Narendra Modi (born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician who has served as the 14th Prime Minister of India since May 2014. A leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he was Chief Minister of Gujarat for more than 12 years before leading his party to national victories in 2014, 2019 and 2024. He is the first Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to win three consecutive general elections. He is one of the most popular, and most debated, leaders in India’s history.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Narendra Damodardas Modi |
| Born | 17 September 1950, Vadnagar, Gujarat, India |
| Age | 76 |
| Office | 14th Prime Minister of India (since 26 May 2014) |
| Previous office | Chief Minister of Gujarat (2001–2014) |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Constituency | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (Lok Sabha) |
| Education | BA (Delhi University, distance learning); MA in Political Science (Gujarat University) |
| Parents | Damodardas Mulchand Modi, Heeraben Modi |
Early Life
Modi was born in Vadnagar, a small town in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, the third of six children in a family of modest means. As a boy he helped his father sell tea near the local railway station, a story he has often recalled in speeches. He was drawn to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang (RSS), the Hindu nationalist volunteer organisation, at a young age. As a teenager he left home and travelled across India for about two years.
Political Career
RSS pracharak to BJP organiser
In the early 1970s Modi became a full-time pracharak (organiser) of the RSS. During the 1975–77 Emergency he worked underground against the government of Indira Gandhi. The RSS assigned him to the BJP in 1987. He rose quickly as a skilled strategist and organiser in Gujarat, and he later served as a national general secretary of the party.
Chief Minister of Gujarat (2001–2014)
In October 2001 the BJP made Modi Chief Minister of Gujarat. Months later, in February–March 2002, the state was hit by severe communal riots following the burning of a train carrying Hindu pilgrims at Godhra. More than a thousand people were killed, most of them Muslims. Modi’s government was widely criticised for failing to stop the violence, and in 2005 the United States denied him a visa. A Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team later found no prosecutable evidence against him, and the Supreme Court upheld that finding in 2022. Modi won three more state elections. His Gujarat development model, focused on infrastructure and investment, became central to his national image.
Prime Minister (2014–present)
As the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Modi led the party to its first outright Lok Sabha majority in 2014. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on 26 May 2014. His government launched programmes including:
In November 2016 it withdrew high-value banknotes overnight in a controversial demonetisation, and in 2017 it introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Modi won a larger majority in 2019. In August that year his government revoked Article 370, ending Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status. Other landmark moments included the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing and India’s G20 presidency in 2023. In January 2024 he led the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
In the 2024 election the BJP fell short of a majority on its own but formed the government with its NDA allies. Modi was sworn in for a third term on 9 June 2024. In May 2025, after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Foreign Policy
Modi has pursued an active foreign policy, strengthening ties with the United States, Japan, Gulf states and others while keeping a long relationship with Russia. He has been awarded the highest civilian honours of more than two dozen countries.
Personal Life
Modi was married as a teenager to Jashodaben in an arranged marriage but left home soon afterwards, and the couple never lived together. He publicly acknowledged the marriage in 2014. His mother, Heeraben, died in December 2022 at the age of 99. Modi is known for his disciplined routine, his practice of yoga and his mastery of social media. He also presents a monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat.
Key Facts at a Glance
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Narendra Modi born?
Narendra Modi was born on 17 September 1950 in Vadnagar, Gujarat, India.
