iWorld
PM Modi becomes first world leader to hit 100 million Instagram followers
Narendra Modi surpasses 100 million mark on 24 February 2026, more than double Donald Trump’s 43.2 million.
MUMBAI: PM Modi just dropped the mic on Instagram because when your follower count crosses 100 million, even the algorithm bows down. Prime minister Narendra Modi has become the first world leader and politician in history to surpass 100 million followers on Instagram, a milestone reached on 24 February 2026 that cements his unmatched digital reach among global political figures.
Modi’s official account now dwarfs the next closest leader, US president Donald Trump, who stands at around 43.2 million followers. The combined totals of the next five most-followed leaders Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto (15 million), Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (14.4 million), Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan (11.6 million), and Argentine president Javier Milei (6.4 million) still fall short of Modi’s individual tally.
The achievement arrives during Modi’s ongoing state visit to Israel, where he was awarded the Speaker of the Knesset Medal, the highest honour from the Israeli Parliament—for strengthening India-Israel ties. His address to lawmakers drew sustained applause, and informal moments, including selfies, underscored the blend of diplomatic and digital influence.
Modi joined Instagram in 2014 shortly after taking office. What began as a supplementary channel for sharing official engagements has evolved into a central outreach tool, featuring photos, reels, stories, governance highlights, foreign visits, cultural moments, and direct citizen connection. Analysts note Instagram’s visual-first format has proven especially effective for engaging younger demographics and building an active international audience beyond India’s borders.
Domestically, the gap is stark, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has around 16.1 million followers, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has approximately 12.6 million figures that highlight Modi’s singular dominance on the platform.
Officials from the prime minister’s office called the milestone a reflection of “deepening engagement between leadership and citizens,” with Instagram enabling direct, unfiltered projection of policy, diplomacy, and cultural narratives to millions worldwide.
In an era where political influence increasingly spans physical and digital realms, Modi’s 100-million mark isn’t just a number, it’s proof that in the attention economy, the leader who masters the scroll can command a global stage like no one else.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
