New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday declared that India’s major economic reforms — including sweeping GST changes and substantial income-tax cuts — are no longer triggered by crises or external pressure, but guided by a clear and confident “Nation First” vision.
Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2025, the Prime Minister said India had broken away from the old mindset where reforms were introduced only when the country was under stress.
“Today, our reforms are not crisis-linked. Our speed is steady, our direction consistent, and our intention is Nation First,” Modi asserted, adding that what seemed “impossible a decade ago” is now the driving force behind governance.
Highlighting this year’s landmark economic decisions, Modi pointed to the next-generation GST reforms, which rationalised tax slabs and made essential goods more affordable. He also cited the new income-tax structure under which individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh pay zero tax, calling it a major relief for the middle class and a boost to spending power.
The Prime Minister said these reforms are part of a long-term strategy to strengthen the economy, improve ease of doing business, support small enterprises, and expand India’s growth trajectory despite global uncertainty.
“As the world grapples with instability, India stands in a different league today, driven by a clear and bold reform agenda,” PM said.
Modi emphasised that reforms must be proactive, not reactive, and designed to protect citizens while fuelling development. The government, he said, will continue to put national interest and people’s welfare at the centre of every major policy decision.
