On Narendra Modi’s 72nd birthday, here are the historic decisions and events that changed the course of India
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is an important cleanliness campaign of the Modi government.
• The Balakot air strike was a vivid proof of India’s military might
• The abrogation of Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir is considered a historic decision.
Love him or hate him, you can’t ignore him! That is for you Narendra Modi, the 14th and current Prime Minister of India. Today is his birthday and Modi – who was also the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 – turns 71. Here’s looking at 10 landmark judgments that redefined India and important developments during his rule.
Launch of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) is one of the most important cleanliness campaigns of the Government of India. A nationwide campaign, the mission was launched in 2014 to eliminate open defecation and improve the system of solid waste management. The campaign was officially launched on Gandhi Jayanti, 2 October 2014 at Rajghat. The Prime Minister’s speeches drew praise from many for building toilets in rural areas and personally leading the campaign to stop open defecation. Know about NewsQuest..
Balakot Airstrike: Military Strength of India
The Balakot airstrike was carried out by India in the early hours of February 26, 2019. India confirmed the airstrike by saying that it was a major “non-military pre-emptive” action directed against a terrorist training camp, which led to the death of a “large number” of terrorists. The Indian attack on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp came 12 days after it claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, in which over 40 soldiers were killed. Like in 2016, in 2019 too there was a major terrorist attack on the soldiers of the Indian Army. In this attack in Pulwama, 40 CRPF personnel were martyred. This time, on the morning of 26 February, the Indian Air Force carried out airstrikes in Balakot in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and bombed the terrorist launch pads there. However, during the attack, Wing Commander Abhinandan’s fighter plane crashed in PoK. He was later released after being held captive by Pakistan for a few days.
On the morning of 18 September 2016, nearly three years after the Modi government came to power, Pakistan-based terrorists attacked an army base in Kashmir’s Uri, killing 19 Indian soldiers. The Government of India retaliated the attack by conducting a surgical strike in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). In this attack, more than 40 terrorists were killed and all terrorist launchpads were destroyed.
Removal of article 370
On August 5, 2019, Articles 370 and 35(A) were abrogated, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and mandate to define its domicile rules. It also led to the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories. It revoked the temporary special status or autonomy granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. Two years after it was repealed, the official account of Narendra Modi’s personal website tweeted, “A historic day. Two years ago, on this day, the first major step towards #NewJammuKashmir was taken. Since then, there has been unprecedented peace and progress.” is. in the field.” The abrogation of Article 370 was one of the most difficult and historic decisions taken by the Modi-led BJP government. In August 2019, Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its special status and a proposal was made to bifurcate the state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Article 370 gave special rights to Jammu and Kashmir to frame its own constitution.
Amendment of laws in Jammu and Kashmir
A year after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution, the Center under the Modi government amended several laws to pave the way for people from outside Jammu and Kashmir to buy land in the union territory. In a gazette notification, the Center has removed the phrase “permanent resident of the state” from Section 17 of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act that deals with settlement of land in the union territory.
Fight Against COVID-19
While there was sharp criticism of the government and the prime minister during the second wave of COVID-19 that ravaged the country including its capital Delhi, the tide seems to have turned. With the pace of vaccination picking up, India inoculated a record 10 million people in a single day by the end of August. While Modi hailed the achievement as ‘significant’, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO), congratulated India for vaccinating the first dose to 50 per cent of the adult population. It comes as a prime seat for the PM.
• Also read: PM’s birthday – 10 schemes to strengthen India’s economic growth, financial stability
Introduction to Goods and Services Tax
The nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime was launched in 2017 to subsume and replace 17 existing indirect taxes such as excise duty, service tax and VAT and 13 cesses. The rollout of GST through a special session of Parliament four years ago is considered one of the major highlights of the Modi government.
Instant triple talaq made a punishable offense
The NDA government faced several hurdles but finally managed to enact the triple talaq law on August 1, 20219, making instant divorce of women by Muslim men a punishable criminal offence. Earlier, the Supreme Court of India had struck down the practice of instant triple talaq in August 2017 following a petition filed by Shayra Bano, who was divorced through instant triple talaq. While many opposition parties targeted the PM and the government, it is being considered as a big victory for the Modi government. The practice of instant talaq by Muslim men can now be punished with a jail term of up to three years. After a brief resistance from the opposition, the Modi government passed the Triple Talaq Bill on August 1, 2019. The BJP, despite not being in power for a very long time, was verifying its passage in Parliament. This bill brought great relief to all those Muslim women who were immediately abandoned by their husbands after pronouncing talaq thrice.
Beginning of Digital India
As mentioned in the PIB statement, the vision of Digital India was aimed at transforming the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Its objective was to ensure that government services are available electronically to citizens. PM Narendra Modi said earlier this year, “This decade is going to enhance India’s capabilities in digital technology and its share in the global digital economy.” That’s why top experts are looking at this decade as ‘India’s Taken’. “
While the creation of the CDS was suggested by the Kargil Review Committee (KRC) nearly two decades ago, in February 2000, General Bipin Rawat was named India’s first Chief of Defense Staff on December 30, 2019. Earlier that year, in August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the decision to build a top military post from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
100% FDI for Telecom Sector
In the latest development, the cash-strapped telecom sector got a major boost. The Center has announced major reforms that are expected to usher the telecom industry into a new era, boost investment and reduce the debt burden. The Union Cabinet, which on Wednesday (September 15) approved major reforms, also approved a major relief package for the telecom sector, allowing 100 per cent on payment of statutory dues by telecom companies as well as Four years moratorium is included. Foreign Direct Investment through the automatic route.
During the last years, the Modi government has taken many such decisions which are considered historic. However, some of them invited heavy criticism from the opposition parties. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed 8 years in power at the Centre. In both the Lok Sabha elections held in the year 2014 and 2019, BJP won with a huge majority. And now the party is gearing up for the 2024 general elections. During this, the Modi government took many such decisions which are considered historic. However, some of them invited heavy criticism from the opposition parties and people.
Let us have a look at some of the important decisions taken by the Modi government.
Agriculture law
In 2020, three farm laws were passed in Parliament with the aim of facilitating minimum support price (MSP) to farmers, but the government was forced to withdraw it as farmers protested against their demand to repeal the laws. refused and protested almost continuously. 1 year. On November 19, 2019, PM Modi announced the repeal of all three laws. The decision to first introduce agricultural laws and then repeal them was considered a major and controversial decision of the government.
Demonetization
On the night of 8 November 2016, PM Modi in a surprise move announced the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes from public use, causing a huge stir in the country. The move was aimed at curbing the use of black money, terror funding and corruption. According to some political experts, this decision did not help much.
On 8 November 2016, PM Narendra Modi announced the demonetization of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. However, he was allowed to deposit them in the bank. Instead, the government issued new notes of 500 and 2000. This decision directly affected the common man. The derailed car slowly came back on track.
Advantage: With this decision of the Central Government, the practice of keeping minimum cash has started among the people. The scope of digital transactions increased for transactions. After the completion of the process of changing both, there has been a reduction in the cases of withdrawing money from ATMs or queuing up in banks. People have adopted netbanking and UPI transactions.
Disadvantages: While announcing demonetization, the central government had claimed that it would reduce the cases of black money, terrorism and fake notes. But the opposite happened. According to a report, the deposits of Indians in Swiss banks have increased by 50 percent.
As much as the people of the country appreciated this decision of the Modi government, the opposition raised as many questions. For the first time after independence, India entered Pakistan and gave a befitting reply through surgical strike. Center got huge benefit of surgical strike on 28 September 2016 and 26 February 2019 and Modi government 2.0 returned in Lok Sabha elections.
Advantage: This decision of the Modi government was appreciated by the public and India’s anti-terrorist image was strengthened at the global level. The government’s decision sent a message that it will not allow terrorism to grow at any cost.
Disadvantages: To avenge the airstrike, some Pakistani aircraft crossed the Line of Control and entered India within hours of the incident. Bombing of Pakistani aircraft. Responding to this, India’s MiG-21 fell into Pakistan’s border and Wing Commander Abhinandan was arrested in Pakistan. However, he was later released.
On July 1, 2017, the Modi government implemented GST under the One Nation, One Tax policy. Through this, the small taxes that the state government used to levy were abolished. The tax received under the new policy has been divided into two parts. 50 percent goes to the Center and 50 percent to the state government.
Benefits: Tried to remove tax anomalies through One Nation, One Tax policy. A uniform tax was implemented throughout the country.
Disadvantages: After the implementation of GST, when the Center enumerated its benefits, traders and state governments strongly opposed it. This was also because the government kept petroleum products and excise duty separate from GST. As a result, different state governments collected different taxes. As a result, several protests took place.
This decision of the Modi government has brought a big change for Muslim women. With this decision of the Center, the practice of terminating relations with Muslim women by uttering talaq thrice was declared illegal. Even though this decision came into effect from 19 September 2018, but before that the government had cleared its stand on it.
Benefits: Provision was made for 3 years imprisonment for those who divorce women in this way and provision was made to give alimony to women. This brought a lot of relief to Muslim women and the cases of triple talaq were reduced.
Disadvantages: The triple talaq law states that in such cases the woman herself has to make a complaint. As a result, many such cases came to light where Muslim women were illiterate and could not complain due to pressure from in-laws.
Taking a major decision, on 5 August 2019, the Central Government removed Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. After the removal of this section, all the privileges of the state ended. After this decision of the Modi government, Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Benefits: With the removal of Article 370, those laws and schemes were implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which are benefiting other states of the country. Like- Artai, MNREGA.
Disadvantages: Many political parties opposed this decision. There was unrest in the state. Many leaders were put under house arrest. Internet was down for months. Tourism affected. The local people had to face a lot of problems.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was implemented on January 10, 2020. This act gives citizenship to those non-Muslim people who have come to the neighboring country of India. However, the coming into force of this act caused confusion in many ways in the Muslim community. For example, they will be thrown out of the country. Whereas there was nothing like this in the Act.
Benefit: Paved the way for such migrants who have been living in India for a long time to get citizenship. They have found a place in official statistics.
Disadvantages: There was a lot of opposition to the CAA. Most of the protestors are from the Muslim community. They say that this act is anti-Muslim. It violates the right to equality.
On April 1, 2020, the Modi government announced the formation of 4 big banks by merging 10 public sector banks of the country. Instead, the government talked about giving relief from the rising NPAs and providing better banking facilities to the consumers. The merged banks include Oriental Bank of Commerce, United Bank, Syndicate Bank, Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank.
Benefits: The merger of banks reduced their expenses. Bank profits increased. Banks have taken steps to provide better facilities to the customers.
Disadvantages: Several media reports claimed that banks provided VRS to lower level employees to reduce their costs.
On November 19, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the withdrawal of all three agricultural laws. Addressing the country, he said that the government will start the process of repealing these laws. Although he had said in his address that it was brought to improve the condition of the farmers.
Benefit: There was a complete stop to the farmers’ agitation and sit-in demonstrations that lasted for almost a year. The farmers returned and took up farming. However, political analysts termed this decision of the Modi government as part of the electoral strategy of the states.
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