Government's 12-Year Achievement Advert Faces Factual Scrutiny
On and around June 9, 2026, a full-page advertisement appeared in several English and Tamil newspapers, and presumably in all Indian newspapers, listing the achievements of the Narendra Modi government over the past 12 years. The advertisement highlighted milestones since the government first took office in 2014, including a second term in 2019 and a third in 2024. The BJP noted that Mr. Modi's tenure is the longest of any elected Prime Minister, comparing it to Jawaharlal Nehru's 17-year term.
While some degree of self-promotion is expected from any government, critics argue that the claims in this advertisement go beyond acceptable puffery. They point to the 2024 election results, where the BJP was reduced to 240 seats, as evidence that the public had previously rejected such exaggerated claims.
One claim states that the government created 3 crore 'lakhpati didi' (women with annual household income of at least Rs 1 lakh) through Self Help Groups (SHGs). According to government data, in August 2025, 1.48 crore SHG members were reported as lakhpati didi, and by March 2026, that number had risen to 3.07 crore. However, the claim is based on self-declarations, and an independent audit has not been confirmed. Critics note that the term refers to household income, not the woman's individual earnings, and that an annual household income of Rs 1 lakh is common in India, where per capita income is over Rs 2 lakh. Furthermore, with the female labour force participation rate at 41.7%, about 22 crore women are working or seeking work, meaning that one in seven would be a lakhpati didi if the claim is taken at face value.
Another claim asserts that the number of operational airports increased from 74 to 164. While the number 164 is correct, the definition of 'operational' is disputed. Many of these airports are defence, cargo, or training facilities without regular commercial passenger flights. Under the UDAN scheme, routes were offered to airlines, but the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) found that commercial services never started on 403 of 774 routes, and only 54 routes survived beyond the subsidy period.
These examples highlight the need for independent verification of government achievements. The advertisement, while celebrating progress, has drawn scrutiny for presenting claims that may not withstand close examination.
