From the general election to the continuation of unprecedented violence in the northeastern state of Manipur, India in 2024 witnessed a series of significant events that shaped its political, social and economic landscape. Below is an overview of 10 major developments.

The Indian rupee fell to 85.80 per U.S. dollar on Dec. 27. While this decline significantly affects various groups in India, including importers, consumers, investors, financial markets, and the government, it should also be a concern for ordinary Indian citizens. Here’s why.

Dr. Manmohan Singh, India’s former prime minister who died at age 92 on December 26, left present-day Pakistani Punjab as a young refugee during the 1947 Partition and witnessed the bloodshed of that year’s communal violence; yet he harboured no resentment or hate, unlike many of his fellow refugees who went on to show hostility toward India’s minorities.

A newly appointed member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Priyank Kanoongo, had been criticised for allegedly discriminating against minority communities until months before his appointment, during his tenure as chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is facing criticism for his handling of recent communal violence in the Bahraich and Sambhal districts. Opposition leaders accuse him of evading responsibility, using diversionary tactics and creating divisions instead of addressing the root causes of the unrest.

The number of violent attacks against Christians in India reached a record high in 2024, with 745 incidents reported – an overage of over two incidents a day – to an independent helpline by the end of November, according to the Delhi-based United Christian Forum (UCF).

Leaders of the opposition have challenged the appointment of Justice V. Ramasubramanian as the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), alleging that the selection process was fundamentally flawed. Congress party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi contended that the procedure was predetermined, sidelining mutual consultation and consensus.

One of the most concerning revelations in the recently released India State of Forest Report (ISFR) is the complete loss of 3,656 square kilometres of dense forests between 2021 and 2023. While it shows a net gain in overall forest and tree cover, this substantial loss of dense forests is deeply concerning for several reasons.

In a landmark decision, a U.S. court has ruled in favour of WhatsApp, holding the Israeli spyware maker NSO Group directly liable for targeting about 1,400 users with its Pegasus spyware, including over 300 Indian mobile numbers.

A member of parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reportedly handed a bag with “1984” written on it to Congress party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Parliament on Dec. 20. The gesture evoked the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, during which Congress workers faced severe allegations of orchestrating mob violence. As neither party has a clean record, this incident demonstrates how communal tragedies—where ordinary citizens like you and I suffer—are used as political ammunition.

In a parliamentary session, Finance Minister of State, Pankaj Chaudhary, revealed that only 6.68% of the country’s population filed income tax returns (ITRs) for the fiscal year 2023-24. There are multiple factors contributing to the low rate of income tax return filings in India.