Union Minister Hardeep S Puri has called for responsible, evidence-based criticism of India's economic reforms in 2026. He argued that pessimistic commentary weakens institutions and undermines progress.
In a column published in The Indian Express, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep S Puri advocated for discipline in public debate as India enters 2026. He emphasized that reforming a republic of over 1.4 billion people requires more than cynicism, highlighting the challenges in jobs, productivity, exports, and inclusion.
Puri critiqued a recent trend in commentary that portrays doubt as sophistication, caricaturing reforms and deeming every imperfect transition as permanent failure. He stated, "When eminent professionals treat insinuation as analysis, they weaken the very institutions that make reform possible."
Addressing distrust in data, he cited verifiable progress. The GST established a national invoice trail, and in November 2025, UPI recorded 20 billion transactions worth over Rs 26 lakh crore. NITI Aayog's National Multidimensional Poverty Index reported nearly 24 crore Indians escaping multidimensional poverty from 2013-14 to 2022-23, reducing the incidence from nearly 30 per cent to about 11 per cent.
Financial inclusion advanced with over 56 crore Jan Dhan accounts. Scheduled commercial banks' gross nonperforming asset ratio dropped to 2.1 per cent in 2025 from 11.2 per cent in 2018. Production Linked Incentive schemes attracted Rs 2 lakh crore investments across 14 sectors, generating over 12 lakh jobs. Electronics production reached Rs 11 lakh crore in 2024-25, with mobile phone production at Rs 5.5 lakh crore and exports at Rs 2 lakh crore.
Total goods and services exports hit a record $825 billion in 2024-25. The Jal Jeevan Mission provided tap water to more than 12.5 crore rural households. Ayushman Bharat issued over 42 crore cards under PM-JAY, PM Awas completed nearly three crore houses, and PM Ujjwala Yojana delivered more than 10 crore LPG connections.
Puri praised states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for improved law and order, faster clearances, and infrastructure delivery. He concluded that India has chosen the path of execution, with results audited in numbers and felt in households outlasting any despair. In 2026, criticism should improve policies, not undermine confidence for applause.
