Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Lamp Campaign Raises Questions Over Costs and Bureaucratic Control
A large lamp-lighting event was held for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
It was also meant to mark 25 years of his public life.
The campaign originally called for 25 crore lamps, but reports said about 13 crore were lit.
Uttar Pradesh reportedly accounted for the largest share.
Government officials helped organize the activity in many places.
The article says the event may have cost ₹50-75 crore, but it is not known whether the Centre or the states paid.
It also describes how senior officials in Uttar Pradesh are concentrated around important responsibilities.
In Delhi, the Union Home Ministry and the elected city government have disagreed over control of bureaucratic officers.
The BJP-linked campaign sought to light 25 crore diyas for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday and 25 years in public life.
Reports said about 13 crore diyas were lit nationwide, including 5.9 crore in Uttar Pradesh, 1.5 crore in Chhattisgarh and nearly 80 lakh in Haryana.
Chief secretaries, district officials and other civil servants reportedly helped coordinate the event across several states.
Unofficial estimates place the total cost, including lamps, oil, transport, publicity and manpower, at ₹50-75 crore, but funding responsibility remains unclear.
The article also examines bureaucratic control in Uttar Pradesh and repeated Union Home Ministry transfers involving Delhi officials.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and civil servants across several Indian states were involved in or associated with the campaign.
- What
- A nationwide lamp-lighting campaign was held, while the article also discussed bureaucratic appointments and transfers in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
- When
- The lamp-lighting event took place on September 17, 2026; related bureaucratic changes were described as occurring during 2026, including September 19.
- Where
- Across India, with major reported participation in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Haryana; the bureaucratic disputes focused on Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
- Why
- The campaign marked Narendra Modi’s birthday and 25 years in public life, while the administrative changes reflected disputes and concentrations of bureaucratic authority.
- Campaign name
- Aaashirwad Ka Diya
- Reported target
- 25 crore diyas
- Reported national total
- About 13 crore diyas
- Largest reported state total
- Uttar Pradesh, with 5.9 crore diyas across 75 districts
- Other reported totals
- Chhattisgarh: 1.5 crore; Haryana: nearly 80 lakh
- Unofficial estimated cost
- ₹50-75 crore, including lamps, oil, wicks, transport, publicity, venues and official manpower
- Funding responsibility
- The article says it remains unclear whether the Centre or the states paid
- Delhi administrative issue
- The Union Home Ministry controls the AGMUT cadre, while Delhi has an elected government