New Delhi: At the Republic Media Network's Republic Plenary Summit on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a heartwarming story that encapsulates the transformative power of aspirations after his government came to power in 2014. Held under the theme 'Limitless India' at Pragati Maidan's Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, PM Modi took pride in his government's transformative policies, which have empowered the common man and built their aspirations sky-high. At the summit, a confluence of esteemed thought leaders, policymakers, and innovators, PM Narendra Modi shared a beautiful incident that occurred during his recent Kuwait visit, while sharing his vision for a limitless India.PM Modi recounted his recent visit to a labour camp in Kuwait, where he interacted with Indian labourers who have been working there for over years. During his interaction, one Indian labourer, who had been working in Kuwait for 9 years, expressed his desire for an international airport near his village in Bihar. This, PM Modi noted, was a testament to the changing aspirations of the common man in India. "Today, this is the aspiration of a common citizen of India, which is driving the whole country towards the goal of a developed India," he asserted. The Prime Minister stated that the changing aspirations of Indian citizens are reflected in their evolving language and expectations. Citing examples of what a Member of Parliament (MP) used to make demands for their constituency earlier and what they demand now, which shows that people's way of thinking and speaking has undergone a major transformation, indicative of their rising ambitions.PM Modi illustrated this point by contrasting the past and present demands of MPs for their constituencies. "Earlier people used to ask for a stoppage of the train, and now they come and say, please start a Vande Bharat here too," he said. The PM implied that this shift demonstrates the growing confidence and lofty expectations of Indian citizens, who are now seeking more sophisticated and modern amenities, such as the Vande Bharat train.He noted that the change in citizen aspirations is a testament to the country's progress and the government's efforts to empower its people. PM Modi at Republic Plenary Summit 2025, shared the story:“The reflection of the aspirations that one has today is visible in their words. Their way of speaking has changed. Earlier people used to ask for a stoppage of the train, and now they come and say, please start a Vande Bharat here too.” "A few days ago, I went to a labour camp in Kuwait. I was interacting with our labourer brothers and sisters who work in Kuwait, some have been working there for 10 years, some for 15 years. Now look, a labourer from a village in Bihar, who has been working in Kuwait for 9 years, visits his village occasionally, when I was talking to him, he said, “Sahib, I want to ask you a question.” I said, “Please ask me.” He said, “Please build an international airport near my village, at the district headquarters.” I am so happy that a labourer from a village in Bihar in my country, who has been working as a labourer in Kuwait for 9 years, also thinks that now an international airport will be built in his district. Today, this is the aspiration of a common citizen of India, which is driving the whole country towards the goal of a developed India. Friends, the strength of any nation increases only when restrictions, obstacles are removed from in front of its citizens, and the awareness of obstacles falls, only then the capability of the citizens of that country increases. Even the height of the sky is a small thing for them."Decade of TransformationPM Modi also explained the importance of removing restrictions and obstacles that hinder the growth of citizens. "The strength of any nation increases only when restrictions, obstacles are removed from in front of its citizens, and the awareness of obstacles falls, only then the capability of the citizens of that country increases," he stated. He noted that this has been the guiding philosophy of his government since 2014.The Prime Minister reflected on the massive transformation that India has undergone since 2014. From infrastructure development to social welfare initiatives, his government has implemented a range of policies aimed at empowering citizens and unlocking India's potential. "Even the height of the sky is a small thing for them," he said, referring to the boundless aspirations of the common man. India's Emergence As Driving ForcePM Modi's statement underscored India's remarkable growth and its emergence as a driving force in global growth. He noted that India now thinks big, sets high targets, and delivers big results, earning the world's recognition that this is indeed India's century. He explained that India's achievements have sparked new aspirations and expectations globally and one notable example is the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, which has directly transferred over Rs 42 lakh crore to the bank accounts of the poor over the last decade. He stated that his government has created a system which has ensured that every rupee sent from Delhi reaches the beneficiaries without intermediaries.Experts believed that PM Modi's vision for India is built on the principles of empowerment, sustainability, and global leadership. As India continues to grow and develop, it's clear that the country is poised to play an important role in shaping the global economy.The Republic Plenary Summit is proudly presented by RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, with JAC Olivol as the Co-Presenting Partner. The summit is Co-Powered by Canara Bank, Radico, Apollo Hospitals, Reliance Digital, Ravin Group, and Rungta Steel. We are honoured to have Reva University as our Knowledge Partner and Wildstone as our Hackathon Partner.We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Associate Sponsors - BlueStar and Muthoot Finance, as well as our Prayer Partner - Parimal Agarbatti. Special thanks to our State Partners, including the Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, and Nandini Mill.We are also grateful to our Insurance Partner - LIC, Luxury Partner - Da Milano, Wardrobe Partner - Pall Mall, and our Literary Partner - National Book Trust.Thank you to all our partners for their invaluable support in making this summit a success.