What India Couldn't Do in 70 Years, Modi Govt Delivered in Just 10: FM

When India speaks on global platforms today, the world listens—keenly. And in a city known for its art, architecture, and fashion—Milan, Italy—India’s voice found yet another powerful echo.

As Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed members of the Indian diaspora and global dignitaries in the heart of Europe, she wasn’t just representing a government or a ministry—she was narrating the story of a country that has undergone a massive transformation over the last decade. A country that, as she put it, has finally started delivering on promises once only heard as political slogans.

From Intent to Impact: The Modi-Era Shift

In a candid and confident address, Sitharaman underlined a truth often felt but rarely articulated so boldly on foreign soil.

“The intention might have been there earlier,” she said, referring to previous governments, “but the delivery was not efficient.”

It was a powerful line—one that resonated deeply with both diaspora Indians who have watched India from afar and global leaders who now consider India a central pillar in global economics.

According to her, the last ten years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi have marked a clear break from the past—not necessarily because the challenges were new, but because the solutions were delivered with unprecedented execution efficiency.

Basic needs that once felt like distant dreams for millions—electricity, piped drinking water, pucca homes, proper roads, and accessible healthcare—have now become a lived reality for a large part of India’s population.

The Global Stage and the India Story

Sitharaman’s visit to Italy wasn’t just about connecting with the diaspora. It was about positioning India’s development journey within the broader framework of global cooperation.

On the sidelines of the 58th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Milan, she met her Japanese counterpart, Katsunobu Kato, reaffirming the strength of the Indo-Japanese Special Strategic and Global Partnership—a relationship crucial to ensuring peace and progress in the Indo-Pacific region, an increasingly geopolitically significant area.

Their conversation, while diplomatic, touched on strategic threads that tie the economies of India and Japan together—technology, trade, and trust.

Viksit Bharat 2047: The Vision Ahead

At the ADB’s Governors' Business Session, Sitharaman took the stage as the voice of an emerging powerhouse. But she didn’t just speak of GDP numbers or fiscal frameworks. She spoke of Viksit Bharat 2047—India’s collective ambition to become a developed nation by the time it celebrates 100 years of independence.

This vision, she said, isn’t just a slogan. It’s backed by a structured roadmap, built on decades of groundwork and turbocharged by the last ten years of delivery.

“India’s rapid economic growth is not accidental,” she told the audience. “It’s the outcome of structural reforms, digital innovation, and a commitment to inclusive growth.”

Rebuilding Trust Through Delivery

At the heart of Sitharaman’s message was a clear theme: governance that delivers restores faith—in systems, in promises, and in the idea of India itself.

The Finance Minister highlighted how several governments in the past had promised transformation, but fell short at the level of execution. What has changed now, she implied, is not the ambition—but the capacity to deliver at scale.

From a startup founder in Bengaluru to a rural family in Bihar, the message is the same: the system is starting to work. Roads reach places once ignored. Tap water flows where scarcity ruled. Electrification is no longer a headline—it’s the new baseline.

A Confident India, A Collaborative World

As global conversations increasingly shift toward climate change, inclusive development, and sustainable finance, India’s role as a collaborator is expanding. Sitharaman made it clear that India supports the ADB’s move toward becoming more agile, client-centric, and bold in its mission to enable inclusive growth in the Asia-Pacific.

The Indian delegation, which includes senior officials from the Department of Economic Affairs, is engaging in policy dialogues that aim to make development finance more relevant for the challenges of today—challenges that span everything from startup financing to large-scale infrastructure development.

Why This Matters for India’s Startup Ecosystem

While Sitharaman didn’t directly mention startups in her address, the implications are enormous for India’s innovation economy.

A stable and efficient governance framework lays the foundation for risk-taking, investment, and entrepreneurial confidence. Infrastructure upgrades mean better connectivity. Financial reforms mean easier access to credit. Diplomatic ties with countries like Japan could unlock more funding and collaboration opportunities for deep-tech and climate startups.

And above all, the credibility India builds on the global stage reflects back into the ecosystem—attracting foreign VCs, institutional investors, and partners who now see India not just as a market, but as a model.

India at the Crossroads of Legacy and Leapfrogging

In Milan, Sitharaman wasn’t selling a dream. She was reporting progress. And if there’s one thing the last ten years have taught India’s 1.4 billion citizens and its vast diaspora, it’s this: vision matters, but delivery defines legacies.

As India looks ahead to 2047 with the goal of becoming a developed economy, the world seems more convinced than ever—it might actually get there.