biography of narendra modi in english

Narendra Modi

Who Is Narendra Modi?

Narendra Modi grew up in the Indian town of Vadnagar, the son of a street merchant. He entered politics as a youth and quickly rose through the ranks of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu nationalist political party. Modi joined the mainstream Bharatiya Janata Party in 1987, eventually becoming national secretary. Elected prime minister of India in 2014, he earned reelection to the post five years later.

Narendra Modi was born in the small town of Vadnagar, in northern Gujarat, India. His father was a street merchant who struggled to support the family. Young Narendra and his brother sold tea near a bus terminal to help out. Though an average student in school, Modi spent hours in the library and was known as a strong debater. In his early teens, he joined Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist political party.

Modi had an arranged marriage at 18 but spent little time with his bride. The two eventually separated, with Modi claiming to be single for some time.

Early Political Career

Modi dedicated his life to politics in Gujarat, joining the RSS in 1971. During the 1975-77 political crisis, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency, banning political organizations such as the RSS. Modi went underground and wrote a book, Sangharsh ma Gujarat ( Gujarat in Emergency ), which chronicles his experiences as a political fugitive. He graduated from Delhi University with a degree in political science in 1978, and completed his master’s work at Gujarat University in 1983.

In 1987, Narendra Modi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which stood for Hindu nationalism. His rise through the ranks was rapid, as he wisely chose mentors to further his career. He promoted privatization of businesses, small government and Hindu values. In 1995, Modi was elected BJP national secretary, a position from which he successfully helped settle internal leadership disputes, paving the way for BJP election victories in 1998.

Gulbarg Massacre and Alleged Complicity

In February 2002, while Modi served as chief minister of Gujarat, a commuter train was attacked, allegedly by Muslims. In retaliation, an attack was carried out on the Muslim neighborhood of Gulbarg. Violence spread, and Modi imposed a curfew granting police shoot-to-kill orders. After peace was restored, Modi’s government was criticized for the harsh crackdown, and he was accused of allowing the killings of more than 1,000 Muslims, along with the mass raping and mutilation of women. After two investigations contradicted one other, the Indian Supreme Court concluded there was no evidence Modi was at fault.

Narendra Modi was reelected chief minister of Gujarat in 2007 and 2012. Through those campaigns, Modi's hard-line Hinduism softened and he spoke more about economic growth, focusing on privatization and encouraging policies to shape India as a global manufacturing epicenter. He was credited with bringing prosperity and development to Gujarat, though others said he did little to alleviate poverty and improve living standards.

Elected Prime Minister

In June 2013, Modi was selected to head the BJP’s 2014 election campaign to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s parliament), while a grassroots campaign was already in place to elect him prime minister. Modi campaigned hard, portraying himself as a pragmatic candidate capable of turning around India’s economy, while his critics portrayed him as a controversial and divisive figure.

In May 2014, Modi and his party were victorious, taking 282 of the 534 seats in the Lok Sabha. The victory marked a crushing defeat to the Indian National Congress, which had controlled country politics for most of the previous 60 years, and sent a message that India’s citizens were behind an agenda that moved away from a secular, socialist state to a more capitalist-leaning economy with Hindu nationalism at its core.

On May 26, 2014, Modi was sworn in as the 14th prime minister of India, the first to have been born after the country achieved independence from the U.K.

Since becoming prime minister, Modi has encouraged foreign businesses to invest in India. He has lifted various regulations — permits and inspections — so that businesses could grow more easily. He has decreased spending on social welfare programs and has encouraged the privatization of healthcare, although he has devised a policy on universal healthcare for those citizens with serious ailments. In 2014, he launched a "Clean India" campaign, which focused on sanitation and the construction of millions of toilets in rural areas.

His environmental policies have been lax, especially when those policies hamper industrial growth. He has lifted restrictions on protecting the environment and is more open to the use of genetically modified crops, despite protests from India's farmers. Under Modi's power, he has suppressed the influence of civil society organizations, such as Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, Avaaz, and other humanitarian groups, saying they prevent economic growth.

In terms of foreign policy, Modi has taken on a multilateral approach. He has participated in the BRICS, ASEAN and G20 summits, and has aligned himself with the United States, China, Japan and Russia to improve economic and political ties. He has also reached out to Islamic republics, most notably fostering diplomatic ties with Pakistan, although he has repeatedly labeled the country a "terrorist state" and an "exporter of terrorism."

Under his rule, Modi has substantially centralized his power compared to previous administrations.

Global Recognition

In 2016 Modi won the reader's poll as TIME 's Person of the Year. In previous years, he had received top ranking as one of the most influential political figures in the world in both TIME and Forbes Magazine . With high favorability ratings among Indian voters, Modi enjoyed a reputation for actively engaging citizens through social media and encouraging his own administration to stay active on its platforms.

Reelection and Protests

Following a landslide victory for the BJP, Modi was sworn in for his second term as prime minister on May 30, 2019.

By August, controversy was brewing when Modi announced his intention to revoke Article 370, a constitutional provision which had granted autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir since 1949. Amid a reported communications blackout in the area, India's parliament voted to reclassify the Muslim-majority state as a union territory.

In December, parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) to fast-track citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Although Modi lauded the bill as a means for helping religious minorities escape persecution, opponents viewed it as unconstitutional and discriminatory, leading to the eruption of violent protests throughout the country.

Meanwhile, a new problem was brewing with the spread of the coronavirus from its starting point in central China. Following a series of decrees designed to curb an outbreak in India, Modi in late March 2020 ordered all 1.3 billion people in the country to remain at home for the next three weeks.

QUICK FACTS

Name: Narendra Modi
Birth Year: 1950
Birth date: September 17, 1950
Birth City: Vadnagar
Birth Country: India
Gender: Male
Best Known For: Narendra Modi is best known for rising from humble beginnings to become prime minister of India.
Politics and Government
Astrological Sign: Virgo
Gujarat University
Delhi University
Nacionalities
Occupations
Prime Minister

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

Article Title: Narendra Modi Biography
Author: Biography.com Editors
Website Name: The Biography.com website
Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figures/narendra-modi
Access Date:
Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
Last Updated: March 25, 2020
Original Published Date: June 10, 2014
I am a very optimistic man, and only an optimistic man can bring optimism in the country.
I am not doing any favour, only performing a duty; this victory is a result of struggle of five generations.
I don’t believe UPA government did nothing; they did whatever they could and they deserve appreciation for whatever good they did.

Famous Political Figures

cover illustration of assassination of president mckinley by anarchist at exposition buffalo, usa

A History of Presidential Assassination Attempts

tim walz smiles slightly and looks left, he wears a dark suit jacket, white collared shirt and royal blue tie

Ronald Reagan

How Ronald Reagan Went from Movies to Politics

jd vance looking up and smiling, he wears a navy suit jacket, white collared shirt and a blue tie

Mark Antony

Julius Caesar

Kamala Harris

Get to Know Kamala Harris' 2 Stepchildren

kamala harris and doug emhoff locking arms and waving

What Is Vice President Kamala Harris’ Religion?

president theodore roosevelt seated in an automobile

Teddy Roosevelt’s Stolen Watch Recovered by FBI

Narendra Modi Biography

About Narendra Damodardas Modi

Family and personal background of narendra modi, political career of narendra modi, political journey of narendra modi.

Became the General Secretary of the BJP's Gujarat unit in 1988.
Recognised as a key strategist for being instrumental in successfully campaigning for the party in the 1995 and 1998 Gujarat Assembly elections, which made the BJP the ruling party in Gujarat.
Successfully organised two challenging events on national level: the Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra, which was a long march by L. K. Advani and a march from Kanyakumari (southern tip of India) to Kashmir (the northern tip) undertaken by Murli Manohar Joshi. These two events are considered to have contributed in bringing the BJP to power in 1998.
In 1995, Narendra Modi was appointed as the Secretary of the BJP's national unit.
Narendra Modi was credited for having successfully carried out the responsibility of revamping the party organisation in different states.
In 1998, Narendra Modi was promoted as General Secretary and held the position till October 2001.
Narendra Modi became the Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat for the first time in October 2001 when his predecessor Keshubhai Patel resigned from the post following the defeat of BJP in by-elections.
After winning the Gujarat Assembly elections three consecutive times and holding the position of the state's chief minister, Modi contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections for the first time. He won the elections by a grand margin and became the Prime Minister of India following the win.

Schemes Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (for financial inclusion)
Swachch Bharat Mission (for clean public places and better sanitation facilities)
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (provision of LPG to families living BPL)
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (efficiency in irrigation)
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (insurance against crop failure)
Pahal (LPG subsidy)
Mudra Bank Yojana (banking services for Medium and Small Enterprises)
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (to provide skill training to the young workforce)
Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (to strengthen rural infrastructure)
Make in India (to boost the manufacturing sector)
Garib Kalyan Yojana (address welfare needs of the poor)
E-basta (online learning forum)
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (financial empowerment of the girl child)
Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat (to enhance children's reading, writing and mathematical skills)
DDU-Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (vocational training to the rural youth as part of 'Skill India' mission)
Nayi Manzil Yojana (skills based training to Madrasa students)
Stand Up India (support to women and SC/ST entrepreneurs)
Atal Pension Scheme (pension scheme for unorganised sector employees)
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (insurance against accident)
Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (life insurance)
Sagar Mala Project (for developing port infrastructure)
Smart Cities Project (building urban infrastructure)
Rurban Mission (modern facilities in villages)
Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (affordable housing for all)
Jan Aushadhi Scheme (provision for affordable medicines)
Digital India (for a digitally equipped nation and economy)
Digilocker (securing documents online)
School Nursery Yojana (afforestation program by and for young citizens)
Gold Monetisation Scheme (involve gold stocks lying idle in households in the economy)

Narendra Modi Elections Result

Narendra modi's international tours.

Four-nation African tour covering Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya to strengthen ties in trade, energy, defence and maritime cooperation. (July, 2016)
First Prime-Ministerial visit to Mexico in three decades to enhance bilateral relations. (June, 2016)
Visit to the US to strengthen ties and enhance cooperation between the two countries. (June, 2016)
Meeting with top business leaders in Qatar to deepen industry and trade relations between both countries. (June, 2016)
Bilateral meet with Switzerland President Johann Schneider Ammann who supported India’s bid for NSG membership. Also met the country's business leaders to deepen industry and trade ties between India and Switzerland. (June, 2016)
Visit to Afghanistan and jointly inaugurated the Afghan- India Friendship Dam with President Ashraf Ghani. (June, 2016)
Visit to Iran to enhance trade, investments, energy partnership, connectivity, culture and people to people relations. The historic Chahbahar Agreement was sealed during this visit. (May, 2016)
Visit to Saudi Arabia for deepening bilateral relations and strengthening business ties between the two countries. (April, 2016)
Visited Russia to attend the 16th Annual India-Russia summit. As many as 16 important agreements were signed between the two countries. (December, 2015)
Visit to Singapore marking fifty years of India-Singapore relations. The Prime Minister met a number of top investors and invited them to ‘Make in India.’ (November, 2015)
Visited Malaysia to attend the ASEAN-India Summit. Prime Minister Modi met his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak to discuss bilateral ties with him. He also met his Chinese and Japanese counterparts Li Keqiang and Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the summit. (November, 2015)
Historic visit to the UK, the first in over a decade, to strengthen business and cultural ties between the two countries. The UK Prime Minister David Cameron expressed support for India's permanent candidature of a reformed UNSC. (November, 2015)
First Prime Ministerial visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 34 years. Visit strengthened economic ties and security cooperation. (August, 2015)
Tour of Central Asia covering Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Historic and special visit in which significant effort was made to expand India’s cooperation with the Central Asian nations. (July, 2015)
Visit to Bangladesh included talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and signing of a number of MOUs. The historic Land Boundary Agreement was signed during this visit. (June, 2015)
Visit to the Republic of Korea strengthened many aspects of India-Korea cooperation. (May, 2015)
Historic visit to Mongolia that opened up broad avenues of partnership and cooperation between the two nations. (May, 2015)
Three-day China visit augmented bilateral partnership and economic cooperation between India and China and enhanced friendship among the two of the oldest civilizations of the world. (May, 2015)
Visit to Canada was first exclusively bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in more than four decades to deepen ties between the two nations. (April, 2015)
Visit to Germany to hold extensive talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and prominent business leaders and promote the Indian government's ‘Make in India’ initiative. (April, 2015)
Visit to France for extensive discussions to strengthen India-France ties. Modi met several French leaders and business executives and discussed ways to strengthen economic co-operation. (April, 2015)
Undertook a successful 3-nation tour to Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka to strengthen India’s ties with these friendly nations. (March, 2015)
Visted Brazil to attend the BRICS Summit in Fortaleza. A wide range of global issues were discussed during the Summit where it was decided to set up a BRICS bank and the first head of the Bank was to be from India. Three MoUs were signed between Brazil and India. (December, 2014)
Visit to Nepal to attend the 18th SAARC Summit. (November, 2014)
First bilateral visit to Fiji by an Indian Prime Minister in 33 years. Modi attended a 'Forum for India-Pacific Island cooperation' where he interacted with leaders from various Pacific islands nations. (November, 2014)
First bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 28 years. Modi attended the G-20 Summit in Brisbane which was followed by a state visit to Australia. (November, 2014)
Attended two important multilateral summits, the ASEAN & East Asia Summits in Myanmar. (November, 2014)
Undertook a successful visit to Japan during which he held extensive discussions with the top leadership of Japan to strengthen ties between the two countries in several spheres. The visit resulted in a number of agreements. (August, 2014)
Embarked on his first ever foreign visit after assuming charge to Bhutan indicating the importance India attaches to ties with Bhutan. (June, 2014)

Narendra Modi's Tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat

On 7 October 2001, Narendra Modi was appointed as the Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat.
He was given the responsibility of preparing the party for December 2002 elections.
As Chief Minister, Modi laid emphasis on privatisation of small governmental institutions.
2002 Gujarat violence: 27 February saw a major incident of communal violence, resulting in the slaughter of 58 people, when a train carrying hundreds of passengers, mostly Hindu pilgrims, was set ablaze near Godhra. This incident resulted in anti-Muslim violence, which engulfed almost the entire Gujarat within no time. The estimated death toll ranged between 900 and 2,000. The Gujarat government led by Narendra Modi imposed curfews in several cities of the state to prevent escalation of violence. Human rights organisations, media and opposition parties accused the Modi government of taking inappropriate and insufficient steps to curb the violence. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was appointed by the Supreme Court in April 2009 to inquire into the role played by the government and Modi. The SIT submitted a report to the court in December, 2010 stating that it did not find any evidence against Modi. However, the SIT was accused of concealing evidence in July, 2013.
Consequently, pressure mounted on the BJP with different opposition parties and allies demanding resignation of Modi from the CM’s post. But the subsequent elections resulted in BJP winning complete majority by clinching 127 out of 182 seats.
Modi laid stress on economic development of Gujarat, which resulted in the state emerging as an investment destination.
He instituted technology and financial parks in the state.
The Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2007 saw real estate investment deals worth Rs 6,600 billion signed in Gujarat.
In July 2007, Modi completed 2,063 consecutive days as Chief Minister of Gujarat, creating a record of holding the post of CM of Gujarat for most number of days.
In later years, the state substantially improved its agricultural output, mainly due to projects related to improvement of supply of groundwater in places like Kachchh, Saurashtra and other northern parts of the state. Efforts were also made to increase the use of micro-irrigation and providing farms with efficient power supply.
Development projects in the field of infrastructure saw construction of 5,00,000 structures in 2008, out of which 1,13,738 were check dams. In 2010, 60 out of the 112 tehsils regained normal groundwater level. This resulted in increased production of genetically modified Bt cotton. The agriculture growth rate in Gujarat increased to 9.6 per cent during 2001- 2007 and Compound Annual Growth Rate in Gujarat for the decade 2001- 2010 reached 10.97 per cent, which was highest among all states of India.
A radical change in the system of power supply to rural areas helped flourish agriculture.
Sadbhavana Mission or Goodwill Mission was organised by Modi in late 2011 and early 2012 to reach out to the Muslim community in the state. Modi observed a series of fasts and believed that this step would "further strengthen Gujarat’s environment of peace, unity and harmony."
Modi got elected from the constituency of Maninagar after winning by a huge margin.
On the centenary celebration of Shri Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj, Narendra Modi was conferred with the Gujarat Ratna award at the Ganesh Kala Krida Manch.
The computer society of India bestowed him the e-Ratna award
In 2009, the FDI magazine honoured him as the Asian Winner of the FDi Personality of the Year Award.
In 2006, India Today conducted a nationwide survey that declared him as the Best Chief Minister in India.
In March 2012, the Time magazine featured him on the cover page of its Asian edition. He is one of the very few politicians of India to be featured on the cover of Time.
In 2014, Modi was featured in 'Time 100' list of most influential people in the world.
Modi became the most followed 'Asian leader' on Twitter in 2014.
"Forbes" rated Modi as the '15 th Most Powerful Person' in the world in 2014.

Books on Narendra Modi

Books written by narendra modi, convenient action: gujarat's response to challenges of climate change.

News Updates
Media Coverage
Mann Ki Baat
Message from the Prime Minister
Quest for Transparency
Right to Information (RTI)
List of Officers (PMO)
PM’s Interviews
PM National Relief Fund
National Defence Fund
PM CARES Fund
International Visits
Domestic Visits

Know the PM

Former Prime Ministers
Three Years
Photo Gallery
Watch Live/Videos
PM’s Speeches
PM’s Speeches (Videos)
Infographics & Quotes
Social Media Updates
Interact with PM
Portfolios of the Union Council of Ministers
Download PMO Mobile App

Personal Life Story

History was scripted in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on the evening of 26th May 2014 as Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India after a historic mandate from the people of India. In Narendra Modi, the people of India see a dynamic, decisive and development-oriented leader who has emerged as a ray of hope for the dreams and aspirations of a billion Indians. His focus on development, eye for detail and efforts to bring a qualitative difference in the lives of the poorest of the poor have made Narendra Modi a popular and respected leader across ...