Welcome to ZEE. We thank you for taking out time for our viewers before your Davos visit.

I would like to wish the viewers of ZEE News a happy New Year. May 2018 be prosperous. May all their dreams come true, and when the dreams of citizens come true, a nation moves forward.

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You will be visiting Davos. You will be the first Indian PM to visit Davos in over two decades. What would you like to achieve?

The world knows that Davos has become the panchayat of global economy. The who's who of global economy attend the forum. Businessmen are there, academicians are there, financial institutions, policy makers are also there. For the past few years, I too felt that I should attend. But I was not able to due to prior commitments. A lot of meetings for the ASEAN summit are taking place in the run up to January 26. Leaders from around the world will be here. That is a big thing. I had given consent, so I have to go.

FDI has jumped from $36 billion to $60 billion. What do you think is the difference between the time when you took office in 2014, and now when you visit such global summits? How has the nation's status changed from 2014 till date?

India is the centre of the world's attention. The business world has India in their sights. The Indian economy is growing rapidly. The world has accepted it. Global ratings agencies are saying it. So on one side you have an economy that is developing rapidly, and on the other side, we have democratic values. This is a unique combination, which the world trusts. So, this is a big opportunity for India. Secondly, India is a big market with big demographic dividends. For the first time after Independence, India saw the biggest FDI reform. So, if the world is attracted to India, they want to have direct engagement. Whether it is about policy or feelings, they want to hear from the horse's mouth.

Have you ever felt that there is more weight to your words now as after 30 years we have a PM with absolute majority. Do you think that the majority you enjoy has increased the world's trust in you and the country at large?

Before 2014, maybe there was no conversation around what the world thinks about India in the country or what India thinks about the world. After 2014, you must have seen that Indians now care about what the world thinks about India. This means that there is some progress. For the first time in 30 years, you have a government that enjoys complete majority. Around the world, peoples' mandate in a democracy matters. I have seen the impact since the very first day when I invited leaders of SAARC for my oath-taking ceremony. The world has also seen that this government has a different thought process. So it was obvious that the world is attracted towards India. And India is doing well at home. If we don't perform well at home, then no one will trust us around the world. When we move from 142 to 100th rank in ease of doing business, the world understands that.

We have a mandate of 125 crore Indians. The mandate is of the world's biggest democracy. People understand the meaning of this. It is not important that the mandate is for Modi. What is important are the citizens, their strength, and their choice. My job is to become the voice of 125 crore Indians, and I try to do that with honesty.

We have seen that earlier, global events would come across as a diplomatic exercise. A minister would visit, undertake a diplomatic exercise, follow a structured way. But with you a warmth is visible — you hug them, speak to them with your hand on their shoulders. When PM Netanyahu visited India, your friendship became the subject of discussion. This is a unique style of diplomacy. How do you forge such ties with a leader who is not from your nation, does not even know your language and probably has not known you for a long time?

First of all, sometimes some drawbacks become your strengths. And it is in my nature to convert an adversity into an opportunity. When I became PM, I received criticism — how can someone from Gujarat have the knowledge of the world? And everyone used to ask me, how will you handle the foreign policy of India? In a way, this criticism was right. I had no prior experience of foreign policy. I benefited from that.

No baggage…?

I had no baggage. I was new. I used to tell the world that I have no knowledge of protocol, and I will be like a common man. This is my open nature. This is being liked by the world, and this helps in establishing friendly ties. But I try to make sure that my country does not suffer because of my style.

But is there no tension in your mind, say if Vladimir Putin is standing beside you or Trump… how do you go about speaking to them?

I may be standing before the world's strongest leader. I may be with the head of state of a superpower. I never think that it is Modi who is standing there. I always consider myself as a representative of 125 crore Indians. I live by filling myself with the strength of 125 crore people. I always have that in my sight.

Many a time you have said that Lok Sabha and Assembly polls should be held simultaneously. Do you feel that you will have to wait till you have majority in the Upper House?

I am glad that ZEE News has raised this. This is not the first time that this has come up, Leaders before me also have talked about this, even former President Pranab Mukherjee used to favour this. The country is always in election mode. Even before you are done with one election, it's time for the next one. The government is made up of people from political parties. Political parties fight elections. The country suffers when politicians are always occupied with elections. Now during election time, even I have to give my attention to campaigning. Secondly, the federal structure of the country is affected due to multiple elections. This is because one has to make political statements during campaigning, and the power of electronic media is such that even if there is an election in Tripura, the speech will be heard in Goa. And then there will be a political back and forth there as well. This damages the federal fabric of the country.

Even during Holi, we only celebrate with colours on one day, and not the entire year. All polls should happen in a fixed time period. Secondly, Election Commission is also an observer during the election. As many as 70-80 good officers travel around the year because of elections. They have to stay out for 40-50 days. If the best officers of a state are out for so many days, how will the state function?

Third, in 2009, parties spent Rs 1,000-1,100 crore on elections. In 2014, that expense reached Rs 4,000 crore. This shows how much we spend on manpower and on elections. The biggest loss is on account of the deployment of security forces. If the elections happen together, then the country can save a lot.

It's not a question of whether I can do it or not. Everyone needs to come together to make this happen in the interest of the nation. At least a conversation should begin. We should all get involved. After 2-3 months of discussion, we will reach some consensus.

Since you took charge, a new trend has emerged — people now debate the GDP growth rate. This didn't happen earlier, but it has almost become like the Sensex now, with people discussing the growth or decline of the economy regularly. You are also questioned on the basis of these figures. There is criticism if the rates that you expected aren't achieved. This, too, seems like a new tradition?

This is good practice that the country is focused on the growth of the economy. One should never feel bad about criticism. In a democracy, criticism translates into strength. If there is no criticism, a democracy will not be able to function. Everything must be analysed. Good things must be appreciated openly and one must be criticised openly. But, one must work hard to criticise, it must be based on research and factor in the positives and the negatives. We live in the Google age. The world moves at a rapid pace. So criticism is negligible, but allegations increase. Sometimes, one misses a healthy point of debate. Yet, it is good. The country is talking about GDP, agriculture and industrial growth. People think about the services sector, market forces and international perception. It is good that they are paying attention to this.

How do you see India's role at a global level? Earlier, we were limited to South and East Asia. Do you feel that we have now become a global power, or do you feel that it will take some more time?

The world was earlier divided into two camps. We had to associate ourselves with one of them and policy decisions were taken under the shadow of the leader of a camp. The situation where a country's decisions were independent of a camp was rare. This has changed now. Today, we have a situation where everyone maintains ties with each other despite differences. We live in a world where we cannot stay isolated. It's an inter-connected world, one will have to lead to prove one's place in the world and for the world to accept you.

Take the issue of corruption, for instance. I raised it during my first G-20 meeting. This became an issue at the G-20 summit. People said that we should take the lead on issues of financial transparency, banking and sharing of information. We raised terrorism repeatedly at world fora. We said that those who believe in democracy and human values should come together and our position has been accepted.

There was a new term that I came across, which is P-T-M: Putin, Trump, Modi. This defines the global order for many.

People find new terminologies. But, we should not restrict India's position. If we are in SAARC, we must move ahead with friendly ties. We should ensure friendly ties with ASEAN and G-20. We organised the India-Africa summit, we invited all countries from the African continent. Take the example of World Yoga Day. This is not possible through a Putin-Trump-Modi order. Ever since the UN was created, in its 70-year history, if there was one thing that most countries could agree on, it was yoga. A record number of countries voted in favour of it, in record time.

GST and demonetization have been the two most crucial decisions by your government. There are differing views on this, Opposition parties tried to make the most out of it. Do you think the aim that you had in mind has been achieved?

People do not elect us because we have to fight elections. We get five years to take the right decisions and implement them. It has been the misfortune of India that governments have worked to just win the next election. I think governments must work for the betterment of the nation, and to ease the living conditions of citizens. Governments must work for the long term.