Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday marked history by being India’s longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister, completing 4,399 consecutive days in office, surpassing the record previously held by Jawaharlal Nehru. The milestone coincides with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government completing 12 years at the Centre.
In a social media post, Modi expressed public service as the truest measure of good governance and added that leaders who work with humility, dedication and accountability can earn the trust of the people, sharing a Sanskrit verse focused on devotion to public welfare and humility in leadership.
Modi’s uninterrupted time in office began in May 2014 and continued with successive electoral wins in both 2019 and 2024. In contrast, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s total time in office exceeded 14 years; her tenure was not continuous.
The NDA government’s 12-year journey has been marked by several large-scale infrastructure and development projects across the country, including the new Parliament building, Central Vista redevelopment project, Kartavya Path, Vande Bharat trains, Statue of Unity, indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, the Kashmir rail link, Noida International Airport, the Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System and the Ganga Expressway.
Messages acknowledging his work also poured in from leaders in India and abroad. Former President Ram Nath Kovind described Modi’s tenure as a “watershed period” in post-Independence India, along with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and US Ambassador to India Sergio, praising his leadership and public service journey.
