Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday was optimistic that India is set to become the world's third-largest economy, referring to India's impressive economic performance in recent years.
"Recently, we were the 11th largest economy. Now, we are at position five," Prime Minister said at a media function in New Delhi. India remains the fifth-largest economy in the world as of 2025, after the United States, China, Japan, and Germany.
In his address, PM Modi highlighted the achievements of his administration during the first 100 days of 2025 with special focus on the youth's role in leading national development.
"Youth ambition has been the subject of the government's first 100-day choices. We exempted tax on ₹12 lakh income, which will help young professionals," he said. The Prime Minister also emphasized important scientific and policy breakthroughs, such as India becoming the fourth country to achieve satellite docking and undocking, and allowing the nuclear industry to be opened up to private sector participation, following previous space liberalizations.
Other announcements were the formation of the 8th Pay Commission and the decision to bring social security to gig workers—steps in the direction of inclusivity and long-term well-being. "Inclusivity is not a slogan for us—it is a policy commitment at our very core," PM Modi stated.
He underscored the urgency of fastidious governance, portraying "performance" as the mover and shaker of India's growth tale. "Delay is the enemy of development, and our government has resolved to beat this enemy," he said.
Referring to examples, PM Modi reminded how long-standing infrastructure projects were reactivated during his tenure. He mentioned the Bogibeel Bridge in Assam—first proposed in 1997 by then Prime Minister Deve Gowda and subsequently initiated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee—but left incomplete for years. "The project was stuck until our government took up the work again in 2014 and finished it in four years," he said.
He also mentioned the Kollam Bypass in Kerala, a project which was started decades ago in 1972, and had faced decades of delays. "After almost 50 years of nothing being done, we managed to get it done in five years," the Prime Minister said, crediting his government's focus on implementation.
Looking ahead, PM Modi unveiled plans for the upcoming WAVE Summit—a new initiative aimed at advancing India’s creative industries. “We have a vibrant movie, podcast, and gaming ecosystem. Through the WAVE platform and the ‘Create in India’ push, we’re preparing to elevate this sector globally,” he concluded.
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