Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday set five ambitious goals for India as he marked 25 years at the helm of government, calling on the country to aim higher and embrace a new slogan: “We will do it.”

Addressing a gathering at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, Modi outlined the goals of making India one of the world’s top three economies, building a self-reliant India, turning the country into a global manufacturing hub, hosting the Olympics and sending an Indian astronaut on a manned space mission.

The packed audience repeatedly echoed Modi’s “We will do it” slogan as he presented the goals.

Modi first took oath as Gujarat chief minister on 7 October 2001, succeeding Keshubhai Patel as the state’s 14th chief minister. The BJP and his supporters marked the anniversary on Wednesday.

However, Modi said the occasion should not be limited to reflecting on the past but should instead renew the country’s resolve for the future.

“This is a day to repeat that promise,” he said, thanking BJP workers and volunteers for their contribution.

Alongside the five targets, Modi reiterated his long-term vision of making India a developed country by 2047.

India is currently the world’s sixth-largest economy, compared with 10th place when Modi became prime minister in 2014. He said the country should now work towards entering the world’s top three economies.

He also stressed the need for greater self-reliance by reducing dependence on imports and strengthening domestic manufacturing.

Modi said India should move beyond an economy driven primarily by consumption and establish itself as a major global manufacturing centre.

The prime minister also reiterated India’s ambition to host the Olympic Games and send an Indian astronaut on a manned space mission.

“This energy, this enthusiasm, this self-confidence is extraordinary,” Modi told the gathering.

Reflecting on the challenges of recent years, Modi cited the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, saying the crises disrupted global supply chains and energy routes.

“Earlier, whenever a crisis hit, India’s economy would shake. Now people talk about India’s strength,” he said.

Modi also contrasted the earlier criticism of “policy paralysis” with what he described as a “reforms express”, while highlighting India’s export performance.

He said pursuing small or easy goals would be an injustice to India’s potential and urged the country to think bigger.

India remains one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies. Its trade deficit narrowed to $9.41 billion in August 2026 from $11.62 billion in the same month a year earlier, according to reports.

The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, launched in April 2020 to promote domestic manufacturing, has also been a major part of the government’s economic strategy.

Modi’s speech came amid political challenges facing his government. Opposition parties have continued protests over the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and have accused the BJP and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of attempting to influence the electoral process.

The opposition staged a sit-in near the Election Commission office in New Delhi on Tuesday, while another opposition party held a protest in Mumbai over the weekend.

Modi’s speech is expected to energise BJP workers and supporters while refocusing attention on the government’s long-term economic and development agenda.