They Said India Would Sink, But Now It’s Powering Global Growth: PM Modi at Republic Plenary Summit

New Delhi: Reflecting on India's incredible journey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the Republic Plenary Summit 2025, recalled how some once doubted the nation's potential, predicting it would "sink itself and take others down with it." However, he stressed that India has proven them wrong, emerging as a pillar of stability and a key force driving global economic growth.    

India’s Economic Rise: From Eleventh to Third Largest Economy

PM Modi addressed the audience with a compelling statement: “The India about which it was once said that it will sink itself and take us down with it, that India is today driving the growth of the world.” He underscored how India’s successes have ignited new hope worldwide.

Reflecting on economic progress, the Prime Minister noted that even 65 years after independence, India was only the eleventh-largest economy in the world. However, within the last decade, India has ascended to the fifth-largest economy and is on track to become the third-largest at the same pace.

The Prime Minister provided a striking comparison, saying, that in 2007, India’s annual GDP reached one trillion dollars. Today, economic activity worth one trillion dollars takes place every three months, illustrating the country’s unprecedented growth.

Bringing 25 Crore People Out of Poverty

Speaking about the social impact of his government’s policies, PM Modi revealed that over the last decade, 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty—a number greater than the population of many countries. He contrasted this with the inefficiencies of past governments, recalling a time when government welfare funds were largely siphoned off before reaching beneficiaries. “If one rupee was sent, only 15 paise reached the poor,” he said.

However, his government ensures transparency through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), with over ₹42 lakh crore transferred directly to the accounts of beneficiaries. “Today, when one rupee goes out from Delhi, 100 paise reaches the last mile,” the Prime Minister asserted.

India’s Renewable Energy and Manufacturing Boom

PM Modi also spoke about India's meteoric rise in renewable energy. “Ten years ago, India was nowhere in the world in terms of solar energy,” he said. Now, India is among the top five countries in solar energy capacity, having increased solar module manufacturing thirtyfold in just a decade.

Similarly, India has transformed its manufacturing landscape. Toy exports have tripled, and defence exports have surged twentyfold. The country has also emerged as:

• The world’s second-largest steel producer
• The second-largest mobile phone manufacturer
• The third-largest startup ecosystem

Unprecedented Growth in Infrastructure and Healthcare

PM Modi also detailed how India’s infrastructure investment has increased fivefold. The number of airports has doubled, operational AIIMS hospitals have tripled, and the number of medical colleges and seats has nearly doubled in the last ten years.

This expansion ensures improved connectivity, healthcare, and education opportunities for millions of Indians, supporting the country’s transition into a developed economy.

Changing Mindset: From ‘Let It Be’ to ‘Think Big’

Discussing the shift in national attitude, the Prime Minister described how India has moved beyond a complacent mindset. “The temperament of today’s India is different. Today’s India thinks big, sets big targets, and achieves big results.” He contrasted this with the past, where people made small demands like requesting hand pumps, famine relief work, or train stoppages.

“Earlier, the thinking had become so narrow that MPs used to request just 25 LPG coupons to distribute in their constituency for an entire year,” he recalled.

Today, however, citizens and even the opposition expect large-scale transformation from the government. “Now people know who can deliver results,” he said, emphasizing that even political rivals recognize the effectiveness of his leadership.

Aspirational India Driving the Future

PM Modi concluded by reiterating that India’s aspirations are rising, and its achievements are paving the way for a stronger, self-reliant nation. He credited this transformation to policy-driven governance, technological advancements, and a commitment to nation-building.