Modi waxed eloquent 

1. From the ‘Fragile Five’ to the world's top five economies
2. Over the last three years, India's average growth has clocked 7.8%
3. 50 crore Jan Dhan accounts ensure every village has a touchpoint
4. Fuel pumps, once shuttered from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. to dodge subsidies, now operate 24/7
5. Over 10 crore poor families receive free gas connections
6. Telecom costs plummeted – 1 GB of data from ₹300 to ₹10
7. Tax relief up to ₹12 lakh annually saves citizens ₹2.5 lakh crore
8. Bastar, once a terror epicenter, tribal youth now host the Bastar Olympics
9. Maoist-affected districts dwindled from 125 to 11, with only three critically impacted. Thousands of Naxalites surrendered, including 303 in the last 75 hours

In a rousing address that blended festive cheer with a blueprint for national resurgence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India an "Unstoppable Bharat" on the cusp of boundless opportunities, captivating the audience at the NDTV World Summit 2025. Speaking on the session titled "Unstoppable Bharat: The Force of Now" at the Bharat Mandapam convention centre, Modi painted a vivid picture of India's transformation over the past decade, from economic fragility to a resilient global force. The event, themed "Edge of the Unknown: Risk, Resolve, Renewal," drew global luminaries including Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. 

Extending Diwali greetings amid the summit’s festive timing, Modi quipped, "This is the season of festivals. Happy Diwali to all. In this happy environment, NDTV has organised its world summit. And the topic is apt – Unstoppable Bharat. Really, Bharat is in no mood to stop." He framed the "edge of the unknown" not as a threat but as "a gateway to opportunity," crediting India's culture of innovation for converting global uncertainties into domestic triumphs – from digital identities to fintech revolutions and green energy leaps. 

Modi's speech was a masterclass in contrasts, harking back to the pre-2014 era when India languished in the "Fragile Five" club, plagued by policy paralysis, rampant inflation – immortalized in folk songs like "Mehangai Dayan Khaye Jaat Hai" – and fears over women's safety and terrorist sleeper cells. "Before 2014, recall the topics that were discussed in conclaves. Discussions centred around how India will face global headwinds? How will it remain in a state of policy paralysis? People used to believe India will never be able to come out of these crises," he recalled. "But in the last 11 years, India has defied all odds." 

At the heart of his narrative was India's meteoric economic ascent. From the "Fragile Five" to the world's top five economies, the nation now boasts inflation below 2% and growth consistently above 7%. Post-COVID, when skeptics predicted collapse for a populous democracy, India scripted a miracle: developing indigenous vaccines in record time, vaccinating millions, and rebounding as the fastest-growing major economy. 

"During Covid, when everyone was thinking about how this country will save itself, India proved every assumption wrong," Modi asserted. 

Sustained momentum has defied global headwinds like wars and recessions. Over the last three years, India's average growth has clocked 7.8%, with merchandise exports surging 7% – the latest data underscoring this vigor just days ago. Agricultural exports hit ₹4.5 lakh crore, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently upwardly revised India's growth forecast. Major investments are pouring in: Google's $15 billion pledge to AI infrastructure, alongside billions in green energy and semiconductors, signal India's emergence as the "nerve centre of global investment." "Big investments are being made in the energy and semiconductor sectors," Modi noted, highlighting how these inflows are reshaping skylines from "chips to ships." 

The Prime Minister lambasted past regimes for compulsion-driven reforms, contrasting them with his government's proactive "democratization of policy and process." Banking exemplifies this: Pre-2014, over half of India lacked bank accounts; today, 50 crore Jan Dhan accounts ensure every village has a touchpoint. Fuel pumps, once shuttered from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. to dodge subsidies, now operate 24/7, while over 10 crore poor families receive free gas connections. Telecom costs plummeted – 1 GB of data from Rs. 300 to Rs. 10 – and health schemes like Ayushman Bharat have slashed expenses, from heart stents to generic medicines. Tax relief up to Rs. 12 lakh annually saves citizens Rs. 2.5 lakh crore, embodying "growth with dignity." 

Security and social reforms took center stage, with Modi touting self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) as the antidote to aggression. "Now, the self-reliant India does not stay silent, it gives a befitting response through surgical strike, airstrike and Operation Sindoor," he declared, earning thunderous applause. He accused predecessors of shielding "urban Naxals" while suppressing Maoist violence reports. Progress is palpable: Maoist-affected districts dwindled from 125 to 11, with only three critically impacted. Thousands of Naxalites surrendered, including 303 in the last 75 hours, many with hefty bounties. In Bastar, once a terror epicenter, tribal youth now host the Bastar Olympics. "This Diwali, regions freed from Maoist terrorism will light lamps of happiness," Modi envisioned, vowing a Naxal-free India – "Modi's guarantee." 

Digital India shone as a beacon of inclusive innovation. Half the world's real-time digital transactions occur here, with UPI as a global payments paragon. eSanjeevani, the telemedicine platform, has enabled 42 crore OPD consultations, bridging remote divides: "e-Sanjeevani is not just a service – it’s a symbol of trust." Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited's indigenous 4G stack places India among the top five nations in connectivity, extending high-speed access to hinterlands. 

On the world stage, India is no longer a bystander but a "reliable, responsible, and resilient partner." The European Free Trade Association's $100 billion investment pact, burgeoning G7 trade, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's record delegation underscore this shift. "UK PM Keir Starmer came to India with his biggest delegation. It showed that the world sees opportunity in India," Modi said. Over 50 nations seek Aadhaar-like frameworks, affirming India's digital diplomacy. 

Wrapping up, Modi envisioned a developed India where "development and dignity" coexist, "speed with respect," and "innovation with compassion." "We have converted every risk into reform, reform into resilience and resilience into resolution," he proclaimed, invoking the IMF chief's excitement over these changes. As applause echoed through Bharat Mandapam, Modi's words resonated beyond the hall – a clarion call for an India that turns the unknown into the unstoppable.