Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a prominent advocate for a clean and corruption-free India. His anti-corruption initiatives aim to build a strong nation by fostering transparency and accountability. With a firm stand against bribes and corrupt practices, Modi envisions an India that thrives on integrity and good governance, ensuring a brighter future for all.
A commemorative stamp on International Year of Cooperatives - 2025 will also be launched in the event. | Credit: PTI
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Prime Minister Modi has approved a cabinet note proposing amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, introducing safeguards that critics argue weaken the law.
A rule mandating agencies to seek government approval before investigating officials will be reinstated.
In 2014, the Supreme Court declared the rule "invalid and unconstitutional," emphasizing that punishing a corrupt official, regardless of their seniority, is essential and that holding a public servant position does not warrant special protection.
The IAS (Indian Administrative Service) lobby firmly insisted on reinstating the clause that safeguards officials.
Officials state that the changes aim to facilitate ease of doing business, ensuring that honest officials are not discouraged from making policy decisions and are safeguarded against harassment.The court has ruled that the law cannot differentiate between public servants based on their rank.Once the changes are implemented, senior management of corporate entities will be held accountable only if their "consent, connivance, and complicity" are proven in court.Under current rules, if a company is found guilty of bribery, the head of the organization is presumed guilty.The Prime Minister has approved the removal of the strict 'undue advantage' clause, following a parliamentary panel's argument that the term was overly broad and prone to misuse by enforcement agencies.
The proposed amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act still require parliamentary approval.
Modi's Vision for a Better India in All Aspects
Advocating for Gender Inclusivity
Since assuming office, the Modi government has prioritized women’s empowerment as a central element of its governance strategy to ensure inclusive development for millions. In the fiscal year 2021-22, the government allocated Rs. 153,326.28 crore for women-focused programs under the Gender Budget Statement. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has also launched several key initiatives to narrow the gender gap and promote empowerment:
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme ensures the protection, survival, and education of the girl child; Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) have been established in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs); the Mahila Police Volunteers (MPV) program acts as a vital link between the police and women in distress; efforts to mainstream gender sensitization and curriculum reforms have been implemented; and Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK) have been set up to empower rural women through skill development and employment opportunities. The impact of the widespread construction of toilets under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on improving women’s health and security cannot be overstated. Likewise, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which provides free LPG cylinders to women, has significantly enhanced health outcomes, especially in rural areas where women previously relied on harmful, smoke-emitting stoves. Additionally, the launch of the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) aims to provide micro-credit on favorable terms to women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds for income-generating activities. The government has also shown its unwavering commitment to women's progress through measures such as reserving 33% of seats for women in Panchayati Raj and other local/national institutions, as well as providing 26 weeks of maternity leave for working women—one of the highest durations globally. These initiatives underscore the government’s dedication to advancing women’s role in the nation’s development.
Driving Entrepreneurship: Make in India and StartUp India
Launched in 2014, Make in India was among the first initiatives aimed at attracting investments, fostering innovation, developing world-class infrastructure, and positioning India as a global hub for manufacturing, design, and innovation. Through this program, India has consistently achieved record-breaking FDI inflows and improved its rankings across various global indices, including the Global Innovation Index.
Startup India has been at the forefront of creating a robust ecos’ystem to nurture innovation and support startups, driving sustainable economic growth and generating extensive employment opportunities. This initiative has reached new milestones each year, offering benefits such as expedited and discounted intellectual property applications, access to a ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds, self-certification under labor and environmental regulations, and a three-year income tax exemption, among others.
Sustainable Development: Eternal India – Progressive India
India's climate action strategies focus on achieving clean and efficient energy systems, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and planned eco-restoration. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) vertical within NITI Aayog serves as the nodal agency for monitoring SDG progress and fostering global cooperation through various mechanisms.
Notable achievements include the electrification of all villages, the annual reduction of 38 million tonnes of CO2 emissions through energy-efficient appliances, providing clean cooking fuel to 80 million underprivileged households, and ambitious goals to install 450 GW of renewable energy and restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
On a global scale, India ranks third in renewable power, fourth in wind power, and fifth in solar power. Initiatives such as the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the International Solar Alliance highlight India’s commitment to leveraging global partnerships for climate action and disaster resilience.
Rural Development: Garib Kalyan Employment Campaign
Launched in June 2020 as a large-scale employment and rural public works program, this initiative was designed to create job and livelihood opportunities for migrant workers returning to rural areas following the COVID-19 outbreak. Its focus is on building lasting rural infrastructure and introducing modern amenities, such as internet connectivity, in villages. The Ministry of Rural Development highlights that the government is also prioritizing education, skills development, access to banking, water conservation, health and nutrition, electricity, housing, open defecation-free (ODF) status, waste management, roads, internet, LPG, Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), social protection for the elderly, sports, and the promotion of non-agricultural activities in rural areas, all aimed at fostering self-sufficiency and reducing large-scale migration to urban centers.
National Master Plan for PM Gati Shakti
To enhance livelihoods, streamline business operations, and improve logistics, the central government has launched the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan as part of a comprehensive effort to develop infrastructure across the country. This initiative aims to create a unified and integrated approach for planning and executing multi-modal and last-mile connectivity. It has played a crucial role in reducing high logistics costs and is expected to boost exports while enhancing the global competitiveness of Indian MSMEs. Additionally, the plan holds significant potential for the development of modern infrastructure through improved coordination and monitoring.
Returning to our origins: Emphasizing Traditional Medicine through the AYUSH Sector
There is a growing global demand for Indian traditional medicines and therapies, driven by the country's extensive knowledge base in this field. Currently, the Ayush industry is experiencing significant growth, with a global market size of $657.5 billion in 2020 and exports reaching $31 billion in 2019. The sector has seen impressive growth of 17% from 2014 to 2020, and a projected turnover of $20.6 billion in 2022. To support this momentum, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the first Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in India during the Global Ayush Innovation & Investment Summit.
In addition, the medical value travel sector has seen important strides in attracting international customers. A key initiative to promote this has been the introduction of a special Ayush visa category, unveiled at the recent summit, aimed at boosting Ayush medical tourism under the slogan "Heal in India." This will be further supported by the creation of Ayush parks across the country, designed to promote, research, and manufacture Ayush products and services for foreign customers and investors.
Shaping the Future: Reforms in Education
Global education and knowledge sectors are undergoing a significant transformation. The shift from traditional in-person learning to a digital learning ecosystem has brought many scientific and technological innovations to the forefront.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is expected to be a landmark initiative for various reasons. It seeks to address the country's evolving development needs and proposes comprehensive reforms to the educational system, including regulation and governance. The aim is to create a new system that aligns with the aspirations of the modern era in education. Since the NEP’s introduction, numerous efforts have been undertaken to achieve its goals of access, equity, inclusion, and quality, especially in fostering interdisciplinary skills and knowledge at the elementary, secondary, and senior secondary levels. Additionally, the government has rolled out several initiatives to ensure a smooth transition to digital learning, providing multi-modal access to online education for students and teachers across the country.
Inclusive Development for All: The Northeast of India
The northeastern states of the country have remained relatively isolated from the mainland for decades due to geographical and other challenges. However, since 2014, this situation has seen a significant transformation, with the Prime Minister consistently advocating for equitable development across both the eastern and western regions of the country. The region has received substantial support to improve infrastructure, connectivity, and logistics. In line with this, the recently announced 'PM Development Initiative for North East' aims to focus on building strong infrastructure to create livelihood opportunities for women and youth while addressing other development needs of the region.
Additionally, to address the region's connectivity challenges, the government has undertaken several initiatives to establish efficient infrastructure, including highways, waterways for multimodal and last-mile connectivity, the newly launched Vibrant Villages Program for border areas, and targeted investments in optical fiber networks. A recent proposal to build an underwater channel to ensure year-round connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is also part of this effort. These actions have led to significant improvements in air, road, rail, waterway, and telecom connectivity, positioning the scenic northeastern region as a key hub for socio-economic activity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, under the leadership of Modi, India is steadily progressing towards a brighter future. By focusing on making the nation better in all aspects, efforts to combat corruption and ensure a corruption-free environment have been prioritized. Additionally, the government's commitment to creating a healthy and secure nation is evident through its initiatives aimed at tackling issues such as abduction and crime. With these comprehensive measures, India is on the path to becoming a stronger, more prosperous, and corruption-free nation for all its citizens.
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