(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
New Delhi, May 26 — Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced via a tweet that India has officially overtaken Japan to become the fourth-largest economy in the world, with its GDP reaching the \$4 trillion milestone. This significant economic achievement comes under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking what Puri described as the culmination of a “Modi Decade” of decisive reforms and growth.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Puri recalled being stationed in Tokyo in 1976, when Japan’s economy was considered a global benchmark — one that many believed India would struggle to match, let alone surpass. “Then began India’s Modi Decade in 2014,” he wrote, emphasizing the shift from years of policy paralysis to a dynamic, growth-driven governance model.

Puri highlighted that in 2014, India ranked 10th globally with a GDP of around \$2 trillion. In the past decade, key government initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, and Startup India have played a transformative role. These programs, according to Puri, provided critical momentum to the Indian economy, inspiring innovation across sectors and engaging the private sector, public enterprises, and entrepreneurs nationwide.

India is now the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, boasting over 1.57 lakh recognized startups, including more than 100 unicorns. The country has also emerged as a hub for deep-tech innovation, with over 3,600 startups operating in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, and space technology — an area where India now has more than 200 active startups.

The startup ecosystem alone, Puri noted, has created over 1.72 million jobs, reinforcing India’s position as the fastest-growing major economy, with steady growth forecasts of 6.7% over the next two fiscal years.

Beyond economic metrics, India’s progress in social development has been equally significant. More than 25 crore people have been lifted out of multidimensional poverty. The country is now the world’s largest connected democracy, with over 80 crore internet users and 136 crore Aadhaar digital identities. India also commands a massive 46% share in global digital payments, underscoring its leadership in fintech innovation.

Daily life reflects this transformation, with more than 60 million people visiting fuel stations and 33 crore LPG connections covering nearly the entire population. These numbers, Puri asserted, are indicators of widespread access and the success of inclusive governance based on the principle of *“Sarvodaya through Antyodaya”* — development for all, beginning with the most vulnerable.

Puri concluded his statement by crediting PM Modi’s “farsighted and decisive leadership” for instilling confidence in the Indian people and enabling the nation to climb to the fourth position in the global economic hierarchy — with the aspiration to soon become the third-largest economy in the world.

India’s rise, once thought improbable, is now a testament to a decade of focused policymaking, innovation, and the collective will of its people.