Time never stops. Every passing year leaves behind memories, bitter and sweet experiences. Every year, we bid farewell to the past with gratitude and welcome the New Year. May the New Year bring a new wave of positivity, belonging, and happiness to all of us. I begin today’s editorial with these auspicious wishes. While 2025 may have left us with many wounds, India has achieved many accomplishments despite all circumstances. The first day of the New Year is also a day for introspection. It is a time to evaluate the year’s achievements as well as our shortcomings. If a person sets a goal from the beginning of their life, they will surely come closer to achieving it. The year 2025 has been full of challenges for us. This year, the Pahalgam terrorist attack occurred, and India carried out Operation Sindoor, forcing the enemy Pakistan to surrender within four days. Upon assuming office, US President Donald Trump embroiled India in a tariff war. The situation in neighboring Nepal and Bangladesh deteriorated. The conflict between India and Bangladesh escalated significantly over attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
The New Year will be full of challenges for us. India has entered a very decisive and challenging phase of diplomacy. The biggest test will be how India transforms the international system and establishes itself as a power center. India is making its mark on the economic front, and the past year has brought significant good news: India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy. India now has a GDP of $4.18 trillion. With this achievement, India is now eyeing to surpass Germany and reach the third position. It is expected that we will achieve the third position by 2030. Currently, the United States is the world’s largest economy, and China is the second-largest. India’s real GDP growth in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025-26 was 8.2 percent, significantly improving from previous quarters. Growth was 7.8 percent in the first quarter and 7.4 percent in the fourth quarter of the previous fiscal year. This growth demonstrates that despite global turmoil, the Indian economy is not only stable but also growing rapidly. India remains the world’s fastest-growing economy.
The credit for the economic recovery goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The world is astonished by the way India found opportunity in adversity despite the US launching a tariff war. In his New Year’s message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted 2025 as the year of reforms, saying that India has embarked on the Reform Express, strengthening efforts to develop the country by 2047. The past year saw significant reforms, the most significant of which was a comprehensive overhaul of the GST. The Modi government reformed 29 laws into four modern codes under labor reforms. A new law replaced MNREGA. Extensive reforms were implemented in the areas of education, ease of doing business, and nuclear energy. Major reforms are expected to continue in the New Year. It remains to be seen how the common man benefits from these reforms.
India is now a powerful nation, and the world listens to its voice. India’s challenge is how to move forward without bowing to the US and how it manages its security concerns amid growing ties between the US and Pakistan. There is no doubt that free trade agreements with Britain, the European Union, and the Indo-Pacific countries have become not just an economic but a strategic necessity. Economic uncertainty and instability in neighboring countries will test India’s diplomatic capabilities. Elections are imminent in Nepal and Bangladesh. The situation in both countries must be assessed very seriously.
On the political front, the Modi government appears to be facing no difficulties. The nationwide craze for Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains unwavering. Social ironies are still evident in the country. A tree doesn’t cut its own roots, nor does a kite cut its own string, but today, in the pursuit of modernity, humans are seen cutting their own roots and strings. On one hand, the saffron flag is flying across the country, while on the other, we are cutting the threads of our own culture and traditions by imitating Western civilization. India is seen as a country with a diverse cultural landscape, where people of different religions live in harmony and participate in each other’s festivals. However, recent incidents targeting people of other religions and widespread vandalism have created an atmosphere of hatred and disrupted the atmosphere of harmony. Attempts have been made to sow hatred in this atmosphere of harmony. Violence or vandalism against religious groups on any festival truly harms India’s secular image. If such tendencies are not stopped, the safety of Indians living abroad will be threatened, and the atmosphere of mutual harmony will also be threatened. We may face serious international reactions.
Government and society need to take steps to preserve the tradition of harmony and goodwill. Many parts of the world are experiencing a period of violence, war, unrest, and instability. As we emerge from this period of despair and enter the New Year, we all wish for good luck. We must fulfill our duties and ensure a new year, a new joy, and a new flourishing life. In this regard, we must be mindful of the problems and challenges. Discrimination, hatred, violence, and crime remain challenges for society. We must be both responsive and dynamic. We must hold each other’s hands together to become healthy, prosperous, and meaningful. Let us unite and resolve to build a prosperous India, and no force can stop the country from moving forward. Happy New Year to all of you from Punjab Kesari.
