December 18th, 2025 (Thursday)

The sources provide a multi-faceted snapshot of significant political, economic, and diplomatic events unfolding in India during December 2025. Domestically, there is a strong focus on new legislative and regulatory changes, including the implementation of sweeping anti-pollution measures in Delhi that restrict vehicular movement and the fierce parliamentary debate over the proposed repeal of the MGNREGA employment guarantee scheme, which is criticized for weakening entitlements and centralizing power. Economically, the government is moving forward with major reforms, such as the passing of the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Bill to allow 100% Foreign Direct Investment in the insurance sector and the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Oman to boost bilateral trade and strategic cooperation. Concurrently, issues of systemic mismanagement and corruption are highlighted in the aviation sector following the collapse of IndiGo’s flight operations, and India is navigating a volatile diplomatic standoff with Bangladesh marked by security concerns and the closure of a visa center. Finally, diplomatic outreach is showcased through Prime Minister Modi’s historic address to Ethiopia’s Parliament and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s overseas critique of India’s struggling manufacturing base.