Despite juggling the enormous responsibilities of leading the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains full of energy and finds time for meditation. During an old 40-minute meeting with the PM, social media influencer Ankit Vayyanpuria, known for launching a 75-day fitness challenge to inspire the youth, shared an insight into the PM’s daily routine. “The PM told me that he doesn’t eat on time and he also has problems sleeping. So I told him that if the people have to sleep comfortably, someone has to work. That is the duty of a king,” he said. In celebration of his 74th birthday, we take a closer look at PM Modi’s fitness and health habits, including the inspiration behind his strict lifestyle.
3 hours of sleep
Union Minister L Murugan told news agency ANI that PM Modi spoke about his daily routine and revealed that he sleeps only three-and-a-half hours a night and abstains from eating after 6 pm. “Everyone was surprised and happy at the same time. PM Modi spoke about his daily routine, his exercise routine, his foreign travels during his visit to Karachi and more. We managed to spend 45 minutes with him and learnt a lot of inspiring things from him. He said that he sleeps three-and-a-half hours and does not eat after 6 pm,” he said while recounting the Prime Minister’s quick lunch with lawmakers in February.
Make fitness a priority
Despite a demanding schedule that often starts at 4 a.m. and continues until late at night, PM Modi makes health and wellness a priority. According to Sudesh Verma, author of “Narendra Modi the Gamechanger,” Modi would start his mornings with a walk when he was the Chief Minister of Gandhinagar, and he still does so before starting a busy day. But it’s his dedication to yoga, Surya Namaskar, and meditation that keeps him energized and focused.
Simple but nutritious meals
The Prime Minister’s diet is simple but nutritious, and his daily routine includes ginger tea and a light breakfast of boiled or roasted food. Though he likes to snack between meals, he is a modest eater and favours dishes such as khichudi, kadhi, upma and khakhra, prepared by his personal chef. His approach to health and nutrition reflects a balance between traditional habits and a disciplined lifestyle.
Follow a strict routine
PM Modi has often expressed his admiration for Benjamin Franklin and urged his Uttar Pradesh ministers to prioritise ‘kalya’ (work) over ‘kalyakaram’ (events and programmes). The father of the nation’s disciplined routine is a model for PM Modi’s ideal work-life balance, as he begins his day at 5 am by asking himself, “What good will I do today?”. Franklin’s mornings included time for self-care, planning and breakfast, followed by focused work. He built in breaks for reading, eating and reflection, and reserved the evening for relaxation, conversation and music. It was bedtime by 10 pm.
Modi’s praise for Franklin’s habits, especially his emphasis on managing sleep, diet and productivity, reflects his own commitment to self-discipline. In “Mann ki Baat,” which he co-authored with former President Barack Obama in 2015, Modi said Franklin’s biography inspired him from a young age and taught him key elements of maintaining a healthy, balanced life despite the demands of leadership, such as cutting down on excessive sleep, managing diet and managing the pressures of work.
Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to health and fitness is testament to the power of discipline even in the most demanding roles. On his birthday, his example remains a source of inspiration not only to the Indian people but also to leaders around the world.
