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From honouring war heroes to launching welfare schemes and releasing cheetahs, a look at how PM Modi marked his birthdays over the years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 76 today
For most people, a birthday is a personal occasion. For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, September 17 has, over the years, also been associated with official programmes, public initiatives and visits across different parts of the country.
Since becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Modi’s birthday has coincided with events spanning defence, infrastructure, tribal development, healthcare, women-centric schemes, housing, wildlife conservation and support for traditional artisans.
From visiting the Shauryanjali exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1965 India-Pakistan war in 2015 to releasing the first batch of cheetahs brought from Namibia in 2022 and launching SUBHADRA in Odisha in 2024, the September 17 engagements have covered a wide range of themes.
Here is a look at some of the major programmes and events associated with Modi’s birthday over the years.
2015: Remembering The Valour Of The 1965 War
In 2015, Modi visited Shauryanjali, an exhibition at the India Gate lawns in New Delhi commemorating the golden jubilee of the 1965 India-Pakistan war.
The exhibition recreated major battle scenes and showcased the role of the Indian Armed Forces during the conflict. Modi visited the exhibition on September 17 and later spoke about the experience in his Mann Ki Baat address, recalling the stories of valour and sacrifice of soldiers and their families.
2016: Focus On Tribal Development And Social Welfare
In 2016, Modi’s birthday engagements took him to Dahod in Gujarat, where he inaugurated irrigation projects in the state’s tribal belt.
He also participated in a Samajik Adhikarita Shivir, where assistive aids were distributed to persons with disabilities, putting the focus on irrigation, tribal development and social welfare.
2017: Sardar Sarovar Dam Dedicated To The Nation
A major infrastructure milestone marked Modi’s birthday in 2017, when he dedicated the Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation in Gujarat.
During the visit, he also laid the foundation stone of the National Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museum and attended programmes linked to agricultural cooperatives. The official PMO itinerary for September 17, 2017, also included events related to the Narmada Mahotsav and the Statue of Unity project.
2018: A Day With Schoolchildren In Varanasi
In 2018, Modi spent his birthday in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency at the time.
He visited schoolchildren in Narur village and offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The visit also included the launch of development projects worth around Rs 557 crore in Varanasi.
2019: Sardar Sarovar And The Statue Of Unity
In 2019, Modi returned to Gujarat, where he visited the Sardar Sarovar Dam after the reservoir reached its full reservoir level of 138.68 metres.
He also visited tourism-related projects around the Statue of Unity, which had been dedicated to the nation the previous year.
2020: Birthday Amid The Pandemic
Modi’s birthday in 2020 came amid the Covid-19 pandemic, when the country was dealing with the health and economic consequences of the crisis.
The year’s focus was therefore markedly different from several of his other birthday engagements, with Covid-related relief and response efforts dominating the government’s agenda.
2021: SCO Address And India’s Vaccination Drive
In 2021, Modi addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit through video conference on his birthday.
September 17 also witnessed a major vaccination milestone, with India administering more than two crore Covid-19 vaccine doses in a single day.
2022: Cheetahs Return To India
One of the most prominent birthday events came in 2022, when Modi released the first batch of cheetahs brought from Namibia into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
The release was part of Project Cheetah, aimed at reintroducing the species to India after it had been declared extinct in the country in 1952.
Later that day, Modi also participated in a women’s self-help group (SHG) Sammelan at Karahal in Madhya Pradesh.
2023: PM Vishwakarma And Yashobhoomi
In 2023, Modi’s birthday coincided with Vishwakarma Jayanti, and he launched the PM Vishwakarma scheme in New Delhi.
The scheme was introduced to support traditional artisans and craftspeople through recognition, training, skill upgradation and credit support.
On the same day, Modi also dedicated the first phase of Yashobhoomi, the India International Convention and Expo Centre in Dwarka, to the nation.
2024: SUBHADRA And Housing Initiatives In Odisha
In 2024, Modi travelled to Odisha, where he launched SUBHADRA, the state’s flagship women-centric scheme.
He also participated in Griha Pravesh celebrations for 26 lakh PMAY beneficiaries, handed over house keys to beneficiaries and launched the Awaas+ 2024 app for identifying additional households eligible for housing assistance.
2025: Women’s Health, Tribal Outreach And PM MITRA
In 2025, Modi marked his birthday in Madhya Pradesh, where he launched the Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan, a nationwide health campaign focused on women and children.
He also launched Adi Seva Parv in Madhya Pradesh, aimed at service-oriented activities in tribal regions, and distributed the one-croreth Sickle Cell Screening and Counselling Card.
Another major announcement was the launch of the PM MITRA Park in Dhar, aimed at developing an integrated textile ecosystem.
From Defence And Infrastructure To Welfare And Health
Over the years, the events associated with September 17 have covered distinctly different areas from commemorating the armed forces and inaugurating major infrastructure projects to wildlife conservation, women’s welfare, healthcare, housing and support for traditional occupations.
The sequence also reflects the range of government programmes Modi has been associated with as Prime Minister, with his birthday engagements taking place across states including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Odisha.
From the Shauryanjali exhibition in 2015 to the women’s health and tribal initiatives of 2025, September 17 has repeatedly coincided with public programmes spanning different sectors and regions of the country.
Quick Answers
Ask News18On his birthday in 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of cheetahs from Namibia into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This was part of Project Cheetah, which aimed to reintroduce the species to India after it was officially declared extinct in the country in 1952.
Ask News18About the Author
Pragya Bahuguna is a digital journalist at News18.com, covering national and international news, including Indian politics and geopolitics, with an interest in environment and climate affairs. She hol…Read More
Delhi, India, India
September 17, 2026, 4:16 PM IST
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