The reel's central claim is supported: PM Narendra Modi has lived by begging for 40 years
Why we say that›
Modi did say he lived by begging for about 35-40 years in interviews.
The reel questions a quote attributed to Modi, but multiple sources confirm he has said nearly identical words referring to his early struggles and RSS pracharak days. The 40-year version appears in social media references and one variant. 35 years is the most cited from a 2019 Aaj Tak interview. No primary video in notes, but consistent secondary reporting supports the central claim.
Reported 31 Jul 2026
Claims
1 unchecked
- Couldn't check
PM Narendra Modi has lived by begging for 40 years
What's actually true
Modi has stated in interviews (primarily cited as 2019 Aaj Tak) that he lived by begging/bhiksha for 35 years, with some references and his own variants using "nearly 40 years" or "about 40". The reel presents this as a quote he said, which aligns with reported statements.
The full story, from the sources›
I have lived by begging for 35 years. So were beggars so rich that they could go to a country like New Zealand?. - PIB Fact Check (Instagram) Main 35 saal tak bhiksha maang kar ke khaya hoon. Karib 40 saal maine bhiksha maang karke khaya hai... logon ke ghar mein bhiksha maang kar ke khata tha. - Instagram reel I spent 35 years begging, but I don't believe I've lived by begging for nearly 40 years... He wrote, 'I lived by begging for 40 years.'. - YouTube प्रधानमंत्री मोदी ने कहा, 'कोई भरोसा नहीं करेगा, लेकिन मैं 35 साल तक भिक्षा मांग कर खाया हूं. - News18 Uttar Pradesh (2019-04-27) In a 2019 interview with Aaj Tak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while referring to the struggles of his early life, said that he 'lived by begging for 35 years.'. - Instagram reel (2024-01-01)
From fact-checks · reporting
How it's framed (3)›
Sources (5)›
In a 2019 interview with Aaj Tak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while referring to the struggles of his early life, said that he 'lived by begging for 35 years.'
Main 35 saal tak bhiksha maang kar ke khaya hoon. Karib 40 saal maine bhiksha maang karke khaya hai... logon ke ghar mein bhiksha maang kar ke khata tha.
I spent 35 years begging, but I don't believe I've lived by begging for nearly 40 years... He wrote, 'I lived by begging for 40 years.'
I have lived by begging for 35 years. So were beggars so rich that they could go to a country like New Zealand?
प्रधानमंत्री मोदी ने कहा, 'कोई भरोसा नहीं करेगा, लेकिन मैं 35 साल तक भिक्षा मांग कर खाया हूं.
Notes on this check (3)›
- No primary video or official transcript of the 2019 Aaj Tak interview located in research notes.
- Analysis rests on on-screen text, secondary social media references, and X posts quoting the interview; audio track unavailable.
- Dropped 7 support citation(s) for "PM Narendra Modi has lived by begging for 40 years" because the cited passages do not address the claim directly.
Checked against 5 sources · 31 Jul 2026
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