What Is Happening & Why?
Fierce Bharat Bandh Nationwide Strike 2025
- A coalition of 10 central trade unions, alongside various farmers’ and rural workers’ organisations, have called a nationwide general strike Bharat Bandh to protest against the central government’s policies, described by organisers as anti‑worker, anti‑farmer, and pro‑corporate
- The strike, initially scheduled for May 20, was postponed due to earlier national events and is now underway on July 9, 2025
- Over 25 crore (250 million) workers from formal and informal sectors are expected to participate, including those from banking, insurance, postal, coal-mining, power, construction, public transport, and other public sectors
17-Point Charter of Demands
Key demands include:
- Reversal of four new labour codes seen as weakening collective bargaining and right to strike
- Halt on privatisation of public sector banks and defence ordinance factories
- Increase in wages, job security, end to contract/outsourcing, permanent hiring in public services .
- Compliance with International Labour Organization conventions .
- Recruitment backlogs addressed in banks & govt. services, removal of GST on insurance, minimum balance waivers, and aggressive corporate NPAs recovery
Which Groups Are Participating?
- Major trade unions include INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS, SEWA, AIUTUC, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC, TUCC
- Farmers’ groups such as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha have backed the strike marching across villages
- Public sector employees (railways, NMDC, steel plants, defence factories) are involved, in addition to bank and insurance staff, postal workers, coal and power sector unions
What’s Open — What’s Not?
Fierce Bharat Bandh Nationwide Strike 2025
- Government offices: Mostly closed or operating with skeleton staffing; services in banks, postal, power, coal sectors are disrupted due to staff participation .
- Banks: No formal holiday declared, but with 20,000 bank employees on strike in states like Gujarat, expect serious service delays cash, cheques, customer support impacted
- Transport:
- Public buses: Many state services (e.g., Kerala’s KSRTC) affected despite government assurances
- Trains: Not officially on strike, but major protest-related delays/blockages reported in West Bengal (Jadavpur), Odisha (Bhubaneswar), Bihar
- Schools & Colleges: No official closure — institutions remain open. However, transport disruptions may hinder attendance
- Private Sector: Offices generally open and functional; marketplaces mostly unaffected as traders largely stayed out
- Emergency Services: Hospitals, police, fire services unaffected and operational .
Disruptions & Ground-Level Impact
Fierce Bharat Bandh Nationwide Strike 2025
- National highways in Odisha blocked by CITU protests near Bhubaneswar
- In West Bengal, mobs block railway tracks at Jadavpur and Diamond Harbour regions; shops shut in Kolkata
- Bengaluru: Traffic advisory in place around Freedom Park due to expected 4,000–5,000 protestors
- Kerala: Despite KSRTC service assurances, significant transport disruptions reported; schools have postponed exams in some districts .
- Gujarat Banking Impact: Transactions worth ₹15,000 crore in jeopardy due to 20,000 striking staff across 3,678 nationalised bank branches
Timeline & Live Developments
Fierce Bharat Bandh Nationwide Strike 2025
- The strike began early morning (as early as 6 AM) in many regions .
- Live reports from Hindustan Times confirm over 25 crore participants, significant service disruptions, tensions in Bihar (clashes), and political dichotomy: BJP lawmakers claiming limited impact versus unions showing widespread disruptions
Significance & Historical Context
Fierce Bharat Bandh Nationwide Strike 2025
- This is being considered one of India’s largest coordinated general strikes, involving over 25 crore participants. It’s the 22nd nationwide strike since the launch of liberalisation in 1991 .
- The initiative marks a rare trade union-farmer alliance, uniting public, private, rural, and informal workers in a single protest .
- The repeated demand for a reinstated annual labour conference, ignored for over a decade, highlights growing anxieties about labour policy
What You Should Know & Do
For Commuters:
- Plan ahead: Expect bus and train delays. Use alternate routes, especially in protest hotspots like Bengaluru’s Freedom Park
- Work-from-home option is advisable if available, Fierce Bharat Bandh Nationwide Strike 2025
For Bank Users:
- If possible, defer banking tasks like cheque deposits or large withdrawals until post-strike.
- Expect delays in cash and cheque processing.
For Rural Areas:
- Farmer and rural worker rallies may cause localized roadblocks and disruptions in buses and markets
- Schools and colleges are open, but expect delays due to transport interruptions.
- Stay updated with local advisory alerts. Fierce Bharat Bandh Nationwide Strike 2025
Final Observation
Fierce Bharat Bandh Nationwide Strike 2025 The Bharat Bandh of July 9, 2025, represents a pivotal moment a mass public outcry against labour reforms, private-sector-driven policies, and public-sector privatisation. With 25 crore workers and farmers uniting in protest, it sends a powerful message. Despite assurances from governments and BJP lawmakers about minimal impact, disruptions in transport, banking, power, and coal sectors are already unfolding. For the average Indian commuters, bank customers, students, and workers being informed, planning ahead, and staying flexible are key to navigating this day.