100 Achievements of Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964), India’s first Prime Minister from 1947 to 1964, played a monumental role in shaping modern India. His achievements span nation-building, governance, economic planning, science and technology, foreign policy, social reform, and education. His vision laid the foundation for India’s democratic, secular, and institutional framework.

I. Freedom Struggle & Early Leadership (1–20)

Joined the Indian National Congress in 1919.
Became Congress President (1929) and declared Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence).
Led the Lahore Session calling for independence on 26 January 1930.
Organized United Provinces’ Salt Satyagraha.
Imprisoned nine times by the British (~9 years total).
Key leader in Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34).
Served as Congress President again in 1936 and 1937.
Founded the Independence for India League (1928).
Elected Congress President in 1946, heading the Interim Government.
Played a leading role in Cabinet Mission negotiations.
Delivered the iconic “Tryst with Destiny” speech on August 14–15, 1947.
Authored the Objectives Resolution—blueprint for India’s Constitution.
Worked with Patel to integrate princely states.
Managed Partition-era refugee crisis and rehabilitation.
Prevented communal flare-ups through personal appeals.
Built mass political consciousness through nationwide tours.
Supported socialist and workers’ rights ideas within Congress.
Mentored young Congress leaders.
Promoted internationalist, anti-colonial ideology.
Wrote Letters from a Father to His Daughter, educating young minds about history and science.

II. Nation-Building & Democratic Foundations (21–45)

Became independent India’s first and longest-serving Prime Minister (1947–1964).
Oversaw India’s transition to a sovereign democratic republic.
Played a central role in drafting and shaping the Constitution.
Entrenched parliamentary democracy as India’s governance model.
Upheld secularism and protected minority rights.
Advocated universal adult franchise—a bold move for a new nation.
Strengthened Centre–state relations under federalism.
Established Election Commission of India.
Oversaw India’s first general elections (1951–52)—the world’s largest at the time.
Ensured peaceful, democratic transfer of power.
Appointed the States Reorganisation Commission (1953).
Implemented States Reorganisation Act (1956) on linguistic lines.
Consolidated hundreds of princely states into the Union.
Ensured the military remained under civilian control.
Strengthened IAS, IPS, and central services for national cohesion.
Laid policy foundations for public administration.
Set up national academies for arts, literature, and culture.
Established National Defence Academy (1954).
Launched national welfare and development ministries.
Protected freedom of speech and press.
Created the Planning Commission (1950).
Launched Five-Year Plans as India’s economic framework.
Guided the First (1951), Second (1956), and Third (1961) Plans.
Laid foundations of a mixed economy—public + private sectors.
Built a stable democratic system lasting over 75 years.

III. Economic & Industrial Development (46–63)

Implemented First Five-Year Plan—agricultural and rural focus.
Launched Second Five-Year Plan—heavy industrialization.
Developed large Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
Formulated Industrial Policy Resolution, 1956.
Encouraged mixed economy model.
Laid foundation of steel plants at Bhilai, Durgapur, Rourkela.
Built fertilizer, power, and heavy engineering plants.
Supported urban industrialization and planned cities.
Expanded national infrastructure—roads, rail, power.
Established LIC (1956).
Built Indian Oil Corporation’s early foundation.
Expanded irrigation and multi-purpose river valley projects.
Strengthened cooperative agricultural sector.
Initiated land reforms including abolition of zamindari.
Encouraged agricultural modernization.
Strengthened financial institutions and banking structure.
Expanded rural and urban electrification.
Laid foundations for India’s industrial self-reliance.

IV. Science, Technology & Space (64–82)

Founded Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Established Atomic Energy Commission (1948).
Created the Department of Atomic Energy (1954).
Supported Homi Bhabha’s nuclear vision.
Expanded the CSIR network of laboratories.
Launched INCOSPAR, precursor to ISRO.
Strengthened meteorological and geological research.
Established DRDO (1958).
Supported defence R&D labs across India.
Founded Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (as AEET).
Built heavy water and nuclear research facilities.
Encouraged Indian Statistical Institute’s expansion.
Founded National Physical Laboratory.
Promoted scientific temper as a national value.
Sponsored research in agriculture, engineering, and chemistry.
Supported early computerization and automation efforts.
Built space tracking and research infrastructure.
Promoted technology-oriented higher education.
Laid foundation for India’s future space and nuclear program.

V. Education, Culture & Social Development (83–95)

Established University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1956.
Supported AICTE for technical education.
Founded Kendriya Vidyalayas (Central Schools).
Established IITs, IIMs, AIIMS.
Expanded primary and rural education networks.
Strengthened Sahitya, Sangeet Natak, and Lalit Kala Akademis.
Supported libraries, museums, and cultural institutions.
Implemented landmark Hindu Code Bills granting rights to women.
Advocated gender equality and women’s participation.
Supported tribal welfare programs.
Promoted children’s welfare—Children’s Day on Nov 14.
Strengthened public health and hospital networks.
Championed scientific temper and rational thought.

VI. Foreign Policy & Global Leadership (96–115)

Co-founded Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Asserted India’s independence in global decisions during the Cold War.
Established Panchsheel—Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
Hosted Asian Relations Conference (1947).
Championed Afro-Asian solidarity (Bandung Conference, 1955).
Advocated global nuclear disarmament.
Opposed NATO, SEATO, CENTO military blocs.
Condemned colonialism and apartheid globally.
Supported independence movements in Asia and Africa.
Negotiated peace during the Korean War.
Strengthened ties with USSR for industrial and technological aid.
Improved relations with USA and Western Europe.
Integrated Goa (1961), ending Portuguese rule.
Hosted Dalai Lama and Tibetan refugees (1959).
Expanded Indian embassies worldwide.
Developed professional Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Promoted United Nations peacekeeping.
Built India’s reputation as a peace-oriented nation.
Opposed nuclear testing by superpowers.
Laid the foundation for India’s independent foreign policy identity.

VII. National Integration, Security & Public Welfare (116–135)

Rebuilt the country after Partition violence.
Rehabilitated millions of refugees.
Modernized Indian Army post-1947.
Expanded the Navy and Air Force.
Established civilian democratic oversight over the military.
Strengthened national identity beyond religion and caste.
Managed early regional and linguistic conflicts.
Stabilized Kashmir’s accession (though controversial).
Dealt with Sino-Indian War (1962), a major setback but historically defining.
Defended Indian sovereignty in multiple disputes.
Strengthened press freedom and parliamentary debate.
Established early family planning program.
Created urban planning frameworks.
Modernized civic systems in major cities.
Expanded youth programs (early Nehru Yuva Kendra).
Developed national sports institutions.
Expanded public healthcare services.
Supported campaigns for literacy and adult education.
Strengthened labor rights.
Encouraged scientific and cultural modernization.

VIII. Literary Contributions (136–140)

The Discovery of India (1944) – seminal work on Indian civilization.
Glimpses of World History – letters offering global historical insights.
An Autobiography (1936) – candid memoir of his political journey.
Speeches and letters emphasizing democracy, secularism, science.
Advocated global humanism, rationalism, and world peace.

100 Achievements of Jawaharlal Nehru