As 2025 draws to a close, the final day of the year brings significant developments across labour, politics, and international affairs. A widespread strike by gig workers threatens to disrupt year-end plans, a major investigation reveals alleged bias in civic fund allocation in Mumbai, and Bangladesh prepares to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
Gig Workers Across India Strike on New Year's Eve
Residents planning quiet nights in or hosting friends for New Year's Eve celebrations have been advised of potential disruptions to quick commerce and food delivery services. Gig workers across multiple platforms have initiated a nationwide strike today, December 31, 2025. The industrial action, called by unions in Karnataka and Telangana with support from a Delhi association, centres on key demands.
Workers are protesting issues of pay transparency, the arbitrary blocking of worker IDs, the increasing pressure from 10-minute delivery models, and the banning of certain worker accounts. This collective action highlights the growing unrest within India's vast gig economy on a day typically marked by high demand for delivery services.
RTI Exposes Lopsided BMC Fund Allocation Ahead of Polls
With the high-stakes elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)—Asia's richest civic body—scheduled for January 15, 2026, a new investigation raises serious questions about fair governance. An analysis of records obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has uncovered a stark disparity in development fund distribution.
Over the past three years, a staggering 99% of BMC funds earmarked for development work flowed to wards represented by lawmakers from the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Out of a total sanctioned amount of Rs 1,490 crore for projects like road repairs, beautification, and drainage upgrades, a colossal Rs 1,476.92 crore was allocated to constituencies of the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP. A mere Rs 13.74 crore was directed to Opposition-held wards.
This pattern grants ruling-party candidates significant visibility through infrastructural projects ahead of the polls. Opposition MLAs, MLCs, and MPs in Mumbai have reported that their development proposals remain stalled despite repeated appeals.
National and International Developments
In a significant international event, Bangladesh's first woman Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia, passed away on Tuesday. Her death leaves a profound void as the nation, set for elections on February 15 after a year of unrest, enters a new political era. For the first time, neither of the two rival 'begums'—Khaleda Zia and current PM Sheikh Hasina—will be contesting. India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, will travel to Dhaka to attend her funeral.
Domestically, the publication of draft electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh under a Special Intensive Revision has been postponed to January 6. Provisional data suggests the state might see the highest percentage of voter deletions nationwide, at 18.70% of the electorate.
In sports, a task force led by Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra has submitted a 170-page blueprint for systemic reform. The report, aimed at strengthening India's bid for the 2036 Olympics, criticizes ad-hoc decision-making and a lack of long-term professionalism within the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and state bodies.
As the year ends, the aftermath of the deadly Baisaran terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists, continues to cast a shadow, with the site remaining closed for a security review. Meanwhile, 2025 is celebrated as a landmark year for women's sports in India, highlighted by the cricket team's maiden World Cup victory under Harmanpreet Kaur.
