Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the busiest persons in the country or perhaps the world. But while he's busy running the country and travelling the world for work, there are different gadgets and gizmos that help him along the way. Perhaps the most important gadget being a smartphone.
But beyond the phone, there is more tech that has played a pivotal role in the Prime Minister's life for the past four years. Here I am talking about how Mr Modi gets from point A to point B.
Here's a look at some of the tech that 'drives' the Indian Prime Minister.
The iPhone Fan!
Ever since Modi has taken office, it’s been an endless barrage of high-end flagships to the PMs office. Very few instances have emerged that the Prime Minister has looked to any other brand of smartphone apart from an Apple or Samsung.
Here are some of the phones that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used over the years.
iPhone 5s
Don’t really know whether the Indian Prime Minister is posing for a selfie or trying to capture something behind him. One thing’s for sure, he’s using an iPhone 5s.
Though it’s pretty tough making out it indeed is the 5s, the camera placement and the flash give it away. The iPhone 5s comes with an 8-megapixel rear and a 1.2-megapixel front camera.
I wonder, with hardly 16GB of internal space, did Modi have enough space for his Namo app?
iPhone 6/6s Plus
The upgrade didn’t take time coming as Modi had a bigger iPhone in his hands very soon. Looks to be the iPhone 6 Plus or the 6s Plus.
As our Prime Minister loves his selfies, I won’t be surprised if it was the iPhone 6s Plus that PM Modi got his hands on as it comes with a much better 5-megapixel front camera compared to the 1.2-megapixel sensors on both the 5s and 6 Plus.
So it’s Not Just the iPhone
What is a bit bemusing is that while PM Modi has been mostly seen using an iPhone while clicking pictures and selfies with foreign delegates, in office he’s been busy with what looks to be a Samsung phone.
Since Android seems to offer an easier interface than Apple, it’s no surprise that PM Modi decided to go with Android for more serious office work.
Above, the PM can be seen using a phone with the rear camera in the centre and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top. Definitely a Samsung flagship and in all probability the Samsung S5 Gold variant.
What ‘Drives’ PM Modi?
Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn’t been an automobile aficionado, there’s no denying that he’s always had an entourage of heavy vehicles at his disposal whenever he has gone out.
The one thing common between all of Modi’s rides is that they are laden with tech and as strong as a tank!
Being a VIP, Modi has a slew of armoured cars to choose from, be it the Mahindra Scorpio or the high-security variant of the BMW 7 Series.
Mahindra Scorpio
Regarded as one of the most sturdy, most durable cars in India, the Mahindra Scorpio was one of the first car picked to escort the Indian Prime Minister. In fact, it was the same car that was used to drive Modi to the Rashtrapati Bhavan for his swearing in ceremony.
On the specs side, the Scorpio in the picture uses a 2.2-litre mHawk with max. power of 120 bhp and 280 Nm of peak torque. The new Mahindra Scorpio launched in 2017 comes with a lot of new updates, but the PM has now moved on to better options.
Range Rover HSE 2010
Narendra Modi has a ‘Range’ of cars in his garage and one of those four-wheeler is the 2010 Edition of the Range Rover HSE.
The Range Rover HSE comes with a 5-litre V8 engine that is capable of pumping out 375 bhp or power and 375 Nm of peak torque. This HSE is a full armoured behemoth and and intimidating vehicle on the roads. A perfect ride for a leader.
BMW 7 Series 760 Li (High-Security Edition)
This car not only screams luxury but also comes with all the bells and whistles to make it an impregnable four-wheeler. The BMW 7 Series 760 Li is the official state car that’s driving PM Modi these days.
Talking about its security, the car can withstand shots from a .44 calibre Magnum and other guns including the AK-47.
It comes retrofitted with 20-inch bullet proof alloys and on the inside is an internal oxygen supply kit in case of emergencies or gas attacks.
Serving a host of top politicians and industrialists worldwide, the previous generation 7 Series 760 Li High Security Edition is regarded as one of the safest vehicles and will protect its occupants from bullets to bombs.
But it’s not just on land that the PM needs a high-end ride. As there are many occasions that he’s globetrotting, he needs wings over wheels.
Time to Fly!
There are a lot of planes that the PM uses for his overseas journeys. The biggest and perhaps the more commonly used is the Boeing series namely the 747-400.
Recently we learned that PMs air ride is getting an upgrade and that he’ll be flying on a Boeing 777-300ERs that Air India had already ordered.
The plane is a fortress in the air that comes equipped with anti-missile systems, air-to-air refueling facility and also jamming equipment.
The Indian Air Force also owns Embraer 135, Embraer 145 and Boeing Business Jets at the PMs disposal.
Also, the PM has been seen using the Mil Mi8 Helicopters which are made in Russia. It is a very rugged and dependable machine and hence has widespread use.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)