• Source:JND
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the attempt to link the Hindu faith with India’s economic growth rate, while highlighting the country's impressive economic performance on Saturday. Referring to the country's second-quarter GDP figures for the financial year 2025-26, which showed a growth rate of over 8 per cent, he pointed out that this stood in stark contrast to global growth, which is merely 3 per cent.

Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2025, PM Modi emphasised that India’s growth rate was indicative of the country’s emerging role as a key driver of the global economy. "There is an attempt to malign the Hindu way of life by terming India’s slow growth a few decades ago as the 'Hindu rate of growth'," he remarked.

"Just a few days ago, India's growth rate was over 8 per cent, as per the Quarter 2 GDP figures. This reflects our new pace of progress. This is not just a mere number. It is a strong macroeconomic signal that India is becoming a growth driver for the global economy. Our figures stand at a time when global growth is at just 3 per cent," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister further noted that, in a fragmented world, India stands as a bridge-builder. "We are at a juncture where one-quarter of the 21st century has passed, and the world has seen many ups and downs — financial crises, global pandemics, and other challenges. These situations, in some way or the other, have tested the world. Today, the world is full of uncertainties, but amidst this, India is emerging as a force in a different league. India is full of self-confidence," he added. "When the world talks about a slowdown, India writes stories of growth. When the world faces a trust crisis, India becomes a pillar of trust."

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PM Modi also took a swipe at the previous administration, asserting that the earlier government systems lacked faith in the capabilities of the country's citizens. "Our government broke that way of working. A citizen’s self-attested document is enough to prove its authenticity," he stated.

The Prime Minister went on to highlight that a government's most crucial aspect is the trust it earns from its citizens. "We must rid the country of the colonial mindset in every corner. I want to take the citizens forward with a vision for the next 10 years," he said.

PM Modi announced that self-attestation would now suffice for many official processes, in an effort to reduce bureaucracy and streamline citizen engagement. He explained that these reforms were part of the Jan Vishwas Bill Provisions, which also include the decriminalisation of minor compliance violations to ease the burden on ordinary citizens.

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PM Modi urged citizens to abandon what he termed "Macaulay’s slavery mindset" by 2035, setting a ten-year target to overcome the legacies of colonial rule. With a sense of resolve, he folded his hands and said, "I cannot do this without the support of the people of this country. We must not follow the footprints of others, we have to make our own path. Against all odds, we must march ahead."

The PM said that India was brimming with confidence in a world full of uncertainties, given the ongoing wars, financial crisis and global pandemic witnessed in the past decade. He said that India was acting as a bridge at a time when the world was moving towards fragmentation.

"However, India remains visible in a different league. It is full of self-confidence. When the world talks about a slowdown, India writes its story of growth. As the world faces a trust crisis, India is becoming a pillar of trust. When the world is going toward fragmentation, India is acting as a bridge," PM Modi concluded.

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