New Delhi: Asserting that his government’s “Reform Express” is benefitting common citizens in a big way, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his top three reform priorities for the next decade will be continued structural reforms, deepening innovation and further simplification of governance.
In an interview to PTI, Modi also said that by temperament, he is never satisfied as he believes that public life demands a certain constructive restlessness, a constant urge to do more, to improve faster, to serve better.
He was asked whether he was satisfied with the progress made on the reforms front.
Asked to prioritise three economic reforms for the next decade, Modi said, “Our direction is clear, rather than limiting it to a fixed number.
“First, we will continue structural reforms that improve competitiveness and productivity. Second, we will deepen innovation in technology, manufacturing and services. Third, we will simplify governance further so that citizens and businesses can operate with greater ease and trust,” he said.
Modi said reforms have helped the common citizen, the menace of middlemen has reduced and infrastructure expansion has improved connectivity and cut down logistics costs.
“Often, there is a limited understanding of the word ‘reforms’ as referring only to the economy and industry. But reforms in the social sector are as important.
“Programmes like Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks have transformed lives in areas once neglected as backward. Similarly, the PM-JANMAN scheme identifies those tribal communities that have been particularly disadvantaged and works for their welfare,” the prime minister said.
On the progress made by the “Reform Express”, he said, “I must say that by temperament, I am never fully satisfied. I believe public life demands a certain constructive restlessness, a constant urge to do more, to improve faster, to serve better. So yes, there is always a strong desire to achieve more for our people and take our country forward.”
Modi said it is also important to acknowledge the scale of progress achieved in the journey of the “Reform Express”.
“Reform is the commitment of this government, something we have shown in letter and spirit. I am proud to say that we have moved from incremental adjustments to systemic transformation,” he said.
Giving examples, he said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reform with its two-slab structure has eased the burdens of households, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and labour-intensive sectors.
“We have changed the definition of small companies, which has helped reduce compliance costs. The FDI reform, allowing 100 per cent FDI in insurance, has led to better choices for people, especially the middle class,” he said.
The prime minister further said several outdated laws are now history.
“Earlier, there were no ministries specifically focussed on developing crucial sectors, such as skill development, fisheries, cooperatives and AYUSH. We have changed that and now, each of these sectors is thriving.
“For decades, the country waited for labour reforms. It was our government that initiated those, ensuring that workers’ interests are protected and that businesses thrive,” he said.
Modi said India is a digital leader in the world today and it was made possible by a fundamental reform in how the people of the country transact, via the UPI platform.
“For our youngsters, reforms have created an ecosystem where aspiration is supported by opportunity. India has emerged as one of the world’s leading start-up ecosystems. Young innovators today can convert ideas into enterprises with far fewer obstacles than before,” he said.
For MSMEs, which are the backbone of India’s economy, reforms have improved access to credit, simplified tax processes and strengthened integration into global value chains, the prime minister said.
“At the same time, we have significantly increased the investment and turnover limits for MSMEs to ensure that they can continue to receive these benefits while they grow and integrate into global value chains,” he added.
Decade of defence reforms bore fruit during Operation Sindoor: PM Modi
The benefits of a decade of defence reforms were evident during Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, asserting that India has to be prepared at all times to deal with security challenges.
As a country that is playing an increasingly important role in the world, India has a duty to modernise its defence sector in line with current realities, Modi said in an exclusive interview to PTI.
Citing the allocation of Rs 7.85 lakh crore to the defence sector in the Union Budget 2026-27, the prime minister said the outlay is 15 per cent higher than the previous budget and is also the “biggest chunk” given to any ministry or department.
Since day one, the government has been clear — it will do whatever it takes to support the country’s defence forces and strengthen them, he said.
Modi said the Indian armed forces must be equipped with the best of Indian innovation and industry as technology is reshaping the world and that the NDA government has been working on modernisation and self-reliance in this sector for the last 11 years.
On Operation Sindoor, the prime minister said the entire country is proud of the courage shown by the armed forces.
“During the operation, one could see the benefits of the reforms we have undertaken in the last decade. Therefore, defence budgets, modernisation, etc., all these are parts of our continuous effort and need not be linked to any particular issue,” he said in the written interview.
The prime minister was asked if the higher budgetary allocation to the defence sector was part of the lessons learnt from Operation Sindoor and does it also signal a continued mistrust of India’s neighbours, including Pakistan.
“Yes, the reality is that our country has to be strong and be prepared at all times, and that is what we are doing,” he said.
Modi said the modernisation of the armed forces has been a priority of his government.
“In this year’s budget, a record Rs 7.85 lakh crore have been allocated to the defence sector. This is 15 per cent higher than the previous budget and is also the biggest chunk allotted to any ministry or department,” he said.
“If you look at the details, too, there are noteworthy aspects. For modernisation, Rs 1.85 lakh crore have been allotted, which is 25 per cent above last year’s allocation,” he said.
Modi said the capital expenditure allotment for the three forces is almost Rs 2.2 lakh crore, of which 75 per cent is reserved for procurement from domestic defence industries.
“This not only enhances security but also creates jobs and strengthens our industrial base. The results are already visible — defence exports have crossed Rs 23,000 crore, a nearly 35-fold rise in the past decade, and indigenous defence production has touched record levels,” he said.
The prime minister said the government has been “very sensitive” to the well-being of the ex-servicemen.
“Hence, the allotment for the healthcare scheme exceeds Rs 12,000 crore. In percentage terms, it is a 45-per cent rise. But there is something more that I wish to place on record…,” he said.
“Since day one, our government has been clear — we will do whatever it takes to support our defence forces and strengthen them. Yes, this year’s allocation is a record high, but viewing it in isolation only provides a limited perspective,” Modi said.
The prime minister noted that it was the NDA government that fulfilled the four-decade-long demand for OROP (One-Rank-One-Pension).
“It is one of our biggest tragedies that those who ruled the country for decades used the defence sector only to enrich their own pockets, as evidenced by the number of defence-related scams during their tenure,” he said in an indirect criticism of the previous Congress governments.
Modi also highlighted his government’s push for defence modernisation.
“We have been working on modernisation and self-reliance in this sector for the last 11 years. See the number of startups working in this sector now,” he said.
“We believe in giving Indian talent the opportunity to support our forces and contribute to a stronger India,” he added.
