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
