Ashwini Vaishnaw writes: Eleven years of inclusive growth have given people a firm belief in a better future

Indian Express

a day ago

A new Bharat is taking shape — where progress is measured not only in GDP, but in dignity and opportunity. Annam Lakshmi Bhavani, a homemaker from Kadapa, secures the Mudra loan to start a successful jute bag manufacturing unit. Jagdev Singh in Haryana makes decisions related to his crops using an AI app. And Meera Manjhi gets an LPG connection under Ujjwala, ensuring a smokeless kitchen and more quality time with her children. These are everyday realities of villages, towns, and cities across Bharat. These transformations stem from structural reforms and a leadership that believes in empowering the last citizen.
From the very beginning, our guiding philosophy has been antyodaya — uplifting people at the bottom of the pyramid. This vision, guided by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is based on four simple yet powerful pillars. Building infrastructure that connects, growth that is inclusive, manufacturing that creates jobs, and simplifying systems that empower.
Capital expenditure has grown significantly in the past 11 years, reaching Rs 11.2 lakh crore in 2025-26. This surge in public investment is most visible in India's infrastructure — physical, digital, and social. Over the past 11 years, nearly 59,000 km of highways have been built, and over 37,500 km of railway tracks laid. Recently, the Chenab and Anji bridges were inaugurated — symbols of a modern Bharat. For the people of Kashmir, the arrival of Vande Bharat through these bridges felt like a dream.
This spirit of connectivity goes beyond railways to digital highways. India's digital public infrastructure (DPI) has become a global benchmark. UPI, Aadhaar, and DigiLocker are now studied globally for their scale and inclusiveness. Over 141 crore Aadhaar registrations and 60 crore UPI transactions every day signify their reach and acceptance. The idea behind this is simple: Democratise technology.
The same vision drives the IndiaAI Mission. Over 34,000 high-speed computer chips, known as GPUs, are now available to all at just one-third the global cost. These chips are needed as part of AI development. To support this further, the AIKosha platform offers over 370 datasets and 200 ready-to-use AI models for learning and innovation.
This focus on accessibility extends beyond tech to education, healthcare, and basic services. Over the past 11 years, the number of medical colleges has grown from 387 to 780, and AIIMS institutions from seven to 23. MBBS and PG seats have also more than doubled. Over 530 million Jan Dhan accounts have been opened — more than the population of Europe. Forty million homes have been built, 120 million toilets constructed, and 100 million families now cook with clean LPG instead of wood fire. Tap water connections have also reached 140 million households under 'Har Ghar Jal'. Health insurance under Ayushman Bharat covers 350 million people, and 110 million farmers now receive direct income support through PM-KISAN. These numbers come alive through the stories of people like Meera Manjhi, the 100 millionth Ujjwala beneficiary. She mentions how Rs 2.5 lakh was credited directly to her bank account without any middleman. She now has tap water, free rations every month, and a smokeless kitchen under Ujjwala. This is inclusive growth at a magnitude not seen during any period in our recent history.
In 2015, we launched Make in India to create jobs and revive industrial growth. Today, electronics manufacturing has increased six times to cross Rs 12 lakh crore. Electronics exports have increased eight times to cross Rs 3 lakh crore to become among the top exported goods. Bharat is now the second largest mobile phone producer. We are now deepening the manufacturing value chain by producing electronic components under the new Electronic Components Manufacturing Scheme.
Simultaneously, India's semiconductor mission is moving from blueprint to breakthrough. The country's first commercial lab is under construction; five OSAT units are underway; over 20 chipsets with indigenous IP have been designed by students and engineers in India. We have onboarded 270 universities with world-class EDA tools. This is the foundation for a semiconductor talent pipeline the world can rely on.
A silent revolution of the past decade has been in governance. Over 1,500 old laws were repealed and 40,000-plus compliances removed. New laws like the Telecom Act and DPDP Act are built on trust and simplicity, treating citizens with dignity, not suspicion. This has encouraged investment, innovation, and formalisation, creating a virtuous growth cycle.
Bharat's approach to terror, too, has changed. From surgical strikes to air strikes and now Operation Sindoor, Bharat has shown clarity and courage in its fight against terror. Each response reflects a swift, decisive action — on our own terms. This new way of responding to terror attacks is part of the Modi doctrine. It is based on three pillars. Decisive retaliation on Bharat's terms, zero tolerance for nuclear blackmail, and no distinction between terrorists and their sponsors. What made our response this time even more significant was the use of indigenous technologies and capabilities. A nation aspiring to become viksit must not only defend its people but do so with atmanirbharta — and Bharat did exactly that.
In 2004, at the end of Atal (Bihari Vajpayee) ji's tenure, India was the 11th largest economy in the world. Between 2004 and 2014, India remained at the 11th position, reflecting a decade of missed momentum. In the past decade, Bharat regained momentum due to the reformist policies of PM Modi. Today, we are firmly on the path to become the third-largest economy in the world.
Under the leadership of PM Modi, these 11 years of inclusive growth have given people something more valuable than subsidies or services. They've given them a belief. And a firm belief in a better future is what keeps the nation going.
The author is Union Minister for Railways, Electronics & Information Technology, and Information & Broadcasting