Narendra Modi's flagship schemes: From empowerment to populism?

The number of houses built and inspected in villages crossed 10 million by 2018-end, with about 3.2 million houses built in 2016-17 at its peak

When the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance came to power in May 2014, Indians, including even the staunchest critics of the establishment, had one question in mind: what would the first non-Congress majority government deliver to the country in five years?

If we look at the starting point, the maneuver, and the current state of the government’s policy direction and implementation, the question gets answered with a reasonable clarity.

The first Budget of the government in July 2014 focused on building smart cities across India and providing skills to the booming youth populace. Within six months of assuming