As Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 76, these developments provide a snapshot of how the country’s economic and institutional landscape has evolved in recent years. The latest chapter came with India hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 under its 2026 chairship. The expanded grouping adopted the New Delhi Declaration, while more than 400 BRICS meetings and engagements were held across 30 Indian cities during India’s chairship. 

The summit also saw discussions on reforming global governance and strengthening the representation of developing countries in international institutions. Modi chaired a BRICS session on Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism. At home, India’s real GDP growth stood at 7.7% in FY 2025-26, compared with 7.1% in FY 2024-25. Across highways and railways, digital payments and banking, manufacturing and clean energy, the numbers point to changes taking place across multiple layers of the Indian economy.