Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday declared that India’s recent rise to the world’s fourth-largest economy brings pride, but even greater urgency to climb higher. Speaking at a rally in Gandhinagar, he said the pressure of becoming the third-largest economy outweighs the joy of surpassing Japan to claim the fourth spot.
Reflecting on India’s economic progress over the past decade, PM Modi recalled, “When I took oath on May 26, 2014, India was the 11th largest economy. Today, we are fourth. We’ve overtaken the UK and now Japan. But the real excitement is not in being fourth—it’s in becoming third.”
He said India must seize the momentum and transform into a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by 2047, the centenary of its independence. “We cannot mark 100 years of freedom casually. We must raise the flag of a developed India across the world,” Modi stated firmly, adding that there will be no compromise on this goal.
PM Modi urged all citizens to participate in this national mission—especially by supporting Indian-made products. Linking this to national pride and economic strategy, he said, “Operation Sindoor began on May 6 with the strength of our armed forces. But now, this operation will continue with the strength of every Indian.”
Taking a clear stand on promoting self-reliance, he called on small traders to avoid selling foreign goods and asked citizens to examine how many foreign products they use daily. “Even Ganesh idols are imported. That’s unacceptable. Every citizen must contribute to Operation Sindoor by making a list of foreign items they use and finding Indian alternatives,” he said.
PM Modi also spoke about Gujarat’s remarkable transformation—from a land known for salt to one renowned globally for diamonds. “Gujarat will complete 75 years in 2035. We must set goals today for where we want the state to be in the next 10 years—in industry, agriculture, education, and sports. When Gujarat turns 75, just a year later, India should be hosting the Olympics,” he envisioned.
Meanwhile, NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam confirmed the economic milestone, citing IMF data that places India’s GDP at USD 4 trillion, ahead of Japan. He added that India could become the third-largest economy within 2–3 years if current growth trends continue.
According to the IMF’s April 2025 World Economic Outlook, India’s economy is projected to grow by 6.2% in 2025 and 6.3% in 2026—well above the global average.
“Modi hai toh mumkin hai,” the PM echoed the popular slogan, reaffirming that India’s development goals are not just ambitions, but achievable realities.
