The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), swept into power in 2014 with a playbook of bold slogans and transformative schemes. “Achhe Din,” “Viksit Bharat,” “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”—the messaging was slick, the ambition sky-high. Eleven years later, as we sit in April 2025, the sheen has worn thin. For every success story the government trumpets—like Swachh Bharat’s toilets or Ayushman Bharat’s health cards—there’s a graveyard of flops quietly swept under the rug. The NDA won’t talk about these failures. Its supporters won’t either. And the “godi media”—a jab at outlets accused of toeing the government line—keeps the spotlight on ribbon-cuttings, not results. So, here we are, doing the job of accountability ourselves.
This isn’t about denying progress outright. It’s about asking: What happened to the promises that didn’t pan out? From TB Mukt Bharat to the Bullet Train, let’s unpack the schemes that fizzled, flopped, or flat-out failed—leaving taxpayers and dreamers shortchanged.
TB Mukt Bharat by 2025: A Missed Deadline
In 2018, PM Narendra Modi vowed to eradicate tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global target. The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan promised early detection, free drugs, and nutritional support. Yet, here we are in 2025, and TB still haunts India. The WHO’s 2024 report pegs us at 2.1 million new cases annually—26% of the global burden. Undiagnosed cases top a million, and deaths hover near 480,000 yearly. Drug shortages, patchy Ni-kshay adoption, and rampant comorbidities like undernutrition sank the dream. The silence on this miss? Deafening.
Namami Gange: The River Still Weeps
Launched in 2014 with Rs. 20,000 crore (now Rs. 37,000 crore), Namami Gange aimed to purify the Ganga by 2020. Sewage plants, riverfronts, the works. But in 2025, the river’s a mess. CAG and NGT reports show 60-70% of sewage still flows untreated, fecal coliform levels soar, and industrial dumping persists. The new 2026 deadline feels like a mirage. Billions spent, yet the Ganga’s more a symbol of PR than purity.
Smart Cities Mission: Dumb Delays
Announced in 2015, this Rs. 48,000 crore plan targeted 100 “smart” cities by 2020. Extensions pushed it to 2023, but in 2025, many—like Panaji or Bhubaneswar—languish with unfinished projects. A 2023 CAG audit slammed idle funds and mismanagement. Urban India’s still grappling with potholes and power cuts, not smart tech.
Make in India: Factory of Hype
The 2014 manufacturing push aimed for a 25% GDP share by 2022. It’s stuck at 15-17%. Red tape, land woes, and lukewarm FDI left it a shadow of its promise. The PLI scheme tried a reboot, but India’s no global factory yet—just a workshop of good intentions.
Demonetization: The Chaos That Didn’t Pay
In 2016, 86% of India’s currency was scrapped overnight to kill black money. Growth tanked, small businesses bled, and ATMs became ghost towns. The RBI later confirmed 99% of notes returned—black money stayed cozy. A “bold move,” they said. A bold flop, history says.
Skill India: Training Without Jobs
A 2015 pledge to skill 400 million by 2022 delivered just 40 million. Subpar centers, useless certificates, and a 15% placement rate (per 2023 reports) left youth jobless—23% unemployment in 2023 (CMIE). Skills on paper, not in paychecks.
Digital India: Rural Disconnect
Promised in 2015 to wire rural India by 2020, Digital India boasts urban gains but falters beyond cities. TRAI’s 2024 data shows 40% of rural areas lack broadband. BharatNet connected 60% of panchayats by 2023—years late. Digital literacy? Spotty. E-governance? Crash-prone. The digital divide yawns wide.
Ujjwala Yojana: Gas Without Flame
Free LPG connections for 95 million households by 2023 sounded revolutionary. But 30-40% of users reverted to wood—refills cost Rs. 800-1000 post-subsidy cuts (2022 ET analysis). Low usage (2-3 cylinders/year) mocks the clean-cooking goal. Connections? Yes. Impact? Barely.
Bullet Train: Speeding Nowhere
The 2017 Mumbai-Ahmedabad rail, pegged at Rs. 1.1 lakh crore, promised high-speed glory by 2022. Land disputes and costs bumped it to 2028. By 2025, just 30% is done. Meanwhile, regular trains derail—23 accidents in 2023-24. Priorities, anyone?
Swachh Bharat (Urban): Trash Talk
Urban India was to be ODF and waste-free by 2019. Toilets exist, but slums lack upkeep. Waste management? A measly 20-25% of 1.5 lakh tonnes daily is processed (2024 MoHUA). Landfills like Ghazipur tower over “clean India” claims.
Housing for All (PMAY): Roofless Ambition
Twenty million homes by 2022 became 12 million by deadline, stretched to 2029. Urban shortages hit 18 million (2023 NITI Aayog), and rural homes often lack water or power. Corruption and delays plague it, per 2024 Business Standard.
FAME India: Electric Dreams Stall
A 2015 EV push targeted 30% adoption by 2030. In 2025, it’s 2% (SIAM). Subsidy cuts, 12,000 charging stations vs. a needed 400,000, and slow manufacturing growth (2024 Mint) stall the green revolution.
National Health Mission: Health Half-Done
MMR (97) and IMR (28) improved but missed 2020 targets (70 and 25). Rural clinics lack 40% of doctors (Lancet, 2024), and equipment shortages persist. Health for all? Not quite.
Disinvestment: Fiscal Fumble
Rs. 2.1 lakh crore from PSUs in 2021-22 flopped—Rs. 10,000 crore in 2023-24 against Rs. 50,000 crore. BPCL’s privatization stalled, and deficits ballooned (2024 Business Today). A revenue dream deferred.
The Pattern: Hype Over Substance
What ties these flops together? Overambition, shaky execution, and a refusal to pivot. Grand launches dazzle—Modi’s speeches are gold—but follow-through falters. Underfunding, state-level disconnects, and corruption erode impact. Deadlines shift, excuses mount, and the media machine spins successes while burying these busts. Swachh Bharat built toilets; Ayushman Bharat saved lives—credit there. But the flops? They’re a betrayal of trust, from TB patients to jobless youth to Ganga devotees.
Why It Matters
On April 9, 2025, the NDA’s third term hums along, promising “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. But promises mean little when history shows this disconnect. Citizens aren’t PR props—they deserve results. The government won’t flag these failures. Its fans won’t dare. And “godi media” will keep cheerleading. That’s why we must. Democracy thrives on scrutiny, not slogans. The NDA’s flop list is long—let’s not let it grow longer in silence.
