Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo: Screengrab)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted India’s strong growth momentum, calling the start of the current quarter “very positive” and describing a self-confident India as “a ray of hope for the world today.”Addressing the media ahead of the Budget Session 2026, PM Modi said India has emerged as a centre of global attention, pointing to the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed at the beginning of the quarter as a marker of future promise.“This quarter has begun on a very positive note. A self-confident India has become a ray of hope for the world today. It has also become a centre of attraction. At the beginning of this quarter, India and the European Union signed a Free Trade Agreement. It is a reflection of how bright the upcoming directions are, of how bright the future of Indian youth is,” the Prime Minister said.FTA and India’s growth pitchStressing the significance of the India–EU FTA, PM Modi termed it “Free Trade for Ambitious India, for Aspirational Youth, and for Aatmanirbhar India.” He expressed confidence that Indian manufacturers would use the agreement to enhance their capabilities and competitiveness.“This Free Trade for Ambitious India, Free Trade for Aspirational Youth, Free Trade for Aatmanirbhar India. I am confident that, especially the manufacturers of India, will use this opportunity to enhance their capabilities. I am very confident that in a way this is a major step in the direction of confident, competitive and productive India,” he said.Budget and reform agendaThe Prime Minister said the upcoming Union Budget would reflect the government’s reform-driven approach, highlighting its focus on “reform, perform and transform.”“It is natural for the attention of the country to be towards the Budget. But the identity of this Government has been reform, perform and transform. Now, we have swiftly taken off on ‘Reform Express’. I express gratitude to all MPs for their positive contributions in speeding up this ‘Reform Express’. As a result, ‘Reform Express’ is gaining speed,” Modi said.PM Modi stressed that government decisions would continue to be human-centric, even as India embraces technology to resolve long-pending issues and pursue long-term solutions.“The country is coming out of long-term pending problems and confidently walking the path of long-term solutions…In all our decisions, the progress of the country is our goal. But all our decisions are human-centric, our role and schemes are human-centric. We will contest against technology, we will adapt to technology, we will accept the capability of technology. But with this, we will not undermine human-centric system. Understanding the importance of sensitiviteness, in partnership with technology, we will go ahead.”Viksit Bharat and a historic BudgetReflecting on the passage of one-fourth of the 21st century, the Prime Minister said the next 25 years would be crucial to achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He also hailed Nirmala Sitharaman, who is set to present the Budget.“1/4 of the 21st century has gone by. This is the beginning of the next quarter. To attain the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, the important phase of these 25 years has begun. The first Budget of this second quarter of the century is about to be presented. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is the first FM of the country, the first woman FM of the country who is presenting the Budget in the Parliament for the 9th consecutive time. This is registered as a proud moment in the Parliamentary history of the country,” Modi said.