India witnessed a year full of historic events, triumphs, tragedies, elections, festivals and geopolitical challenges. The most defining moment, however, was four-day ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched against Pakistan on May 7 after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 27 people, mostly tourists. Here are the top highlights of the year gone by.
India’s diplomatic outreach post ‘Operation Sindoor’
After the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories. Four days of clashes ended on May 10, after which India began a major diplomatic campaign. Seven all-party delegations were sent to partner nations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the US and Asia. The delegations included MPs from the ruling NDA, Opposition parties and senior diplomats. Each delegation covered a key region, from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to the UK, Japan, the US, Russia and South Africa, meeting political leaders and multilateral organisations such as the European Union.
Prayagraj Mahakumbh sees historic turnout
The 45-day Mahakumbh in Prayagraj drew over 450 million devotees from around the world. (Photo courtesy: X@MahaKumbh_2025)
The Prayagraj Mahakumbh, which began on January 13 on Paush Purnima, continued until Mahashivratri on February 26, drawing devotees from across India and the world. Over 65 crore pilgrims visited the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers in the 45-day event, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in history. Pilgrims took holy dips at the Triveni Sangam, creating a spiritual spectacle witnessed globally.
Air India flight 171 tragedy
PM Modi at the crash site of AI-171 flight in Ahmedabad on June 13, 2025. (Photo courtesy: PIB)
On June 12, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after departing Ahmedabad en route to London, leaving only one survivor among 242 passengers and crew. The incident also claimed 19 lives on the ground. A month later, investigations revealed that engine fuel switches were unintentionally cut off in the critical moments after takeoff, highlighting a tragic mix of human error and confusion in the cockpit.
BJP’s surge in Bihar, Delhi elections
.jpg)
The BJP returned to power in the national capital after nearly three decades. (Photo courtesy: X@gupta_rekha)
Two assembly elections held in 2025 were largely one-sided contests where the BJP emerged as the clear winner against Congress and its alliance. In Delhi, BJP emerged as the largest party, winning 48 out of 70 seats. Outgoing Kejriwal-led AAP won just 22 seats. Rekha Gupta was sworn in as the Chief Minister. In Bihar, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) registered a sweeping victory, winning 202 of the 243 seats. The BJP won 89 seats, the JD(U) secured 85, and the LJP (Ram Vilas) bagged 19. Nitish Kumar took oath as chief minister for a record 10th term.
All eyes on India-US trade deal
July saw trade tensions between India and the US as President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on Indian imports, effective August 7, citing trade imbalance and India’s reliance on Russian energy and defense equipment. India’s domestic market and economy have been closely watching the ongoing trade negotiations with the US. By year-end, India concluded three high-profile trade pacts with the United Kingdom, Oman, and New Zealand, while also advancing exploratory discussions with countries across Africa and Latin America. As of 2025, India has 13 active FTAs.
Red Fort bomb blast kills 12
On November 10, a car explosion near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort and the Lal Quila Metro Station in central Delhi killed at least 12 people. It injured around 20 others, prompting a high-security alert across the capital. The blast happened amid nationwide raids by investigating agencies in Jammu, Faridabad and Rajasthan, where thousands of kilos of explosives were found. Investigators found that suspects had planned to ready 32 vehicles with explosives for coordinated attacks in several cities.
India gets new Vice President
On July 21, Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as the Vice President, citing health concerns. Under the Constitution, this required an early election. Members of both Houses of Parliament voted on September 9. The NDA candidate, CP Radhakrishnan, won the election with 452 votes, defeating the INDIA bloc's Justice (Retd) B Sudershan Reddy, who secured 300 votes. He was later sworn in as India’s 15th Vice President.
RSS completes 100 years
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded on October 10, 1925, marked its centenary year with large-scale events across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the main event on October 1 at Delhi’s Dr Ambedkar International Centre, where he released commemorative stamps and coins.
Intense protests in Ladakh
Ladakh witnessed some of its most intense protests since it became a Union territory in 2019. The unrest followed months of peaceful demonstrations, including a hunger strike by activist Sonam Wangchuk. He was arrested on September 26 under the National Security Act (NSA), and was shifted to a Jodhpur jail.
