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At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
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Day: December 31, 2025

India in 2025: Politics, Policy Shifts and Global Diplomacy

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The year 2025 was transformative for India’s domestic politics, governance reforms and international engagements. Across state elections, policy overhauls and diplomatic initiatives, New Delhi sought to strengthen institutions at home while expanding its footprint abroad.

Political Landscape: Election Wins and Electoral Reforms

In February, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delivered a landmark win in the Delhi Assembly elections, ending nearly three decades out of power in the national capital. The party won 48 out of 70 seats, forming the government for the first time since 1998. Rekha Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, took oath as Chief Minister on 20 February 2025, becoming the fourth woman to lead the city-state. Her victory, including defeats of key Aam Aadmi Party leaders, signalled a major shift in urban voter sentiment.

The BJP’s momentum continued into November with the Bihar Assembly elections. The National Democratic Alliance, led by the BJP and Janata Dal (United), secured a decisive victory by winning over 200 seats in the 243-member House. Long-serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was sworn in for another term, reflecting voter confidence in the alliance’s governance model. The election saw strong turnout and significant support from women and other key demographic groups.

Amid these electoral contests, the Election Commission of India conducted its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls for 2025–26, one of the largest such exercises ever. Designed to update and verify voter lists ahead of future elections, the programme asked citizens to link voter IDs with mobile numbers and confirm details either online or through Booth Level Officers. By December, the roll revision drew scrutiny over reports of large-scale deletions in several states and concerns about workload pressures on electoral staff, even as officials maintained that the SIR aimed to improve accuracy and inclusion.

Big Policy Shifts: Census, Employment, Education and Environment

In April 2025, the Union Cabinet approved a historic decision to include caste enumeration in the 2027 Census — the first systematic collection of such data since independence. The government said this would support policymaking and constituency delimitation ahead of the 2029 general election, while modernising demographic data gathering through digital tools.

Manipur remained under President’s Rule for much of the year after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned in February amid ongoing ethnic unrest. Parliament extended central administration as security forces and civil authorities worked to stabilise the conflict-scarred state.

The year also saw major legislative activity. Amendments to the Waqf Act sparked debate over the management of religious properties, while the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill was introduced to overhaul higher education governance and improve regulatory cohesion — reforms that drew mixed reactions from students, academics and policy analysts.

Another significant reform was the enactment of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (G-RAM-G Act), replacing the long-standing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The new law raises the statutory employment guarantee to 125 days per rural household annually and recasts the programme as a centrally sponsored development mission focused on infrastructure, climate resilience and water security. While the government said this would create more productive rural assets with stronger monitoring, critics argued that shifting to budget-capped “normative allocations” weakens the universal right-to-work principle central to MGNREGA.

A major environmental flashpoint in 2025 was the Aravalli Hills protection dispute, triggered by a revised definition that classified only land above 100 metres in elevation as part of the range. Environmental groups warned that this could strip protection from large ecologically sensitive tracts in Haryana and Rajasthan, opening them to mining and construction. As the debate intensified, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the issue and kept its November judgment in abeyance, saying a new committee would study the matter. The case is scheduled for further hearing on January 21.

As in previous years, air pollution remained a contentious public health and governance issue, particularly in North India where winter smog repeatedly pushed AQI levels into the “severe” range. Governments faced criticism over slow progress on emission controls, crop-residue burning, transport policy and urban planning, even as courts continued to call for coordinated, long-term solutions.

Strategic Policy: Energy and Innovation

On the strategic front, Parliament passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, modernising India’s nuclear framework for the first time in decades. The law opens civil nuclear power to domestic private companies, sets a pathway to reach 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, and consolidates earlier statutes into a single regulatory regime. While sensitive nuclear functions remain under government control, the Act strengthens the independence of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and helps India diversify its energy mix — a key priority for climate diplomacy and long-term energy security.

Security Posture and Global Engagements

India’s security stance saw notable shifts in 2025. In April, the government launched Operation Sindoor, a series of precision actions targeting terrorist infrastructure following a major attack in Kashmir. The operation, involving advanced surveillance and targeted strikes, was framed as part of a broader move toward anticipatory and technology-enabled counter-terror measures. India also outlined a stronger national security doctrine that treats terror attacks as acts of war.

In June 2025, India launched a major humanitarian effort called Operation Sindhu during the Iran–Israel conflict. Over nine days, the government evacuated 4,415 Indian nationals — most of them students and professionals — via land routes through Armenia, Turkmenistan, Jordan and Egypt, before airlifting them home on special flights and IAF aircraft. The mission required delicate coordination with both Iran and Israel and reinforced India’s image as a reliable global first responder.

On the global stage, India deepened strategic outreach. The Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) naval exercise in April, held in Dar es Salaam, expanded cooperation with African navies on maritime security, counter-piracy and transnational threats.

Bilateral diplomacy also gathered momentum. India and Canada moved to reset ties after a period of tension, restoring full engagement. New Delhi concluded trade agreements with the United Kingdom and Oman, and wrapped up negotiations with New Zealand, signalling an emphasis on economic diplomacy.

Relations with China showed tentative improvement, with the resumption of direct flights and tourist visas, even as both sides maintained strong border deterrence.

India–Bangladesh relations in 2025 entered a phase of recalibration after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024, ending what New Delhi once described as a “Golden Chapter” in ties. With Muhammad Yunus leading an interim government, India is adjusting to a more politically unsettled Dhaka while economic and security interdependence continues. Tensions surfaced over Bangladesh’s request for Hasina’s extradition and rising concerns about violence against Hindu minorities, though high-level engagement remains ongoing. The death of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on 30 December 2025 adds uncertainty ahead of the February 2026 elections, underscoring the need for a pragmatic, non-partisan approach from New Delhi.

India–US Economic Relationship

India–United States ties in 2025 were marked by deep strategic cooperation alongside economic friction. While defence and technology partnerships strengthened, negotiations toward a comprehensive trade agreement — aimed at expanding bilateral trade to around $500 billion by 2030 — encountered challenges. Key sticking points included high US tariffs on several Indian exports and differences over market access.

Despite these hurdles, negotiators on both sides expressed optimism that talks were progressing toward a “fair, equitable and balanced” deal, with New Delhi emphasising protections for agriculture, fisheries and small industries while seeking broader access for Indian goods in the US market.

Outreach Beyond Borders

India’s diplomatic engagements also deepened across the Global South and West Asia. High-level visits and expanded cooperation reinforced New Delhi’s positioning as a proactive voice in South-South partnerships and a reliable development partner.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As 2025 draws to a close, India stands at the intersection of continuity and change. Political realignments in key states have strengthened national-level leadership, while electoral reforms and expanded demographic data collection reflect evolving democratic practices. Major reforms in rural employment, nuclear energy and education governance signal long-term ambitions for structural transformation.

Internationally, India’s blend of security assertiveness and strategic diplomacy has enhanced its standing across regions, even as complex trade negotiations highlight the realities of a multipolar global economy. Heading into 2026, New Delhi’s challenge will be to balance domestic aspirations with its expanding global role — shaping outcomes not only at home, but across an increasingly interconnected world

Bringing AI into governance: Lessons from Jharkhand’s first AI support cell

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India’s conversation on artificial intelligence has grown rapidly in recent years. From startups and private enterprises to defence, healthcare, and finance, AI is often presented as a force that will transform systems at scale. In government, however—particularly in sectors that work closely with vulnerable populations—the more important question is not how fast AI can be adopted, but how responsibly it can be integrated into everyday governance.

In October 2025, Jharkhand’s Rural Development Department took a cautious yet significant step by establishing the state’s first AI Support Cell within a government department. The initiative was conceived not as a technology rollout or procurement exercise, but as an internal capacity-building and facilitation mechanism—one that helps public officials understand AI, apply it thoughtfully, and remain accountable to citizens.

Why an AI Support Cell in Rural Development?

Rural development departments operate at the intersection of livelihoods, social protection, infrastructure creation, and decentralised governance. Programmes such as MGNREGA, DDU-GKY, SHG-based livelihoods, and rural infrastructure schemes generate large volumes of data, guidelines, and compliance requirements. Officers often spend significant time compiling reports, navigating complex documentation, and responding to multiple information demands.

The AI Support Cell emerged from a simple question:

Can emerging technology help government officers reduce time spent on routine tasks, without undermining judgment, ethics, or accountability?

Rather than positioning AI as a solution in search of a problem, the Cell was designed as a support structure embedded within the department, grounded in field realities and existing workflows.

Demystifying AI for Public Officials

Early engagement with officers revealed two common responses to AI: hesitation and uncertainty. Some viewed it as a black-box technology that could erode accountability, while others were unclear about where it could add real value.

The first task, therefore, was not deployment but demystification. The Cell began working with teams across livelihoods, skilling, social protection, and infrastructure to map everyday operational challenges. This helped clarify what AI is not—it is not an automated decision-maker, not a substitute for field understanding, and not a shortcut around responsibility.

Capacity-building efforts focused on practical, low-risk use cases, such as:

• Using AI-assisted tools to summarise lengthy guidelines, policy documents, and evaluation reports
• Supporting the drafting of field reports, presentations, and internal notes
• Exploring basic analytics and dashboards to make scheme monitoring more intuitive

By anchoring these discussions in tasks officers already perform, the Cell aimed to ensure that AI adoption is demand-driven and context-specific, rather than imposed.

Supporting Better Decisions, Not Replacing Them

Rural development programmes produce extensive administrative data—on beneficiaries, works, finances, and outcomes. AI-assisted analysis can help identify trends, flag anomalies, and generate simple visualisations that support oversight.

However, a key principle guiding the AI Support Cell is that technology should assist human scrutiny, not replace it. Insights generated through data tools must still be interpreted by officers who understand local contexts, institutional constraints, and political realities.

The Cell is exploring ways in which AI and data tools can:

• Enable faster absorption of lessons from reports and studies
• Support early identification of implementation gaps, such as delays in wage payments or uneven skilling outcomes
• Improve communication materials for frontline workers and community institutions

Over time, this can contribute to a culture where evidence is used more systematically, while accountability remains firmly human.

Ethics, Privacy, and Responsible Use

Trust is central to the use of AI in governance. Citizens must trust that their data is protected, and officers must trust that technology will not undermine professional judgment. From the outset, the AI Support Cell has emphasised:

• A clear distinction between anonymised, aggregate data and personally identifiable information
• Adherence to existing government rules on data handling, storage, and sharing
• Human oversight in all decisions affecting eligibility, benefits, or grievance redress

These safeguards align with broader national and global discussions on responsible AI, which stress inclusion, transparency, and accountability—particularly in public systems serving vulnerable communities.

What This Could Mean for Citizens

Although the AI Support Cell works primarily within the department, its purpose is ultimately to improve outcomes for citizens. If officers can analyse information faster, identify issues earlier, and communicate more clearly, citizens may benefit through:

• More reliable service delivery
• Quicker responses to field-level problems
• Better targeting of public resources

Experiences from other data-driven initiatives in India suggest that technology can enhance governance when accompanied by training, institutional ownership, and ethical safeguards.

A Measured Step Forward

AI will not resolve structural challenges in governance on its own. But ignoring it altogether would also be a missed opportunity. Jharkhand’s AI Support Cell represents a measured experiment—one that treats AI as a public capability to be learned, questioned, and governed, rather than a product to be deployed unquestioningly.

As someone working at the intersection of public systems and technology, my early reflection is this: AI in government must begin with public purpose. Its success should be judged not by the sophistication of tools, but by whether it helps governments listen better, act faster, and serve citizens more fairly.

**Vinod Pandey works with the Rural Development Department, Government of Jharkhand, and is leading the AI Support Cell. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of IndiaVerve.

Dense fog cripples Delhi flights, over 140 cancelled

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New Delhi: Dense fog blanketed Delhi on Wednesday, slashing visibility, disrupting air and rail traffic and keeping the city’s air quality in the “very poor” range, as more than 140 flights were cancelled, over 150 delayed and authorities warned passengers to expect continuing travel disruption.

Officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) said at least 148 flights — including 78 arrivals and 70 departures — were cancelled through the day due to poor visibility, while more than 150 others were delayed. Two flights were also diverted. The airport typically handles around 1,300 flight movements daily.

Airport authorities confirmed that operations were being conducted under CAT-III low-visibility protocols and said delays and cancellations may continue as fog persisted across northern India.

In an advisory, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said visibility had improved through the morning but warned that some services would still be affected. “Passengers are advised to track flight updates directly with their airlines and arrive at the airport earlier than usual,” it said, adding that teams were deployed across terminals to assist travellers.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation also issued a nationwide advisory, noting that fog conditions in parts of northern India could affect flight operations at multiple airports. Airlines, it said, had been instructed to strictly follow passenger-service norms, including timely updates, assistance during delays, rebooking or refunds where applicable, and baggage support. Passenger safety and convenience, the ministry said, remained a top priority.

Several carriers issued their own alerts. IndiGo said low visibility at Delhi and other northern airports continued to affect flight schedules and warned that delays may extend into the afternoon. It said departures and arrivals were being carefully sequenced “to ensure steady and orderly movement”.

Air India said it had proactively cancelled some morning flights most likely to be hit by fog in order to prevent long waiting times at airports, while also warning of potential cascading delays across its network. SpiceJet also urged passengers to confirm flight status in advance.

The disruption was not limited to aviation. Rail services were delayed across several routes as dense fog reduced visibility on key stretches, leaving passengers waiting at major stations in the capital.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained poor despite the cold and haze. The city recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 383 early on Wednesday morning, placing it firmly in the “very poor” category and close to the “severe” threshold, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.

Authorities said travel conditions may continue to be affected if fog persists overnight and into Thursday, advising passengers to monitor airline and railway updates closely.

Erigaisi clinches World Blitz bronze after semifinal exit

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Doha: Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi ended his World Blitz Championship campaign in Doha with a bronze medal after a disappointing semifinal loss on Tuesday, missing out on a place in the final despite a dominant run in the earlier stages of the tournament.

The 22-year-old, who had topped the Swiss rounds with an impressive 15 points, was among the standout performers of the event. Erigaisi showcased remarkable consistency, winning four games and drawing two on the final day of the league phase to finish as the sole leader and comfortably qualify for the semifinals, according to media reports.

However, his momentum stalled in the last-four clash against Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Despite having beaten the Uzbek Grandmaster earlier in the tournament and entering the match in strong form, Erigaisi failed to capitalise on early opportunities. He lost the opening game after being unable to convert an advantage with the white pieces and slipped further behind when Abdusattorov prevailed in a long, tense second game. With the Uzbek needing only a draw to advance, the semifinal was effectively decided, leaving Erigaisi to settle for third place.

Even so, the bronze medal capped a highly successful outing for Erigaisi, who had also finished third in the World Rapid Championship earlier in the week. His performance made him only the second Indian male player, after Viswanathan Anand, to win a medal at the World Blitz Championship in the Open category.

The title, meanwhile, went to world No.1 Magnus Carlsen, who defeated Abdusattorov in the final to claim a record-extending ninth World Blitz crown. Carlsen added the Blitz title to the Rapid gold he had secured just two days earlier, underlining his continued dominance in fast-paced formats.

For Erigaisi, the twin bronze medals represent a significant milestone in his young career, reinforcing his status as one of India’s brightest chess prospects on the global stage.

Odia youth attacked in TN: CM expresses concern

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Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the brutal attack on an Odia youth in Tamil Nadu, an incident that has shocked the entire nation.

Condemning the incident, he said that necessary steps are being taken at the administrative level to ensure the victim receives the best possible medical treatment and all required assistance.

In a post on X, he said: “The #Odisha government has taken this incident very seriously and is in constant contact with the Tamil Nadu administration. Necessary steps are being taken at the administrative level to provide the victim with all kinds of excellent treatment and assistance, and to ensure severe punishment for the culprits. The safety and self-respect of all Odias are paramount to us. Our government is determined to ensure the safety of every Odia brother and sister working outside the state.”

According to media reports, Tamil Nadu Police have taken four teenagers into custody in connection with the assault on the migrant worker in Thiruvallur district, on the outskirts of Chennai. The victim sustained serious injuries in the attack and remains in critical condition.

Clips of the incident circulated widely on social media, triggering public anger. The footage shows a group of minors, all aged 17, allegedly confronting, abusing, and repeatedly striking the man. Investigators said the assault was filmed by the accused on their mobile phones.

The injured worker was rushed to a government-run hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. Police have launched a detailed probe into the incident and are examining the viral videos as part of the investigation.