From welfare schemes to cheetahs, PM Modi gives India a birthday gift every year

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthdays have consistently been marked by initiatives and policy-driven launches aimed at welfare and development.

Over the past decade, September 17 has emerged as a key date for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), often used as a platform to roll out new schemes, connect with citizens, and drive nationwide campaigns.

As Modi turns 75 this year, the celebrations planned by the BJP are aimed at highlighting both continuity and expansion of these traditions.

What are Modi’s 75th birthday plans?

The BJP has unveiled an extensive programme to celebrate Modi’s milestone birthday, which will take place on September 17, 2025.

The party has announced a fortnight-long campaign, Seva Pakhwada, running from September 17 to October 2, coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

This is in line with previous years, where the BJP has used this period to promote service-oriented activities and outreach campaigns.

As part of this year’s plans, the BJP will organise a range of events including health camps, blood donation drives, and sports festivals spearheaded by its MPs.

A significant feature of the celebrations will be a massive tree plantation campaign, with an ambitious target of 75,000 crore saplings to be planted across the country.

Party officials have also announced dialogues with civil society groups and recognition events for influencers and contributors across various sectors.

One of the central highlights of the day will be the launch of the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan, a nationwide health initiative focusing on women and children.

Under this scheme, 75,000 health camps will be set up across Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, community health centres, and other healthcare facilities between September 17 and October 2.

The programme is designed to provide essential health services and create awareness on nutrition and wellness.

Complementing this effort, the government will also observe Poshan Maah, with Anganwadi centres playing a key role in promoting healthy diets and lifestyle practices.

On his birthday, Modi will inaugurate a Mega Textile Park in Bhensola village, Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, under the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme.

This project aims to transform the region into a world-class hub for textile manufacturing, boosting exports and generating large-scale employment opportunities.

In Delhi, a major public event is scheduled at Thyagaraj Stadium on September 17. At this event, 101 new Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will be inaugurated, significantly boosting healthcare access in the capital.

Additionally, five government hospitals in Delhi — Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Acharya Shree Bhikshu Hospital, Shri Dada Dev Hospital, and Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital — will receive new blocks equipped with trauma centres, pediatric care units, and specialised medical departments.

The city will also operationalise 150 dialysis units across six hospitals, including Burari Government Hospital and Janakpuri Super Specialty Hospital, enhancing treatment facilities for kidney patients.

To address the needs of the elderly, the Savitri Bai Phule Home for Senior Citizens will be inaugurated in Paschim Vihar.

Emergency response infrastructure will also be strengthened with the deployment of 24 Quick Response Vehicles strategically positioned in fire-prone areas, ensuring faster reaction times during crises, especially in densely populated urban localities.

The birthday celebrations will also include the Namo Yuva Run, a fitness event scheduled for September 21. Expected to attract over one million participants, the run will take place simultaneously in 75 cities nationwide.

Fitness enthusiast and celebrity Milind Soman has been announced as the event’s brand ambassador.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol confirmed that Pune would be one of the central venues for the celebrations.

The concept of Seva Pakhwada has been a recurring theme in Modi’s birthday celebrations since the BJP first introduced it during his early years in office.

Initially conceived as Seva Saptah, the campaign focused on promoting volunteerism and grassroots engagement.

Over time, it has expanded into a fortnight-long programme featuring diverse activities including healthcare drives, cleanliness campaigns, and environmental initiatives.

How has Modi previously celebrated his birthday?

Since assuming office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has used his birthday as an opportunity to launch programmes and projects that reflect his government’s priorities.

Each year’s events have been distinct, often mirroring the challenges or aspirations of the time.

In 2024, Modi visited Bhubaneswar, Odisha, to launch Subhadra, a scheme focused on empowering women.

Targeted at over 10 million beneficiaries, it promised direct benefit transfers of Rs. 50,000 over five years.

The visit also saw the inauguration of major railway and highway infrastructure projects and an expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) worth more than Rs. 3,800 crore.

In 2023, the prime minister unveiled the PM Vishwakarma Yojana in New Delhi, aimed at supporting traditional artisans and craftsmen such as goldsmiths, carpenters, and boatmakers.

The scheme recognised 18 traditional trades and offered skill development opportunities, financial support, and marketing assistance to integrate these artisans into larger micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) networks.

Also Read | Narendra Modi’s birthday: How the PM started the tradition of auctioning his mementos, gifts

The launch was synchronised with celebrations of Vishwakarma Puja, symbolising respect for craftsmanship and innovation.

Concurrent events were held in approximately 70 locations nationwide, with one of the largest gatherings in Mangalore, Karnataka, attended by over 600 artisans.

The year 2022 was notable for a historic environmental action — the release of cheetahs from Namibia into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh as part of the Cheetah Reintroduction Project.

This marked the world’s first intercontinental large carnivore translocation, meant to symbolise India’s commitment to biodiversity and ecological restoration.

In 2021, as India grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic, Modi’s birthday coincided with a major vaccination milestone, with the government pushing for record inoculations in a single day.

The focus was on accelerating coverage to protect citizens amid a surge in cases and to build confidence in India’s vaccination drive.

The 2020 celebrations were deliberately subdued due to the pandemic. Activities centred around Seva Saptah, a week-long initiative focused on community service.

Volunteers engaged in distributing food, running blood donation drives, and providing essential aid to vulnerable groups affected by the nationwide lockdowns and economic disruptions.

Modi’s 2019 birthday was celebrated in Gujarat, where he attended the Namami Narmada festival in Kevadiya to mark the Sardar Sarovar Dam reaching its full reservoir level of 138.88 metres for the first time.

The prime minister also addressed a gathering near the Statue of Unity, highlighting water conservation and sustainable development.

Earlier birthdays, such as those in 2018 and 2017, were also marked by interactions with citizens and symbolic gestures, though with comparatively smaller scale initiatives.

Modi has often used these occasions to visit his home state of Gujarat, meet with schoolchildren, or spend time with his mother in Gandhinagar, who passed away in on December 30, 2022.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies

Go to Source