10 major decisions taken by Prime Minister Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken several landmark political and policy decisions that have fundamentally reshaped India’s political, economic and constitutional landscape
Abrogation of Article 370 (2019): In a historic constitutional move, the Modi government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The region was fully integrated with the Indian Union and bifurcated into two separate Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) (2017): This sweeping economic reform unified national taxation. By replacing a web of complex state and central indirect taxes, it turned India into a single, unified tax market.
Demonetisation (2016): In a sudden announcement, the government invalidated all Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. The decision was aimed at curbing black money, choking terror funding and digitising the economy.
Introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) (2019): The administration enacted the CAA to grant a fast-track pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities (including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians) from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) Trinity & Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): The government linked Jan Dhan bank accounts, Aadhaar biometric IDs and mobile numbers. This political-administrative shift allowed welfare subsidies to be transferred directly into the accounts of the poor, eliminating leakages and middlemen.
Ban on Triple Talaq (2019): The government passed legislation criminalising the practice of Talaq-e-Biddat (instant divorce) among Muslims, framing it as a crucial reform for gender justice and the protection of women’s rights.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (2014): Launched immediately after taking office, this nationwide sanitation campaign transformed cleanliness into a mass movement. The policy successfully funded and constructed millions of household toilets across rural and urban India.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat & Make in India Initiatives: Aimed at boosting self-reliance, the government introduced these frameworks alongside Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes to scale up domestic manufacturing, protect supply chains and reduce import dependency.
Enactment and Repeal of the Three Farm Laws (2020-2021): The government introduced three major agricultural marketing reforms. Following protracted, widespread protests by farmer unions, PM Modi made the tactical political decision to officially repeal the laws.
Agnipath Military Recruitment Scheme (2022): The executive introduced a major structural reform to the armed forces by changing the recruitment model. Under this policy, soldiers (Agniveers) are recruited on a short-term, four-year contract to foster a younger age profile within the military.
