Stay updated with the major developments across India last week!

India witnessed an eventful week filled with critical developments across politics, economy, governance, and the environment. From rising air pollution in the north to drought warnings in the south, the week painted a mixed picture of growth and urgency. The government pushed forward key initiatives under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, while the Supreme Court revisited debates on civil reform. Meanwhile, strong economic indicators boosted India’s global image as the fastest-growing major economy. Here’s a look at the most significant news stories that shaped the country last week.

India Maritime Week 2025: ₹12 lakh crore investments pledged

• During India Maritime Week 2025, the central government announced investment commitments worth ₹12 lakh crore (about US $1.4 trillion) across the maritime, ports and waterways sector. Of this, around 20 % is targeted at the shipbuilding industry. The pledge was made by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

• The investments aim to strengthen ports, inland waterways, and coastal shipping and boost indigenous shipbuilding to reduce dependence on imports and enhance export capacity.

Sharp drop in air quality in Delhi: AQI enters ‘severe’ category

• The city of New Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 421, placing it in the “severe” pollution category. Visibility dropped sharply, and the chief monitoring station at Safdarjung registered very low wind speeds and high particulate concentration. The conditions were attributed to factors like post-harvest stubble-burning in nearby states, vehicular emissions, and stagnant weather patterns. Several local government agencies issued alerts and considered curbs on traffic and construction activity.

Fuel and LPG prices steady: petrol, diesel and domestic cylinders unchanged

• As of 2 November 2025, the price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder in Mumbai remained at ₹852.50, unchanged from the previous month. Petrol and diesel prices across major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore also held steady, with petrol in New Delhi at ₹94.77 per litre and diesel at ₹87.67 per litre. The stability is noteworthy amid global crude-oil volatility and reflects the government’s policy of moderating frequent price changes for household fuel.

Preparation for Dev Deepawali & Ganga Mahotsav in Varanasi

• In Varanasi (Kashi), the upcoming Dev Deepawali (scheduled for 5 November) and the preceding Ganga Mahotsav (1-4 November) are being planned on a large scale. Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, reviewed arrangements including lighting of the ghats, drone-based crowd surveillance, traffic & safety management, and thematic decorations. The festival is being positioned as a global showcase of India’s spiritual heritage and public participation.

Expanding infrastructure in Chhattisgarh: Projects worth ₹14,260 crore launched

• At the 25th anniversary celebrations of the state of Chhattisgarh, the central government laid foundation stones and inaugurated infrastructure projects amounting to ₹14,260 crore. These span sectors such as roads, energy, industry and education, aimed at accelerating regional development in the state’s new capital region, Nava Raipur. The roll-out was attended by Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India.

India’s GDP growth projection revised to 7.2% for FY2025

• India’s economic outlook was updated last week when several domestic and global agencies revised the country’s GDP growth forecast to 7.2% for the fiscal year 2025, up from earlier estimates of 6.8%. The revision came after stronger-than-expected manufacturing and service sector output during the September quarter. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) attributed the momentum to steady consumer demand, high capital expenditure by the government, and robust export performance in sectors like electronics and pharmaceuticals. Economists noted that while inflation remains a concern, India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy in the world.

Supreme Court seeks updates on Uniform Civil Code discussions

• The Supreme Court of India sought updates from the central government and several state administrations regarding their stance on implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The UCC would standardize personal laws across religions relating to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption.
  The Centre informed the court that consultations are underway, with several states—including Uttarakhand and Gujarat—already drafting state-level frameworks. The Court emphasized that any implementation must ensure gender equality, personal liberty, and religious harmony. The debate around the UCC is expected to gain traction ahead of upcoming state elections.

India launches ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ consultation phase

• The Government of India officially launched the nationwide consultation phase for the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ initiative, a long-term vision plan to make India a developed nation by its 100th year of independence. The campaign involves collecting inputs from citizens, think tanks, and state governments on priority areas like education, healthcare, energy transition, and digital infrastructure. The consultation is being coordinated through NITI Aayog, with over 1,000 meetings scheduled across districts in November. Officials stated that the final roadmap will include both policy reforms and measurable development indicators.

Severe drought conditions in Karnataka and Maharashtra

• Southern and western India continued to face worsening drought conditions, with Karnataka declaring 223 taluks as drought-hit last week. Maharashtra followed with drought notifications in 149 administrative divisions, mainly in Marathwada and Vidarbha. Officials cited deficient monsoon rainfall and falling groundwater levels as key reasons. The state governments have requested additional funds from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for crop insurance payouts and drinking-water supply. The situation is particularly serious in areas dependent on rain-fed agriculture, prompting migration to urban centers for work.

India and France strengthen defense cooperation

• During French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s visit to New Delhi, India and France expanded their defense cooperation framework, focusing on co-production of military equipment and technology transfer. Key points include plans to manufacture additional Scorpène-class submarines in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative and collaboration on advanced jet engine development. The nations also discussed joint maritime patrols in the Indian Ocean and enhanced cybersecurity collaboration. Both sides reaffirmed their strategic partnership as part of the Indo-Pacific alliance.

Government approves new digital data protection audit framework

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) introduced a new audit framework under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which came into partial effect earlier this year.

• The framework requires companies handling sensitive personal data to undergo annual third-party compliance audits, ensuring data is stored securely and processed transparently. The government also announced the creation of a Data Protection Board of India, which will monitor and penalize non-compliance. The move aims to enhance user trust in digital platforms and align India’s data practices with global privacy standards.

The past week underscored India’s ongoing transformation, balancing rapid modernization with persistent structural challenges. Economic optimism was matched by a renewed focus on long-term planning, sustainability, and citizen rights. While environmental stress and uneven rainfall continue to test local administrations, initiatives like the data protection framework and defense collaborations show India’s growing maturity on global and digital fronts. Together, these developments highlight a nation striving toward inclusive growth, accountability, and technological leadership in the decade ahead.

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