Since taking office as Prime Minister of India in 2014, Narendra Modi has made several statements and claims that have been challenged or proven to be inaccurate, raising questions about whether he has misled citizens. While the term "lied" implies intent, which is difficult to definitively prove, there are specific instances where Modi's assertions have not aligned with reality. Below are key examples:

  • Job Creation:
    Modi promised to create 20 million jobs annually during his tenure. However, unemployment rates have remained high, with the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) reporting a rate of 6.1% in 2018—the highest in 45 years. This gap between promise and outcome suggests that the job creation claims were not fulfilled.
  • GDP Growth:
    Modi frequently highlighted India's GDP growth as a success. Yet, in 2019, former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian argued that growth figures were overestimated by 2.5 percentage points between 2011-12 and 2016-17, casting doubt on the accuracy of the economic progress Modi promoted.
  • Demonetization:
    In 2016, Modi claimed that demonetization would eliminate black money and curb terrorism. However, the Reserve Bank of India reported in 2018 that 99.3% of demonetized currency returned to the system, indicating the policy did not achieve its stated goals.
  • COVID-19 Preparedness:
    Modi assured citizens that India was well-prepared for the pandemic. However, the second wave in 2021 exposed severe shortages of oxygen, hospital beds, and vaccines, contradicting earlier assurances and drawing widespread criticism.
  • Farm Laws:
    In 2020, Modi introduced agricultural reforms, asserting they would benefit farmers. Massive protests followed, and the laws were repealed in 2021, suggesting his claims did not reflect the reality for many farmers.
  • Electoral Promises:
    Modi pledged to double farmers' income by 2022 during election campaigns. Data from the National Statistical Office shows this target was not met, marking another unfulfilled promise.
These examples demonstrate that Modi has made statements and promises that were later contradicted by evidence or outcomes. Whether these constitute "lies" depends on intent—political leaders often make ambitious claims that may not materialize, and Modi is not unique in this regard. However, the discrepancies between his assertions and the results have led to perceptions among some citizens and critics that he has not been fully truthful.

Fact-Checked Instances of Misleading Statements

Beyond unkept promises, fact-checking organizations have identified specific instances where Modi's statements were misleading. For example, Scroll.in's fact-check of five days of Modi's speeches in April 2024 revealed several falsehoods, including:

Date
Claim
Fact
April 21
Congress manifesto said it would survey, seize, and redistribute private wealth, including mangalsutras
Manifesto has no such reference (
Scroll.in
)
April 21
Previous Congress government said Muslims have the first right to country’s resources
Distortion of Manmohan Singh’s 2006 speech about uplifting all disadvantaged sections (
Scroll.in
)
April 24
Congress would impose inheritance tax, tax wealth inherited from parents
Manifesto has no reference; party distanced from related remarks (
Scroll.in
)

These fact-checks suggest that Modi's rhetoric sometimes includes claims that are not supported by evidence, aligning with accusations of "fakery."

Case Study: Demonetization as a "Jumla"

An unexpected detail is the characterization of Modi's 2016 demonetization policy as a "classic jumla." Promised to "break the grip of corruption and black money" with only "temporary hardships," it failed to meet its goals, with 99.3% of demonetized currency returning to the system, as reported by the Reserve Bank of India in 2018 (The Print). This policy, initially presented as a transformative measure, is now cited as evidence of unkept promises, with significant economic fallout for the poorest citizens, highlighting the gap between rhetoric and reality.