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As the special discussion on India’s strong, successful and decisive “Operation Sindoor” in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam took place in parliament, the nation once again came together to celebrate the valour, courage and determination of Indian armed forces. It was a ‘Vijay Utsav’, a victory celebration of the capabilities of the Indian armed forces, who, in a precise Indian retaliatory strike on 7th May, 2025, demolished nine terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and PoK, killing over 100 terrorists, following a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Even while the operation was non-escalatory, Pakistan retaliated, prompting India to destroy its air defence system along with multiple airfields, leading Pakistan to request a ceasefire. India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism under the strong and resolute leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made it clear repeatedly that no terror attack will go unpunished while reiterating that dialogue with Pakistan is impossible as long as it continues to support terrorism. It is to be noted that India’s robust counter-terrorism strategy not only emphasised India’s right to self-defence and refusal to bow to nuclear threats but also succeeded in achieving diplomatic success in gaining international condemnation for terrorism and designating TRF as a global terrorist organisation.
In a major acknowledgement of the continuous success of the Indian economy, the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook Update (July 2025) has reaffirmed India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with growth
While the parliament celebrated the grand success of ‘Operation Sindoor’ as ‘Vijay Utsav’, the Congress-led Opposition was criticised for echoing Pakistani propaganda and politicising a national security issue, contrasting this with his Modi government’s firm actions and reversal of what he termed weak-kneed policies of the Congress-led UPA regime
forecasts of 6.4 per cent for both 2025 and 2026. The IMF has revised India’s growth projections upward from its April 2025 estimates. While the April forecast projected 6.2 per cent growth for 2025 and 6.3 per cent for 2026, the July update upgraded both years to 6.4 per cent. On a calendar-year basis, the IMF projects India’s real GDP growth at 6.7 percent in 2025 and 6.4 percent in 2026. India’s projected growth rate significantly outpaces other major economies. China is expected to grow at 4.8 percent in 2025 and 4.2 percent in 2026, while the United States is projected to grow at 1.9 percent in 2025 and 2.0 percent in 2026. The Euro Area is forecast to achieve only 1.0 percent growth in 2025 and 1.2 percent in 2026, and Japan is expected to register 0.7 percent growth in 2025 and 0.5 percent in 2026. The IMF attributes India’s robust growth outlook to continued reform momentum and stable economic fundamentals. The Fund notes that India’s economy demonstrates resilience amid global uncertainty and maintains its position as a key driver of global economic growth. This upward revision in growth forecasts reinforces India’s status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, significantly ahead of other G20 nations and major global economies, which has significantly reduced poverty by bringing more than 30 billion people out of multidimensional poverty just in 11 years.
While the parliament celebrated the grand success of ‘Operation Sindoor’ as ‘Vijay Utsav’, the Congress-led Opposition was criticised for echoing Pakistani propaganda and politicising a national security issue, contrasting this with Modi government’s firm actions and reversal of what he termed weak-kneed policies of the Congress-led UPA regime. The Congress-led UPA government had given Pakistan “Most Favoured Nation” status, whereas the Modi government has revoked it, stopped visas and trade through the Wagah-Attari border, and reversed weak cross-border initiatives like ‘Aman ki Asha’ and kept the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. The reforms, such as the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), integration of the Army, Navy, and Air Force for joint operations, major “Make in India” initiatives in the defence sector, a threefold increase in the defence budget, a 250% rise in domestic defence production, and a 30% increase in defence exports to more than 100 countries, have further enriched India’s defence capabilities, infusing the mantra of aatmanirbharata and advanced weaponry systems and arsenals. In fact, the nation celebrated countless accomplishemnts, which are unprecedented and incredible, manifested through the special discussion on ‘Operation Sindoor’, as ‘Vijay Utsav’.