severe since 1979.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Shalini|last=Nagarajan|title=Goldman Sachs: India's economy will shrink 45% this quarter and suffer a brutal recession this year|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/goldman-sachs-indias-economy-will-shrink-45-this-quarter-and-suffer-a-brutal-recession-this-year/articleshow/75807045.cms|date=18 May 2020|access-date=8 April 2021|website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> According to a [[Dun & Bradstreet]] report, the country is likely to suffer a recession in the third quarter of FY2020 as a result of the over 2-month long [[COVID-19 lockdown in India|nation-wide lockdown]] imposed to curb the spread of [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=India may register recession in third quarter of this fiscal, shows report|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/india-may-register-recession-in-third-quarter-of-this-fiscal-shows-report/articleshow/75937359.cms|date=24 May 2020|access-date=8 April 2021}}</ref> This was also accompanied by the [[Indian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic|mass migration of migrant workers]].<ref>{{Cite web|first=Mihir|last=Sharma|title=Coronavirus Exposes India's Official Callousness|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/india-s-government-should-have-expected-coronavirus-migration|date=1 April 2020|access-date=8 April 2021|website=[[BloombergQuint]]|language=en}}</ref>
 
=== Health and sanitation ===
{{See also|Swachh Bharat Mission}}
In his first year as prime minister, Modi reduced the amount of money spent by the central government on healthcare.<ref name="Economist 2015" /> The Modi government launched New Health Policy (NHP) in January 2015. The policy did not increase the government's spending on healthcare, instead emphasising the role of private healthcare organisations. This represented a shift away from the policy of the previous Congress government, which had supported programmes to assist public health goals, including reducing child and maternal mortality rates.<ref name="Lancet">{{cite journal|last1=Sharma|first1=Dinesh C|s2cid=10544022|title=India's BJP Government and health: 1 year on|journal=The Lancet|date=May 2015|volume=385|issue=9982|pages=2031–2032|doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60977-1|pmid=26009217|url=https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/3d2981afad36ae6e339b4772f9ce508652d053af}}</ref> The [[National Health Mission]], which included public health programmes targeted at these indices received nearly 20%<ref><br />
* {{cite journal|last1=Bagcchi|first1=Sanjeet|s2cid=206906898|title=India cuts health budget by 20%|journal=[[The BMJ|BMJ]]|date=2 January 2015|volume=350|pages=h4|issn=1756-1833|pmid=25556025|doi=10.1136/bmj.h4}}
* {{cite news|last1=Karla|first1=Aditya|title=Govt to cut health budget by nearly 20 per cent for 2014-15|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/current/policy/govt-cuts-health-budget-spending-near-20-percent-for-fy15/story/213819.html|work=[[businesstoday.in]]|agency=[[Reuters]]|publisher=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]]|date=23 December 2014|access-date=27 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428011803/https://www.businesstoday.in/current/policy/govt-cuts-health-budget-spending-near-20-percent-for-fy15/story/213819.html|archive-date=28 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> less funds in 2015 than in the previous year. 15 national health programmes, including those aimed at controlling tobacco use and supporting healthcare for the elderly, were merged with the National Health Mission. In its budget for the second year after it took office, the Modi government reduced healthcare spending by 15%.<ref>{{cite news|first=Adhil|last=Shetty|title=Budget 2015 disappointed healthcare sector|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/budget-2015-disappointed-healthcare-sector/articleshow/46572657.cms|access-date=21 April 2018|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=15 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421232430/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/budget-2015-disappointed-healthcare-sector/articleshow/46572657.cms|archive-date=21 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The healthcare budget for the following year rose by 19%. The budget was viewed positively by private insurance providers. Public health experts criticised its emphasis on the role of private healthcare providers, and suggested that it represented a shift away from public health facilities.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mudur|first1=Ganapati|s2cid=40551136|title=Rise in India's health budget is "disappointing," say experts|journal=[[The BMJ|BMJ]]|year=2016|volume=352|pages=i1338|url=https://search.proquest.com/openview/edba3e082ac91d49f9cbddd3f4964099/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2043523|access-date=24 April 2018|doi=10.1136/bmj.i1338|pmid=26944481}}</ref> The healthcare budget rose by 11.5% in 2018; the change included an allocation of {{INRConvert|20|b}} for a government-funded health insurance program, and a decrease in the budget of the National Health Mission.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Devika|last1=Bhattacharya|first2=Shailaja|last2=Neelakantan|title=Budget 2018 boost for healthcare: Lessons for 'Modicare' from Obamacare|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/budget-2018-boost-for-healthcare-lessons-for-modicare-from-obamacare/articleshow/62753639.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=2 February 2018|access-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409064654/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/budget-2018-boost-for-healthcare-lessons-for-modicare-from-obamacare/articleshow/62753639.cms|archive-date=9 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The government introduced stricter packaging laws for tobacco which requires 85% of the packet size to be covered by pictorial warnings.<ref>{{cite news|title=85 pc pictorial warning on tobacco products in force from today|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/85-pc-pictorial-warning-on-tobacco-products-in-force-from-friday/story-0na5yJhXcRwhcEFVa8iaVP.html|access-date=27 January 2017|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=1 April 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202052710/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/85-pc-pictorial-warning-on-tobacco-products-in-force-from-friday/story-0na5yJhXcRwhcEFVa8iaVP.html|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref> An article in the medical journal ''[[The Lancet|Lancet]]'' stated that the country "might have taken a few steps back in public health" under Modi.<ref name="Lancet" /> In 2018 Modi launched the [[Ayushman Bharat Yojana]], a government health insurance scheme intended to insure 500&nbsp;million people. 100,000 people had signed up by October 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayushman Bharat off to flying start; 1 lakh beneficiaries join Modi's insurance scheme in just 1 month |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/ayushman-bharat-off-to-flying-start-1-lakh-subscribers-join-modis-insurance-scheme-in-just-1-month/1356710/ |work=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]] |date=22 October 2018 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>
 
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi interacting with the Chief Ministers via video conferencing to discuss the situation emerging post Unlock 1.0 and plan ahead for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, in New Delhi on June 16, 2020.jpg|thumb|Modi discussing the COVID-19 pandemic with Chief Ministers via videoconferencing in June 2020.|244x244px]]
 
Modi emphasised his government's efforts at sanitation as a means of ensuring good health.<ref name="Lancet" /> On 2 October 2014, Modi launched the [[Swachh Bharat Mission]] ("Clean India") campaign. The stated goals of the campaign included eliminating [[open defecation]] and [[manual scavenging]] within five years.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Schmidt|first1=Charles W.|title=Beyond Malnutrition: The Role of Sanitation in Stunted Growth|journal=Environmental Health Perspectives|date=November 2014|volume=122|issue=11|pages=A298–303|doi=10.1289/ehp.122-a298|pmid=25360801|pmc=4216152}}</ref><ref name="Clean India">{{cite journal|last1=Jeffrey|first1=Robin|s2cid=147169571|title=Clean India! Symbols, Policies and Tensions|journal=South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies|year=2015|volume=38|issue=4|pages=807–819|doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1088504}}</ref> As part of the programme, the Indian government began constructing millions of toilets in rural areas and encouraging people to use them.<ref name=Lakshmi>{{cite news |last=Lakshmi |first=Rama |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/india-is-building-millions-of-toilets-but-toilet-training-could-be-a-bigger-task/2015/06/03/09d1aa9e-095a-11e5-a7ad-b430fc1d3f5c_story.html |title=India is building millions of toilets, but that's the easy part |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=4 June 2015 |access-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004140239/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/india-is-building-millions-of-toilets-but-toilet-training-could-be-a-bigger-task/2015/06/03/09d1aa9e-095a-11e5-a7ad-b430fc1d3f5c_story.html |archive-date=4 October 2015 }}</ref><ref name=Gahlot>{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/04/03/globalpost-india-toilet/25236383/ | work=[[USA Today]] | first1=Mandakini | last1=Gahlot | title=India steps up efforts to encourage use of toilets | date=3 April 2015 | access-date=17 February 2017 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816194615/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/04/03/globalpost-india-toilet/25236383/ | archive-date=16 August 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21607837-fixing-dreadful-sanitation-india-requires-not-just-building-lavatories-also-changing | newspaper=[[The Economist]] | title=The Final Frontier | date=19 July 2014 | access-date=17 February 2017 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206112403/http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21607837-fixing-dreadful-sanitation-india-requires-not-just-building-lavatories-also-changing | archive-date=6 February 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> The government also announced plans to build new sewage treatment plants.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-18/india-plans-1-3-billion-sewage-plants-in-towns-along-the-ganges | work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] | first=Archana | last=Chaudhary | title=India Plans 1.3-Billion Sewage Plants in Towns Along the Ganges | date=18 May 2015 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729185058/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-18/india-plans-1-3-billion-sewage-plants-in-towns-along-the-ganges | archive-date=29 March 2016 | access-date=30 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> The administration plans to construct 60&nbsp;million toilets by 2019. The construction projects have faced allegations of corruption, and have faced severe difficulty in getting people to use the toilets constructed for them.<ref name="Clean India" /><ref name=Lakshmi /><ref name=Gahlot /> Sanitation cover in the country increased from 38.7% in October 2014 to 84.1% in May 2018; however, usage of the new sanitary facilities lagged behind the government's targets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Swachh Bharat full marks for access, usage not upto the mark |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/swachh-bharat-full-marks-for-access-usage-not-up-to-the-mark/articleshow/66027457.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=2 October 2018 |access-date=2 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002195927/https://m.timesofindia.com/india/swachh-bharat-full-marks-for-access-usage-not-up-to-the-mark/articleshow/66027457.cms |archive-date=2 October 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> In 2018, the [[World Health Organization]] stated that at least 180,000 diarrhoeal deaths were averted in rural India after the launch of the sanitation effort.<ref><br />
* {{cite web |first=Rhythma |last=Kaul |title=How Swachh Bharat transformed the way public hospitals function |url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-swachh-bharat-transformed-the-way-public-hospitals-function/story-fPgFK331o3JLIPHGcc0GQN.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=29 September 2018 |access-date=30 September 2018}}
* {{cite web |first=Sanchita |last=Sharma |title=How the Swachh Bharat mission has saved India's kids |url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-the-swachh-bharat-mission-has-saved-india-s-kids/story-G1AjRvhTTTBrv6OUMYq2fO.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=21 September 2018 |access-date=22 September 2018}}</ref>
 
=== Hindutva ===
{{Further|Hindutva}}
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi pays obeisance at Tirumala Temple, in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.jpg|thumb|Modi pays obeisance at [[Tirumala Temple]] in Andhra Pradesh.|left|230x230px]]
During the 2014 election campaign, the BJP sought to identify itself with political leaders known to have opposed [[Hindu nationalism]], including [[B. R. Ambedkar]], [[Subhas Chandra Bose]], and [[Ram Manohar Lohia]].<ref name="Manor" /> The campaign also saw the use of rhetoric based on Hindutva by BJP leaders in certain states.<ref name="Palshikar">{{cite journal|last1=Palshikar|first1=Suhas|s2cid=147143160|title=The BJP and Hindu Nationalism: Centrist Politics and Majoritarian Impulses|journal=Journal of South Asian Studies|year=2015|volume=38|issue=4|pages=719–735|doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1089460}}</ref> Communal tensions were played upon especially in Uttar Pradesh and the states of Northeast India.<ref name="Palshikar" /> A proposal for the controversial [[Uniform Civil Code]] was a part of the BJP's election manifesto.<ref name="Ganguly 2014" />
 
The activities of a number of Hindu nationalist organisations increased in scope after Modi's election as Prime Minister, sometimes with the support of the government.<ref name="Palshikar" /> These activities included a Hindu [[Ghar Wapsi|religious conversion]] programme, a campaign against the alleged Islamic practice of "[[Love Jihad]]", and attempts to celebrate [[Nathuram Godse]], the assassin of [[Mahatma Gandhi]], by members of the right wing [[Hindu Mahasabha]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=George|first=Varghese K.|date=9 May 2020|title=Comment {{!}} Hindutva's extremist Twitterati now target Modi for Muslim appeasement|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-hindutvas-extremist-twitterati-now-target-modi-for-muslim-appeasement/article31545353.ece|access-date=15 January 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/world/asia/india-gandhi-nathuram-godse.html|title=Gandhi's Killer Evokes Admiration as Never Before|first=Sameer|last=Yasir|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=4 February 2020|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref> Officials in the government, including the Home Minister, defended the conversion programmes.<ref name="Palshikar" />
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the Centenary Year Convocation of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), in Varanasi.jpg|thumb|Modi at the [[Banaras Hindu University]] in Varanasi.|245x245px]]
 
Links between the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] and the RSS grew stronger under Modi. The RSS provided organisational support to the BJP's electoral campaigns, while the Modi administration appointed a number of individuals affiliated with the RSS to prominent government positions.<ref name="Orange Evolution">{{cite news|date=2 March 2019|title=Narendra Modi and the struggle for India's soul|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|url=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2019/03/02/narendra-modi-and-the-struggle-for-indias-soul|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301125100/https://www.economist.com/briefing/2019/03/02/narendra-modi-and-the-struggle-for-indias-soul|archive-date=1 March 2019|access-date=27 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, [[Yellapragada Sudershan Rao]], who had previously been associated with the RSS, became the chairperson of the [[Indian Council of Historical Research]] (ICHR).<ref name="Ganguly 2014" /> Historians and former members of the ICHR, including those sympathetic to the BJP, questioned his credentials as a historian, and stated that the appointment was part of an agenda of cultural nationalism.<ref name="Ganguly 2014" /><ref name=saffronisation>{{cite news |first=Anita |last=Joshua |title=Choice of ICHR chief reignites saffronisation debate |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=16 July 2014 |access-date=20 August 2014 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/choice-of-ichr-chief-reignites-saffronisation-debate/article6214483.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202181112/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/choice-of-ichr-chief-reignites-saffronisation-debate/article6214483.ece |archive-date=2 December 2014 }}</ref><ref name=right_wing>{{cite news |first=Akshaya |last=Mukul |title=Right-wingers question ICHR chief selection |work=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 July 2014 |access-date=20 August 2014 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Right-wingers-question-ICHR-chief-selection/articleshow/38581467.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721002055/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Right-wingers-question-ICHR-chief-selection/articleshow/38581467.cms |archive-date=21 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
 
The [[North East Delhi riots]], which left more than 40 dead and hundreds injured, were triggered by protests against a [[Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019|citizenship law]] seen by many critics as [[Persecution of Muslims|anti-Muslim]] and part of Modi's Hindu nationalist agenda.<ref>{{Spaces|10}}
* {{cite magazine|first=Rana|last=Ayyub|date=28 February 2020|title=Narendra Modi Looks the Other Way as New Delhi Burns|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=https://time.com/5791759/narendra-modi-india-delhi-riots-violence-muslim/|url-status=live|access-date=14 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210064204/https://time.com/5791759/narendra-modi-india-delhi-riots-violence-muslim/|archive-date=10 December 2020}}
* {{cite news|last=Kesavan|first=Mukul|date=26 February 2020|title=Anti-Muslim violence in Delhi serves Modi well|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/26/violence-delhi-modi-project-bjp-citizenship-law|url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112094732/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/26/violence-delhi-modi-project-bjp-citizenship-law|archive-date=2 January 2021}}
* {{cite news|date=26 February 2020|title=Modi slammed as death toll in New Delhi violence rises|publisher=[[Al Jazeera]]|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/modi-slammed-death-toll-delhi-violence-rises-200226192504695.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114013040/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/26/modi-slammed-as-death-toll-in-new-delhi-violence-rises|archive-date=14 January 2021|access-date=30 November 2020|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|last=Varadarajan|first=Siddharth|date=27 February 2020|title=Narendra Modi's Reckless Politics Brings Mob Rule to New Delhi|work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/narendra-modi-delhi-riots-mob-violence-bjp|url-status=live|access-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112145040/https://thewire.in/communalism/narendra-modi-delhi-riots-mob-violence-bjp|archive-date=12 January 2021}}</ref> On 5 August 2020, Modi visited [[Ayodhya]] after the [[2019 Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya dispute|Supreme Court in 2019]] ordered a [[Ayodhya dispute|contested land in Ayodhya]] to be handed over to a trust to build the Hindu temple and ordered the government to give alternate 5 acre land to Sunni Waqf Board for the purpose of building a mosque.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 November 2019|title=Ayodhya verdict live: Country's unity strengthened after verdict, say religious leaders|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ayodhya-verdict-live-updates-supreme-court-verdict-on-ram-mandir-babri-masjid-dispute/liveblog/71978224.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125010541/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ayodhya-verdict-live-updates-supreme-court-verdict-on-ram-mandir-babri-masjid-dispute/liveblog/71978224.cms|archive-date=25 November 2020|access-date=9 November 2019|work=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}</ref> He became the first prime minister to visit [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] and [[Hanuman Garhi]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Modi becomes first PM to visit Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/travel-tourism/modi-becomes-first-pm-to-visit-ram-janmabhoomi-hanumangarhi-temple-in-ayodhya/2046074/ |access-date=19 November 2020 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |work=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]] |date=5 August 2020}}</ref>
 
=== Foreign policy ===
{{Further|Foreign policy of Narendra Modi|List of international prime ministerial trips made by Narendra Modi|label2=trips as prime minister}}
[[File:TrumpModi.jpg|thumb|Modi with U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] at [[Namaste Trump]] rally in [[Ahmedabad]], India.|244x244px]]
Foreign policy played a relatively small role in Modi's election campaign, and did not feature prominently in the BJP's election manifesto.<ref name="Hall 2015">{{cite journal|last1=Hall|first1=Ian|s2cid=154260676|title=Is a 'Modi doctrine' emerging in Indian foreign policy?|journal=Australian Journal of International Affairs|year=2015|doi=10.1080/10357718.2014.1000263|volume=69|issue=3|pages=247–252}}</ref> Modi invited all the other leaders of [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]] countries to his swearing in ceremony as prime minister.<ref name="Grare">{{cite journal|last1=Grare|first1=Frederic|s2cid=153923833|title=India–Pakistan Relations: Does Modi Matter?|journal=[[The Washington Quarterly]]|date=Winter 2015|volume=37|issue=4|pages=101–114|doi=10.1080/0163660X.2014.1002158}}</ref><ref name="Pant 2014">{{cite journal|last1=Pant|first1=Harsh V.|s2cid=154940836|title=Modi's Unexpected Boost to India-U.S. Relations|journal=[[The Washington Quarterly]]|date=Fall 2014|volume=37|issue=3|pages=97–112|doi=10.1080/0163660X.2014.978438}}</ref> He was the first Indian prime minister to do so.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-a-first-modi-invites-saarc-leaders-for-his-swearingin/article6033710.ece | title=In a first, Modi invites SAARC leaders for his swearing-in | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=21 May 2014 | access-date=24 May 2014 | first=Swami  |last=Praveen | location=Chennai, India | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525000959/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-a-first-modi-invites-saarc-leaders-for-his-swearingin/article6033710.ece | archive-date=25 May 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
 
Modi's foreign policy, similarly to that of the preceding INC government, focused on improving economic ties, security, and regional relations.<ref name="Hall 2015" /> Modi continued Manmohan Singh's policy of "multi-alignment."<ref name="Hall 2015" /> The Modi administration tried to attract foreign investment in the Indian economy from several sources, especially in East Asia, with the use of slogans such as "[[Make in India]]" and "[[Digital India]]". The government also tried to improve relations with [[Middle Eastern foreign policy of the Narendra Modi government|Islamic nations in the Middle East]], such as [[Bahrain–India relations|Bahrain]], [[India–Iran relations|Iran]], [[India–Saudi Arabia relations|Saudi Arabia]], and the [[United Arab Emirates India relations|United Arab Emirates]], as well as with [[India–Israel relations|Israel]].{{Efn|The Narendra Modi led government completed two years in power in May 2016 and the prime minister has made his mark on both the domestic and foreign policy fronts. It is important to assess how successful his initiatives have been in the arena of foreign affairs in comparison to his predecessors. In this regard, this paper identifies and examines the key trends and issues in foreign policy under the Modi led administration and the measures needed to translate speeches and policies into action. Modi government has also took a serious node of relations with middle-east nations, as well as Iran and Israel.{{Sfn|Hall|2016|pp=278-281}}|name=|group=}}
 
[[File:The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi.jpg|thumb|Modi meeting [[Myanmar]]'s leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] in New Delhi in January 2018.|left]]The [[foreign relations of India]] with the USA also mended after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister.{{Sfnm|1a1=Hall|1y=2020|1pp=283-285|2a1=Gupta|2y=2019|2pp=3-9|3a1=Madan|3y=2020|3pp=65}} During the run-up to the general election there was wide-ranging scepticism regarding future of the [[India-USA relations|strategic bilateral relation]] under Modi's premiership as in 2005 he was, while [[Chief Minister of Gujarat]], denied a U.S. visa during the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] for his [[2002 Gujarat riots|poor]] human rights records.<ref name="2005 ban" /><ref name="visa denied" /> However sensing Modi's inevitable victory well before the election, the [[United States Ambassador to India|US Ambassador]] [[Nancy Powell]] had reached out to him as part of greater [[rapprochement]] from the west. Moreover, following his 2014 election as the Prime Minister of India [[Presidency of Barack Obama|President Obama]] congratulated him over the telephone and invited him to visit the US.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=16 May 2014|title=Readout of the President's Call with Prime Ministerial Candidate Narendra Modi of India|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/16/readout-president-s-call-prime-ministerial-candidate-narendra-modi-india|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201002320/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/16/readout-president-s-call-prime-ministerial-candidate-narendra-modi-india|archive-date=1 December 2020|access-date=24 January 2021|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|language=en}}</ref> Modi government has been successful in making good foreign relations with the [[USA-India relations|USA]] in the presidency of both [[Foreign policy of the Barack Obama administration|Barack Obama]] and [[Foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration|Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sammon|first=Alexander|date=23 January 2020|title=Barack Obama's Legacy Is Narendra Modi|url=https://prospect.org/api/content/85a58d7c-3d60-11ea-b621-1244d5f7c7c6/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107210952/https://prospect.org/world/barack-obamas-legacy-is-narendra-modi/|archive-date=7 November 2020|access-date=24 January 2021|website=[[The American Prospect]]|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1 December 2017|title=Obama, in reply to question on friendship with Modi, ends up praising Manmohan|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/barack-obama-pm-modi-manmohan-singh-indian-economy-1098222-2017-12-01|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109093240/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/barack-obama-pm-modi-manmohan-singh-indian-economy-1098222-2017-12-01|archive-date=9 November 2020|access-date=24 January 2021|website=[[India Today]]|language=en}}</ref>
 
During the first few months after the election, Modi made trips to a number of different countries to further the goals of his policy, and attended the [[BRICS]], [[ASEAN]], and [[G20]] summits.<ref name="Hall 2015" /> One of Modi's first visits as prime minister was to Nepal, during which he promised a billion USD in aid.<ref name="Mocko">{{cite journal|last1=Mocko|first1=Anne|last2=Penjore|first2=Dorji|title=Nepal and Bhutan in 2014|journal=Asian Survey|year=2015|volume=55|issue=1|pages=75–81|doi=10.1525/AS.2015.55.1.75|hdl=1885/13357}}</ref> Modi also made several overtures to the United States, including multiple visits to that country.<ref name="Pant 2014" /> While this was described as an unexpected development, due to the US having previously denied Modi a travel visa over his role during the 2002 Gujarat riots, the visits were expected to strengthen diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries.<ref name="Pant 2014" />{{Better source needed|date=November 2021}}
 
In 2015, the Indian parliament ratified a land exchange deal with Bangladesh about the [[India–Bangladesh enclaves]], which had been initiated by the government of Manmohan Singh.<ref name="Ronojoy" /> Modi's administration gave renewed attention to India's "Look East Policy", instituted in 1991. The policy was renamed the "Act East Policy", and involved directing Indian foreign policy towards [[East Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]].<ref name="Hall 2016">{{cite journal|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00358533.2016.1180760?journalCode=ctrt20|last1=Hall|first1=Ian|year=2016|title=Multialignment and Indian Foreign Policy under Narendra Modi|journal=[[The Round Table (journal)|The Round Table]]|volume=105|issue=3|pages=271–286|doi=10.1080/00358533.2016.1180760|s2cid=156737878}}</ref><ref name="Downie">{{cite journal|last1=Downie|first1=Edmund|url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/02/manipur-and-indias-act-east-policy/|title=Manipur and India's 'Act East' Policy|journal=[[The Diplomat]]|date=25 February 2015|access-date=26 February 2015}}</ref> The government signed agreements to improve land connectivity with [[Myanmar]], through the state of [[Manipur]]. This represented a break with India's historic engagement with Myanmar, which prioritised border security over trade.<ref name="Downie" /> [[China–India relations]] have deteriorated rapidly following the [[2020 China–India skirmishes]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Modi takes veiled dig at China on visit to disputed border area |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/7/3/modi-takes-veiled-dig-at-china-on-visit-to-disputed-border-area |work=[[Al Jazeera]] |date=3 July 2020 |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> Modi has pledged aid of $900 million to Afghanistan, visited the nation twice and been honoured with the nation's highest civilian honour in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 August 2019|title=President Ashraf Ghani's Congratulatory Message on the Occasion of India's 73rd Independence Day|url=https://president.gov.af/en/message/1049|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821153927/https://president.gov.af/en/message/1049|archive-date=21 August 2019|access-date=8 April 2021|work=[[President of Afghanistan]]|language=en|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Order of Amanullah Khan" />
 
=== Defence policy ===
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu visiting the Technology Exhibition, at Tel Aviv, Israel on July 06, 2017 (2).jpg|thumb| The [[List of prime ministers of Israel|former]] [[Prime Minister of Israel]], [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and Modi visiting the Technology Exhibition, at [[Tel Aviv]], Israel in 2017.|left|233x233px]]
India's nominal military spending increased steadily under Modi.<ref name="Manghat 2019">{{cite news |last1=Manghat |first1=Sajeet |title=Budget 2019: A 10 Percent Hike in Defence Capital Outlay |url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/union-budget-2019/budget-2019-a-10-percent-hike-in-defence-capital-outlay |access-date=8 April 2019 |work=[[BloombergQuint]] |date=1 February 2019}}</ref> The military budget declined over Modi's tenure both as a fraction of GDP and when adjusted for inflation.<ref name="Diplomat 2019">{{cite news |last1=Rajagopalan |first1=Rajeswari Pillai |title=Why India's New Defense Budget Falls Short |url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/02/why-indias-new-defense-budget-falls-short/ |access-date=8 April 2019 |work=[[The Diplomat]] |date=9 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="Paper elephant">{{cite news |title=India spends a fortune on defence and gets poor value for money |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2018/03/28/india-spends-a-fortune-on-defence-and-gets-poor-value-for-money |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215220546/https://www.economist.com/asia/2018/03/28/india-spends-a-fortune-on-defence-and-gets-poor-value-for-money |archive-date=15 February 2019 |access-date=8 April 2019 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=28 March 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> A substantial portion of the military budget was devoted to personnel costs, leading commentators to write that the budget was constraining Indian military modernisation.<ref name="Diplomat 2019" /><ref name="Nikkei 2019">{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Kiran |title=India's arms modernization hampered by populist budget |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/India-s-arms-modernization-hampered-by-populist-budget |access-date=8 April 2019 |work=[[Nikkei Asia]] |date=17 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="Paper elephant" />
 
The BJP election manifesto had also promised to deal with illegal immigration into India in the Northeast, as well as to be more firm in its handling of insurgent groups. The Modi government issued a notification allowing Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh to legalise their residency in India. The government described the measure as being taken for humanitarian reasons but it drew criticism from several Assamese organisations.<ref name="Northeast" />[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi celebrating Diwali with the jawans of the Indian Army at Longewala in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan on November 14, 2020 (2).jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Modi celebrating [[Diwali]] with the Indian Army force in [[Jaisalmer]], [[Rajasthan]] on 14 November 2020.|249x249px]]The Modi administration negotiated a peace agreement with the largest faction of the [[National Socialist Council of Nagaland]] (NSCM), which was announced in August 2015. The [[Naga people|Naga]] insurgency in northeast India had begun in the 1950s.<ref name="Northeast">{{cite journal|last1=Singh|first1=Amarjeet M.|s2cid=155231943|title=Narendra Modi and Northeast India: development, insurgency and illegal migration|journal=Journal of Asian Public Policy|year=2016|volume=9|issue=2|pages=112–127|doi=10.1080/17516234.2016.1165313}}</ref><ref name="Samudra">{{cite web|first=Samudra Gupta|last=Kashyap|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/simply-put-towards-accord-step-by-step/|title=Towards the Govt-Naga peace accord: Everything you need to know|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=4 August 2015|access-date=30 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128123558/http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/simply-put-towards-accord-step-by-step/|archive-date=28 November 2016}}</ref> The NSCM and the government had agreed to a ceasefire in 1997, but a peace accord had not previously been signed.<ref name="Samudra" /> In 2015 the government abrogated a 15-year ceasefire with the Khaplang faction of the NSCM (NSCM-K). The NSCM-K responded with a series of attacks, which killed 18 people.<ref name="Northeast" /> The Modi government carried out a raid across the border with Myanmar as a result, and labelled the NSCM-K a terrorist organisation.<ref name="Northeast" />
 
Modi promised to be "tough on Pakistan" during his election campaign, and repeatedly stated that Pakistan was an [[Pakistan and state-sponsored terrorism|exporter of terrorism]].<ref name="Reversing roles">{{cite news |title=Reversing roles |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2016/10/06/reversing-roles?zid=306&ah=1b164dbd43b0cb27ba0d4c3b12a5e227 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163106/https://www.economist.com/asia/2016/10/06/reversing-roles?zid=306&ah=1b164dbd43b0cb27ba0d4c3b12a5e227 |access-date=8 April 2019 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=6 October 2016 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=tie0916>{{cite news |title=PM slams Pakistan on terror: 10 quotes from Narendra Modi's speech in Kozhikode |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-narendra-modi-kozhikode-kerala-speech-bjp-pakistan-uri-attack-3048273 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=24 September 2016 |access-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119141653/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-narendra-modi-kozhikode-kerala-speech-bjp-pakistan-uri-attack-3048273/ |archive-date=19 November 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Shyam |last=Balasubramanian |url=http://m.timesofindia.com/india/Pakistan-terrorism-PM-Narendra-Modi-G20-Summit-China/articleshow/54016423.cms |title=One nation in South Asia spreading terrorism: PM Modi at G20 Summit |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=5 September 2016 |access-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310205635/http://m.timesofindia.com/india/Pakistan-terrorism-PM-Narendra-Modi-G20-Summit-China/articleshow/54016423.cms |archive-date=10 March 2017 }}</ref> On 29 September 2016, the Indian Army stated that it had conducted a [[2016 Indian Line of Control strike|surgical strike]] on terror [[launch pad]]s in [[Azad Kashmir]]. The Indian media claimed that up to 50 terrorists and Pakistani soldiers had been killed in the strike.<ref name="DGMO">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-surgical-strikes-across-loc-full-statement-by-dgmo-lt-gen-ranbir-singh/story-Q5yrp0gjvxKPGazDzAnVsM.html|title=India's surgical strikes across LoC: Full statement by DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=29 September 2016|access-date=2 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002024056/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-surgical-strikes-across-loc-full-statement-by-dgmo-lt-gen-ranbir-singh/story-Q5yrp0gjvxKPGazDzAnVsM.html|archive-date=2 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="FE">{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/uri-avenged-35-40-terrorists-9-pakistani-soldiers-killed-in-indian-surgical-strikes-say-tv-reports/397625/|date=29 September 2016|title=Uri avenged: 35–40 terrorists, 9 Pakistani soldiers killed in Indian surgical strikes, say TV reports|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002035024/http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/uri-avenged-35-40-terrorists-9-pakistani-soldiers-killed-in-indian-surgical-strikes-say-tv-reports/397625/|archive-date=2 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="para_commandos">{{cite web |first=Manjeet Singh |last=Negi |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/uri-avenged-inside-story-indian-army-surgical-strikes-pok/1/776433.html | title=Surgical strikes in PoK: How Indian para commandos killed 50 terrorists, hit 7 camps | work=[[India Today]] | date=29 September 2016 | access-date=1 October 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001032146/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/uri-avenged-inside-story-indian-army-surgical-strikes-pok/1/776433.html | archive-date=1 October 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Pakistan initially denied that any strikes had taken place.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Ellen |last1=Barry |first2=Salman |last2=Masood |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/world/asia/kashmir-india-pakistan.html|title=India Claims 'Surgical Strikes' Across Line of Control in Kashmir |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=29 September 2016 |access-date=1 October 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002083642/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/world/asia/kashmir-india-pakistan.html?_r=0 |archive-date=2 October 2016 }}</ref> Subsequent reports suggested that Indian claim about the scope of the strike and the number of casualties had been exaggerated, although cross-border strikes had been carried out.<ref name="Reversing roles"/><ref name="truth">{{cite web |first=M Ilyas |last=Khan |title=India's 'surgical strikes' in Kashmir: Truth or illusion? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-37702790 |newspaper=[[BBC News]] |date=23 October 2016 |access-date=23 October 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025175100/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-37702790 |archive-date=26 October 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Balakot: Pakistan vows to respond after Indian 'air strikes' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47375920 |access-date=8 April 2019 |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=26 February 2019}}</ref> In February 2019 India carried out [[2019 Balakot airstrike|airstrikes]] in Pakistan against a supposed terrorist camp. [[India–Pakistan border skirmishes (2019)|Further military skirmishes]] followed, including cross-border shelling and the loss of an Indian aircraft.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Slater|first1=Joanna|last2=Constable|first2=Pamela|title=Pakistan captures Indian pilot after shooting down aircraft, escalating hostilities|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistan-says-it-has-shot-down-two-indian-jets-in-its-airspace/2019/02/27/054461a2-3a5b-11e9-a2cd-307b06d0257b_story.html|date=27 February 2019|access-date=3 March 2021|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=28 February 2019|title=Skirmishing between India and Pakistan could escalate|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|url=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2019/02/28/skirmishing-between-india-and-pakistan-could-escalate|access-date=3 March 2021|issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Gettleman|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Kumar|first2=Hari|last3=Yasir|first3=Sameer|date=2 March 2019|title=Deadly Shelling Erupts in Kashmir Between India and Pakistan After Pilot Is Freed|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/02/world/asia/kashmir-shelling-india-pakistan.html|access-date=3 March 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
 
Following his victory in [[2019 Indian general election|2019 Lok Sabha elections]], he focused more on Defence policies of India, especially against China and Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Ravi|title=Modi government's decision to drop offset clause in defence deals with foreign governments makes no strategic sense|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/modi-governments-decision-to-drop-offset-clause-in-defence-deals-with-foreign-governments-makes-no-strategic-sense/article33182384.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205040024/https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/modi-governments-decision-to-drop-offset-clause-in-defence-deals-with-foreign-governments-makes-no-strategic-sense/article33182384.ece|date=18 December 2020|archive-date=5 December 2020|access-date=3 March 2021|website=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|language=en}}</ref> On 5 May 2020, Chinese and Indian troops engaged in aggressive [[melee]], face-offs and [[skirmish]]es at locations along the [[Sino-Indian border]], including near the disputed [[Pangong Lake]] in [[Ladakh]] and the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]], and near the border between [[Sikkim]] and the Tibet Autonomous Region. Additional clashes also took place at locations in eastern Ladakh along the [[Line of Actual Control]] (LAC).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Deepak|first=B. R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_fsOEAAAQBAJ|title=India and China: Beyond the Binary of Friendship and Enmity|date=2020|publisher=[[Springer Nature]]|isbn=978-981-15-9500-4|pages=11–14|language=en|author-link=B. R. Deepak}}</ref> After which there was start of [[2020 India-China skirmishes|skirmishes]] between the nations leading to many border clashes, responses and reactions from both sides.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Karackattu|first=Joe Thomas|date=26 May 2020|title=The Corrosive Compromise of the Sino-Indian Border Management Framework: From Doklam to Galwan|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2020.1804726|journal=[[Asian Affairs]]|volume=51|issue=3|pages=590–604|doi=10.1080/03068374.2020.1804726|issn=0306-8374|s2cid=222093756}}</ref> A series of talks were also held between the two by both military and diplomatic means for peace.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Banikinkar|last=Pattanayak|date=9 September 2020|title=Border clash fails to dampen India-China trade|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/border-clash-fails-to-dampen-india-china-trade/2078240/|access-date=3 March 2021|website=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]|language=en-US}}</ref> The first border clash reported in 2021 was on 20 January, referred to as a minor border clash in [[Sikkim]].<ref>{{Cite web|first=Krishn|last=Kaushik|date=26 January 2021|title=India, China troops clash in Sikkim; resolved, says Army|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-china-troops-clash-in-sikkim-resolved-says-army-7161620/|access-date=3 March 2021|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref>
 
=== Environmental policy ===
[[File:Prime Minister Narendra Modi at India Pavilion in Paris during COP21 (23193999974).jpg|thumb|Modi (right) at [[CoP21 Climate Conference]], in Paris, announcing the founding of an International [[Solar Alliance]] (ISA). November 2015.|244x244px]]
 
In naming his cabinet, Modi renamed the "Ministry of Environment and Forests" the "Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change." In the first budget of the government, the money allotted to this ministry was reduced by more than 50%. The new ministry also removed or diluted a number of laws related to environmental protection. These included no longer requiring clearance from the [[National Board for Wildlife]] for projects close to protected areas, and allowing certain projects to proceed before environmental clearance was received.<ref name="Ruparelia" /> The government also tried to reconstitute the Wildlife board such that it no longer had representatives from non-governmental organisations: however, this move was prevented by the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]].<ref name="Kothari">{{cite journal|last1=Kothari|first1=Ashish|date=27 September 2014|title=A Hundred Days Closer to Ecological and Social Suicide|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2014/39/commentary/hundred-days-closer-ecological-and-social-suicide.html|journal=[[Economic & Political Weekly]]|volume=49|issue=39|pages=|jstor=i24478692|via=}}</ref>
 
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. Boris Johnson, in Glasgow, Scotland on November 01, 2021 (2).jpg|thumb|Modi and British Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] at the [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference|COP26 climate summit]] in Glasgow on 2 November 2021|244x244px]]
Modi also relaxed or abolished a number of other environmental regulations, particularly those related to industrial activity. A government committee stated that the existing system only served to create corruption, and that the government should instead rely on the owners of industries to voluntarily inform the government about the pollution they were creating.<ref name="Ruparelia" /> Other changes included reducing ministry oversight on small mining projects, and no longer requiring approval from tribal councils for projects inside forested areas. In addition, Modi lifted a moratorium on new industrial activity in the most polluted areas in the countries.<ref name="Kothari" /> The changes were welcomed by businesspeople, but criticised by [[environmentalists]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barry|first1=Ellen|author-link=Ellen Barry (journalist)|last2=Bagri|first2=Neha Thirani|date=4 December 2014|title=Narendra Modi, Favoring Growth in India, Pares Back Environmental Rules|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/05/world/indian-leader-favoring-growth-sweeps-away-environmental-rules.html|access-date=4 February 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
 
Under the UPA government that preceded Modi's administration, field trials of [[Genetically modified food|Genetically Modified (GM) crops]] had essentially been put on hold, after protests from farmers fearing for their livelihoods. Under the Modi government these restrictions were gradually lifted. The government received some criticism for freezing the bank accounts of environmental group [[Greenpeace]], citing financial irregularities, although a leaked government report said that the freeze had to do with Greenpeace's opposition to GM crops.<ref name="GM crops">{{cite journal|last1=Kumar|first1=Sanjay|date=14 May 2015|title=India eases stance on GM crop trials|journal=Nature|volume=521|issue=7551|pages=138–139|bibcode=2015Natur.521..138K|doi=10.1038/521138a|pmid=25971488|s2cid=4459603}}</ref> At the [[COP26]] conference Modi announced that India would target [[carbon neutrality]] by 2070, and also expand its renewable energy capacity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shrivastava |first1=Rahul |title=Push for renewable by 2030, net-zero emissions by 2070: PM Modi's 5 commitments at COP26 summit |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-narendra-modi-cop26-global-climate-change-summit-glasgow-net-zero-carbon-emissions-1872187-2021-11-01 |access-date=21 November 2021 |agency=India Today |date=1 November 2021}}</ref> Though the date of net zero is far behind that of China and the USA and India's government wants to continue with the use of coal, Indian environmentalists and economists applauded the decision, describing it as a bold climate action.<ref>{{cite news |title=India pledges net-zero emissions by 2070 — but also wants to expand coal mining |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/11/03/1051805674/modi-india-cop26-coal-renewable-energy?t=1636899927203 |work=NPR |date=3 November 2021}}</ref>
 
=== Democratic backsliding ===
Under Modi's tenure, India has experienced [[democratic backsliding]].{{Efn|name="lo9"|group=lower-alpha}} According to one study, "The BJP government incrementally but systemically attacked nearly all existing mechanisms that are in place to hold the political executive to account, either by ensuring that these mechanisms became subservient to the political executive or were captured by party loyalists."<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Welzel|first=Christian Peter|date=2017|title=A Tale of Culture-Bound Regime Evolution|url=http://fox.leuphana.de/portal/de/publications/a-tale-of-culturebound-regime-evolution-the-centennial-democratic-trend-and-its-recent-reversal(2b6baaf4-3942-4491-92ca-55782d455a62).html|journal=Democratization|language=en|doi=10.1080/13510347.2018.1542430|issn=1351-0347|s2cid=148625260}}</ref> Scholars also point to how the Modi government has used state power to intimidate and stifle critics in the media and academia, thus undermining freedom of expression and alternative sources of information.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|first=Lydia|last=Finzel|title=Democratic Backsliding in India, the World's Largest Democracy {{!}} V-Dem|url=https://www.v-dem.net/en/news/democratic-backsliding-india-worlds-largest-democracy/|date=24 February 2020|access-date=27 November 2020|website=www.v-dem.net|publisher=[[V-Dem Institute]]}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> There have been several reports of the [[Modi government]] to be as an [[Authoritarian conservatism|authoritarian conservative]] government, even due to lack of good [[Leader of the Opposition (India)|opposition]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ding|first1=Iza|last2=Slater|first2=Dan|date=2 January 2021|title=Democratic decoupling|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2020.1842361|journal=Democratization|volume=28|issue=1|pages=63–80|doi=10.1080/13510347.2020.1842361|s2cid=231643689|issn=1351-0347}}</ref>
 
== Electoral history ==
{{Main|Electoral history of Narendra Modi}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%; text-align: center;"
|+Election results
!Year
!Office
!Constituency
! colspan="2" |Party
!Votes for Modi
!%
!Opponent
! colspan="2" |Party
!Votes
!%
!Ref
|-
|[[2002 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|2002]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]]
|[[Rajkot II]]
| rowspan="7" |[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| rowspan="7" |[[File:Bharatiya Janata Party (icon).svg|frameless|21x21px]]
|45,298
|57.32
|Ashwinbhai Narbheshankar Mehta
| rowspan="5" |[[Indian National Congress]]
| rowspan="5" |[[File:Hand INC.svg|frameless|20x20px]]
|30,570
|38.68
|<ref>{{cite web|first1=Uday|last1=Mahurkar|title=Rajkot II by-elections: Narendra Modi pushes his own image as a rising star of BJP|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20020225-narendra-modi-pushes-his-own-image-as-a-rising-star-of-bjp-795944-2002-02-25|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715180705/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20020225-narendra-modi-pushes-his-own-image-as-a-rising-star-of-bjp-795944-2002-02-25|date=25 February 2002|archive-date=15 July 2020|access-date=15 January 2021|website=[[India Today]]|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[2002 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|2002]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Maninagar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Maninagar]]
|1,13,589
|73.29
|[[Yatinbhai Oza]]
|38,256
|24.68
|{{Sfnm|1a1=Marino|1y=2014|1pp=98|2a1=Bal Narendra|2y=2014|2pp=67-69}}
|-
|[[2007 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|2007]]
|1,39,568
|69.53
|[[Dinsha Patel]]
|52,407
|26.11
|<ref>{{cite web|last=Bhatt|first=Sheela|date=27 November 2007|title=Union minister Dinsha Patel to take on Modi in Maninagar|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/27gujpoll1.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035902/https://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/27gujpoll1.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=15 January 2021|website=[[Rediff]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[2012 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|2012]]
|1,20,470
|75.38
|Shweta Sanjiv Bhat
|34,097
|21.34
|<ref name="big win" />
|-
|[[2014 Indian general election|2014]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of the Lok Sabha]]
|[[Vadodara (Lok Sabha constituency)|Vadodara]]
|8,45,464
|72.75
|[[Madhusudan Mistry]]
|2,75,336
|23.69
|<ref>{{cite web|title=General Election To Lok Sabha Trends & Result 2014|url=http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS0620.htm?ac=20|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517135238/http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS0620.htm?ac=20|archive-date=17 May 2014|access-date=15 January 2021|website=[[Election Commission of India|ECI]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[2014 Indian general election|2014]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Varanasi (Lok Sabha constituency)|Varanasi]]
|5,81,022
|56.37
|[[Arvind Kejriwal]]
|[[Aam Aadmi Party]]
|
|2,09,238
|20.30
|<ref name="grand roadshow" />
|-
|[[2019 Indian general election|2019]]
|6,74,664
|63.62
|Shalini Yadav
|[[Samajwadi Party]]
|[[File:Samajwadi Party Flag.jpg|frameless|20x20px]]
|1,95,159
|18.40
|<ref>{{cite web|date=23 May 2019|title=Varanasi Election Result 2019: PM Modi' Varanasi is the star constituency|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/constituency-watch/may-10-lok-sabha-2019-constituency-pm-modi-is-the-sitting-mp-from-ups-varanasi/story-AOwwWeUUmyrgpI90ChDYQP.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528121737/https://www.hindustantimes.com/constituency-watch/may-10-lok-sabha-2019-constituency-pm-modi-is-the-sitting-mp-from-ups-varanasi/story-AOwwWeUUmyrgpI90ChDYQP.html|archive-date=28 May 2020|access-date=15 January 2021|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en}}</ref>
|}
 
== Personal life and image ==
{{Further|Public image of Narendra Modi}}
 
=== Personal life ===
In accordance with Ghanchi tradition, Modi's marriage was arranged by his parents when he was a child. He was engaged at age 13 to [[Jashodaben Modi]], marrying her when he was 18. They spent little time together and grew apart when Modi began two years of travel, including visits to Hindu [[ashram]]s.<ref name="Jose Caravan" /><ref>{{cite news |first=Lakshmi |last=Ajay |url=http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/i-like-to-read-about-him-narendra-modi...-i-know-he-will-become-pm-wife-jashodaben/1222311 |title=Narendra Modi's 'wife' Jashodaben finally speaks, 'I like to read about him (Modi)&nbsp;... I know he will become PM' |work=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]] |date=1 February 2014 |access-date=13 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102151633/http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/i-like-to-read-about-him-narendra-modi...-i-know-he-will-become-pm-wife-jashodaben/1222311 |archive-date=2 January 2015 }}</ref> Reportedly, their marriage was never [[Consummation|consummated]], and he kept it a secret because otherwise he could not have become a 'pracharak' in the puritan [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]].<ref name="IT13092013">{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-from-tea-vendor-to-pm-candidate/1/309693.html |title=Narendra Modi: From tea vendor to PM candidate |work=[[India Today]] |date=13 September 2013 |access-date=21 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421050606/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-from-tea-vendor-to-pm-candidate/1/309693.html |archive-date=21 April 2014 }}</ref>{{sfn|Mukhopadhyay|2013|loc=A time of difference}} Modi kept his marriage secret for most of his career. He acknowledged his wife for the first time when he filed his nomination for the 2014 general elections.<ref>{{cite news |title=I am single, so best man to fight graft: Narendra Modi |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/I-am-single-so-best-man-to-fight-graft-Narendra-Modi/articleshow/30536843.cms? |work=[[The Times of India]] |first=Anand |last=Bodh |date=17 February 2014 |access-date=13 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413102702/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/I-am-single-so-best-man-to-fight-graft-Narendra-Modi/articleshow/30536843.cms |archive-date=13 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Jashodaben-is-my-wife-Narendra-Modi-admits-under-oath/articleshow/33521705.cms |title=Jashodaben is my wife, Narendra Modi admits under oath |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=10 April 2014 |access-date=11 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410081738/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Jashodaben-is-my-wife-Narendra-Modi-admits-under-oath/articleshow/33521705.cms |archive-date=10 April 2014 }}</ref> Modi maintains a close relationship with his mother, Hiraben.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kapil|last=Dave|title=PM Narendra Modi takes blessings from mother Hiraba on his 66th birthday|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Narendra-Modi-takes-blessings-from-mother-Hiraba-on-his-66th-birthday/articleshow/54373357.cms|date=17 September 2016|access-date=17 September 2016|work=[[The Times of India]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922064717/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Narendra-Modi-takes-blessings-from-mother-Hiraba-on-his-66th-birthday/articleshow/54373357.cms|archive-date=22 September 2016}}</ref>
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participates in the mass yoga demonstration at Rajpath on the occasion of International Yoga Day, in New Delhi on June 21, 2015.jpg|thumb|Modi at [[International Yoga Day|Yoga Day]] celebrations in New Delhi, 21 June 2015.|244x244px]]
A [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]] and teetotaler,<ref>{{cite news|first=Raj|last=Singh|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/10-facts-to-know-about-narendra-modi-pm-india-6602.html?page=4|title=B'day Spl: 10 facts to know about Prime Minister Narendra Modi|date=17 September 2015|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923163307/https://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/10-facts-to-know-about-narendra-modi-pm-india-6602.html?page=4|archive-date=23 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Luke|last=Harding|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/18/india.lukeharding|title=Profile: Narendra Modi|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=18 August 2003|access-date=17 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517022009/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/18/india.lukeharding|archive-date=17 May 2014}}</ref> Modi has a frugal lifestyle and is a [[workaholic]] and introvert.<ref>{{cite news |first=Saba |last=Naqvi |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/The-Hawk-In-Flight/236315 |title=The Hawk in Flight |work=[[Outlook India]] |date=24 December 2007 |access-date=17 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927093828/http://www.outlookindia.com/article/The-Hawk-In-Flight/236315 |archive-date=27 September 2014 }}</ref> Modi's 31 August 2012 post on Google Hangouts made him the first Indian politician to interact with citizens on a live chat.<ref name="toi">{{cite news|title=Narendra Modi on Google Hangout, Ajay Devgn to host event |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/social-media/Narendra-Modi-on-Google-Hangout-Ajay-Devgn-to-host-event/articleshow/16068578.cms?referral=PM|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=31 August 2012|access-date=3 September 2012}}</ref><ref name="ibn">{{cite news|title=People ask, Narendra Modi answers on Google Plus Hangout|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/modi-answers-netizens-on-google-plus-hangout/287292-37.html|publisher=[[CNN-IBN]]|date=1 September 2012|access-date=3 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904041147/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/modi-answers-netizens-on-google-plus-hangout/287292-37.html|archive-date=4 September 2012}}</ref> Modi has also been called a fashion-icon for his signature crisply ironed, half-sleeved ''[[kurta]]'', as well as for a suit with his name embroidered repeatedly in the pinstripes that he wore during a state visit by US President [[Barack Obama]], which drew public and media attention and criticism.<ref name="Sharma June 2014">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/06/06/heres-what-narendra-modis-fashion-says-about-his-politics/ |title=Here's what Narendra Modi's fashion says about his politics |first=Swati |last=Sharma |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=6 June 2014 |issn=0190-8286 |access-date=24 January 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025062736/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/06/06/heres-what-narendra-modis-fashion-says-about-his-politics/ |archive-date=25 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="Friedman June 2014">{{cite news |url=http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/narendra-modi-a-leader-who-is-what-he-wears/?_r=0 |title=Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India: A Leader Who Is What He Wears |first=Vanessa |last=Friedman |work=[[The New York Times]]: On The Runway |date=3 June 2014 |access-date=24 January 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128114450/http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/narendra-modi-a-leader-who-is-what-he-wears/?_r=0 |archive-date=28 January 2015 }}</ref><ref name=Price>{{cite book|last1=Price|first1=Lance|author-link1=Lance Price|title=The Modi Effect: Inside Narendra Modi's campaign to transform India|publisher=[[Quercus (publisher)|Quercus]]|isbn=978-1-62365-938-7|pages=179–180|date=24 March 2015}}</ref> Modi's personality has been variously described by scholars and biographers as energetic, arrogant, and charismatic.<ref name="Stepan" />{{sfn|Marino|2014|pp=60–70}}
 
He had published a Gujarati book titled ''Jyotipunj'' in 2008, containing profiles of various RSS leaders. The longest was of [[M. S. Golwalkar]], under whose leadership the RSS expanded and whom Modi refers to as ''Pujniya Shri Guruji'' ("Guru worthy of worship").<ref>{{cite news |title=Narendra Modi on MS Golwalkar, translated by Aakar Patel – Part 1 |url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/vantage/modi-golwalkar-part-1 |work=[[The Caravan]] |date=31 May 2014 |access-date=20 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610003500/http://www.caravanmagazine.in/vantage/modi-golwalkar-part-1 |archive-date=10 June 2015 }}</ref> According to ''[[The Economic Times]]'', his intention was to explain the workings of the RSS to his readers and to reassure RSS members that he remained ideologically aligned with them. Modi authored eight other books, mostly containing short stories for children.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jyotipunj: Narendra Modi writes on 'my organisation, my leaders' |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jyotipunj-narendra-modi-writes-on-my-organisation-my-leaders/articleshow/2936428.cms |work=[[The Economic Times]] |date=9 April 2008 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621040809/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-04-09/news/27702974_1_rss-workers-pracharak-rss-leaders |archive-date=21 June 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
 
The nomination of Modi for the prime ministership drew attention to his reputation as "one of contemporary India's most controversial and divisive politicians."<ref name="Basu 2014" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130702/jsp/nation/story_17071479.jsp|title=Boomerang warning in article on 'polarising' Modi|last=Ramaseshan|first=Radhika|work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]]|location=Kolkata|date=2 July 2013|access-date=15 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111231449/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130702/jsp/nation/story_17071479.jsp|archive-date=11 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Specials/Coverage/Gujarat-Assembly-Elections-2012/Chunk-HT-UI-GujaratAssemblyElections2012-BlogPostsAshokMalik/Popular-but-polarising-can-Narendra-Modi-be-PM/SP-Article10-956550.aspx |title=Popular but polarising: can Narendra Modi be PM? |last=Malik |first=Ashok |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=8 November 2012 |access-date=15 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210144412/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Specials/Coverage/Gujarat-Assembly-Elections-2012/Chunk-HT-UI-GujaratAssemblyElections2012-BlogPostsAshokMalik/Popular-but-polarising-can-Narendra-Modi-be-PM/SP-Article10-956550.aspx |archive-date=10 February 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/opinion/sunday/indias-divisive-technocrat.html| title=In India, a Dangerous and Divisive Technocrat| last=Bajaj| first=Vikas| work=[[The New York Times]]| date=22 December 2012| access-date=15 August 2013| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228050737/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/opinion/sunday/indias-divisive-technocrat.html?_r=0| archive-date=28 December 2012| df=dmy-all}}</ref> During the 2014 election campaign the BJP projected an image of Modi as a strong, masculine leader, who would be able to take difficult decisions.<ref name="Basu 2014" /><ref name="Chhibber" /><ref name="Jaffrelot 2015" /><ref name="Chacko" /><ref name="Srivastava" /> Campaigns in which he has participated have focused on Modi as an individual, in a manner unusual for the BJP and RSS.<ref name="Jaffrelot 2015" /> Modi has relied upon his reputation as a politician able to bring about economic growth and "development".<ref name="et20130715">{{cite news | title=NaMo, Ram the new mantra on Dalal Street! | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/analysis/namo-ram-the-new-mantra-on-dalal-street/articleshow/22576714.cms | work=[[The Economic Times]] | date=15 September 2013 | access-date=16 September 2013 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111133246/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/analysis/namo-ram-the-new-mantra-on-dalal-street/articleshow/22576714.cms | archive-date=11 January 2015 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Nonetheless, his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots continues to attract criticism and controversy.<ref name="Buncombe" /> Modi's hardline Hindutva philosophy and the policies adopted by his government continue to draw criticism, and have been seen as evidence of a majoritarian and exclusionary social agenda.<ref name="Buncombe" /><ref name="Stepan" /><ref name="Manor" /><ref name="Jaffrelot 2015" />
In March 2021, Modi received his first COVID-19 vaccine dose at the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi]].<ref><br />
* {{Cite web|first=Akhilesh|last=Sharma|title=PM Modi's Message To India As He Takes First Shot Of Coronavirus Vaccine|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-takes-first-dose-of-coronavirus-vaccine-at-delhis-aiims-appeals-to-all-those-who-are-eligible-to-take-vaccine-2380766|date=1 March 2021|access-date=1 March 2021|website=[[NDTV.com]]}}
* {{Cite web|date=1 March 2021|title=PM Narendra Modi takes first dose of Covaxin at Delhi's AIIMS|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-narendra-modi-coronavirus-vaccine-7208991/|access-date=1 March 2021|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}
* {{Cite web|date=1 March 2021|title=PM Modi takes first dose of Covid-19 vaccine at Delhi's AIIMS|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-takes-first-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-at-delhis-aiims/articleshow/81265349.cms|access-date=1 March 2021|work=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}
* {{Cite web|first=Sangeeta|last=Ojha|date=1 March 2021|title=PM Modi gets first dose of Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin at AIIMS Delhi|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/pm-modi-takes-his-first-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-at-delhi-s-aiims-today-11614562780434.html|access-date=1 March 2021|website=[[Live Mint]]|language=en}}</ref>
 
===Personal donations===
Modi has made donations for various causes and programmes. One such instance was when Modi donated {{INRConvert|225|k}} towards the initial corpus of the [[PM CARES Fund|Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES)]] Fund.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sharma|first=Aman|title=PM CARES: Initial corpus of Rs 2.25 lakh given by Narendra Modi|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-cares-initial-corpus-of-rs-2-25-lakh-given-by-narendra-modi/articleshow/77903240.cms?from=mdr|access-date=22 September 2021}}</ref> In his role as [[chief minister of Gujarat]], Modi had donated {{INRConvert|2.1|m}} from personal savings for educating daughters of state government officials. Modi had also raised {{INRConvert|899.6|m}} by auctioning all the gifts he received as chief minister and donated this to the Kanya Kelavani Fund. The money was spent on the [[Female education|education of girl children]], through the scheme.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PM Modi's Donations From Savings, Auctions Over Rs 103 Crore: Officials|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-cares-pm-narendra-modi-donated-rs-2-25-lakh-from-own-pocket-to-anti-covid-fund-say-pmo-officials-2289747|access-date=22 September 2021|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Roche|first=Elizabeth|date=3 September 2020|title=PM donates over ₹103 cr from auctions, own savings|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/prime-minister-modi-s-donations-so-far-total-rs-103-crore-11599119883787.html|access-date=22 September 2021|website=mint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=3 Sep|title=PM Modi's donations from his savings and proceeds of auctions exceed Rs 103 crore {{!}} India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modis-donations-from-his-savings-and-proceeds-of-auctions-exceed-rs-103-crore/articleshow/77907816.cms|access-date=22 September 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=4 Sep|title=PM Modi's donations to public causes exceed Rs 103 crore {{!}} India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modis-donations-to-public-causes-exceed-rs-103-crore/articleshow/77921741.cms|access-date=22 September 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=PM Cares Fund: Here is how much Narendra Modi contributed|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-cares-fund-here-is-how-much-narendra-modi-contributed-1718149-2020-09-03|access-date=22 September 2021|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=How Much PM Modi Donates And To Whom, His Office Lists In Tweets|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/prime-minister-narendra-modi-lists-donations-rs-21-lakh-for-sanitation-workers-and-more-2003602|access-date=22 September 2021|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=4 September 2020|title=PM Modi's donations from his savings, gift auction exceed Rs 103 cr: Report|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/pm-modi-s-donations-from-his-savings-gift-auction-exceed-rs-103-cr-report-120090300759_1.html|access-date=22 September 2021}}</ref>
 
=== Approval ratings ===
{{main|Opinion polling on the Narendra Modi premiership}}
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi interacting with the school children after addressing the Nation, on the occasion of 71st Independence Day from the ramparts of Red Fort, in Delhi on August 15, 2017.jpg|thumb|Modi interacting with the school children after delivering his address on [[Independence Day (India)|Independence Day]] in New Delhi, 15 August 2017.|238x238px]]
As a Prime Minister, Modi has received consistently high approval ratings; at the end of his first year in office, he received an overall approval rating of 87% in a Pew Research poll, with 68% of people rating him "very favorably" and 93% approving of his government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indians adore Modi|last=Zainulbhai|first=Hani|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/09/17/indians-adore-modi/|date=17 September 2015|access-date=17 February 2017|website=[[Pew Research]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114103530/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/09/17/indians-adore-modi/|archive-date=14 November 2016}}</ref> His approval rating remained largely consistent at around 74% through his second year in office, according to a nationwide poll conducted by instaVaani.<ref>{{cite news|title=PM Modi's approval rating remains high 2 years into term: poll|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/TkDwBkcX7kpm9VL80zTU4N/Narendra-Modis-approval-rating-remains-high-Poll.html|date=23 May 2016|access-date=28 May 2016|newspaper=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526050459/http://www.livemint.com/Politics/TkDwBkcX7kpm9VL80zTU4N/Narendra-Modis-approval-rating-remains-high-Poll.html|archive-date=26 May 2016|last1=Shashidhar|first1=Karthik}}</ref> At the end of his second year in office, an updated Pew Research poll showed Modi continued to receive high overall approval ratings of 81%, with 57% of those polled rating him "very favorably."<ref>{{cite web|first=Bruce|last=Stokes|title=India and Modi: The Honeymoon Continues|url=http://www.pewglobal.org/2016/09/19/india-and-modi-the-honeymoon-continues/|date=19 September 2016|access-date=17 February 2017|website=[[Pew Research]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217154037/http://www.pewglobal.org/2016/09/19/india-and-modi-the-honeymoon-continues/|archive-date=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Nida |last=Najar |title=PM Narendra Modi retains broad support in India despite criticism, poll finds |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/pm-narendra-modi-retains-broad-support-in-india-despite-criticism-poll-finds/articleshow/54418680.cms |work=[[The Economic Times]] |date=20 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116235640/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/pm-narendra-modi-retains-broad-support-in-india-despite-criticism-poll-finds/articleshow/54418680.cms |archive-date=16 November 2016 |access-date=17 November 2016}}</ref> At the end of his third year in office, a further Pew Research poll showed Modi with an overall approval rating of 88%, his highest yet, with 69% of people polled rating him "very favorably."<ref>{{cite web|first1=Bruce|last1=Stokes|first2=Dorothy|last2=Manevich|first3=Hanyu|last3=Chwe|title=Three Years In, Modi Remains Very Popular|url=http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/11/14093908/Pew-Research-Center_India-Modi-Report_2017.11.15.pdf|date=15 November 2017|access-date=16 November 2017|website=[[Pew Research]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115174444/http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/11/14093908/Pew-Research-Center_India-Modi-Report_2017.11.15.pdf|archive-date=15 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> A poll conducted by ''[[The Times of India]]'' in May 2017 showed 77% of the respondents rated Modi as "very good" and "good".<ref>{{cite news|title=Modi Govt gets high approval rating at three-year mark in TOI online poll|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/modi-government/news/modi-govt-gets-high-approval-rating-at-three-year-mark-in-toi-online-poll/articleshow/58808743.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=23 May 2017|access-date=14 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821144103/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/modi-government/news/modi-govt-gets-high-approval-rating-at-three-year-mark-in-toi-online-poll/articleshow/58808743.cms|archive-date=21 August 2017}}</ref> In early 2017, a survey from [[Pew Research Center]] showed Modi to be the most popular figure in Indian politics.<ref>{{cite news|title=PM Narendra Modi 'By Far' Most Popular Figure in Indian Politics: Pew Survey|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-by-far-most-popular-figure-in-indian-politics-says-survey-by-american-think-tank-pew-1776032|date=16 November 2017|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=26 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040218/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-by-far-most-popular-figure-in-indian-politics-says-survey-by-american-think-tank-pew-1776032|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In a weekly analysis by [[Morning Consult]] called the Global Leader Approval Rating Tracker, Modi had the highest net approval rating as of 22 December 2020 of all government leaders in the 13 countries being tracked.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 January 2021|title=Modi's high approval rating a matter of pride for all Indians: Nadda|url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/12078819_Modi--s-high-approval-rating-a-matter-of-pride-for-all-Indians--Nadda|access-date=7 January 2021|website=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Leader Approval Tracker|url=https://morningconsult.com/form/global-leader-approval/|access-date=7 January 2021|website=[[Morning Consult]]|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
== Awards and recognition ==
In March 2012 and June 2014, Modi appeared on the cover of the Asian edition of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]]'', one of the few Indian politicians to have done so.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Jyoti|last=Thottam|url=http://world.time.com/2012/03/16/why-narendra-modi-is-indias-most-loved-and-loathed-politician/|title=Why Narendra Modi is India's Most Loved and Loathed Politician|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=16 March 2012|access-date=17 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403122046/http://world.time.com/2012/03/16/why-narendra-modi-is-indias-most-loved-and-loathed-politician/|archive-date=3 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/magazine/south-pacific/108674/june-2nd-2014-vol-183-no-21-asia-europe-middle-east-and-africa-south-pacific/|title=Narendra Modi: The New Face of India|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=2 June 2014|access-date=22 December 2020|volume=Volume 183 - No. 21}}</ref> He was awarded [[CNN-News18 Indian of the Year|Indian of the Year]] by ''[[CNN-News18]]'' (formally ''CNN-IBN'') news network in 2014.<ref name="Indian of the Year of 2014">{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/list-of-winners-of-indian-of-the-year-2014/534516-3.html|title=List of winners of Indian of the Year 2014|date=17 March 2015|access-date=17 February 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508145221/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/list-of-winners-of-indian-of-the-year-2014/534516-3.html|publisher=[[CNN-IBN]]|archive-date=8 May 2015}}</ref> In June 2015, Modi was featured on the [[List of covers of Time magazine (2010s)|cover of Time Magazine]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first1=Nancy|last1=Gibbs|first2=Zoher|last2=Abdoolcarim|first3=Nikhil|last3=Kumar|url=https://time.com/3849492/narendra-modi-interview/|title=Exclusive Interview With Narendra Modi: 'We Are Natural Allies'|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=7 May 2015|access-date=22 December 2020}}</ref> In 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2021, he was named one of Time magazine's [[Time 100|100 Most Influential People in the World]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://time.com/70845/ |title=The 100 Most Influential People: Narendra Modi |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |location=US |first=Fareed |last=Zakaria |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=25 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425010914/http://time.com/70845/ |archive-date=25 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://time.com/3823155/narendra-modi-2015-time-100/ |title=The 100 Most Influential People: Narendra Modi |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |location=US |first=Barack |last=Obama |date=16 April 2015 |access-date=15 December 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214231710/http://time.com/3823155/narendra-modi-2015-time-100/ |archive-date=14 December 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://time.com/collection/2017-time-100/4736335/narendra-modi/ |title=The 100 Most Influential People: Narendra Modi |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |location=US |first=Pankaj |last=Mishra |date=20 April 2017 |access-date=25 April 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425072553/http://time.com/collection/2017-time-100/4736335/narendra-modi/ |archive-date=25 April 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2020/5888327/narendra-modi-india/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923090954/https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2020/5888327/narendra-modi-india/|title=The 100 Most Influential People of 2020: Narendra Modi |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |location=US |first=Karl |last=Vick |date=22 September 2020 |archive-date=23 September 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6096023/narendra-modi-leader/|title=The 100 Most Influential People of 2021: Narendra Modi|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|location=US|first=Fareed|last=Zakaria|date=15 September 2021|access-date=17 September 2021}}</ref> ''[[Forbes Magazine]]'' ranked him the 15th Most Powerful Person in the World in 2014 and the [[Forbes list of The World's Most Powerful People|9th Most Powerful Person in the World]] in 2015, 2016 and 2018.<ref>{{cite news|title=Narendra Modi|url= https://www.forbes.com/profile/narendra-modi/|newspaper= [[Forbes]]|date= November 2018|access-date= 6 November 2018|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141106101820/http://www.forbes.com/profile/narendra-modi/|archive-date= 6 November 2014|df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=2014 Ranking Of The World's Most Powerful People|url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2014/11/05/2014-ranking-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-people/?sh=61b961e04d93|newspaper= [[Forbes]]|date=5 November 2014|access-date=6 November 2014|df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Russian President Vladimir Putin Tops Forbes' 2015 Ranking Of The World's Most Powerful People|url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2015/11/04/russian-president-vladimir-putin-tops-forbes-2015-ranking-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-people/?sh=599c3a213548|newspaper= [[Forbes]]|date=4 November 2015|access-date=6 November 2015|df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=David M.|last=Ewalt|title= The World's Most Powerful People 2015|url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2015/11/04/the-worlds-most-powerful-people-2015/|newspaper= [[Forbes]]|date= 4 November 2015|access-date= 15 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161222020237/http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2015/11/04/the-worlds-most-powerful-people-2015/|archive-date= 22 December 2016|df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=David M.|last=Ewalt|title= The World's Most Powerful People 2016|url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2016/12/14/the-worlds-most-powerful-people-2016/|newspaper= [[Forbes]]|date= 14 December 2016|access-date= 15 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161214153005/http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2016/12/14/the-worlds-most-powerful-people-2016/#26ec03f2368d|archive-date= 14 December 2016|df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Forbes Releases 2018 List Of The World's Most Powerful People|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2018/05/08/forbes-releases-2018-list-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-people/?sh=55fcee49719c|newspaper= [[Forbes]]|date=8 May 2018|access-date=6 November 2018|df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=David M.|last=Ewalt|title= The World's Most Powerful People 2018|url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2018/05/08/the-worlds-most-powerful-people-2018/|newspaper= [[Forbes]]|date= 8 May 2018|access-date= 10 May 2018|df= dmy-all|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180509222602/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2018/05/08/the-worlds-most-powerful-people-2018/|archive-date= 9 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Modi was ranked the [[50 Most Influential (Bloomberg Markets ranking)|13th Most Influential Person in the World]] by ''[[Bloomberg Markets]] Magazine''.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|author=Dieterich, Robert S.|title=Bloomberg Markets 50 Most Influential|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-markets-most-influential/#intro|date=September 2015|access-date=9 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006192842/http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-markets-most-influential|archive-date=6 October 2015}}</ref> Modi was ranked fifth on ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune Magazine]]''{{'}}s first annual list of the "World's Greatest Leaders" in 2015.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://fortune.com/worlds-greatest-leaders/2015/narendra-modi-5/| title=World's Greatest Leaders 2015: Narendra Modi| work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]| access-date=17 February 2017| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222212308/http://fortune.com/worlds-greatest-leaders/2015/narendra-modi-5/| archive-date=22 February 2017| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.businessinsider.in/Narendra-Modi-and-Kailash-Satyarthi-are-worlds-greatest-leaders-says-Fortune-Magazine/articleshow/46715870.cms| title=Narendra Modi and Kailash Satyarthi are world's greatest leaders, says Fortune Magazine| work=[[Business Insider]]| date=27 March 2015| access-date=5 April 2015| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330220128/http://www.businessinsider.in/Narendra-Modi-and-Kailash-Satyarthi-are-worlds-greatest-leaders-says-Fortune-Magazine/articleshow/46715870.cms| archive-date=30 March 2015| df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2017, [[Gallup International Association]] (GIA) conducted a poll and ranked Modi as third top leader of the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/gia-poll-modi-ranks-third-after-merkel-macron-in-global-ratings-of-top-world-leaders-best-ever-rank-for-an-indian-pm-4298471.html|title=GIA poll: Modi ranks third after Merkel, Macron in global ratings of top world leaders; best ever rank for an Indian PM |website=[[firstpost.com]]|date=11 January 2018|access-date=12 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Abhishek|last=Rana|url=https://www.newsfolo.com/india/gia-poll-2017-narendra-modi-ranks-third-highest-indian-prime-minister/134669/|title=GIA Poll 2017: Narendra Modi ranks third, the highest for an Indian Prime Minister|date=12 January 2018|access-date=13 January 2018|website=www.newsfolo.com}}</ref> In 2016, a wax statue of Modi was unveiled at [[Madame Tussauds]] [[wax museum]] in London.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-narendra-modi-wax-statue-madame-tussauds-musuem-london-2774822/| title=London: PM Modi's wax statue unveiled at Madame Tussaud's Museum| work=[[The Indian Express]]| date=28 April 2015| access-date=25 April 2017| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425121838/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-narendra-modi-wax-statue-madame-tussauds-musuem-london-2774822/| archive-date=25 April 2017| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://wap.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/narendra-modi-s-wax-statue-unveiled-at-madame-tussaud-s-musuem-116042801127_1.html| title=Narendra Modi's wax statue unveiled at Madame Tussaud's Museum| work=[[Business Standard]]| date=28 April 2016| access-date=25 April 2015| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608192334/http://wap.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/narendra-modi-s-wax-statue-unveiled-at-madame-tussaud-s-musuem-116042801127_1.html| archive-date=8 June 2016| df=dmy-all}}</ref>
 
In 2015 he was named one of ''Time''{{'}}s "30 Most Influential People on the Internet" as the [[List of most-followed Twitter accounts|second-most-followed politician]] on [[Twitter]] and [[Facebook]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://time.com/3732203/the-30-most-influential-people-on-the-internet/ | title=The 30 Most Influential People on the Internet | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=5 March 2015 | access-date=6 March 2015 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321233428/http://time.com/3732203/the-30-most-influential-people-on-the-internet/ | archive-date=21 March 2015 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 2018, he was the third most followed [[World leaders|world leader]] on Twitter,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/281375/heads-of-state-with-the-most-twitter-followers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206145537/https://www.statista.com/statistics/281375/heads-of-state-with-the-most-twitter-followers/ | title=Twitter: Heads of state with the most followers 2018 |work=[[Statista]] |archive-date=6 December 2018 |access-date=8 September 2021}}</ref> and the most followed world leader on Facebook and [[Instagram]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Surabhi|last=Agarwal|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/with-41-7-million-followers-modi-becomes-most-followed-world-leader-on-facebook/articleshow/58863602.cms|work=[[The Economic Times]]|title=With 41.7 million followers, Modi becomes most followed world leader on Facebook|date=27 May 2017|access-date=28 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/narendra-modi-most-followed-instagram-1403501-2018-12-06|title=PM Narendra Modi most followed world leader on Instagram|work=[[India Today]]|date=6 December 2018|access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> In October 2018, Modi received United Nations's highest environmental award, the '[[Champions of the Earth]]', for policy leadership by "pioneering work in championing" the [[International Solar Alliance]] and "new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action".<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unep.org/championsofearth/node/50|title=Narendra Modi - Policy Leadership Award {{!}} Champions of the Earth|website=[[United Nations Environment Programme|web.unep.org]]|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="auto6">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-narendra-modi-receives-uns-champions-of-the-earth-award/articleshow/66051710.cms?from=mdr|title=PM Narendra Modi receives UN's Champions of the Earth Award|date=3 October 2018|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> He was conferred the 2018 [[Seoul Peace Prize]] in recognition of "his dedication to improving international co-operation, raising global economic growth, accelerating the Human Development of the people of India by fostering economic growth and furthering the development of democracy through anti-corruption and social integration efforts". He is the first Indian to win the award.<ref name="auto5">{{cite web|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/30532/Prime+Minister+Modi+Awarded+the+2018+Seoul+Peace+Prize|title=Prime Minister Modi Awarded the 2018 Seoul Peace Prize|website=[[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]], [[Government of India]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513151012/https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl%2F30532%2FPrime+Minister+Modi+Awarded+the+2018+Seoul+Peace+Prize|date=24 October 2018|archive-date=13 May 2019|url-status=live|access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-modi-receives-seoul-peace-prize-for-2018/articleshow/68108358.cms|title=PM Modi receives Seoul Peace Prize for 2018|date=22 February 2019|website=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020210409/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-modi-receives-seoul-peace-prize-for-2018/articleshow/68108358.cms|archive-date=20 October 2020|access-date=15 January 2021}}</ref>
 
Following his [[Second swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi|second swearing-in ceremony]] as Prime Minister of India, a picture of Modi was displayed on the facade of the [[Abu Dhabi National Oil Company|ADNOC]] building in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/general/adnoc-marks-modis-inauguration-as-prime-minister-of-india-12|title=Video: ADNOC marks Modi's inauguration as Prime Minister of India|work=[[Khaleej Times]]|date=31 May 2019|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref> The Texas India Forum hosted a community event in honour of Modi on 22 September 2019 at the [[NRG Stadium]] in [[Houston]], [[Texas]]. The event was attended by over 50,000 people and several American politicians including President [[Donald Trump]], making it the largest gathering for an invited foreign leader visiting the United States other than the [[Pope]].<ref>{{cite web |title='Howdy, Modi!': Trump hails Indian PM at 'historic' Texas rally |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49788492 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923000151/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49788492/ |publisher=[[BBC]] |archive-date=23 September 2019 |access-date=25 September 2019 |date=22 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Texas India Forum – Howdy Modi |url=https://www.howdymodi.org/ |website=howdymodi.org |access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> At the same event, Modi was presented with the [[Freedom of the City|Key to the City]] of Houston by Mayor [[Sylvester Turner]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haidar |first1=Suhasini |title='Howdy Modi' in Houston: After Modi show, Trump tweets: 'The USA Loves India!' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/howdy-modi-event-in-houston-live-updates/article29481830.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=23 September 2019 |language=en-IN |date=22 September 2019}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Goalkeepers (Gates Foundation)|Global Goalkeeper Award]] on 24 September 2019 in New York City by the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] in recognition for the [[Swachh Bharat Mission]] and "the progress India has made in providing safe sanitation under his leadership".<ref name="auto2">{{cite web |title=Gates Foundation on Twitter |quote=Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Global Goalkeeper Award at tonight’s Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards. This award recognizes the progress India has made in providing safe sanitation under his leadership. |url=https://twitter.com/gatesfoundation/status/1176654725229490176 |work=@gatesfoundation - via [[Twitter]]|access-date=25 September 2019 |language=en |date=24 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Gwyn|last=D'Mello|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/news/bill-gates-foundation-gave-pm-narendra-modi-global-goalkeeper-award-for-swachh-bharat-impact-376502.html |title=Bill Gates' Foundation Gave PM Narendra Modi 'Global Goalkeeper' Award For Swachh Bharat Impact|work=[[indiatimes.com]] |date=26 September 2019|access-date=27 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web |title=Narendra Modi: 'Global Goalkeeper' award for PM Modi for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan {{!}} India News |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/global-goalkeeper-award-for-pm-modi-for-swachch-bharat-abhiyan/articleshow/71285839.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=25 September 2019 |access-date=25 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
 
In 2020, Modi was among eight world leaders awarded the parodic [[Ig Nobel Prize]] in Medical Education "for using the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 viral pandemic]] to teach the world that politicians can have a more immediate effect on life and death than scientists and doctors can".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tanne |first1=Janice Hopkins |title=Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, and other leaders win Ig Nobel awards for teaching people about life and death |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3675 |access-date=19 September 2020 |work=[[The BMJ|BMJ]] |date=18 September 2020 |language=en |doi=10.1136/bmj.m3675}}</ref> On 21 December 2020, President Donald Trump awarded Modi with the [[Legion of Merit]] for elevating the [[India–United States relations]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lakshman|first=Sriram|date=22 December 2020|title=PM Modi awarded 'Legion of Merit' by Donald Trump|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/donald-trump-presents-legion-of-merit-to-pm-modi/article33390370.ece|access-date=22 December 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=22 December 2020|title=Donald Trump awards PM Narendra Modi with Legion of Merit for elevating India-US ties|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/donald-trump-awards-pm-narendra-modi-with-legion-of-merit-for-elevating-india-us-ties/articleshow/79849619.cms|access-date=22 December 2020|work=[[Mumbai Mirror]]|language=en|agency=[[Asian News International]]}}</ref> The Legion of Merit was awarded to Modi along with Prime Minister of Australia [[Scott Morrison]] and former Prime Minister of Japan [[Shinzo Abe]], the "original architects" of the [[Quadrilateral Security Dialogue|QUAD]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gupta|first=Shishir|date=22 December 2020|title=US' Legion of Merit award for QUAD architects sends multiple messages|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/us-legion-of-merit-award-for-quad-architects-sends-multiple-messages/story-bSHX0b7SNJXkmxTiHVU8hI.html|access-date=22 December 2020|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Aiyappa|first=Vikash|date=22 December 2020|archive-date=22 December 2020|title=The message Trump sent out by awarding PM Modi the Legion of Merit|url=https://www.oneindia.com/india/the-message-trump-sent-out-by-awarding-pm-modi-the-legion-of-merit-3192605.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222085346/https://www.oneindia.com/india/the-message-trump-sent-out-by-awarding-pm-modi-the-legion-of-merit-3192605.html|access-date=22 December 2020|work=[[oneindia.com]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Sharma|first=Aakriti|date=22 December 2020|title=After UAE's 'Order of Zayed' Indian PM Narendra Modi & QUAD Allies Awarded 'Legion of Merit' By US Government|url=https://eurasiantimes.com/after-uaes-order-of-zayed-pm-narendra-modi-awarded-legion-of-merit-by-us-government/|access-date=22 December 2020|work=eurasiantimes.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
On 24 February 2021, [[List of cricket grounds by capacity|the largest cricket stadium in the world]] at [[Ahmedabad]] was renamed [[Narendra Modi Stadium]] by the [[Gujarat Cricket Association]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 February 2021|title=Largest cricket stadium in Motera, with seating capacity for over 1 lakh fans, renamed as Narendra Modi Stadium
|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/world-s-largest-cricket-stadium-in-motera-named-narendra-modi-stadium-1772484-2021-02-24|access-date=24 February 2021|website=[[India Today]]|language=en}}</ref>
 
Modi is featured in TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people of 2021 list,<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=The 100 Most Influential People of 2021|url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/|access-date=19 September 2021|magazine=Time|language=en}}</ref> making it his fifth time after 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2020. ''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]'' called him the third "pivotal leader" of independent India after [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] and [[Indira Gandhi]] who "dominated the country’s politics like no one since them".<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 September 2021|title=PM Narendra Modi features in Time Magazine's list of 100 most influential people of 2021; 'dominating the country's politics', says report|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-features-in-time-magazines-list-of-100-most-influential-people-of-2021-dominating-the-countrys-politics-says-report/2331131/|access-date=18 September 2021|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=PM Modi In TIME Magazine's '100 Most Influential People 2021' List; Mamata Banerjee, Adar Poonawalla Also Feature|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/time-magazine-lists-pm-modi-in-100-most-influential-people-2021-mamata-banerjee-adar-poonawalla-feature-too-7471231.html|access-date=18 September 2021|website=Moneycontrol|language=en}}</ref>
 
=== State honours ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|--
! colspan=2 width="350px" | Decoration
! width="100px" | Country
! width="100px" | Date
! width="300px" | Note
! Ref.
|-
| [[File:Spange_des_König-Abdulaziz-Ordens.png|frameless|100x100px]]
| style="width:8em;"|'''[[Order of King Abdulaziz|Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud]]'''
| {{Flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| 3 April 2016
| ''Special Class'', the highest honour of Saudi Arabia awarded to non-Muslim dignitaries
|<ref name="Order of Abdulaziz">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/modi-conferred-highest-saudi-civilian-honour/story-bwZOeS1MJFw7QigfOEeFnI.html|title=Modi conferred highest Saudi civilian honour|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=3 April 2016|access-date=17 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208074803/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/modi-conferred-highest-saudi-civilian-honour/story-bwZOeS1MJFw7QigfOEeFnI.html|archive-date=8 February 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Ghazi_Amanullah_Khan_Medal_(Afghanistan)_-_ribbon_bar.png|frameless|100x100px]]
| style="width:8em;"|'''[[Amir Amanullah Khan Award|State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan]]'''
| {{Flag|Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|name=Afghanistan}}
| 4 June 2016
| The highest civilian honour of Afghanistan
|<ref name="Order of Amanullah Khan">{{cite news|title=PM Modi conferred Afghanistan's highest civilian honour|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-narendra-modi-afghanistan-highest-civilian-award-amir-amanullah-khan-award-2834312/|date=4 June 2016|access-date=17 February 2017|work=[[The Indian Express]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231055730/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-narendra-modi-afghanistan-highest-civilian-award-amir-amanullah-khan-award-2834312/|archive-date=31 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Grand Collar of the Order of the State of Palestine ribbon.svg|100x100px|frameless]]
| '''[[Grand Collar of the State of Palestine]]'''
| {{Flag|Palestine}}
| 10 February 2018
| The highest civilian honour of Palestine
|<ref name="Grand Collar of Palestine">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/modi-conferred-grand-collar-of-the-state-of-palestine/article22714293.ece|title=Modi conferred 'Grand Collar of the State of Palestine'|date=10 February 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=3 March 2018|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Order Zayed rib.png|100x100px|frameless]]
| '''[[Order of Zayed]]'''
| {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| 4 April 2019
| The highest civilian honour of the United Arab Emirates
|<ref name="Order of Zayed">{{cite news|title=PM Modi awarded highest civilian honour Zayed Medal by UAE|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/pm-modi-awarded-highest-civilian-honour-zayed-medal-by-uae-1493821-2019-04-04|date=4 April 2019|work=[[India Today]]|access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:OOSA.jpg|100x100px|frameless]]
| '''[[Order of St. Andrew]]'''
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 12 April 2019
| The highest civilian honour of Russia
|<ref name="Order of St. Andrew">{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/russia-narendra-modi-order-of-st-andrew-the-apostle-1500321-2019-04-12|title=Russia awards Narendra Modi its highest order, PM thanks Putin|date=12 April 2019|work=[[India Today]]|access-date=12 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514222834/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/russia-narendra-modi-order-of-st-andrew-the-apostle-1500321-2019-04-12|archive-date=14 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Order of Izzuddin (Maldives) - ribbon bar v. 1996.png|100x100px|frameless]]
| '''[[Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin]]'''
| {{flag|Maldives}}
| 8 June 2019
| The highest honour of the Maldives awarded to foreign dignitaries
|<ref name="Order of Izzuddin">{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/narendra-modi-maldives-highest-honour-1544908-2019-06-08|title=Maldives to confer country's highest honour on PM Modi|date=8 June 2019|work=[[India Today]]|access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:The Khalifiyyeh Order of Bahrain, 1st class.png|100x100px|frameless]]
| '''[[King Hamad Order of the Renaissance]]'''
| {{flag|Bahrain}}
| 24 August 2019
| ''First Class'', the highest honour of Bahrain awarded to foreign dignitaries
|<ref name="Order of the Renaissance">{{cite news|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/amp/india/article/pm-modi-honoured-with-the-king-hamad-order-of-the-renaissance-in-bahrain/475473|title=PM Modi honoured with 'The King Hamad Order of the Renaissance' in Bahrain|date=25 August 2019|work=[[Times Now]]|access-date=25 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:US Legion of Merit Chief Commander ribbon.png|100x100px|frameless]]
| '''[[Legion of Merit]]'''
| {{flag|United States}}
| 21 December 2020
| ''Chief Commander'', the highest degree of the Legion of Merit
|<ref name="Legion of Merit">{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-president-trump-presents-legion-of-merit-to-pm-modi/story-xNqBlK6CLMBZGRT6JCH2qO.html |title=US President Trump presents Legion of Merit to PM Modi|first=Shankhyaneel|last=Sarkar|date=22 December 2020|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=22 December 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:BHT_Order_of_the_Dragon_King_Ribbon.svg|100x100px|frameless]]
| '''[[Order of the Dragon King]]'''
| {{flag|Bhutan}}
| 17 December 2021
| ''First Class'', The highest civilian honour of Bhutan.
|<ref name="Druk_Gyalpo">{{cite news|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1782810 |title=PM honoured with Bhutan's highest civilian award|author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.-->|date=17 December 2021|work=Press Information Bureau|access-date=17 December 2021}}</ref>
|}
 
=== Other honours ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! width="350px" |Award
! width="100px" |Country/Organisation
! width="100px" |Date
! width="300px" |Note
! Ref.
|-
|'''[[CNN-News18 Indian of the Year]]'''
|[[CNN-News18]]
|2014
|Awarded annually by the Indian media house ''[[CNN-News18]]'', to various Indians for the contribution in their respective fields.
|<ref name="Indian of the Year of 2014" />
|-
|'''[[Champions of the Earth]]'''
|{{Flag|United Nations}}
|3 October 2018
|Awarded annually by the [[United Nations Environmental Programme]] for the environmental leadership.
|<ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto6"/>
|-
|'''[[Seoul Peace Prize]]'''
|{{Flag|South Korea}}
|24 October 2018
|Awarded bi-annually by South Korea for the contribution in peace and harmony.
|<ref name="auto5"/><ref name="auto3"/>
|-
|'''[[Goalkeepers (Gates Foundation)|Global Goalkeeper Award]]'''
|[[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]]
|24 September 2019
|Awarded annually by the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] for the global leadership.
|<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto1"/>
|}
 
==In popular culture==
{{See also|:Category:Cultural depictions of Narendra Modi}}
''Modi Kaka Ka Gaon'', a 2017 Indian [[Hindi]]-language drama film by Tushar Amrish Goel is the first biopic on Modi, starring Vikas Mahante in the titular role it was made halfway into his first-term as the prime minister which is shown in the film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Modi Kaka Ka Gaon Movie Review {1/5}: Critic Review of Modi Kaka Ka Gaon by Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/modi-kaka-ka-gaon/movie-review/62314057.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=11 June 2021}}.</ref> ''[[PM Narendra Modi]],'' a 2019 Indian Hindi-language biographical drama film by [[Omung Kumar]], starred [[Vivek Oberoi]] in the titular role and covers his rise to prime ministership.''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bhatnagar|first=Gaurav Vivek|date=20 March 2019|title=Does the Release of 'PM Narendra Modi' Violate Model Code of Conduct?|url=https://thewire.in/film/release-of-pm-narendra-modi-does-not-violate-model-code-of-conduct-say-ex-ec-chiefs|access-date=19 March 2021|work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref>''An Indian web series, ''Modi: Journey of a Common Man'', based on the same premise released in May 2019 on [[Eros Now]] with [[Ashish Sharma]] portraying Modi.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farooqui |first1=Maryam |title=With an eye on Lok Sabha polls, Eros Now to stream web series on PM Modi in April |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/with-an-eye-on-lok-sabha-polls-eros-now-to-stream-web-series-on-pm-modi-in-april-3704771.html |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=[[moneycontrol.com]]|date=27 March 2019}}</ref> ''Hu Narender Modi Banva Mangu Chu'' is a 2018 Indian [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]-language drama film by Anil Naryani about the aspirations of a young boy who wants to become like Narendra Modi.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8idAgLWjJn8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/8idAgLWjJn8| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Hu Narender Modi Banva Mangu Chu - Official Trailer {{!}} Karan Patel, Onkar Das & Anesha Sayyed|date=16 February 2019|access-date=17 February 2019|publisher=[[Zee Music]] Gujarati via [[YouTube]]|language=English}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
 
[[7 RCR (TV series)|''7 RCR'']] (''[[7, Race Course Road]]''), a 2014 Indian [[docudrama]] political television series which charts the political careers of prominent Indian politicians, covered Modi's rise to the PM's office in the episodes - "Story of Narendra Modi from 1950 to 2001", "Story of Narendra Modi in Controversial Years from 2001 to 2013", "Truth Behind Brand Modi", "Election Journey of Narendra Modi to 7 RCR", and "Masterplan of Narendra Modi's NDA Govt."; with Sangam Rai in the role of Modi.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1nBPAfwVRA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/p1nBPAfwVRA| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=First episode of 7 RCR on Narendra Modi|date=12 January 2014|access-date=12 January 2014|publisher=[[ABP News]] via [[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
 
Other portrayals of Modi include by [[Rajit Kapur]] in the film ''[[Uri: The Surgical Strike]]'' (2019) and [[Vikram Gokhale]] in the web-television series ''[[Avrodh: The Siege Within]]'' (2020) both based on the [[2016 Uri attack]] and the [[2016 Indian Line of Control strike|following Indian surgical strikes]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Uri: The Surgical Strike|url=https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/watch-uri-the-surgical-strike-full-movie-online/0-0-33204|access-date=11 June 2021|website=[[ZEE5]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Watch Avrodh Web Series Online|url=https://www.sonyliv.com/shows/avrodh-1700000236|access-date=22 June 2021|website=[[SonyLIV]]|language=en}}</ref> Pratap Singh played a character based on Modi in ''[[Chand Bujh Gaya]]'' (2005) which is set in the backdrop of the Gujarat riots.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|last1=Salam|first1=Ziya Us|date=13 August 2004|archive-date=11 June 2021|title=Ideology shackled|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/ideology-shackled/article28576898.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611095848/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/ideology-shackled/article28576898.ece|url-access=subscription|access-date=7 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Premiered on 12 August 2019, Modi appeared in an episode - "Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls and Prime Minister Modi" - of [[Discovery Channel India|Discovery Channel]]'s show ''[[Man vs Wild]]'' with the host [[Bear Grylls]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Man vs Wild with Bear Grylls and PM Modi|url=https://www.discoveryplus.in/show/man-vs-wild-with-bear-grylls-and-pm-modi|publisher=[[Discovery+]]|language=en|access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PM Modi rows boat, makes weapon, goes on a wild adventure for Man vs Wild TV show|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-narendra-modi-bear-grylls-on-man-vs-wild-show-1574682-2019-07-29|website=[[India Today]]|date=29 July 2019|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref> becoming the second world leader after [[Barack Obama]] to appear in the reality show.<ref>{{cite web|first=Hemant|last=Singh|title=World leaders including PM Narendra Modi with Bear Grylls in Man vs Wild Program at Discovery India|url=https://m.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/world-leaders-with-bear-grylls-in-man-vs-wild-program-at-discovery-india-1564489280-1|website=[[Jagran Josh]]|access-date=14 August 2019|date=13 August 2019}}</ref> In the show he trekked the jungles and talked about nature and wildlife conservation with Grylls.<ref>{{cite web|title=Man Vs Wild: PM Modi walks in jungles of Jim Corbett with Bear Grylls, talks about conserving nature|url=https://m.businesstoday.in/story/man-vs-wild-pm-modi-walks-in-jungles-of-jim-corbett-with-bear-grylls-talks-about-conserving-nature/1/372196.html|website=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]]|date=13 August 2019|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref> The episode was shot in [[Jim Corbett National Park]], [[Uttarakhand]] and was broadcast in 180 countries along India.<ref>{{cite web|title=Taking Cue from PM's 'Man vs Wild' Episode, Tourism Ministry Makes 'Wildlife' Theme for Incredible India|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/taking-cue-from-pms-man-vs-wild-episode-tourism-ministry-makes-wildlife-theme-for-incredible-india-2266653.html|website=[[News18]]|date=12 August 2019|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref> He has also appeared twice on the Indian television talk show ''[[Aap Ki Adalat]]'' before the 2009 and 2014 elections respectively.<ref>{{Cite AV media|title=Narendra Modi in Aap Ki Adalat (Full Interview)
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RRIQvViQw0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/5RRIQvViQw0| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|publisher=[[India TV]] via [[YouTube]]|language=en|date=13 April 2014|access-date=11 June 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media|title=Gujarat CM Narendra Modi in Aap Ki Adalat (Full Episode)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDzbReWkwI8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/FDzbReWkwI8| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|publisher=[[India TV]] via [[YouTube]]|language=en|date=1 April 2014|access-date=11 June 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
 
Along with hosting the ''[[Mann Ki Baat]]'' monthly radio programme, on [[All India Radio]], he has also conducted ''[[Pariksha Pe Charcha]]'' - a competition/discussion for students and the issues they face in examinations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mann Ki Baat|url=https://pmonradio.nic.in/|access-date=11 June 2021|website=[[pmonradio.nic.in]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=5 April 2021|title=Pariksha Pe Charcha 2021|url=https://mygov.in/campaigns/ppc-2021/|access-date=11 June 2021|website=[[MyGov.in]]|language=en}}</ref>
 
== Bibliography ==
{{Main list|Bibliography of Narendra Modi}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56367646|title=Aapaatkaal Mein Gujarat|date=2004|publisher=[[Prabhat Prakashan]]|language=hi|isbn=81-7315-466-X|edition=Samskarana 1|location=New Delhi|oclc=56367646}}
* {{Cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/696558495|title=Convenient Action: Gujarat's Response to Challenges of Climate Change|date=2011|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan Publishers India]]|isbn=978-0-230-33192-1|location=New Delhi|oclc=696558495|author-mask=7}}
* {{cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|title=Social Harmony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hGNtCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|year=2015|publisher=[[Prabhat Prakashan]]|isbn=978-93-5048-980-2|author-mask=7}}
* {{cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|title=Jyotipunj|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_2dtCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA19|year=2015|publisher=[[Prabhat Prakashan]]|language=hi|isbn=978-93-5186-231-4|author-mask=7}}
* {{cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|title=India's Singapore Story|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WDt1CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA19|date=21 December 2015|publisher=[[ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute]]|isbn=978-981-4695-73-2|author-mask=7}}
* {{cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|title=Mann Ki Baat: A Social Revolution on Radio|year=2017|publisher=BlueKraft Digital Foundation|isbn=978-9350359907|author-mask=7}}
* {{cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|title=A Journey: Poems by Narendra Modi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WsGeAwAAQBAJ|date=22 April 2014|publisher=[[Rupa Publications]]|translator-last=Manthi|translator-first=Rajiv|isbn=978-81-291-3386-1|author-mask=7}}
* {{cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|title=[[Exam Warriors]]|date=3 February 2018|publisher=[[Penguin Books|Penguin India]]|isbn=978-0143441502|author-mask=7}}
* {{Cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u1_RoAEACAAJ|title=Abode of Love|publisher=Rajpal Publishers|year=2018|isbn=978-9350642382|location=|pages=|author-mask=7}}
* {{Cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Letters_to_Mother_Translated_from_the_Gu/rbXlDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0|title=Letters to Mother|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|year=2020|isbn=978-9353576325|location=|pages=|trans-title=Saakshi Bhaav|author-mask=7}}
* {{Cite book|last=Modi|first=Narendra|title=President Pranab Mukherjee: A Statesman|publisher=|year=2018|isbn=978-8192925554|location=|pages=|translator-last=Joshi|translator-first=Varun|author-mask=7|orig-year=2017}}
{{refend}}
 
== See also ==
* [[List of prime ministers of India]]
* [[Opinion polling on the Narendra Modi premiership]]
 
== References ==
{{reflist|group=fn}}
 
=== Notes ===
{{Reflist|30em|group=lower-alpha}}
 
=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


=== Further reading ===
==External links==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* [http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4589 Official Biographical Sketch in Lok Sabha Website]
* {{cite book|last=Guha|first=Ramachandra|author-link=Ramachandra Guha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fB49up3Z0TkC&q=India+After+Gandhi:+The+History+of+the+World%27s+Largest+Democracy|title=India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy|year=2007|publisher=[[HarperCollins|Harper Perennial]]|isbn=978-0-06-095858-9|location=|pages=}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Cite journal|last1=Jain|first1=Varsha|last2=E|first2=Ganesh B|date=2018<!--this is the "received date" on the source-->|title=Understanding the Magic of Credibility for Political Leaders: A Case of India and Narendra Modi|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/15377857.2019.1652222|journal=Journal of Political Marketing|volume=19|issue=1–2|pages=15–33|doi=10.1080/15377857.2019.1652222|s2cid=202247610|issn=1537-7857|via=}}
* [https://www.englishfun.in/eassy-on-narendra-modi/ '''Narendra Modi Early Life,  Education ,Political Journey, challenges and Achievement''']
* {{Cite book|last=Kanrad|first=Bharat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QoxmDwAAQBAJ|title=Staggering Forward: Narendra Modi and India's Global Ambition|publisher=[[Viking (publisher)|Viking Publishers]]|year=2018|isbn=9789353051952|location=|pages=2–541}}
* {{cite book|last1=Kochanek|first1=Stanley A.|last2=Hardgrave|first2=Robert L.|title=India: Government and Politics in a Developing Nation|year=2007|publisher=[[Cengage Learning]]|isbn=978-0-495-00749-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSyRgcSQhuIC|location=|pages=}}
* {{cite book|last=Marino|first=Andy|author-link=Andy Marino (British writer)|title=Narendra Modi: A Political Biography|year=2014|publisher=[[HarperCollins Publishers India]]|isbn=978-93-5136-218-0|location=|pages=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ylIAwAAQBAJ}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Panda|first=Jaganath P.|date=2016|title=Narendra Modi and his mode of governance|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17516234.2016.1165444|journal=Journal of Asian Public Policy|volume=9|issue=2|pages=95–97|doi=10.1080/17516234.2016.1165444|s2cid=155201252|issn=1751-6234}}
* {{cite book|last=Mukhopadhyay|first=Nilanjan|title=Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times|year=2013|location=|publisher=[[Amazon India|Westland]]|isbn=9-789-383-26048-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q2_3rQEACAAJ&q=Narendra+Modi:+The+Man,+The+Times|oclc=837527591|pages=}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Sen|first=Ronojoy|date=3 May 2016|title=Narendra Modi's makeover and the politics of symbolism|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/17516234.2016.1165248|journal=Journal of Asian Public Policy|volume=9|issue=2|pages=98–111|doi=10.1080/17516234.2016.1165248|s2cid=155130008|issn=1751-6234|via=}}
* {{Cite journal|last1=Schakel|first1=Arjan H.|last2=Sharma|first2=Chanchal Kumar|last3=Swenden|first3=Wilfried|date=27 May 2019|title=India after the 2014 general elections: BJP dominance and the crisis of the third party system|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/13597566.2019.1614921|journal=Regional & Federal Studies|volume=29|issue=3|pages=329–354|doi=10.1080/13597566.2019.1614921|s2cid=182486831|issn=1359-7566|via=}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Chatterjee|first=Ankita|date=1 September 2020|title=Humour in Narendra Modi memes on new media|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/14746689.2020.1815450|journal=South Asian Popular Culture|volume=18|issue=3|pages=227–245|doi=10.1080/14746689.2020.1815450|s2cid=222214793|issn=1474-6689|via=}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Rao|first=Shakuntala|date=2 July 2020|title=Narendra Modi's social media election campaign and India's delegative democracy|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/10714421.2020.1829306|journal=[[The Communication Review]]|volume=23|issue=3|pages=223–241|doi=10.1080/10714421.2020.1829306|s2cid=224981212|issn=1071-4421|via=}}
* {{Cite book|last=Komireddi|first=K. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pAulDwAAQBAJ&q=Books+on+premiership+of+Narendra+Modi|title=Malevolent Republic: A Short History of the New India|date=31 July 2019|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=978-1-78738-294-7|location=|pages=|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Madan|first=Tanvi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmrLDwAAQBAJ&q=Books+on+premiership+of+Narendra+Modi|title=Fateful Triangle: How China Shaped US-India Relations During the Cold War|date=29 January 2020|publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited|isbn=978-93-5305-756-5|location=|pages=|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mahurkar|first=Uday|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BJ4kDwAAQBAJ&q=doi+on+premiership+of+Narendra+Modi|title=Marching with a Billion: Analysing Narendra Modi's Government at Midterm|date=26 May 2017|publisher=Random House Publishers India Pvt. Limited|isbn=978-93-86495-84-6|location=|pages=|language=en|author-link=Uday Mahurkar}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Maiorano|first=Diego|date=3 April 2015|title=Early Trends and Prospects for Modi's Prime Ministership|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/03932729.2015.1024511|journal=The International Spectator|volume=50|issue=2|pages=75–92|doi=10.1080/03932729.2015.1024511|s2cid=155228179|issn=0393-2729|via=}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Chandrasekaran|first1=Natarajan|url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Bridgital_Nation/J3axDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0|title=Bridgital Nation (Solving Technology's People Problem)|last2=Purushottam|first2=Roopa|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|year=2019|isbn=9789353056360|location=[[Mumbai]], India|pages=|oclc=1124852952|ref={{SfnRef|Natarajan and Pooja|2019}}|author-link=Natarajan Chandrasekaran}}
* {{Cite book|last=Gokhale|first=Nitin A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3pZADwAAQBAJ&q=narendra+modi|title=Securing India The Modi Way: Pathankot, Surgical Strikes and More|date=29 November 2017|publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]]|isbn=978-93-86643-88-9|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Kamath|first1=M. V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fkHjngEACAAJ|title=The Man of the Moment: Narendra Modi|last2=Randeri|first2=Kalindi|date=2013|publisher=Wide Canvas|isbn=978-93-259-6838-7|location=|pages=|language=en|oclc=1000812046|author-link=M. V. Kamath}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mohan|first=C. Raja|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oRXmCQAAQBAJ|title=Modi's World: Expanding India's Sphere of Influence|date=1 June 2015|publisher=[[HarperCollins Publishers India]]|isbn=978-93-5177-206-4|location=|pages=|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=otDdrQEACAAJ|title=Bal Narendra: Childhood Stories of Narendra Modi|date=2014|publisher=Rannade Prakashan|isbn=978-93-83923-78-6|location=|pages=|language=en|ref={{SfnRef|Bal Narendra|2014}}}}
{{Refend}}
 
== External links ==
{{Sister project links|auto=yes|c=Narendra Modi|commonscat=yes|n=Category:Narendra Modi|q=Narendra Modi|s=Narendra Modi|author=yes|d=y}}
{{Scholia|Q1058}}
{{Library resources box|about=Narendra Modi|viaf=95532763|lccn=2002016337}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Official website|1=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4589|name=Profile on Lok Sabha website}}
* {{Worldcat author|lccn-no2002016337}}
* {{DNA India|prime-minister-narendra-modi}}
* {{Guardian topic|world/narendra-modi}}
* {{New York Times topic|person/narendra-modi}}
* {{Curlie|Regional/Asia/India/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Politicians/Modi%2C_Narendra/|Narendra Modi}}
* {{IMDb name|id=5177533|name=Narendra Modi}}
* {{C-SPAN|narendamodi}}
 
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