Thu Jan 02 03:18:44 UTC 2025: ## Modi Government Faces 25 Key Challenges Heading into 2025

**New Delhi** – As the Narendra Modi-led coalition government begins its new term, it faces a daunting list of 25 critical issues demanding immediate attention, according to a report by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien. The report, echoing the historical precedent of Roman leaders setting agendas at the start of the year, outlines pressing concerns ranging from economic instability to social justice and infrastructure failures.

Economically, the government must address stubbornly high inflation (retail inflation at a 14-month high, food inflation at a 15-month high), slowing GDP growth (revised down to 6.6%), declining foreign investment, a weakening rupee, and soaring unemployment (youth unemployment at 10% for two years). The report also highlights a widening gap between the wealthy and poor, citing massive loan write-offs for industry while agriculture receives minimal support.

Social issues dominate the list, with concerns about food insecurity (1.7 million annual deaths from malnutrition), stagnant wages, farmer distress (30 farmer suicides daily), inadequate women’s safety (exception for marital rape in new laws), the continued practice of manual scavenging, and attacks on journalists. The report also criticizes the lack of representation for women in parliament and the suppression of opposition voices.

Further challenges include institutional weakness (vacant key positions in several commissions), failure to support Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and Other Backward Classes (non-functional schools), delays in crucial projects (2021 census still pending), mismanagement of funds (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao spending), unpaid dues to states, and the ongoing crisis in Manipur. The report also points to failures in public infrastructure, resulting in numerous accidents, and the lack of a robust response to cybercrime.

The report concludes by urging the government to prioritize these issues in the coming year, emphasizing the need for immediate and effective action. The author stresses that these are his personal opinions.

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