PM Narendra Modi at 75: The 3.5-Hour Sleep Routine, Yoga, Fasting and ‘Panchtatva’ Walk That Keeps Him Going…

At 75, Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to maintain a demanding schedule that involves long working hours, frequent travel and a packed calendar of public engagements. Behind that routine is a personal fitness regimen built around yoga, walking, breathing exercises, meditation and disciplined eating habits.

Over the years, Modi has shared glimpses of his fitness practices, offering an insight into the habits he says help him maintain his energy and focus.

One of the more unusual elements of his routine is his ‘Panchtatva’ walk, inspired by the five elements of nature — Prithvi (earth), Jal (water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air) and Aakash (space).

Yoga, walking and the ‘Panchtatva’ track

Yoga has remained a regular part of Narendra Modi’s fitness routine. In 2018, after accepting a fitness challenge from former India captain Virat Kohli, Modi shared a video showcasing parts of his morning exercise routine.

Along with yoga, he showed a walking track designed around the concept of the Panchtatvas, or the five elements of nature.

The routine involved walking across different surfaces, including grass, stones and water, while incorporating stretching, meditation and breathing exercises.

The idea was not simply to stay physically active. Modi described the experience as refreshing and rejuvenating, while also highlighting the role of breathing exercises in his routine.

The video offered a rare glimpse into the Prime Minister’s personal approach to combining physical activity with mindfulness.

PM Modi on fasting: ‘It never slows me down’

Modi has also spoken extensively about fasting and its place in his life.

During his 2025 conversation with podcaster Lex Fridman, the Prime Minister described fasting as something much deeper than simply avoiding food.

He explained that he considers fasting a form of discipline and devotion, and said that his experiences had convinced him that fasting could be viewed as a practice with a much broader significance.

For Modi, fasting does not necessarily mean stepping back from his demanding schedule.

He said that fasting “never slows me down” and that he continues to work as usual, sometimes even feeling capable of doing more.

The Prime Minister has also connected his fasting practices with the traditional Indian concept of Chaturmas, a period associated with the monsoon season.

According to his account, his practice begins around the middle of June and continues until after Diwali in November. During this period, he follows a particularly restrictive routine in which he eats only one meal within a 24-hour period for roughly four to four-and-a-half months.

Modi has said that such fasting practices have been part of his life for around 50 to 55 years, making them a long-standing part of his personal discipline.

The routine behind Modi’s demanding schedule

Another detail that has attracted attention is Modi’s reported sleep schedule.

Union Minister L. Murugan, speaking to ANI after a meeting with MPs in February, said Modi had discussed his daily routine, exercise, foreign travel and working habits during their interaction.

According to Murugan, the Prime Minister said that he sleeps for approximately 3.5 hours a night and does not eat after 6 pm.

The claim generated considerable interest because of Modi’s famously busy schedule, which regularly involves early-morning engagements, domestic travel, international visits, parliamentary duties and public events.

Murugan described the interaction as an inspiring experience and said MPs were surprised by the Prime Minister’s routine.

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Walking, Surya Namaskar and meditation

Modi’s focus on fitness is not a recent development.

Author Sudesh Verma, who wrote Narendra Modi: The Gamechanger, has previously written about the Prime Minister’s fitness habits dating back to his years as Gujarat Chief Minister.

According to Verma’s account, Modi’s mornings traditionally included walking, a habit he has maintained over the years.

Walking has been accompanied by yoga, Surya Namaskar and meditation, creating a routine that places emphasis not only on physical fitness but also on mental focus.

That combination has become a recurring theme whenever Modi discusses his lifestyle — physical movement, controlled eating, breathing exercises and meditation working together rather than being treated as separate activities.

A lifestyle built around discipline

At the heart of Modi’s fitness routine appears to be consistency.

Whether it is his morning yoga, the unusual Panchtatva-inspired walking track, long-standing fasting practices or his reported dietary cut-off in the evening, the Prime Minister has repeatedly presented discipline as a central part of his lifestyle.

His routine has also become a subject of public interest because it exists alongside one of the country’s most demanding political schedules.

However, it is important to remember that sleep requirements, fasting patterns and dietary practices can vary significantly from person to person. What works for one individual may not be appropriate for another.

Dainik Diary Note: The health and lifestyle details mentioned in this article describe practices attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi based on the information and statements cited above. They should not be interpreted as medical or dietary recommendations. Readers should consult a qualified healthcare professional before making significant changes to sleep, fasting or diet.