India surges ahead in 2023

The year that has just ended has been, in many ways, an inspirational year. India stands at a unique inflection point in its long and chequered history, racing past several major milestones, as it transitions into what PM Modi characterised as ‘Amrit Kaal.’ India’s transformation into a confident, self-reliant nation in diverse domains, under PM Modi, is the subject of a chapter for historians. Be it strategic areas like defence and foreign policy, or key sectors like agriculture and industry, this upward curve leapfrogging India into the league of major players on the global stage, is there for all to see. India assumed G20 Presidency from December 2022 in what can be seen as a clear marker of its development curve and its rise in recent years as an important world leader. G20 Presidency, a resplendent new jewel in its crown, is a clear reflection of the world’s growing trust in India’s leadership. Today, India also stands tall as the fifth largest economy in the world and is poised to become the third largest economy in a few years. Other indicators of the growth in economy point to this—for instance, India clocked the highest ever FDI inflow of $83.57 billion and $400 billion in exports. These are milestones which indicate that India is well on its way to becoming a fully developed nation by 2047, as envisioned by PM Modi and outlined in his August 15, 2022 Independence Day address. On the agriculture front, food grain production increased to 315.72 million tonnes by December 2022 (as per 4th advance estimates), again the highest ever recorded. Today, India stands second in the production of wheat as well as rice globally. The communications landscape has undergone a complete revolution with the launch of 5G services, while India’s vaccine manufacturers and healthcare professionals did the country proud by notching up a record of administering 220 crore doses. The first rocket built by India’s private sector ‘Vikram-S’ took off on November 18marking another step towards self-reliance in the space sector. Similarly, the commissioning of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant puts India in a select group of nations capable of building their own aircraft carriers. Another key development in the defence sector which has had the world sit up and take notice, is the introduction of the BrahMos cruise missile with extended range, capable of carrying a conventional warhead. India is clearly on the march as all these indicators, which have been picked only from a few select fields, illustrate. If anyone fails to see this in positive light, it is our cynical opposition and intellectual class. No wonder, the Australian academic, Salvatore Babones termed India’s intellectuals as anti-India. The world sees India as the next major power on the horizon even if Khan Market intellectuals and Lutyens media professionals pampered to a fault by the previous regimes fail to recognise this fact. While the political scene looks uncertain at this stage, with the opposition in a state of complete disarray, it is fair to say that there is no clear adversary for PM Modi who can take him on in 2024, as things stand. Meanwhile, India under Narendra Modi’s leadership, continues to surge ahead on all fronts.