Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday underscored India’s strong economic momentum, calling the start of the current quarter “very positive” and describing a self-confident India as “a ray of hope for the world today.”
Addressing the media ahead of the Budget Session 2026, the Prime Minister said India has emerged as a global focal point, pointing to the recent India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a major milestone. He said the agreement reflects the “bright future of Indian youth” and signals promising opportunities ahead.
“This quarter has begun on a very positive note. A self-confident India has become a ray of hope for the world today. It has also become a centre of attraction. At the beginning of this quarter, India and the European Union signed a Free Trade Agreement. It is a reflection of how bright the upcoming directions are, of how bright the future of Indian youth is,” PM Modi said.
Highlighting the broader significance of the agreement, the Prime Minister described the India–EU FTA as “Free Trade for Ambitious India, for Aspirational Youth, and for Aatmanirbhar India.” He expressed confidence that Indian manufacturers would seize the opportunity to strengthen their capabilities and competitiveness.
“This Free Trade for Ambitious India, Free Trade for Aspirational Youth, Free Trade for Aatmanirbhar India. I am confident that, especially the manufacturers of India, will use this opportunity to enhance their capabilities. I am very confident that in a way this is a major step in the direction of confident, competitive and productive India,” he said.
Turning to the upcoming Union Budget, PM Modi said it would reflect the government’s reform-oriented approach, rooted in the philosophy of “reform, perform and transform.” He noted that the government has picked up pace on what he described as the “Reform Express.”
“It is natural for the attention of the country to be towards the Budget. But the identity of this Government has been reform, perform and transform. Now, we have swiftly taken off on ‘Reform Express’. I express gratitude to all MPs for their positive contributions in speeding up this ‘Reform Express’. As a result, ‘Reform Express’ is gaining speed,” he said.
The Prime Minister also emphasised that all government decisions remain human-centric, even as the country adapts to rapid technological change.
“The country is coming out of long-term pending problems and confidently walking the path of long-term solutions… In all our decisions, the progress of the country is our goal. But all our decisions are human-centric, our role and schemes are human-centric. We will contest against technology, we will adapt to technology, we will accept the capability of technology. But with this, we will not undermine a human-centric system,” he said, stressing the importance of sensitivity alongside technological advancement.
Reflecting on the passage of one-fourth of the 21st century, PM Modi said the next 25 years would be crucial for achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047. He also lauded Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is set to present the first Budget of the second quarter of the century.
“1/4 of the 21st century has gone by. This is the beginning of the next quarter. To attain the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, the important phase of these 25 years has begun. The first Budget of this second quarter of the century is about to be presented.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is the first FM of the country, the first woman FM of the country who is presenting the Budget in the Parliament for the 9th consecutive time. This is registered as a proud moment in the Parliamentary history of the country,” the Prime Minister said.
