As the calendar prepares to turn to 2026, the familiar ritual of New Year's resolutions begins. Yet, for India, the closing year of 2025 often felt like a replay of past chapters. While the nation moved forward, several major headlines carried a strong sense of déjà vu, with only the dates changed.
Political Landscape: A Story of Continuity
The political arena in 2025 reinforced established patterns. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued its electoral dominance, while the Indian National Congress grappled with persistent challenges in reviving its fortunes.
The Unstoppable BJP Juggernaut
The year proved that the BJP's political machinery remained in top gear. In a significant victory, the party ended a 27-year drought in Delhi, storming back to power in the February assembly elections. The BJP secured 48 out of 70 seats with a vote share of approximately 46%, relegating the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to 22 seats.
The success extended to Bihar, where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), facing anti-incumbency, achieved a sweeping victory in the assembly polls. The coalition won 202 of the 243 seats, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party by bagging 89 seats. In Maharashtra's local body elections, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a commanding majority, winning 207 out of 288 municipal council and nagar panchayat seats. The BJP alone won 117 of these seats.
Congress's Unending Revival Saga
In contrast, the Congress party's narrative remained one of unfulfilled potential. After failing to win a single seat in the Delhi elections, the party held its All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting in Ahmedabad in April. The familiar agenda of rebuilding from the booth level and sharpening its ideological pitch was reiterated.
However, on the ground, outcomes were bleak. In Bihar, Congress managed to win only 6 seats with an 8.7% vote share. Throughout the year, analyses of the party were littered with terms like "fragmented," "faction-ridden," and "lacking ground-level connection," highlighting a cycle it struggled to break.
Recurring National Challenges
Beyond politics, several systemic issues persisted, defying quick fixes and dominating the national discourse once again.
Delhi's Perennial Air Quality Crisis
From Diwali into the winter months, Delhi's air quality narrative was tragically consistent. By December, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the "severe" to "hazardous" range for prolonged periods. One analysis showed sustained AQI levels above 500 in mid-December, with peaks exceeding 600.
The government's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was enforced through all stages, leading to flight delays, a shift to online schooling, and construction bans. Experts pointed to the usual culprits: winter inversion, stubble burning, and emissions from vehicles and industry, while policy responses were largely seen as reactive and short-term.
The Rupee's Slide and Cross-Border Tensions
The Indian rupee quietly set a new record for weakness against the US dollar in 2025, falling to an all-time low of Rs 91 in December. The currency depreciated by 5-6% over the year, making it the worst-performing in Asia. Analysts attributed the slide to a widening trade deficit, foreign portfolio outflows, and the impact of former US President Donald Trump's tariffs on Indian goods.
On the security front, the pattern of Pakistan-linked terrorism continued. A terrorist attack near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists. India responded with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Persistent Social and Cultural Debates
The year was also marked by controversies and discussions that have become routine features of India's public life.
Misogynistic remarks by politicians, or 'netas,' surfaced repeatedly. From BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri's comment about Priyanka Gandhi to CPI(M) leader's derogatory statement in Kerala and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's controversial actions and words, a familiar cycle of viral outrage, weak defence, and eventual fading from memory played out multiple times.
The debate over language policy and perceived 'Hindi imposition' flared up again, particularly in Maharashtra over making Hindi compulsory in primary classes and in southern states regarding the National Education Policy's three-language formula.
The trend of renaming places also continued. Uttarakhand renamed 11 locations, replacing names like Aurangzebpur with Shivaji Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar. In a major symbolic shift, the central government replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB—G RAM G Bill during the Winter Parliament session.
Even in pop culture, the intrusive curiosity about the marital status of famous bachelors like actor Salman Khan and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi remained a constant, with the "shaadi kab karoge?" question following them relentlessly.
In cricket, the retirement speculation around modern greats persisted. Despite reduced schedules, every move by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli sparked "last match" debates, while MS Dhoni's future with Chennai Super Kings remained a topic of intense fan gossip, especially after his Morse code t-shirt hint.
As the year ends, these recurring headlines underscore the complex, stubborn nature of India's progress, where rapid change coexists with deeply entrenched patterns.
