Top 10 Important News Stories in India in June & July 2025
1. Early and Intense Monsoon (June 2025)
In late June 2025 India’s southwest monsoon advanced faster than usual, covering the entire country roughly nine days early. The India Meteorological Department reported Kerala’s monsoon onset on May 24 and Mumbai by May 26 – the earliest arrival in a quarter-century. Torrential pre-monsoon rains (driven by an unusually high number of Western Disturbances in May) caused record rainfall in many regions (Delhi saw its wettest May since 1901). By mid-June most of India was under rain, benefitting farmers by accelerating kharif planting.
Grain prices eased and reservoir levels improved. Economists noted that this unusually vigorous monsoon supported India’s economy and could allow further monetary easing. However, such abrupt weather shifts also disrupted some cropping plans (e.g. washed-out blossoms) and highlighted climate variability. The rains continued into July in many areas, easing drought concerns but keeping flood-watch high in flood-prone rivers (IMD forecasts signaled sustained monsoon over July).
2. Indo-Pak Conflict and Defence Procurement (July 2025)
After the May 2025 “Operation Sindoor” strikes on terror camps in Pakistan, tensions eased to a ceasefire in June, but the conflict’s effects played out in July. India moved to shore up its defenses, expediting purchases of precision arms from the U.S. Reports on July 10 revealed India was in talks to acquire more GPS-guided Excalibur artillery shells and Javelin anti-tank missiles from Washington, citing the war and “growing concerns over Chinese weaponry in Pakistan”. In Pakistan, Chinese-supplied drones and missiles used by militants during the clash prompted India to seek advanced U.S. systems.
The strikes (called “Sindoor”) hit multiple terror targets; seven of nine were engaged by Excalibur shells fired from M777 howitzers, demonstrating the need for more munitions. Diplomatically, India continued to face international scrutiny and pressed for quick weapons deliveries to deter future attacks. This episode heightened U.S.-India defense cooperation, even as bilateral trade talks (including a 90-day tariff pause) remained stalled. Pakistan’s airspace reopening and a short-lived withdrawal of flight bans in May are not major stories in June–July, but Indian military modernization and border security were emphatically in the news by July.
3. Economic Growth and Inflation (June–July 2025)
For FY2024–25 (ending March 2025) India’s economy grew a robust ~6.5%, making it the fastest-growing major economy worldwide. However, economists noted this was the slowest pace since 2020–21. A Reuters poll in late June forecast growth of about 6.4% for FY2025–26 (with a slight pickup to ~6.7% in FY2026–27). The economy’s momentum is driven largely by government capital spending and strong domestic demand, while private investment remains sluggish. Consumer prices remained very subdued: retail inflation cooled to roughly 2.82% in May and then to an astonishing 2.10% in June 2025, the lowest in over six years.
Soft food prices (especially vegetables and cereals) and favorable base effects were factors. This easing inflation gave the Reserve Bank of India room to cut rates twice (a cumulative 100 basis points through June, including a surprise 50bp cut on June 6) to support growth. Looking ahead, most analysts see inflation creeping up modestly (polls predict around 3–4% next year) but still below RBI projections. Maintaining this growth and low inflation – amid global uncertainties and stalled trade talks with the U.S. – is India’s key challenge. The government and RBI signaled they will act to try to achieve 6.5–7% growth in 2025–26, while keeping the currency and trade stable.
4. Reliance Jio IPO Delayed (July 2025)
In mid-July, India’s largest telecom/digital conglomerate announced a major corporate shift: Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries postponed the long-planned Initial Public Offering (IPO) of its Jio Platforms unit until after 2025. The Reuters-sourced report (July 9) said that Jio’s executives want to boost the company’s revenues and subscriber base, and expand its digital ecosystem (apps, AI services, devices), to achieve a higher valuation before listing. Reliance had previously aimed for a 2025 listing and analysts valued Jio at over $100 billion. The announcement immediately rattled markets: Reliance Industries shares fell as much as 1.8% on the news (erasing about $6 billion in market value before closing ~1.2% down), which in turn dragged major stock indices lower.
The postponement suggests reliance on organic growth (and more tech partnerships, e.g. with Nvidia on AI and competition with Elon Musk’s Starlink) before an IPO. It leaves the path open for Reliance’s retail arm to list only after Jio (now seen as likely in 2026–27). Investors and analysts will watch how this strategic decision affects RIL’s financial plans and India’s IPO pipeline.
5. New-Generation Startups and IPO Pipeline (July 2025)
The fast-evolving Indian startup ecosystem made headlines in July when the Startup Policy Forum (an industry body of 50 tech firms) unveiled a “Centre for New-age Public Companies” (CNPC) to support startups entering the stock market. At a July 17 meeting in Mumbai with SEBI chairman T.K. Pandey and 20 leading startup founders, the forum said the CNPC will work with regulators to adapt policies for “new-age” tech-driven firms as they transition to public companies. About 40 startups (valued collectively at over $90 billion) are said to be preparing IPOs, including online retailers, fintech companies and platforms like Lenskart, Swiggy, Meesho, Pine Labs, and others. By providing toolkits, governance guidelines and direct dialogue with SEBI and market investors, the CNPC aims to ease IPO readiness.
This move reflects the capital market’s structural shift: heavyweight firms like Lenskart (eyewear), Swiggy (food tech) and others dominate IPO pipelines. The forum noted that these tech firms (many previously unicorns) are crucial for sustaining stock market dynamism. In mid-July, ET also reported that several “soonicorns” (companies filing IPO drafts in 2025) collectively plan to raise over ₹18,000 crore ($2 billion) from equity issuances. Overall, government and regulators appear keen to nurture a startup-to-public-company corridor, balancing investor protection with the global ambitions of India’s tech entrepreneurs.
6. Supreme Court on Land Acquisition (July 2025)
On July 14, 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark 88-page judgment limiting the obligation of “rehabilitation” in government land acquisitions. The two-judge bench held that when land is acquired for legitimate public purposes (as allowed under law), owners are entitled to fair monetary compensation, but additional schemes to rehabilitate or re-employ displaced persons are not universally required. In other words, courts cannot interpret Article 21 (right to life) to mandate non-monetary benefits; unless a case is “rarest of rare,” simply paying fair compensation suffices. The Court cautioned that ad hoc rehabilitation schemes (beyond cash) can create legal complications and are only justified where losing land genuinely impoverishes a family.
The order emphasized that any extra benefits should be purely humanitarian and not a legal entitlement. This ruling overturns a line of judicial dicta suggesting a right to livelihood compensation beyond money. It has significant impact for states and developers, as it streamlines acquisitions (e.g. for highways, industries, or defense) by clarifying that cash awards satisfy the constitutional requirement. Farmer groups and state governments, however, have expressed concern that vulnerable landowners could be left with no fallback. The judgment is expected to reduce litigation but may prompt legislative reviews on social safety nets.
7. Cricket: England’s Thrilling Win at Lord’s (July 2025)
In sports, the headline was England’s nail-biting Test victory over India at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 14, 2025. Chasing 279 to win in the fourth innings, India fell agonizingly short, with England hanging on to win by just 22 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin’s century late on Day 4 put India in contention, but England’s Shoaib Bashir claimed the final two wickets. This result put England ahead 2–1 in the five-match series. Reuters reported that the match was played in classic Test drama with heated exchanges: English captain Ben Stokes calmly steered the chase after morning wicket of Zak Crawley, while Jadeja’s earlier 150* rescued India from collapse.
For India, questions arose over batting collapse in the chase and missed review appeals; for England, the win bolstered confidence on home soil. Indian fans and media decried missed opportunities (e.g. no DRS on a key early lbw). The series continued in Birmingham next, with India needing back-to-back wins to salvage the tour. The Lord’s loss was a major talking point in July’s sports pages, reflecting India’s inconsistency abroad.
8. Language and Cultural Identity Debate (June 2025)
On June 19, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stirred a fiery debate on language policy at a book launch in New Delhi. He declared that “those who speak English will soon feel ashamed” in India, arguing that foreign languages are no match for India’s own tongues. Shah said “our languages are the jewels of our culture,” calling for a shift to conducting affairs in Hindi and other Indian languages by 2047. His remarks (part of a larger speech promoting India’s “Panch Pran” vision) led to swift backlash. Opposition leaders (notably Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu’s DMK) denounced the statement on June 20, saying English is vital for jobs and education, and warning that targeting English undermines India’s linguistic diversity.
Rahul Gandhi tweeted that English “secures jobs and boosts confidence,” accusing BJP/RSS of discouraging the poor from learning it. Critics framed Shah’s comments as political posturing ahead of upcoming state elections, accusing the government of pushing Hindi in multicultural India. Amid the uproar, some media outlets quietly removed or downplayed reports of Shah’s quote, highlighting its sensitivity. The episode underscored deep divisions over language: while the government’s push plays to Hindi-speaking voters, southern and northeastern states see it as an indirect Hindi imposition. The debate remained ongoing into July, as political analysts noted the statement’s impact on education and cultural policy discussions.
9. Bollywood’s Crowded July Releases (July 2025)
Bollywood experienced an unusually jammed release schedule in July 2025. Media reports on June 27 noted that numerous big-banner films and even Hollywood blockbusters were vying for the same weekends. The congestion began with two major Hindi films on July 4 (the action thriller Akshardham vs. the drama Metro In Dino), and continued with simultaneous releases on later dates. For example, July 11 saw two contrasting films (Maalik action film vs. the musical romance Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan), each targeting different audiences, but competing for screens. The situation peaked mid-month: on July 18 several high-profile films clashed, including Saiyaara (a YRF romantic drama) and Nikita Roy (starring Sonakshi Sinha), alongside the Hollywood animation The Smurfs. Such crowding has logistical challenges, as theaters have limited screens and exhibitors must decide which films to prioritize.
Distributors warned that mid-budget films might get squeezed out, and that box-office revenues would be split. The trend culminated on July 25, when mega-releases (e.g. Fantastic Four: First Steps from Hollywood, and Son of Sardaar 2 from Bollywood) all competed. Industry analysts noted this was one of the most over-saturated release months in years. Some films even shifted dates at the last minute due to lack of space. Box-office collections for the month will be closely watched to see which titles triumphed amid the “traffic jam” of releases.
10. Bullet Train Project Milestones (July 2025)
Infrastructure and Indo-Japan cooperation were in the news with progress on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor. On July 15, India’s Railways Ministry announced that the next-generation E10 Shinkansen bullet train (a Japanese design) will debut in India simultaneously with its launch in Japan. This underscored the two countries’ strategic partnership: India had been negotiating the procurement of the earlier E5 Shinkansen model, but now Japan agreed to introduce the E10 trains for the project. Separately, engineers celebrated a construction milestone: on July 9 the first “breakthrough” of the massive 21-km tunnel between Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex and Shilphata was achieved, with 2.7 km fully excavated.
The project – India’s first bullet train corridor – will run 508 km at 320 km/h and is slated for trial runs in 2026–27. So far, reports noted that over 310 km of viaducts are complete and several station structures are nearing completion. The foundation stone for this ₹1.08 lakh crore project was laid in 2017, and the recent news was meant to counter perceptions of delay. Together, these developments signified that despite technical challenges, the high-speed rail line is on track, advancing India’s modernization of rail infrastructure. Residents and businesses along the route will see continued construction work, and media attention will remain high as the project moves into its final stages in 2025–26.
