New Delhi, June 9
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates congratulated Narendra Modi on becoming prime minister for the third consecutive time.
"Congratulations to Narendra Modi on winning a third term as Prime Minister. You have strengthened India's position as a source of innovation for global progress in sectors like health, agriculture, women-led development, and digital transformation. Look forward to a continued partnership to enhance the lives of people across India and the world," Gates wrote on his X timeline on Sunday, as Modi was sworn in as the prime minister from the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
In March this year, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, a blockbuster interaction featuring two global leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, premiered. The interaction saw PM Modi and Gates in a free-wheeling chat discussing a range of issues, from artificial intelligence to digital public infrastructure and efforts to combat climate change.
In the candid conversation with the Microsoft co-founder at his residence, PM Modi addressed the challenges posed by AI and underlined the significance of initially using watermarks on AI-generated content to make users aware and prevent misinformation. Bill Gates also acknowledged the challenges that AI presents and said that the technology was also a huge opportunity.
Meanwhile, PM-designate Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term on Sunday at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was attended by leaders from India's neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region.
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Narendra Modi, followed by other members of his team of ministers.
Apart from two terms as Prime Minister beginning 2014, Narendra Modi also has the distinction of being the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat, with his term spanning from October 2001 to May 2014.
PM Modi led the BJP-led NDA to a third successive victory in the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP won an absolute majority on its own in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, winning 282 and 303 seats, respectively. PM Modi leads an NDA coalition with 292 seats in the Parliament and has laid thrust on making India a developed nation by 2047.
Born on September 17, 1950, in a small town in Gujarat, his family belonged to the 'other backward class' which is among the marginalised sections of society. In his initial years, he worked with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and later devoted himself to politics, working with the Bharatiya Janata Party organisation at the national and state levels.