2024 was a year of major political, sporting, and global developments. From Narendra Modi's third consecutive term as India’s Prime Minister to India’s remarkable performances at the ICC T20 World Cup, Paris Olympics, and Paralympics, the year was filled with milestones. Global events like the COP29 summit and important diplomatic agreements, along with tragic incidents like Ratan Tata’s passing, defined 2024 as a year of change, achievements, and challenges.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024

In 2024, Narendra Modi stayed as India's prime minister for the third time after the BJP-led NDA won enough seats to form the government, even though they didn’t reach their ambitious target of 400 seats. The opposition’s INDIA bloc and Congress did not perform well, with Congress only increasing its seat count from 52 to 99.

In Maharashtra, the BJP-led alliance surprised many by winning big, recovering from their earlier loss in the Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Congress and its allies faced a major defeat, having one of their worst performances in the state.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the first election since Article 370 was removed saw a strong comeback by the National Conference, led by Omar Abdullah, who won 42 seats, marking a new political phase in the region.

The BJP also managed to hold onto power in Haryana, defying expectations. A change in leadership, with Nayab Singh Saini replacing Manohar Lal Khattar as Chief Minister, helped restore voter trust and secure the win.

India wins ICC T20 Cricket World Cup

India ended their 13-year wait for an ICC Cricket World Cup trophy when they beat South Africa by seven runs to lift the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in a thrilling final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Paris 2024 Olympics

A total of 117 Indian athletes competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics, held from July 26 to August 11. India won six medals—one silver and five bronze. Manu Bhaker won India's first medal, a bronze in shooting, and became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic shooting medal. She made history by winning another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event with Sarabjot Singh, making her the first Indian to win two medals at a single Olympics.

Swapnil Kusale also won a bronze in shooting, contributing to India's biggest medal haul in this sport at the Olympics. The Indian men's hockey team secured a bronze, matching their success in Tokyo 2020. Neeraj Chopra won a silver in javelin throw, making him India's most successful individual Olympian. Aman Sehrawat became India's youngest Olympic medallist, winning a bronze in wrestling.

India’s historic performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympics

At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, 84 Indian para-athletes made their mark, competing in 12 sports, including new disciplines like para cycling, para rowing, and blind judo. Avani Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals at the Games, setting a world record in shooting. India also achieved its best-ever performance, with six gold medals, including historic wins in athletics by Dharambir and Parnav Soorma and Sumit Antil, who broke the Paralympic javelin throw record. Mariyappan Thangavelu made history by becoming the first Indian to win medals in three consecutive Paralympics. India’s success continued with Preethi Pal’s two medals, Deepthi Jeevanji’s first medal in a track event, and Sheetal Devi’s record-breaking achievements in archery. Harvinder Singh also became India’s first-ever Paralympic archery champion.

Budget 2024-25 highlights

On July 23, 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget for 2024–25. The government plans to spend Rs 48.2 lakh crore, which is 8.5% more than last year. A large portion of this budget, 24%, will go toward interest payments, making up 37% of the government’s income. The total income for the government is expected to be Rs 32.07 lakh crore, a 15% increase from last year, with tax revenue expected to rise by 11%. The economy is expected to grow at a rate of 10.5%, combining both real growth and inflation. The government is aiming to reduce the revenue deficit to 1.8% of GDP from last year’s 2.6%, and the fiscal deficit target is 4.9%, down from 5.6% in 2023-24. Additionally, Rs 62,593 crore has been set aside for new economic projects, which make up 6.8% of the total investment in capital expenditures.

COP29 Climate Summit in Azerbaijan

The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP29, took place from November 11–22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29), titled “Investing in a Livable Planet for All,”

Ratan Tata passes away at 86

India mourns the loss of one of its most beloved industrialists, Ratan Tata, who passed away at the age of 86 in Mumbai on October 9, 2024. He had been admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital for age-related issues and to control his blood pressure. As the nation comes to terms with this loss, tributes pour in from across the country. Many remember him not just as the leader of one of India's biggest companies but as a kind-hearted visionary whose focus was always on improving society.

Kolkata rape Case

On August 9, 2024, a 31-year-old female postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered in a building at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. Her body was found in a seminar room on the campus. The next day, on August 10, a 33-year-old male civic volunteer who worked for Kolkata Police was arrested as a suspect in the crime.

Atishi becomes the 17th woman Chief Minister in India’s history

On September 21, 2024, Atishi, a leader from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), became the Chief Minister of Delhi. She made history by becoming the third woman to hold the position and the youngest woman to do so in Delhi. Atishi is the 17th woman in India’s history to become a chief minister. However, her tenure is expected to be short since Delhi will have Assembly elections in February 2025.

Manipur violence continues

According to government figures, as of May 3, 2024, 221 people have been killed in the violence, and 60,000 people have been displaced. Earlier figures also mentioned over 1,000 injured and 32 missing. 4,786 houses were burnt, and 386 religious structures were vandalised, including temples and churches.

G20 Summit 2024

The 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit will be held in November 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The summit is the main event of the G20, where leaders come together to discuss important issues and agree on actions. This year’s theme is "Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet." Key topics include taxing billionaires, energy transition, and supporting global climate initiatives like the UN climate conference (COP 30) in Brazil. At the summit, India emphasised the need for global efforts to reduce poverty and improve food security.

Trudeau admits a lack of evidence in India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged that his government did not have strong evidence when accusing India of being involved in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. This admission comes as tensions rise between India and Canada, raising doubts about the validity of the accusations and the future of their diplomatic ties.

Trump wins historic election: First Republican since 1988 to claim popular vote

Trump won both the Electoral College and the popular vote in his latest election victory, becoming only the second Republican to do so since 1988. In most counties, his support grew, even in areas where Democrats usually win. However, Trump's margins of victory, in both votes and percentages, were smaller than in previous elections, making it a close race, similar to past tight elections like the 2000 Florida recount and his previous contests in 2016 and 2020.

Sunita Williams stuck in space due to technical issues

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has been in space since June 5, 2023, after technical issues with her spacecraft, the Boeing Starliner, delayed her return. Williams and her fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, were originally supposed to have a week-long test flight, but they remain onboard the International Space Station (ISS) more than six months later.

Bangladesh protests over job quotas for students

Protests started in early July when students from different universities in Bangladesh demanded the removal of job quotas for government jobs. They believed the quotas made it harder for qualified young people to get jobs. The protests grew stronger after a June 5 High Court ruling that brought back a 30% quota for children of freedom fighters, which had been removed in 2018. Many students were upset because unemployment is a big issue in Bangladesh, with around 18 million young people unable to find work. This led to widespread protests and unrest.

Israel strikes Hezbollah, weakening Iran's influence

In mid-September, a series of attacks in Lebanon changed key dynamics between Israel and its enemy Iran. Israeli intelligence targeted Hezbollah by detonating pagers used by their operatives, killing 12 and injuring over 2,000. This move revealed Israel's deep penetration into Hezbollah’s network and caused chaos among the group's leaders. Just days later, Israel killed Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and launched air and ground strikes that greatly diminished the group’s strength. This weakened Hezbollah and its backer, Iran, leaving Hezbollah’s leadership shattered and its forces focused on survival.

China-India reach border agreement after four years of tensions

After years of high tension on the China-India border, the two countries agreed to resume patrols along the border as they had done before 2020. The deal marks the end of a four-year standoff caused by a deadly clash in 2020, which resulted in casualties from both sides. The agreement allows both countries to withdraw troops from contested areas like Depsang and Demchok. For India, this deal helps in diversifying its strategic partnerships, easing economic tensions, and balancing diplomatic relations, especially amidst pressure from Western countries over internal matters.