New Delhi, June 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that public service is the “ultimate test of good governance” and only those who work with “humility and dedication” are able to earn people’s trust.
PM Modi on Wednesday became India’s longest-serving Prime Minister, marking 12 years at the helm of the Central government.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Service to the people is the ultimate test of good governance. Only an individual who works ceaselessly with humility, dedication, and a sense of duty earns the public’s trust.”
PM Modi crossed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s record with 4,399 days in office as an elected Prime Minister.
Nehru’s tenure from 1952 onwards is considered for this comparison, as he headed an interim government between 1947 and 1952 before the country’s first general elections were held.
While former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi served for more than 14 years in office, her tenure was not continuous, making Modi the longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister in the country’s history. He has served from his first swearing-in ceremony in 2014 to securing successive mandates in 2019 and a historic third consecutive term in 2024.
The PM Modi-led government’s era has also been marked by a series of high-profile infrastructure and nation-building projects, including the new Parliament building, Central Vista redevelopment, Kartavya Path, Vande Bharat trains, the Statue of Unity, INS Vikrant, the Kashmir rail link, Noida International Airport, Namo Bharat RRTS and the Ganga Expressway.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will hold a crucial meeting in the national capital on Wednesday to celebrate the completion of 12 years of the NDA government at the Centre and to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi becoming India’s longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed NDA leaders at a conclave marking the completion of 12 years of his government, delivering a speech that blended reflection on past achievements with a call to action for the future.
Addressing Chief Ministers, alliance partners and senior leaders, PM Modi emphasised the need to safeguard the gains made by millions who have risen from poverty to join the neo-middle class, urging continuous efforts to prevent any reversal of their progress.
“I believe that we must not let those who were poor yesterday, and have now become the ‘neo-middle class’, slip back. Therefore, as a government and as public representatives, we must work day and night,” the Prime Minister said.
He stressed that the government has put in its utmost effort, driven by the resolve to fulfil the expectations of India’s 1.4 billion people.
PM Modi called for realising the aspirations of the country’s youth, women, middle class and farmers, positioning these groups at the heart of the development agenda.
The Prime Minister declared that the dream of a Viksit Bharat no longer belongs to any individual or political party but has become the collective resolve of every Indian.
“For me, people represent God,” he added, underscoring his commitment to public service.
PM Modi credited the electorate for recognising the value of political stability and decisive governance.
He noted that India has moved beyond the era of coalition uncertainty that marked several decades before 2014.
“People of the country have understood the importance of political stability at the national level. It is their maturity that they gave me an opportunity to serve them for such a long time,” he said.
Highlighting India’s economic resilience amid global challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, PM Modi pointed out that the country maintained strong growth while major economies struggled.
He cited India’s economy growing at 7.7 per cent in 2025-26 as evidence of the benefits of stable governance.
“This era has repeatedly demonstrated the benefits of having a stable government,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister highlighted several measures aimed at the middle class, including simplified taxation, the massive expansion of infrastructure, and increased opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.
These initiatives, he said, have helped create a more predictable and opportunity-rich environment for ordinary citizens.
“For us, if there is anything greater than party, it is our country. When we work with the spirit of ‘nation first’, no decision is difficult,” he affirmed.
Wednesday’s event carried special significance as PM Modi crossed Jawaharlal Nehru’s record of 4,398 days in office as an elected Prime Minister.
While Nehru’s tenure from 1947 to 1952 was as head of an interim government before the first general elections, PM Modi’s milestone reflects his sustained leadership through three terms following democratic mandates.
The NDA conclave served as both a celebration of 12 years of governance and a strategic meeting to chart the path ahead.
Leaders reviewed the government’s achievements in infrastructure development, digital empowerment, welfare schemes and national security.
PM Modi’s address struck an optimistic note, urging NDA partners to maintain momentum and work towards making India a developed nation by 2047.
