‘We will do it’: PM Modi marks 25 years in power with five big targets for India; what are they?
PTC Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked 25 years as head of government on Wednesday by giving the country a new slogan: "We will do it." Speaking at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi, he laid out five big goals for India. Each time he named one, the packed hall shouted the slogan back.
Why October 7 matters
Narendra Modi first took oath as Gujarat's Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, succeeding Keshubhai Patel as the state's 14th Chief Minister. The BJP and his supporters marked the day on Wednesday, but PM Modi said it should not be only about looking back.
He thanked party workers and volunteers and said the day should be used to renew the country's resolve. "This is a day to repeat that promise," he said and then repeated the words "We will do it" several times.
Modi's five big targets for India
Along with the long-term aim of making India a developed nation by 2047, Modi listed these five goals:
Become a top-three economy: India is currently the sixth-largest economy. It was 10th when Modi became Prime Minister in 2014.
Build an Atmanirbhar Bharat: The aim is a self-reliant India that depends less on imports.
Become a global manufacturing hub: The idea is to shift the economy from mainly consumption to producing more goods at home.
Host the Olympics: India would stage the Games on its own soil.
Set foot in space: A manned space mission is the fifth goal.
"This energy, this enthusiasm, this self-confidence is extraordinary," Narendra Modi told the crowd.
'Small goals would be an injustice'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India had come through a tough few years, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East. These disrupted global supply chains and energy routes, but India handled the pressure better than many emerging economies.
"Earlier, whenever a crisis hit, India's economy would shake. Now people talk about India's strength," he said. He added that the talk of "policy paralysis" has been replaced by talk of a "reforms express," and that India is now setting new export records instead of looking for ways to import more. The "policy paralysis" remark was seen as a dig at the Congress and its UPA-2 government (2009-2014).
He also said it would be unfair to the country's potential to chase small or easy goals, and that India should now think big.
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Some numbers behind the speech
India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world. Its trade deficit narrowed to $9.41 billion in August 2026, compared with $11.62 billion in August 2025, according to reports. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which began in April 2020 and rewards domestic manufacturing, has also shown good results.
Analysts say the speech comes at a difficult time for the government. Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union minister in July after a protest movement. Protesters are again on the streets demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Congress-led Opposition have alleged that the BJP and the CEC were working together to rig elections. The withdrawn UGC equity guidelines have also upset the general category, a key BJP support base.
The CJP held a big protest in Mumbai over the weekend, and the Opposition staged a sit-in near the Election Commission office in Delhi on Tuesday. Against this background, Modi's speech is likely to lift the mood of party workers and supporters, and bring the focus back to the government's agenda.
- With inputs from agencies
