Prime Minister Narendra Modi .

New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India was working towards a deadline of 2047 to become a developed nation and expressed confidence that the goal could be achieved before the country completes 100 years of Independence.

Addressing a Diwali Milan programme for journalists at the BJP headquarters, Modi drew a parallel between newsroom deadlines and the country's development goals, saying deadlines brought accountability, changed priorities and accelerated work.

“Today our country is also working towards a deadline…that deadline is the year 2047. The dream of making our country developed has been with us since independence. But now this dream has a set date, 2047,” he said.

Calling for collective efforts to achieve the Viksit Bharat goal, the Prime Minister said the country's achievements demonstrated that the target was attainable.

He cited India's landing near the Moon's south pole, the Chenab railway arch bridge, the growth of UPI, expansion of mobile phone manufacturing, development of a semiconductor ecosystem and the country's emergence as a major start-up hub.


Modi also highlighted welfare initiatives, including the construction of four crore houses for the poor, the building of 12 crore toilets and efforts to bring three crore women under the Lakhpati Didi initiative.

The Prime Minister urged the media to give greater prominence to India's achievements and success stories, saying the country had the talent, technology, young population and affordable data needed to showcase its progress globally.

"We have the 'India Story'. We must consider whether our news truly reflects India, are our achievements, talent, and positive transformations receiving adequate space. There is no shortage of such stories in India," he said.

Modi also sought the media's support in raising awareness about drug addiction and protecting young people from substance abuse.

Recalling his long association with journalists, he said the media had evolved from the days of press releases to Instagram reels. He praised its contribution to keeping democracy vibrant.

The Prime Minister recounted an incident from 2001 when a group of women journalists at the BJP's former headquarters on Ashoka Road demanded sweets from him after learning that he was to become Gujarat chief minister.

"Gala hi pakad liya unhone. Bola mithai khilao (They caught me by my neck and asked me to treat them with sweets)," Modi recalled amid laughter.

He said the journalists had learnt about his impending appointment even before he was formally informed.

BJP president Nitin Nabin, defence minister Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah and Union minister J.P. Nadda attended the programme.


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