News Desk
Congratulations to India on its 77th Republic Day, a moment that invites both celebration and reflection. The anniversary arrives at a time when the country stands more confident on the world stage than at any point in its modern history. The journey from a newly independent nation in 1947 to a global economic and technological force in 2026 is neither linear nor complete, but it is undeniably one of the most ambitious national transformations of the past century.
India’s progress is often measured in numbers. The country is now the world’s fifth largest economy, and several international institutions project it to break into the top three within the next decade. The World Bank has repeatedly noted that India has lifted more than 415 million people out of poverty between 2005 and 2021, a shift that its former chief economist Kaushik Basu once described as “one of the most significant achievements in human development in recent history.” These gains are uneven and still fragile, but they reflect a long arc of policy experimentation, democratic resilience and social mobility.
The economic story is inseparable from the country’s rise as a technological powerhouse. India’s information technology sector, which began as a modest outsourcing industry in the 1980s, has grown into a global ecosystem of software engineering, digital services and innovation.
Today, Indian firms serve clients in more than 100 countries, and the sector employs over five million people. Satya Nadella, the chief executive of Microsoft, has often said that “India’s talent and digital infrastructure are shaping the future of global technology,” a sentiment echoed by many in Silicon Valley who now see India not only as a market but as a laboratory for digital-scale solutions.
The country’s digital public infrastructure has become a case study in development economics. The Aadhaar identity system, the Unified Payments Interface and the rapid expansion of affordable mobile data have created what the International Monetary Fund called “a new model for digital inclusion.” These tools have enabled millions to access banking, welfare benefits and online education, narrowing gaps that once seemed immovable.
Education remains both a triumph and a challenge. India’s literacy rate has risen from 18 percent at independence to more than 77 percent today. The expansion of higher education has been dramatic.
The Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management are now globally recognized, producing graduates who lead some of the world’s most influential companies.
Sundar Pichai, the chief executive of Google, has said that his own journey from Chennai to California “reflects the power of India’s education system to open doors across continents.”
Human development indicators tell a more complex story. Life expectancy has nearly doubled since 1947, and maternal and infant mortality rates have fallen sharply.
India’s public health system has expanded, though it remains under strain. The country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the production of vaccines at scale, demonstrated both scientific capacity and logistical reach. The World Health Organization praised India’s vaccine manufacturing as “essential to global health security.”
India’s economic and social progress has unfolded alongside a growing diplomatic presence. The country’s leadership in the G20, BRICS, its expanding partnerships with the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia, and its role in climate negotiations reflect a broader shift in global power.
President Donald Trump has said that India is “a nation with tremendous potential and a strong friend of the United States,” while French President Emmanuel Macron has called the relationship with New Delhi “a cornerstone of stability in the Indo Pacific.” These statements underscore how India’s choices increasingly shape regional and global outcomes.
These statements are not ceremonial. They reflect a recognition that India’s choices increasingly shape regional and global outcomes.
The country’s democratic character remains central to its identity. With nearly a billion eligible voters, India continues to conduct elections of extraordinary scale.
Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan once remarked that “India’s democracy is a reminder that diversity can be a source of strength rather than division.” That ideal is tested often, and the debates over rights, representation and federalism remain intense. Yet the endurance of democratic institutions over seven decades is itself a notable achievement.
The 77th Republic Day also highlights the country’s growing cultural confidence. Indian cinema, literature and music have gained global audiences.
The diaspora, now more than 30 million strong, has become a bridge between India and the world. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has written that “India’s identity has always been plural,” and that pluralism continues to shape the country’s global image.
India has repeatedly shown an ability to adapt. Its economic reforms in the 1990s, its digital revolution in the 2010s and its manufacturing push in the 2020s reflect a willingness to rethink old assumptions.
On this Republic Day, the country stands at a moment of possibility. The foundations laid over the past 77 years have created a platform for the next phase of growth. The world is watching not only because India is large, but because it is increasingly influential in shaping global norms on technology, trade, climate and security.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a recent address, “India’s time has come, not by chance but by the hard work of its people.”
The 77th Republic Day offers a reminder of how far India has traveled since 1950. It is a story of resilience, reinvention and aspiration. And it is a story still being written.
