Explained | Bharat Bandh 2025: Why The Nationwide Strike Has Brought India To A Halt

India is witnessing a nationwide strike—or “Bharat Bandh”—on Wednesday, called by a coalition of 10 central trade unions and backed by several farmer groups and rural labour organisations. The strike is being described as one of the largest in recent years, with over 250 million workers expected to participate across sectors.

What Are Protesters Demanding?
At the heart of the protest is opposition to the government’s new Labour Codes, which trade unions say:
Make it harder for workers to go on strike
Allow longer working hours
Increase job insecurity through the greater use of contract labour
Reduce the accountability of employers for worker rights violations
Besides labour issues, protestors are also rallying against:
Privatisation of public sector enterprises
The dilution of social security provisions
The rise of corporate control in agriculture and essential services

What Services Are Being Affected?
The Bharat Bandh is expected to impact both urban and rural areas. Here's how:
 

Likely Disruptions
Banking and Insurance: Public sector bank employees are striking, causing disruptions in branch services and ATM operations.
Postal Services: Expect delays in mail delivery and parcel services.
Industrial Production: Factories, especially in coal, steel, and mining sectors, are operating with reduced staff.
Public Transport: State-run buses are facing stoppages in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
Power Supply: With over 2.7 million electricity workers expected to join, some areas may see interruptions in power services.
Government Offices and PSUs: Work at government offices, especially in the public sector, is partially affected.

What’s Still Open?
Private offices and MNCs are expected to operate as usual.
Schools and colleges remain open in most areas.
Train services are running, although delays may occur in protest-affected regions.
Hospitals and emergency services are largely unaffected but may face staffing shortages in some areas.

Who Is Behind the Bandh?
This isn’t just a workers' protest. It’s a broad-based coalition. Here’s a snapshot of who’s involved:
Trade Unions
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)
Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS)
Labour Progressive Federation (LPF)
United Trade Union Congress (UTUC)

Farmer and Rural Labour Groups
Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – known for the 2020–21 farm law protests
Rural labour unions – representing daily wage workers and marginal farmers

Informal and Self-Employed Workers
Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) – representing domestic workers, street vendors, artisans, and more

Public Sector Employees
Workers from Indian Railways, NMDC Limited, and state-owned steel plants have lent support, though not all have formally stopped work.

Read More - Bharat Bandh 2025: Why Over 25 Crore Workers Are Shutting Down India?

Is This the First Time?
No. This is part of a long-standing labour movement in India. Similar Bharat Bandh protests took place in:
2020
2022
2024

Each time, the demands were broadly the same: better labour protections, opposition to privatisation, and improved job security.

Why Does This Strike Matter?
The scale of participation—250 million workers, including informal and rural sectors—shows growing discontent over economic reforms perceived as pro-corporate and anti-worker. For the government, it presents a challenge: how to balance ease of doing business with social protections for India’s massive workforce.

The success or failure of this Bharat Bandh could set the tone for future labour policy negotiations, especially with general elections on the horizon.