Fast And Fearless: Rising Bharat Summit 2025 Charts India’s Bold Ascent
The Rising Bharat Summit 2025 lived up to its name. It portrayed an India rising not just in charts and graphs, but in spirit and substance.
New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam brimmed with optimism on 8–9 April 2025, as the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025 convened leaders and citizens to celebrate India’s youthful drive. The theme, “Youthful Aspirations – Aspire. Achieve. Ascend.", was not just a slogan but a living spirit in the hall. As an attendee, one could feel a vibrant, powerful atmosphere, from the opening strains of “Maa Tujhe Salaam" performed by eight-year-old singing prodigy Esther Hnamte to the rousing addresses by India’s leadership. The audience, a mix of students, entrepreneurs and policymakers, was galvanised by a sense of pride and purpose, frequently erupting in applause as speakers outlined a vision of a rising India. It was clear that this was more than a conference; it was a celebration of a decade of transformation and a blueprint for the future, driven by youthful energy and guided by experienced hands.
Delivering the keynote address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a reflective yet confident tone about India’s journey over the past ten years. Marking a decade in office, he highlighted how youthful aspirations have been harnessed to fuel India’s economic rise. In 2014, India was the world’s tenth-largest economy; today, it stands proudly at fifth, with an ambition to reach the top three in the coming years. Modi attributed this climb to “stable governance, bold reforms and the unstoppable spirit of our youth."
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A centrepiece of his speech was the success of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), a programme launched in 2015 to provide collateral-free microloans to small entrepreneurs. On the scheme’s tenth anniversary, the Prime Minister shared staggering figures that drew gasps from the crowd: over 52 crore loans have been disbursed without any guarantee under Mudra, amounting to more than Rs 33.6 lakh crore (approximately $400 billion) in credit flow. “In the last 10 years, more than 52 crore loans have been disbursed without any guarantee under the Mudra Yojana," Modi noted, calling it a revolution in financial inclusion. He illustrated the scale with vivid analogies: “By the time a traffic light turns from red to green, 100 Mudra loans get approved," he said, emphasising the unprecedented speed. The impact, he stressed, is not just in numbers but in human stories. Eleven crore people have become first-time entrepreneurs, meaning “11 crore dreams have taken flight in 10 years." These entrepreneurs, many of them women and youth from marginalised communities, are now job creators rather than job-seekers. Modi portrayed this as a fundamental shift towards an “Atmanirbhar" (self-reliant) Bharat, where grassroots entrepreneurship powers growth.
Beyond Mudra, the Prime Minister touched on other hallmarks of his decade in governance, from the rapid adoption of digital payments and start-up innovation to ambitious targets in renewable energy. He contrasted the decisive governance of the past ten years with the paralysis of the pre-2014 era, implicitly critiquing previous governments. Projects that once languished now see timely completion, he asserted, because “young India has no time to wait." The audience’s response suggested a collective agreement that the country is moving with a new urgency and confidence.
If Modi charted the broad vision, Minister Nitin Gadkari provided on-ground examples of turning aspirations into reality, especially in infrastructure. Gadkari, often introduced as the man behind India’s highway revolution, spoke with characteristically infectious zeal. He described a road and transport sector transformed by speedy execution and bold targets. “I have just announced in Parliament that we will build four-lane highways worth Rs 10 lakh crore in the next two years," Gadkari revealed, underscoring the government’s appetite for big projects. This translates to 25,000 km of new highways, an audacious plan that drew applause for its sheer scale. Gadkari candidly added that it is his dream to achieve 100 km of highway construction per day, doubling the current pace. “I will try to complete this in these two years," he vowed, striking a tone of determined optimism that resonated with the summit’s theme of Aspire and Achieve.
Gadkari’s tenure has indeed seen India’s connectivity landscape altered. At the summit, he pointed to flagship projects like the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, a Rs 1 lakh crore mega-corridor, now nearing completion. Such projects, once imagined on paper, are becoming a drivable reality. He reminded the audience that many infrastructure works had stalled for years under previous governments, victims of red tape and indifference, until the current administration revived them. The difference is visible across India: for instance, the long-delayed Bogibeel Bridge in Assam, sanctioned in 1997, was finally completed in 2018 after work resumed in 2014. Similarly, the crucial Delhi-Meerut Expressway, conceived in 2006, opened to the public in 2018 under Modi’s watch. These examples, cited at the summit, drew a stark comparison between the developmental drift of the past and the momentum of the present. “Infrastructure is not just about roads and bridges," Gadkari said, “it is about connecting the aspirations of 140 crore Indians." From highways to rural roads, ports to logistics parks, India’s infrastructural upgrade is laying the foundation for economic growth and regional equity.
The Summit’s second day saw an impassioned address by Home Minister Amit Shah, who injected a dose of political candour into the discourse. Shah’s focus was on national unity and security, areas where youthful aspirations meet the hard realities of governance. Taking the stage, he delivered a clear message: India’s rise will brook no compromise on its sovereignty or integrity. “Those indulging in appeasement are against the nation," Shah warned, urging the youth to reject the politics of division. He recounted how past administrations had practised a policy of vote-bank appeasement, citing, for example, controversial changes to a Waqf law in 2013, and argued that such actions only undermined the nation’s unity. The hall echoed with applause when Shah declared that the current government’s guiding principle is “justice for all, appeasement for none," signalling a break from the old mindset.
Shah reserved his most fiery remarks for the subject of territorial integrity. In an era of geopolitical flux, he made it plain that India would defend every inch of its land. “We will not let anyone take an inch of Indian land," he said emphatically. The Home Minister went on to reaffirm India’s claim over Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in no uncertain terms. “PoK hamara hai, PoK is ours," Shah asserted, underscoring that India has a strong legal and historical claim on the region. While he diplomatically declined to give a timeline for reclaiming PoK, he stressed that “every government should work on it," drawing loud approval from the audience.
The tough talk extended to other security challenges. Shah noted the government’s success in pushing back terrorism and insurgency, mentioning that left-wing extremism (Naxalism) is on the brink of eradication. By March 2026, he projected, India will be free of the Naxalite menace, a promise that reflects the significant headway made in the last few years. He also hailed the recent U.S. court clearance for Tahawwur Rana’s extradition (involved in the 26/11 case) as “a big success of Modi government’s diplomatic strength," crediting India’s diplomatic corps for relentlessly pursuing justice. Each of these points reinforced a central narrative: under decisive leadership, India is safer, more unified, and unafraid to assert its interests on the world stage. For the youth in the hall, many of whom grew up in more uncertain times, Shah’s words offered confidence that the India they will inherit is both secure and resolute.
No summit about Rising Bharat would be complete without examining India’s changing role in the world. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, in an insightful conversation, shared how India’s diplomatic positioning has evolved in these transformative years. Jaishankar, now the longest-serving foreign minister since Nehru, reflected on the “extremely turbulent conditions" he has navigated. “Managing a nation’s rise is tough enough; we had to do it in the middle of global upheavals," he noted, referencing a litany of crises that have marked the past six years: the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, the Afghanistan fallout, Indo-Pacific tensions, and the border standoff with China. Despite these challenges, India has emerged more influential and respected, Jaishankar observed. He credited India’s neutral but firm stance in global affairs – what analysts often call strategic autonomy – for this success.
On the India-China relationship, Jaishankar struck a realistic but optimistic chord. The situation along the Line of Actual Control, tense since 2020, has seen some easing with recent disengagements. “It’s better than the last time I was here," he said of the current state of India-China ties, while cautioning that “there is work to be done." Normalcy, he implied, will return only if peace at the border is ensured, a principle India will not budge on. Yet, India’s diplomatic maturity is evident in its ability to engage significant powers without aligning blindly. Jaishankar highlighted how India has deepened ties with the United States (from defence deals to a prospective trade agreement) even as it maintains dialogue with Russia and holds ground with China. “Few countries can speak to all sides; we can," he pointed out, alluding to India’s unique position as a bridge between East and West. Whether mediating in global climate debates or voicing the concerns of the Global South (as seen during India’s G20 Presidency), India has carved out an independent voice that reflects its civilisational ethos and modern aspirations.
Adding an external perspective, renowned economist Jeffrey D. Sachs offered a candid appraisal of India’s role amid great-power rivalries. In a session aptly titled “The Sachs Doctrine," he urged India to guard its strategic autonomy in an increasingly multipolar world. Sachs warned against India being co-opted into any single bloc, particularly cautioning New Delhi about growing U.S.-China tensions. “The US wants to use India to beat up China. Don’t play the American game," he advised bluntly, stirring the audience with his frankness. India, he argued, is “too big for the US game" and must not let itself be a pawn in superpower games. Instead, Sachs envisioned India and China finding common ground to ensure global stability, noting that together they represent 40% of humanity. “I know India and China have their issues, but settle them; you could run a very decent world together," he remarked – a provocative yet hopeful statement. Sachs’s views dovetailed with Jaishankar’s emphasis on an India that charts its course. For the youth listening, these insights painted a picture of a nation confident in its identity, one that engages the world on its terms, aiming to be a “Vishwaguru" (guide to the world) without losing sight of its interests. The takeaway was clear: India’s ascent is as much about wisdom and balance in foreign policy as it is about economic and military strength.
Amidst the policy talk, the cultural heartbeat of the Rising Bharat Summit left an indelible impression. The soulful voice of little Esther Hnamte, singing “Maa Tujhe Salaam" with confidence belying her eight years, and the dynamic dance by the Zero Degree Crew set a patriotic tone for the event. It was a poignant reminder that India’s diversity and talent are its strength. From the farthest corners of Mizoram to the metropolitan capital, the nation’s youth are stepping forward. As day two concluded, legendary violinist L. Subramaniam’s strains and an energetic talk by actor Sunny Deol on youth and nationalism added flourish to the proceedings. The cultural interludes were not mere entertainment; they reinforced the message that aspiration in India takes many forms – art, enterprise and public service – and each is vital to the nation’s ascent.
In its refined tone and substantive discussions, the summit felt akin to a journalistic symposium of ideas, the kind reported in leading newspapers, yet it crackled with the raw energy of Bharat’s young dreamers. Ten years of governance under PM Modi have altered India’s trajectory, from stalled projects to world-class infrastructure, from policy lethargy to proactive diplomacy, and from tentative reforms to audacious programmes empowering millions. The contrast with the pre-2014 era was drawn sharp throughout the summit: this is a New India, leaders asserted, where dreams are not deferred. As an attendee, one could not help but be struck by the unity of purpose shared on stage. There was Home Minister Amit Shah championing security and unity; Nitin Gadkari showcasing highways as highways to prosperity; S. Jaishankar positioning India in the new world order; and intellectual voices like Jeffrey Sachs providing global context. Different topics and different styles, yet a common thread of confidence and resolve wove through all the speeches.
In the end, the Rising Bharat Summit 2025 lived up to its name. It portrayed an India rising not just in charts and graphs, but in spirit and substance. The youthful aspirations that the theme spoke of were palpable in the audience: young professionals and students buzzing with ideas during the networking breaks, inspired by what they heard. The summit closed with a powerful sentiment: India is ascendant, and its journey from Aspire to Achieve to Ascend is well underway. As the lights dimmed and attendees stepped out into the warm Delhi evening, there was a shared conviction that they had witnessed a milestone moment – a nation in the making, confident in its stride and ready to seize its destiny. Projects once imagined on paper are no longer just blueprints; they are becoming part of daily commutes. As the lights dimmed and Delhi’s skyline shimmered with possibility, one question lingered: If this is Rising Bharat, how high can it soar?
Bhakti Parikh is the founder & editor-in-chief of The Sparrow, where she leads editorial content and strategy for a digital news platform. She is also a BlueKraft Digital Foundation Fellow. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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