Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 76 on Thursday, September 17, with birthday wishes pouring in from political leaders, sportspersons, actors and public figures across India. The day also coincided with a wider focus on his 25 years in public life and the changes supporters associate with his tenure.
President Droupadi Murmu was among those who wished Modi on his birthday. In her message, she referred to what she described as new benchmarks in governance and greater momentum in inclusive development. Union ministers, chief ministers and other political leaders also shared messages highlighting Modi’s years in public service.
The greetings were not limited to the ruling party. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also wished the Prime Minister, extending greetings for his good health and long life. Several other leaders from different political backgrounds also sent birthday messages.
The film industry joined the celebrations as well. Actors Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff and Shilpa Shetty were among the Bollywood personalities who posted birthday messages. Malayalam star Mammootty and Telugu actor Mahesh Babu were also among the celebrities who extended their wishes.
Sporting personalities also marked the occasion. Indian cricket coach Gautam Gambhir, former cricketer Suresh Raina and badminton player Saina Nehwal were among those who sent greetings to Modi.
The birthday comes at an important point in Modi’s political career. He has spent more than 25 years in elected executive office, beginning with his tenure as Gujarat chief minister before becoming Prime Minister in 2014. His supporters have highlighted governance, welfare programmes, infrastructure and India’s growing digital economy during this period.
Economic growth has been a central part of that narrative. A Moneycontrol review marking Modi’s 76th birthday pointed to several indicators used to track India’s economic transformation, including GDP growth, financial inclusion, digital payments, infrastructure expansion and the startup ecosystem.
India’s economic expansion has remained a major talking point, with the country continuing to be described as one of the fastest-growing major economies. Digital infrastructure has also changed everyday transactions, with UPI becoming a widely used payment system across the country.
Financial inclusion has expanded through initiatives such as the Jan Dhan Yojana, which sought to bring more people into the formal banking system. The wider growth of digital payments has further connected consumers, businesses and financial institutions.
Infrastructure has been another visible area of investment. New highways, airports, railway projects, ports and urban infrastructure have formed part of the government’s broader capital expenditure push. These projects have also been linked to efforts to improve connectivity and support economic activity.
India’s startup ecosystem has grown alongside this digital expansion. Technology-led businesses, easier access to digital services and government initiatives such as Startup India have helped create a larger environment for entrepreneurs and new businesses.
These numbers, however, offer only one way of looking at India’s economic journey. Growth figures and infrastructure investment do not by themselves capture household incomes, employment, inflation or differences between regions. Those factors continue to shape how people experience economic change.
The birthday celebrations also included a public-service campaign. The BJP has launched the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ around Modi’s birthday, with activities focused on public outreach and social service. A larger series of programmes is also being held around his years in public life.
Messages also came from outside India. Russian President Vladimir Putin extended birthday greetings to Modi and referred to the India-Russia strategic partnership in his message.
Across the country, September 17 has therefore brought together personal greetings and a broader conversation about Modi’s years in public life. From political leaders and celebrities to sportspersons and ordinary citizens taking part in service activities, the Prime Minister’s 76th birthday has been marked in several different ways.
At the same time, the economic figures being highlighted offer a snapshot of an India that has changed significantly in areas such as digital payments, infrastructure, financial inclusion and entrepreneurship. The wider debate over the impact of these changes remains part of the country’s ongoing economic and political conversation.
