Narendra Damodardas Modi (born September 17, 1950) is an Indian politician who has served as the 14th Prime Minister of India since May 2014. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he is the longest-serving Prime Minister of India outside of the Indian National Congress and the first leader since Jawaharlal Nehru to secure three consecutive terms in office. Before ascending to the premiership, he served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, a tenure marked by significant industrial growth and infrastructure development, as well as controversies regarding his administration's handling of the 2002 Gujarat riots. Born in Vadnagar, Gujarat, to a family of Other Backward Class (OBC) background, Modi’s early life was marked by humble circumstances. The son of a tea seller, he often assisted his father at a railway station stall in his youth. His formal education included the completion of a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Delhi through distance learning in 1978, followed by a Master of Arts degree in political science from Gujarat University in 1983. He joined the RSS at a young age, an organization that deeply shaped his ideological and organizational outlook. In 1971, he became a full-time worker, or pracharak, for the RSS, dedicating himself to its nationalist agenda and organizational structure. Modi’s formal entry into mainstream politics occurred in 1985 when he was assigned to the BJP. He rose steadily through the party hierarchy, known for his organizational skills and strategic prowess. In 2001, following the resignation of Keshubhai Patel, Modi was appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat. His leadership in the state established a model of governance that emphasized economic reform, private investment, and rapid industrialization, which helped him secure four consecutive election victories as Chief Minister. During this period, however, his administration faced intense scrutiny and international criticism for its handling of the 2002 Gujarat riots, which resulted in significant loss of life. A Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) later found no evidence to initiate prosecution proceedings against him, a conclusion that remained a subject of intense public and political debate. In 2014, Modi led the BJP to a historic victory in the Indian general election, securing the first single-party parliamentary majority in India since 1984. Upon assuming the office of Prime Minister, his administration launched several large-scale initiatives, including the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India campaign), the Make in India project to boost manufacturing, and the Digital India initiative. Economic policy under his tenure featured significant structural changes, such as the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 and the demonetization of high-value currency notes in 2016, both of which aimed to formalize the economy and curb illicit financial activities, though they also elicited mixed economic outcomes and public debate. Modi’s foreign policy has been characterized by active engagement with major global powers, efforts to strengthen India’s diplomatic footprint, and a focus on India’s role as a growing global economy. Domestically, his tenure has seen the revocation of Article 370, which removed the special autonomy status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, and the continued emphasis on infrastructure, including extensive expansion of highways, railways, and public utilities. In 2019 and again in 2024, he successfully led the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to further electoral victories. Personal life for Modi has remained largely private and detached from his political persona. He married Jashodaben in an arranged marriage during his youth, but the couple has lived separately for decades. Known for his disciplined lifestyle, he is a vegetarian, a practitioner of yoga, and is frequently noted for his oratorical skills and mastery of mass communication, which have been central to his ability to maintain strong public support. As Prime Minister, his impact on the Indian political landscape remains profound, shifting the country toward a more centralized governance structure and a pronounced emphasis on nationalist development.