Govt points to 2025 as a year of big reforms

Despite several international pressures in 2025, including unprecedented tariffs imposed by the US government and tougher visa rules, the Indian government has said in its year-end assessment that 2025 saw a strong push on policy changes, even as political disagreements and tense Parliament proceedings marked both the monsoon and winter sessions.

- HT Correspondent

In the assessment, shared with the media, the government said the period stood out as one where India chose to “think bigger, move faster, and reform deeper” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

From the recently passed Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill aimed at opening up the nuclear sector, to moves to rationalise GST rates, the reforms span labour laws, taxation, ease of doing business, trade, education, energy and rural employment, and were linked to the PM’s August 15 speech at the Red Fort ina call for regulatory changes and rewriting laws for “2ist century India”.

New labour reforms in focus

The four new labour codes finally came into force this year, replacing 29 older labour iaws. They focus on wages, industrial relations, social security and workplace safety. As per the government, nearly 10 million gig workers get annual social security support between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000. Between 50 and 70 million contract workers are being brought under Employees’ Provident Fund and Employees’ State Insurance.

Anational minimum wage is expected to help 150 to 180 million low paid workers by raising their earnings. The government said changes could expand the formal workforce by 15% and bring nearly 500 million working age women into the labour force. For the industry, the reforms are expected to cut compliance requirements by 60 to 70% per factory.

GST regime simplified to two slabs