The Modi 2.0 government completed more than one and half years now. The BJP-led NDA swept to victory in the last general election, winning over 350 seats. Modi 2.0 govt will be remembered for the realisation of decades-old promises of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the first year of the Modi 2.0, the government has taken several key decisions, including the abrogation of Article 370, criminalisation of triple talaq, anti-terror terrorism law, Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya case as an incentive. From abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, both have been the two key ideological highlights of the BJP’s manifestoes over the decades, and both issues were settled in the favour of the party in the last one year.
Article 370
Abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, became a primary selling point for the Modi government which came within 100 days of coming back to power. The government said Article 370 abrogation was necessary for full integration of Kashmir into India. It also bifurcated the state into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir division and Ladakh division, sending a strong message to Pakistan that Delhi was prepared to retaliate in the same capacity.
Triple Talaq
Another issue that left the opposition crumbling and gave the BJP an upper hand was the issue of triple talaq. The BJP government succeeded in criminalising the practice of instant divorce among Muslim men and successfully pushed through both houses of Parliament despite opposition from its own camp.
UAPA
The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act was amended by the government to give more teeth to agencies. The opposition opposed this but Home Minister Amit Shah put up a strong defence. The government said amendment in the law was necessary to fight terror activities. The amendment conferred power to the government to designate an individual as a terrorist and seize their property.
Ram Mandir
The construction of Ram Mandir has featured in every election manifesto of the BJP for decades. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Ram Mandir which was criticised by many Muslim politicians and religious leaders the community. The verdict paved the way for the construction of a temple at the disputed site and the process has already begun.
Citizenship Act
Then came the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The passage of CAA, which seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslims from three neighbouring Muslim majority countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh) on the ground of religious persecution, prompted intense violent protests. It was also one of the key promises made by the party in its manifesto.
Goods and Services Tax
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was in the pipeline for 17 years before it became a major tax reform in 2017. For long, India was seen as a non-friendly country for business owing to its complicated tax laws. The GST subsumed 17 existing indirect taxes to make compliance of taxation laws by the business world simple. The rollout of GST through a special session of Parliament three years ago remains a major highlight of the Modi government.
Insolvency and bankruptcy code
The link between failed businesses and the consequent banking ailment was long seen as a problem area for economy growth and policy making. The Modi government enacted the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) law in 2016. The law was amended for the second time earlier this year to make it more attuned to ground realities.
Sardar Sarovar dam
The construction Sardar Sarovar dam was another highlight of Modi government. The dam generates electricity as well as supply water to the parched areas of Gujarat, MP and Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the dam on the Narmada river. The project which has been the subject of much controversy for decades now is reported to be one of the largest dams in the world having a length of 1.2 km and a depth of 163 metres.
Statue of Unity
The Statue of Unity is another major achievement of the Modi government. It is a colossal statue of Indian statesman and independence activist Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950), who was the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home minister of independent India and adherent of Mahatma Gandhi during the non-violent Indian Independence movement. Patel was highly respected for his leadership. The statue is located in the state of Gujarat, India. It is the world's tallest statue with a height of 182 metres (597 feet). It is located on the Narmada River in the Kevadiya colony, facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it on 31 October 2018, the 143rd anniversary of Sardar Patel.
Bihar elections
Another achievement of the Modi government is the successful conduct of Bihar election during the Covid restrictions. Elections in India are a grand affair. Billboards, posters, mass rallies and crowds are a must for parties to make their presence felt. However, this time due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Election Commission of India (ECI) released a set of guidelines to be followed by each party and their workers during campaigning. For the first time, parties were told to organise large-scale 'virtual rallies' in the villages and cities of Bihar.
Swachh Bharat
Though it has its origin in the Nirmal Gram mission, the Swachh Bharat campaign is one of the big socio-political achievements of the Modi government.
Cleaner, healthier kitchen
Another highlight of the government and the one that played an equal political role - besides the toilet scheme - in getting Narendra Modi back to the PMO is free distribution of the LPG cylinders. It was done through the Ujjwala Yojana, under which women in villages get free one LPG cylinder connection per household.
