Modi turns 73, greetings pour in

Greetings poured in as prime minister Narendra Modi turned 73 on Sunday.

BJP has planned a series of events to celebrate the occasion while Modi will be inaugurating a new convention centre Yashobhumi at Dwarka in Delhi on Sunday.

President Droupadi Murmu greeted Modi on his 73rd birthday and wished that he successfully led India on the path of development.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also congratulated Modi on his 73rd birthday and wished him a long and healthy life.

Union home minister Amit Shah, union minister Nitin Gadkari and minister for foreign affairs S. Jaishankar also greeted the prime minister on this occasion.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also greeted Modi and wished for his good health.

According to a survey by Morning Consult, PM Modi secured the highest approval rating globally among elected leaders. According to the US-based consultancy firm's 'Global Leader Approval Rating Tracker', 76 per cent of people approve of PM Modi's leadership, while 18 per cent disapprove of it and six per cent do not give any opinion.

On his birthday, the government will launch the ambitious Vishwakarma Yojana, a scheme to help those earning a living through traditional skills, part of a major outreach to members of the Other Backward Communities ahead of the Lok Sabha election next year. A new health campaign called 'Ayushman Bhava' will be launched today.

Modi is not only the longest-serving non-Congress Prime Minister but also has the longest tenure as head of an elected government, which includes his term of more than 12 years as Chief Minister of Gujarat, among all Prime Ministers the country has seen.