As 2025 comes to a close, India stands at a crossroads between ambition and execution. Infrastructure expansion, aviation growth, labour reform, environmental protection, digital transformation and legal reform all promised progress—but delivery often faltered, and in many cases, was rolled back.

In this audio, Sucheta Dalal examines how grand policy announcements collided with weak institutions, regulatory capture, political risk and poor implementation. From collapsing bridges and aviation disruptions to environmental reversals, labour unrest, power sector pushback, bankruptcy failures and rising digital fraud, the year exposed a recurring pattern: reforms announced at the Centre struggle when they meet ground reality.

The judiciary, often seen as the final arbiter, also saw an unusual number of reversals, raising concerns about legal certainty and finality. As India moves into 2026, the central question remains—can the country build the institutional capacity and political will needed to convert aspiration into durable outcomes?

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