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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated emphasis on punctuality goes beyond following schedules. He is urging India to rethink a habit that has long treated delays as acceptable.
For decades, late trains, delayed buses and slow government offices became part of everyday life.
Citizens often adjusted their routines around uncertainty. Queues could stretch for hours, while applications sometimes took years to resolve.
A culture of informal queue reservation even emerged, with people placing bricks or other objects to hold their place.
Disputes over such arrangements were not uncommon.
The habit extended to meetings, events and school assemblies, which frequently began after their announced time.
The phrase ‘Indian Stretchout Time’ even emerged as a humorous twist on Indian Standard Time.
Against this backdrop, PM Modi has highlighted the Delhi Metro and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail for achieving 99.9 per cent punctuality.
From Mann Ki Baat to the ET World Leaders Conference, PM Modi has connected punctuality with discipline, respect and efficiency. His criticism of the ‘chalta hai’ mindset forms a key part of this message. He has instead promoted ‘badal sakta hai’, suggesting that entrenched habits can change.
Government initiatives reflect this approach. Mission Raftaar aims to increase train speeds, while PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) focuses on timely project implementation and grievance resolution.
CPGRAMS allows citizens to file, track and escalate complaints digitally. These reforms aim to reduce bureaucratic delays and strengthen accountability.
Punctuality, therefore, becomes more than a personal habit. It becomes a measure of governance, progress and institutional efficiency.
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