Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the country’s longest-serving elected head of government, completing a record-breaking continuous tenure in office.

The milestone marks more than a decade of uninterrupted leadership since he first took oath on May 26, 2014.

Narendra Modi has now completed 4,399 consecutive days in office, making him the longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister in India’s history.

By achieving this milestone, he has surpassed previous records held by India’s earlier leaders, cementing his place in the country’s political history.

Comparison with previous prime ministers

The record places Modi ahead of several major figures in Indian political history.

Jawaharlal Nehru

India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, previously held the record for the longest uninterrupted tenure after independence.

He served from May 13, 1952, to May 27, 1964, completing 4,398 days in continuous office, just one day fewer than Modi’s current total.

Although Nehru’s overall tenure was longer when including pre-1952 leadership roles, those periods are not counted as part of uninterrupted elected service.

Indira Gandhi

Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi also served a significant continuous term from January 24, 1966, to March 24, 1977, totaling 4,077 days in office before returning for a later term in the 1980s.

Three consecutive terms in office

Modi first assumed office on May 26, 2014, and has since completed three consecutive electoral terms.

He is also the first Indian Prime Minister born after independence to hold the position, marking a generational shift in the country’s leadership history.

His tenure has been associated with policy continuity and long-term governance strategies.

Supporters of his leadership highlight stability in governance over his three terms, pointing to policy frameworks aimed at financial inclusion and welfare delivery.

Programs under the JAM (Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile) architecture are often cited as key initiatives that have expanded access to banking and government benefits.

Russia praises Modi
 

The Kremlin on Wednesday praised Narendra ‌Modi for becoming India's longest-serving elected prime minister, saying that 250 million people had been pulled ​out of poverty during his rule.

The ​Times of India said Modi had ⁠on Wednesday surpassed Jawaharlal Nehru to become ​the longest-serving elected prime minister in modern ​Indian history. Modi has served for 4,399 days, while Nehru served for 4,398 days, the newspaper said.

"During ​the rule of Modi, 250 million ​people have been pulled out of poverty," Kremlin spokesman ‌Dmitry ⁠Peskov told reporters. "This is a very important indicator for India."

"It is a country that has become one of the world's leading ​economic powers ​with the ⁠fastest rates of economic growth and development. And, most importantly for ​us, a country with which ​we ⁠have partnership relations," Peskov said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on reaching a historic milestone, becoming the longest-serving elected prime minister in India’s history after completing 4,399 consecutive days in office since May 2014.

The achievement places Modi ahead of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in terms of continuous tenure, marking nearly 12 years of uninterrupted leadership across three terms.

Meloni congratulates Modi

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended warm congratulations to Modi, praising both his long tenure and the growing partnership between New Delhi and Rome.

Writing in Italian, and later translated into English by international media, Meloni said it had been a “pleasure to meet again in Rome in recent weeks,” adding that the two leaders had jointly launched a “Special Strategic Partnership” aimed at shaping future cooperation between the two countries.