New Delhi: As the sun dips below the winter haze of New Delhi on December 30, long shadows stretch across Raisina Hill and beyond, inviting reflection on a year that unfolded like a high-stakes political thriller. In 2025, India— the world’s largest democracy— navigated bomb blasts and border flare-ups, bruising electoral contests and sweeping economic reforms, all while wrestling with deep social divides and turbulent global winds.
At the centre of this whirlwind stood Prime Minister Narendra Modi, firmly in his third term, steering a coalition government through choppy political and geopolitical waters. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not only held its ground after the 2024 Lok Sabha mandate but appeared to consolidate power further, even as the opposition INDIA bloc unravelled under the weight of its own contradictions.
From the snow-laden valleys of Kashmir to the sweltering polling booths of Bihar, 2025 tested India’s resilience—and, in many ways, redefined its political trajectory.
The Electoral Arena: BJP’s Unyielding March
The year opened with the unmistakable hum of the election machine. State polls became the real theatre of action, and the BJP’s organisational strength proved formidable.
In Delhi, after 27 years in the political wilderness, the BJP returned to power, ending the Aam Aadmi Party’s decade-long reign. Voters appeared unconvinced by promises of free electricity and water, turning instead to the BJP’s narrative of governance, infrastructure and national security. Pollution, water shortages and fatigue with protest politics played their part, handing the saffron party a decisive mandate to “reset” the national capital.
Bihar, forever the laboratory of caste arithmetic, delivered another lesson in political survival. Nitish Kumar secured a record tenth term as Chief Minister, once again with BJP support, as the NDA tightened its grip on the state. The BJP emerged as the single largest party for the first time, securing key portfolios including Home. Allegations of irregularities from the Rashtriya Janata Dal failed to blunt the larger message: welfare delivery, roads, electrification and Modi’s personal appeal continued to resonate deeply in the heartland.
Elsewhere, the NDA’s footprint expanded. Maharashtra’s local body results strengthened its urban base, while in a symbolic breakthrough, the BJP captured its first mayoral post in Thiruvananthapuram—long considered impregnable Left territory. It was a small win, but one heavy with political symbolism for the southern push.
In stark contrast, the opposition INDIA bloc struggled to stay coherent. Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra 2.0 failed to capture the national imagination, drowned out by alliance disputes and leadership rivalries. Though Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi displayed rare public unity, potential revival remained more promise than reality. With regional heavyweights pulling in divergent directions, the bloc often appeared less like a united alternative and more like a coalition of convenience.
Shadows of Conflict: Security at the Forefront
Beyond ballots, 2025 was marked by violence that jolted the national conscience. January began grimly with a Naxal landmine blast in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, killing eight police personnel and underscoring the persistence of internal security challenges.
The most consequential flashpoint came in May, when a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed civilian lives. India’s response—Operation Sindoor—was swift and forceful. Precision missile strikes targeted terror infrastructure across the border, escalating briefly into open confrontation. Drone warfare added a new dimension to the conflict before international pressure, led by the United States, brokered a ceasefire.
Closer home, a bomb blast near the Red Fort rattled Delhi, a chilling reminder that symbolic power centres remain targets. These incidents fuelled public support for a hard security stance, reinforcing Modi’s image as a decisive leader in times of crisis.
At the same time, civil liberties remained under scrutiny. Human rights groups flagged concerns over minority safety, restrictions in Kashmir, and alleged excesses by security forces. The tension between national security and pluralism became one of the year’s defining undercurrents.
Economic Reforms: Big Bets Amid Global Uncertainty
If security shaped emotions, economics shaped everyday life. The Modi government’s 2025 reform push was among its boldest yet.
Budget 2025 delivered a major relief to the middle class, exempting income tax up to ₹12 lakh (₹12.75 lakh for salaried taxpayers). Consumption surged, especially in urban centres. GST 2.0 simplified compliance into two primary slabs, boosting transparency and revenues.
Labour reforms consolidated decades-old laws into four codes, extending social security to gig workers and simplifying hiring norms. The SHANTI Bill opened the nuclear energy sector to private participation, signalling a long-term bet on clean energy. MSME reclassification allowed firms to grow without losing benefits, while targeted rural schemes aimed to revive lagging districts and strengthen infrastructure.
Despite global headwinds—from trade tensions to ongoing conflicts—India posted robust macro numbers. GDP growth crossed 8% in parts of the year, inflation dipped sharply, and food prices stabilised. Critics, however, argued that gains remained uneven, with concerns about inequality and access to justice persisting.
Society, Faith and the Cultural Pulse
Culturally, 2025 oscillated between celebration and friction. The Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj drew millions, blending faith, politics and spectacle. Legislative moves such as amendments to the Waqf Act and extensions to CAA cut-off dates reignited debates on minority rights and citizenship.
Deportation drives, hate-speech legislation in some states, and heightened social media surveillance reflected a tightening state approach. Meanwhile, infrastructure stress—from airline disruptions to urban congestion—exposed the growing pains of rapid expansion.
Power, Transition and the Road Ahead
Within the BJP, generational change made headlines as a younger leadership cadre emerged, signalling a gradual transition even as Modi remained the party’s anchor. Speculation about structural reforms—ranging from delimitation to changes in governance models—hinted at transformative ambitions.
As 2025 draws to a close, India stands at a crossroads. The vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047 feels closer in ambition, yet fraught with challenges—social cohesion, climate resilience and global uncertainty among them.
What this year ultimately proved is that Indian politics is more than power and policy. It is the lived experience of over a billion people—resilient, restless and relentlessly forward-looking. In 2025, India did not merely endure; it asserted itself, flaws and all, marching into the future with unmistakable momentum.
