Narendra Modi becomes the longest-serving head of a government in India, passing Pawan Kumar Chamling
On 22 March 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi surpassed former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's record of 8,930 days to become the longest-serving head of a government in India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said.
Summary
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on 22 March 2026 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had become the longest-serving head of a government in India by surpassing the 8,930-day record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling. The count of 8,931 days covers Modi's tenure first as Chief Minister of Gujarat and then as Prime Minister. Shah also noted that Modi had served for more than 24 years without taking a holiday.
Key facts
- Milestone
- Longest-serving head of a government in India
- Date
- 22 March 2026
- Record passed
- 8,930 days of Pawan Kumar Chamling, former Sikkim CM
- Modi's count
- 8,931 days (Gujarat CM, then PM)
- Stated by
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Practice MCQs 3 questions
On 22 March 2026 Narendra Modi surpassed whose record to become the longest-serving head of a government in India?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Pawan Kumar Chamling
Modi passed the 8,930-day record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling.
The record surpassed by Narendra Modi on 22 March 2026 was of how many days as head of a government?
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Correct answer: B — 8,930 days
Chamling's record was 8,930 days; Modi reached 8,931 days.
Consider the following about the record set on 22 March 2026: 1. The count includes Narendra Modi's tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. 2. The previous record-holder was a former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
The 8,931 days cover Modi's time as Gujarat CM and then as PM; the previous record-holder, Pawan Kumar Chamling, was Chief Minister of Sikkim.