India Weekly Roundup: Key Political, Economic and Climate Updates

India moved through another eventful week marked by political tension, regulatory debates, climate pressures and shifting economic signals. Trade unions intensified their opposition to new labour codes, state-level elections continued to generate controversy, and the country’s environmental challenges surfaced again in fresh data and official submissions. International forums brought India into sharper global focus, while local infrastructure work and administrative actions affected daily life in several regions. This roundup offers a clear and structured look at the week’s major developments across politics, the economy, governance and climate.

NDA wins large majority in Bihar; Nitish Kumar moves through resignation and oath process

• The National Democratic Alliance secured a decisive victory in the Bihar assembly election, winning a commanding share of the 243-seat house. Following the poll result, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned and was set to be sworn in for another term, as party leaders finalised cabinet allocations and coalition seat-sharing. Reporting indicated rapid post-result movement by the NDA to form the new government and complete procedural formalities.

Retail inflation plunges to near-zero in October immediate data and central bank context

• October’s consumer price index showed a sharp fall in retail inflation, with publicly available figures registering a dramatic drop to roughly a quarter of a percent. Analysts and central-bank releases pointed to sustained weakness in food price inflation and recent tax adjustments as major near-term drivers of the fall. The low headline number gives monetary authorities room to reassess policy calibration, and official statistical and central-bank bulletins reflected the new, lower inflation profile for planning and forecasts.

Reliance signs up for a 1-gigawatt AI data centre in Andhra Pradesh; a domestic AI platform prepares for launch

• At the Andhra Pradesh CII Partnership Summit and through state-level announcements, Reliance Industries confirmed plans for a 1-gigawatt AI data-centre project in Andhra Pradesh, tied to large renewable-power generation commitments for the site. The project joins other recent large private and foreign investments in India’s data-centre and compute infrastructure. Separately, a home-grown AI platform (reported as “Atomesus AI” in recent press releases and industry coverage) prepared for a formal launch this month; the platform was presented as a nationally developed AI offering intended for use across public and private sectors. Reporting on both items included company statements, state government summaries, and press releases distributed in the last week.

IMD issued alerts for heavy to very heavy rain across southern India; civil-society data shows widespread extreme events this year

• The India Meteorological Department issued a sequence of bulletins and district-level warnings during the week, forecasting isolated very heavy rainfall for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, coastal Andhra and other southern regions and noting a low-pressure area over the Andaman Sea likely to deepen. Those forecasts were accompanied by localised reports of very heavy showers and weather alerts for fishermen and coastal districts. On parallel tracking, a national assessment from environmental groups documented a sharp rise in extreme-weather incidents and a high human and agricultural toll across 2025’s first nine months, figures that were cited by multiple outlets in coverage during the week.

India pushed adaptation and finance priorities at COP30; national leaders travelled for international summits

• At the COP30 sessions in Belém, India’s delegation emphasized adaptation financing and equitable technology access, submitting national statements and engaging in negotiating tracks over climate finance and transition mechanisms. Government press material and on-the-ground reports captured India’s push for adaptation as a central COP priority. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s international schedule included travel to the G20 leaders’ summit in South Africa later in the week, with briefings and MEA notices outlining the trips and anticipated bilateral engagements at the summit.

Trade unions launch nationwide protest against new labour codes

• Ten central trade unions in India have strongly criticised the government’s implementation of four new labour codes, calling the action a “deceptive fraud” and announcing nationwide protests beginning 26 November. The unions argue the reforms favour employers by making hiring and firing more flexible and raising thresholds for mandatory layoff approvals, among other changes. The government maintains the codes to modernise outdated laws, strengthen worker protections and support business growth.

Allegations of gangster-network politics surface in Punjab by-election

• In the by-election at Tarn Taran district in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a press conference accused Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), of using gangster networks and intimidation tactics to influence voters across 40-50 villages, including threats to sarpanches and the AAP candidate. An FIR has reportedly been filed in connection with the threat calls.

UNDP praises India’s model of combining growth with social inclusion

• During a visit to India, the Acting Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that India’s development model demonstrates how rapid economic growth and social inclusion can advance together. He highlighted the use of digital finance, participatory governance and climate-related policies in supporting inclusive growth.

Delhi region’s air-pollution problem linked to coal-based power units

• An affidavit submitted by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revealed that around 16 of the 21 coal-based thermal-power plant units located within 300 km of Delhi continue to operate without flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems. These units are major contributors of sulfur dioxide and particulate pollution, even as air quality in the capital region worsens.

Negotiations stall at COP30 over fossil-fuel roadmap; India joins resisting bloc

• At the COP30 climate summit in Belém, delegates reported that India, along with China, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, rejected the inclusion of a prescriptive fossil fuel phase-out roadmap in the draft agreement. These countries argued such a roadmap would unfairly burden them and insisted that developed nations should lead emissions reductions.

Infrastructure disruption: Bridge renovation in Kerala affects rail services

• In Kerala, the replacement of steel girders on Railway Bridge No. 128 between Mavelikkara and Chengannur on 22-23 November prompted cancellations and short-terminations of several train services. Travellers were advised to check updated schedules and make alternate arrangements for affected routes.

The past week showed how India’s national issues, state-level politics and global engagements intersect across several domains. Labour reforms triggered nationwide resistance, regional elections brought new allegations into the spotlight, and environmental data pointed again to systemic challenges in air quality and climate planning. India’s stance at COP30 reflected ongoing debates over fairness in global climate action, while infrastructure repair and rail-route adjustments affected local movement in Kerala. As new policy decisions unfold and negotiations continue, the coming weeks are likely to bring further developments across each of these areas.

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