As 2024 approached, India experienced several important developments that shaped the country’s trajectory. The year began with the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya – an event attended by thousands of people and watched by millions across the country.
The political arena was filled with unprecedented energy as the nation exercised its greatest democratic right – Lok Sabha electionsThe state assemblies also witnessed fierce electoral battles, reshaping the regional political landscape.
On the diplomatic front, India navigated the troubled waters. The diplomatic standoff with Canada had a lasting impact on international relations, while a breakthrough in long-running border tensions with China offered a glimpse of diplomatic finesse.
The political arena remained active with notable arrests and subsequent releases of prominent political figures, leading to intense public discussion.
The nation also suffered a deep loss with the demise of eminent personalities who significantly influenced Indian society, marking a year marked by both achievements and serendipity.
The ongoing crisis in Manipur continues to test the fabric of national unity, while the tragic RG Car incident has shocked the entire nation and raised important questions about medical infrastructure and protocols.
Here are the key events that made a mark this year.
inauguration of ram temple
January 22, 2024, marked a historic moment in the cultural landscape of India when the Ram temple was inaugurated in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Leading the consecration ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emotionally announced, “Today our Ram has arrived. He will no longer live in a tent. He will now reside in a grand temple.”
Ayodhya, once a modest town, was transformed into a center of grandeur, hosting an unprecedented gathering of India’s most prominent personalities. The event attracted thousands of devotees to the temple complex, while millions participated virtually through various media platforms across the world.
The city’s skyline was decorated with Indian Air Force helicopters showering rose petals, while more than 100 private jets flew dignitaries to the ceremony.
Members of the film industry, India Inc and some of India’s finest sports stars were present there. From Amitabh Bachchan to Rajinikanth, Mukesh Ambani to Lakshmi Mittal, Katrina Kaif to Kangana Ranaut, Sachin Tendulkar to Saina Nehwal – they all came to a dusty town in UP a few years ago.
Lok Sabha elections
The Lok Sabha elections, India’s grand democratic process, set the tone for a year filled with significant political changes. The BJP, which has dominated national politics since 2014, fell short of a majority, securing only 240 seats – far short of the required 272. This unexpected result reshaped the power dynamics within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Former BJP allies, Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, suddenly emerged as important coalition partners. The results also breathed new life into the opposition Indian faction, which had so far failed to make a significant presence felt. The absence of a single party majority in Parliament not only changed the political equations but also raised serious questions on the accuracy of exit polls and the credibility of pollsters.
state assembly elections
2024 witnessed significant changes in India’s state political landscape, with assembly elections held in eight states witnessing several watershed moments.
Haryana created history as the BJP won for the third consecutive time by winning 48 out of 90 seats – a feat achieved for the first time by any party in the state. In Maharashtra, the BJP dominated with 130+ seats, while the Mahayuti alliance won a landslide victory with 225 seats, far more than the required majority of 145.
In Jharkhand, the JMM-led alliance under Hemant Soren retained power by winning 56 seats in the 81-member assembly, decisively defeating the BJP-NDA alliance, which could secure only 24 seats. Kashmir held its first assembly elections after the abrogation of Article 370, while Odisha saw a major change with the defeat of BJD after 24 years in power.
These results are a significant paradox for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, especially for the BJP, highlighting the distinct dynamics between state and national politics.
india-canada dispute
India-Canada diplomatic relations fell into serious crisis while he was the Prime Minister of Canada. justin trudeau Accused Indian officials of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist declared a terrorist by India.
These allegations led to an uproar at the diplomatic level, leading to mutual expulsion of diplomats, including India recalling High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and suspending visa services. The situation worsened in November when Khalistani supporters allegedly attacked attendees of an Indian consular event at a Hindu temple in Toronto, leading India to criticize Canada’s failure to protect Indian citizens and institutions. .
Throughout the winter parliamentary session, India said Trudeau’s allegations were baseless, emphasizing that Canada had failed to provide any supporting evidence for his claims. The diplomatic standoff has seriously affected bilateral relations, including trade discussions, which is one of the lowest points in India-Canada relations.
India-China military standoff
The 54-month military standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh finally ended in October, a significant diplomatic breakthrough. Both countries agreed to restore pre-2020 patrolling patterns along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), effectively normalizing border operations. The resolution went beyond military disengagement, as both countries took steps to strengthen bilateral ties through initiatives such as resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and establishing protocols for sharing cross-border river data.
Manipur crisis
The once-peaceful state of Manipur witnessed unprecedented ethnic violence during 2023-24, primarily between the valley-dwelling Meitei and hill-based Kuki-Zo communities. What started in May 2023 turned into a full-blown crisis, with over 250 people losing their lives and thousands displaced.
The conflict, marked by mob attacks, drone strikes on civilian areas and widespread destruction, has destroyed the state’s long-standing cultural goodwill.
Despite Lok Sabha elections being held in April amid these tensions, the situation remains volatile and no immediate solution is in sight. The deepening divisions between these communities have turned Manipur into a state where fear and uncertainty prevail, with both sides stuck to their positions and peace remains elusive.
Chief Ministers were sent to jail and released
In 2024, two prominent chief ministers faced legal troubles and imprisonment. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED on January 31 in a money laundering case related to the alleged land scam, where he was accused of fraudulently acquiring 8.5 acres of land, from which Rs 36 lakh in cash and related documents were recovered. They went. After spending nearly five months in jail, Soren was granted bail by the High Court on June 28.
Similarly, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal He was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case, followed by the CBI’s arrest on June 26 while in ED custody. Kejriwal’s legal ordeal ended when the Supreme Court granted him bail on September 13.
RG tax incident
The devastating incident involving sexual assault and murder of a resident doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has sparked outrage across the country.
The tragic incident prompted medical professionals across India to protest and stop work, leading to disruption of healthcare services across the country.
The incident drew serious attention to serious concerns regarding the safety of female medical practitioners and healthcare workers in India’s medical institutions, leading to widespread demands for enhanced security measures and swift legal action against the perpetrators.
Prominent personalities who died
In 2024, India bid farewell to many stalwarts who left an indelible mark on the cultural, economic and political landscape of the country. Nation mourns loss of industrial titan Ratan TataTabla expert Ustad Zakir Hussain and ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas. The political arena saw the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the economist-turned-Prime Minister of India and the architect of India’s economic liberalisation.
