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| Narender Modi |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 76 on September 17, 2026—but the festivities are far from a single-day affair. The Bharatiya Janata Party has launched the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, a month-long campaign running until October 17, which marks both Modi's birthday and his 25 years in public office.
The scale is unprecedented. At airports across the country, a 24-day Yatri Sewa Abhiyan is underway, focusing on passenger assistance, cleanliness drives, and accessibility improvements. Union ministers have urged citizens to light an "Aashirwad ka Diya" (Lamp of Blessings) between 6 pm and 7 pm on September 17 to pray for Modi's health and long life. In Kolkata, authorities organised laser light shows and the lighting of approximately one lakh diyas along the Hooghly riverbanks, despite heavy rains.
The Cost of Celebration: "Shameless" or Service?
Not everyone is celebrating. The opposition has seized on the scale of spending, particularly in states facing natural disasters.
In Bihar, where approximately 64 lakh people are reeling under floods, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav launched a scathing attack on the government's plan to spend Rs 100 crore on lighting earthen lamps at schools and offices. "The shameless 'double-engine government' will flush Rs 100 crore down the drain instead of helping the people suffering from floods," Yadav said, pointing out that the government claims to have nothing for flood victims but can find vast sums for birthday celebrations.
The criticism extends beyond Bihar. In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) questioned the timing of grand celebrations following the Satya Niketan building collapse that killed seven people, five of them students. AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj noted that according to Hindu tradition, September 18 would mark the "tehravin" (thirteenth day) ritual for the deceased—a period of mourning.
Not everyone is celebrating. The opposition has seized on the scale of spending, particularly in states facing natural disasters.
In Bihar, where approximately 64 lakh people are reeling under floods, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav launched a scathing attack on the government's plan to spend Rs 100 crore on lighting earthen lamps at schools and offices. "The shameless 'double-engine government' will flush Rs 100 crore down the drain instead of helping the people suffering from floods," Yadav said, pointing out that the government claims to have nothing for flood victims but can find vast sums for birthday celebrations.
The criticism extends beyond Bihar. In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) questioned the timing of grand celebrations following the Satya Niketan building collapse that killed seven people, five of them students. AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj noted that according to Hindu tradition, September 18 would mark the "tehravin" (thirteenth day) ritual for the deceased—a period of mourning.
Schools as "Captive Venues" for Celebration
Perhaps the most contentious aspect involves government schools. In Delhi, at least 75 CM Shri schools were directed to light diyas on campus, and teachers were instructed to visit the homes of Class 10 toppers with diyas and blessings. The memo, accessed by The Wire, specified that diya material would be provided only to CM Shri schools, while all other schools had to arrange materials themselves.
A teacher at a CM Shri school, speaking anonymously, said drones were expected to capture the diya formations on school campuses in the evening. The month-long celebrations under Seva Sankalp Utsav include speech, drawing, and reel-making competitions—all during mid-term examinations.
Professor Krishna Kumar, former director of NCERT, has warned that government-run schools are turning into "event management spaces." He quoted a senior teacher who resigned because "teachers are turning into event managers. Orders to celebrate this or that occasion come from above, and these orders include the responsibility to upload pictures proving compliance".
Perhaps the most contentious aspect involves government schools. In Delhi, at least 75 CM Shri schools were directed to light diyas on campus, and teachers were instructed to visit the homes of Class 10 toppers with diyas and blessings. The memo, accessed by The Wire, specified that diya material would be provided only to CM Shri schools, while all other schools had to arrange materials themselves.
A teacher at a CM Shri school, speaking anonymously, said drones were expected to capture the diya formations on school campuses in the evening. The month-long celebrations under Seva Sankalp Utsav include speech, drawing, and reel-making competitions—all during mid-term examinations.
Professor Krishna Kumar, former director of NCERT, has warned that government-run schools are turning into "event management spaces." He quoted a senior teacher who resigned because "teachers are turning into event managers. Orders to celebrate this or that occasion come from above, and these orders include the responsibility to upload pictures proving compliance".
The Resignation Rumour: Completely False
Amid the celebrations, a viral claim has been circulating: a letter purportedly signed by Prime Minister Modi, announcing his resignation over "personal and political responsibility." The document, bearing the Ashoka Chakra emblem and what appeared to be Modi's signature, spread rapidly across social media.
This is entirely fake. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit has officially debunked the letter, stating: "This letter is fake. No such letter has been issued by the Prime Minister, nor has it been signed by him". PIB urged citizens to verify sensational claims through official government sources before believing or sharing them, warning that fake documents are often used to spread misinformation or facilitate financial scams.
Amid the celebrations, a viral claim has been circulating: a letter purportedly signed by Prime Minister Modi, announcing his resignation over "personal and political responsibility." The document, bearing the Ashoka Chakra emblem and what appeared to be Modi's signature, spread rapidly across social media.
This is entirely fake. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit has officially debunked the letter, stating: "This letter is fake. No such letter has been issued by the Prime Minister, nor has it been signed by him". PIB urged citizens to verify sensational claims through official government sources before believing or sharing them, warning that fake documents are often used to spread misinformation or facilitate financial scams.
What the Celebrations Really Signal
Beyond the immediate controversy, the sheer scale of the birthday programming reveals something about the BJP's political strategy.
The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan is explicitly linked to Modi's 25-year public service milestone—a framing that positions the celebrations not merely as birthday festivities but as a retrospective on his political journey. This is consistent with a pattern: Modi's birthdays have consistently served as platforms for launching or highlighting government schemes. In 2023, his birthday saw the launch of the PM Vishwakarma scheme; in 2024, the SUBHADRA scheme in Odisha; in 2025, maternal and child healthcare initiatives.
Yet the political context is more complex than in previous years. A Mood of the Nation poll conducted in September 2026 found that 47% of respondents believe "democracy is under threat" in India—a reversal from the January poll. The survey also found Modi's "outstanding" performance rating had fallen from 35.6% to 30.1%, and 56% of respondents believed the government's economic policies benefit big business.
The Gen Z protest movement, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has demonstrated that Modi's traditional political formula—combining Hindutva, welfare, and fear—may be losing its potency among younger voters. Writing in Frontline, commentators suggested Modi is likely to pursue an "appease-and-scare" strategy: offering selective concessions while intensifying repression against dissent.
Beyond the immediate controversy, the sheer scale of the birthday programming reveals something about the BJP's political strategy.
The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan is explicitly linked to Modi's 25-year public service milestone—a framing that positions the celebrations not merely as birthday festivities but as a retrospective on his political journey. This is consistent with a pattern: Modi's birthdays have consistently served as platforms for launching or highlighting government schemes. In 2023, his birthday saw the launch of the PM Vishwakarma scheme; in 2024, the SUBHADRA scheme in Odisha; in 2025, maternal and child healthcare initiatives.
Yet the political context is more complex than in previous years. A Mood of the Nation poll conducted in September 2026 found that 47% of respondents believe "democracy is under threat" in India—a reversal from the January poll. The survey also found Modi's "outstanding" performance rating had fallen from 35.6% to 30.1%, and 56% of respondents believed the government's economic policies benefit big business.
The Gen Z protest movement, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has demonstrated that Modi's traditional political formula—combining Hindutva, welfare, and fear—may be losing its potency among younger voters. Writing in Frontline, commentators suggested Modi is likely to pursue an "appease-and-scare" strategy: offering selective concessions while intensifying repression against dissent.
The Economic Reality Behind the Symbolism
While the celebrations project confidence, the underlying economic indicators tell a more complicated story.
Unemployment remains a primary concern, with the Mood of the Nation poll identifying it as the biggest problem India faces. Price rise was seen by 23% of respondents as the government's biggest failure. Income prospects are subdued, with only 24% expecting near-term improvement and 64% believing their situation will worsen or remain the same.
Against this backdrop, the government points to infrastructure achievements under the Smart Cities Mission: 96% of 8,064 projects completed, over 1,700 km of accessible roads, and 83,000+ CCTV cameras installed. The broader economic narrative highlights GDP reaching ₹323 lakh crore, exports at an all-time high of $863 billion, and forex reserves crossing $700 billion.
But the gap between macro-level statistics and household-level experience remains a political vulnerability—one that the opposition has been quick to exploit.
While the celebrations project confidence, the underlying economic indicators tell a more complicated story.
Unemployment remains a primary concern, with the Mood of the Nation poll identifying it as the biggest problem India faces. Price rise was seen by 23% of respondents as the government's biggest failure. Income prospects are subdued, with only 24% expecting near-term improvement and 64% believing their situation will worsen or remain the same.
Against this backdrop, the government points to infrastructure achievements under the Smart Cities Mission: 96% of 8,064 projects completed, over 1,700 km of accessible roads, and 83,000+ CCTV cameras installed. The broader economic narrative highlights GDP reaching ₹323 lakh crore, exports at an all-time high of $863 billion, and forex reserves crossing $700 billion.
But the gap between macro-level statistics and household-level experience remains a political vulnerability—one that the opposition has been quick to exploit.
A Question of Priorities
As the diyas are lit and the laser shows illuminate riverbanks, the fundamental question persists: what do these celebrations actually achieve?
For the BJP, they serve as a demonstration of organisational strength and a platform for welfare outreach. For critics, they represent a troubling blurring of party and state, with government resources and school children enlisted for what is essentially political branding. The instruction to teachers to visit toppers' homes with diyas—and the expectation that Anganwadi workers organise and record praise videos—sits uneasily with the principle of a neutral civil service.
The resignation rumours have been definitively debunked. But the questions they reflected—about Modi's political future, the direction of his government, and whether the celebratory machinery masks deeper anxieties—are unlikely to fade as quickly as the lamp flames on September 17.
As the diyas are lit and the laser shows illuminate riverbanks, the fundamental question persists: what do these celebrations actually achieve?
For the BJP, they serve as a demonstration of organisational strength and a platform for welfare outreach. For critics, they represent a troubling blurring of party and state, with government resources and school children enlisted for what is essentially political branding. The instruction to teachers to visit toppers' homes with diyas—and the expectation that Anganwadi workers organise and record praise videos—sits uneasily with the principle of a neutral civil service.
The resignation rumours have been definitively debunked. But the questions they reflected—about Modi's political future, the direction of his government, and whether the celebratory machinery masks deeper anxieties—are unlikely to fade as quickly as the lamp flames on September 17.
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