When Narendra Modi won his third term, it was clear that he would surpass Indira Gandhi’s record. He is currently India’s second-longest-serving Prime Minister, having served for 11 consecutive years. Jawaharlal Nehru is the longest-serving Indian Prime Minister with 6,131 days. Narendra Modi follows him with 4078 days and counting. Indira Gandhi was India’s Prime Minister for two terms from 1966 to 1984, totalling 5,829 days.

Indian foreign policy follows the path laid out by Jawaharlal Nehru to date. It primarily focuses on non-alignment or neutrality. However, each Prime Minister has taken necessary decisions for the country’s overall foreign policy, depending on the time and internal and global politics. In this blog, we will cover how India’s international image has changed from Indira Gandhi’s tenure to Narendra Modi’s era.

What was India’s Global Image under Indira Gandhi from 1966 to 1984?

Indira Gandhi took over the PMO under a different India. When she became the Prime Minister, India was recovering from three wars (two against Pakistan and one against China) and the deaths of two Prime Ministers within 19 months. Bharat’s GDP growth rate was -2.64% in 1965. It was facing food shortages, droughts, and instability during this period.

Indira Gandhi continued Mr. Nehru’s foreign policy approach. But she also made some bold and intriguing choices that changed India’s reputation globally:

Non‑Aligned Movement and Cold War positioning

Indira Gandhi was vocal about the Non‑Aligned Movement. She hosted the 1967 summit, improving India’s prestige among African and Asian countries. Although it was not official, India was more tilted towards the Soviet Union during this period. Mrs. Gandhi also maintained a cautious relationship with the US and tried to balance between the superpowers.

Hindu Rate of Growth and Socialist Policies

Under Mrs. Gandhi, the state controlled all major industries and pursued import substitution. It resulted in a slow GDP growth rate. Bharat’s image was of a closed, bureaucratic, and underdeveloped country internationally.

Strong Security Position and Regional Influence

The India-Pakistan 1971 war completely changed India’s standing in both the regional and international arenas. Bharat played a key role in liberating Bangladesh from Pakistan. It also showed the strong relationship between India and the Soviet Union.

The Emergency and Operation Blue Star

Indira Gandhi received the “Iron Lady” title from Henry Kissinger, America’s then Secretary of State, for her decisive persona. However, it all changed when she declared a state emergency from 1975 to 1977. This drew global criticism for human rights violations and suppressing democracy.

She also ordered the “Operation Blue Star” to eliminate Khalistani terrorists. This also includes Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was hiding inside the Golden Temple complex. She ordered the Indian Army to enter the Golden Temple premises, resulting in huge destruction of the temple complex. This attracted criticisms from sikhs living across the world and resulted in her assassination.

The Transitional Phase Between the Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi Eras
The period following Indira Gandhi witnessed a drastic change in India’s internal and international politics.

Here are some important incidents you must know:

1. 1991 Economic Reforms

2. Babri Masjid Demolition

3. Pokhran II Nuclear Tests

4. Kargil War

5. U.S.–India Civil Nuclear Deal

6. 26/11 Mumbai Attack

The Babri Masjid Demolition incident and the Pokhran II Nuclear Test drew international criticism and sanctions. On the other hand, the 1991 economic reforms and the Landmark 123 Agreement placed Bharat among the top global economies.

What is India’s Global Image under Narendra Modi?

In 2014, Narendra Damodardas Modi took the oath as India’s 14th Prime Minister. He also won the 2019 and 2024 general elections, making him the second, after Jawaharlal Nehru, to serve as PM for the third term.

India’s GDP growth rate was 5.41% in 2014, making it the 10th biggest economy in the world. However, in 2025, India surpassed Japan to become the fourth-largest economy with a nominal GDP of $4.19 trillion.

Mr. Modi focused on digitizing India and launched initiatives like Make in India. These initiatives helped boost Bharat’s manufacturing industry and exports. India’s total exports were $824.9 billion in 2024, making it the tenth-largest exporter worldwide.

Like Indira Gandhi, he also follows the core value of Indian foreign policy of neutrality. However, he also focuses on multilateral diplomacy by engaging with all major countries.

Here are some steps Narendra Modi initiated to transform India’s global reputation:

Act East and Neighborhood First Policies

Narendra Modi launched the Neighborhood First policy during his first two terms. He invited SAARC and BITSTEC leaders to his inaugural ceremonies in 2014 and 2019. He also renewed Bharat’s relations with Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. Mr. Modi has also acted swiftly towards his Act East policy by engaging with ASEAN and the Pacific countries.

Developing Strategic Partnerships

He has improved strategic partnerships with the United States, Japan, Australia, and Europe. Under his tenure, India joined QUAD and U2I2, positioning itself as a strong power in the Indian Ocean region. He also continued to maintain strong historical relations with Russia, Israel, and the Gulf countries.

Global Economic Branding

India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hosted the G20 Summit for the first time in 2023. During this summit, India added the African Union as the 21st member of the G20 group. This step was widely appreciated worldwide, placing India as the Voice of the Global South. He has used cultural diplomacy by engaging with the diaspora. It improved India’s soft power.

Improving Trade Relations

India has currently signed Free Trade Agreements with 13 countries. It has signed 5 new FTAs since 2014 with Mauritius, UAE, Australia, ASEAN, and the UK. These FTAs helped India increase its exports to these countries. The government is also discussing a trade deal with the USA.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

Narendra Modi launched the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in 2020. It was to boost the local manufacturing industry. Since then, our country’s total exports have increased, especially military exports. India aims to develop the majority of its future military equipment indigenously. In 2025, India surpassed China to become the largest exporter of smartphones to the United States.

Criticisms Over Diplomatic Decisions

Narendra Modi faced global criticism for his diplomatic decisions. India stands neutral during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, drawing criticism from the United States and European countries. Western countries are dissatisfied with India’s purchase of crude oil from Russia.

Wrapping Up

As we conclude our blog post, we have covered all the major decisions made by Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi that impacted India’s global reputation. We covered how India’s foreign policy transitioned from being non-aligned and socialist under Indira Gandhi, to an economically open and confident, under Narendra Modi. As our country aims to become a developed country by 2047, we will witness great initiatives by future Prime Ministers that will change India’s global reputation.

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