Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially become India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister, surpassing India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in terms of total tenure. Modi's 4,399-day uninterrupted tenure from May 26, 2014, to June 10, 2026, places him among the longest-serving leaders in the country's democratic history. According to reports from Business Standard, Modi's tenure exceeds Nehru's 4,399-day term from 1952 until his death in May 1964. NDA leaders, including chief ministers and deputy chief ministers, gathered in the national capital on Wednesday to mark the coalition's 12 years in government and felicitate Modi for this historic achievement.
The milestone has drawn widespread international congratulations from world leaders across multiple continents. Russia's Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Modi as "doyen of all Indian Prime Ministers," noting that Modi himself "descended from a common family and his career has elevated him to the position of the leader of the largest country in the world, almost one and a half billion people." Peskov highlighted that "250 million people were lifted out of poverty" under Modi's leadership and described India as "one of the leading economic powers in the world with the fastest rates of economic growth and development." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Modi's leadership, saying "With you, India not only landed on the moon, it is shooting for the stars." Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni congratulated Modi while recalling the recently-launched Special Strategic Partnership between India and Italy, stating it "looks to the future to create new opportunities for our Nations and our peoples."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received congratulatory messages from US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after becoming India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister. Netanyahu congratulated Modi on the milestone, writing "Congratulations, Mazel Tov, my dear friend Narendra Modi, on becoming India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister." Responding to the message, Modi said "Thank you, my friend, for your most gracious wishes. I fully agree with you. India-Israel friendship will continue to grow from strength to strength in the years to come." Trump also extended his greetings, describing Modi as a "great" leader and praising his leadership on Truth Social. "Congratulations to my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on becoming India's longest-serving Prime Minister — and a great one he is," Trump said. He further described Modi as a "strong, healthy and wise man" and expressed confidence that the Indian leader would continue to enjoy "many years of greatness and success" ahead.
Leaders from across corporate India on Wednesday extended their congratulations to Prime Minister Modi on becoming the longest serving democratically elected prime minister in India's history. R Mukundan, president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said confidence in India's potential has continued to grow over the years. "As India moves towards its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, industry remains committed to working closely with the government to accelerate investment, strengthen competitiveness, create quality employment, and ensure that growth remains inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready," he wrote in a blog. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) President Anant Goenka noted that the past 12 years have brought significant changes to the country's economic landscape, with landmark reforms, enhanced ease of doing business, record infrastructure investments, expanding trade partnerships, stronger financial institutions and the rise of globally competitive manufacturing ecosystems altering the trajectory of the Indian economy.
Industry leaders credited Modi's leadership for India's remarkable economic transformation during his tenure. Assocham President Nirmal K Minda described India as a "bright spot" in the global economy, noting that GDP has more than doubled from USD 1.9 trillion in 2013-14 to USD 4.1 trillion in 2025-26, supported by growth in the manufacturing and service sectors. GDP growth has increased from 6.4 per cent in 2013-14 to 7.7 per cent in 2025-26. CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said India had recorded progress across multiple fronts, strengthening its position as one of the world's leading economies. Despite challenges including the rupee falling to a record low of 95 against the dollar in May and foreign portfolio investors pulling out about ₹2.1 trillion from India in the first five months of 2026, Modi's leadership has been praised for reshaping India's political landscape marked by electoral dominance, major policy initiatives and a shift in the country's governance narrative.
