In a historic political milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now officially become India’s second-longest serving Prime Minister in consecutive terms, overtaking former PM Indira Gandhi’s uninterrupted tenure from 1966 to 1977. As of July 25, 2025, Modi has completed 4,078 continuous days in office, placing him just behind India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in the list of the country’s longest-serving leaders.
This achievement cements Modi’s place as a dominant force in Indian politics—both in terms of electoral victories and political longevity.
Modi’s Rise: From Gujarat to Delhi’s Corridors of Power
Narendra Modi, 74, took the oath as India’s 14th Prime Minister on May 26, 2014, becoming the first PM born after India’s independence. Prior to his national role, Modi had already made a mark as Gujarat’s longest-serving Chief Minister, holding the post from 2001 to 2014.
Backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Modi led the party to a thumping majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, securing 272 seats on its own. That victory marked the first time in three decades that a single party had won an outright majority in the Indian Parliament.
Three Terms of Power: A Political Rarity
In 2019, the BJP surpassed its previous record by winning 303 Lok Sabha seats, cementing Modi’s place as the first non-Congress Prime Minister to win two consecutive full terms with an absolute majority.
In 2024, although the BJP didn’t cross the halfway mark, it emerged as the single-largest party and returned to power with the help of its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners. With this, Modi began his third straight term—a feat matched only by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in Indian history.
Historical Context: How Modi Surpassed Indira
Indira Gandhi served as Prime Minister for two distinct periods—January 24, 1966 to March 24, 1977 (4,077 consecutive days), and later from January 14, 1980 till her assassination on October 31, 1984. However, Modi’s current streak of 4,078 uninterrupted days now places him ahead of Indira’s first tenure.
Only Jawaharlal Nehru, who served from August 15, 1947 to May 27, 1964 (a total of 16 years and 286 days), stands above Modi in terms of continuous service as Prime Minister.
Political Milestones Under Modi
According to officials familiar with the matter, Modi has achieved several unique distinctions:
- First non-Congress PM to complete two full terms.
- First non-Congress leader to lead a party to an outright majority in the Lok Sabha.
- First sitting PM since Indira Gandhi in 1971 to be re-elected with a majority.
- Only the second Indian Prime Minister, after Nehru, to win three consecutive general elections as leader of a party.
His tenure has seen sweeping policy decisions, including the abrogation of Article 370, the rollout of GST, and large-scale digital and infrastructure pushes through schemes like Digital India, Make in India, and PM Gati Shakti.
A Legacy in Progress
As Modi begins another chapter in his third term, political analysts note that his leadership has redefined the contours of Indian politics. From altering the electoral narrative to centralizing power in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), his governance style has inspired both admiration and criticism.
Still, his ability to retain public support through successive elections—across changing socio-economic landscapes—marks him as one of the most resilient leaders in India’s democratic journey.
Whether he will go on to surpass Jawaharlal Nehru in total days served remains to be seen. But as of today, Modi has etched his name into Indian political history with an unbroken legacy that continues to evolve.
