Bharat Bandh: More than 25 crore workers are set to participate in today’s nationwide strike, protesting the Central government’s alleged “pro-corporate” policies. Banking services are likely to face significant disruptions today as the Bharat Bandh takes effect. The nationwide strike, initiated by a coalition of 10 central trade unions, commenced at 6 AM on Wednesday.
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Strike Impact: What Services Will Be Hit?
A massive Bharat Bandh launched early on July 9, 2025, has drawn support from more than 25 crore workers, including 10 central trade unions and allied farmers and rural labor groups. The unions are protesting against what they call “pro-corporate” economic reforms, labor law dilution, farm distress, and cuts to social welfare.
Key public services expected to face disruption include:
- Banking and financial services: No formal holiday has been declared, yet significant employee participation—especially in public and cooperative banks—is expected to impair daily operations, cheque clearances, cash withdrawals, and customer services.
- Postal services, coal mining, public transport, and power sector: These sectors are likely to be affected, compounding the disruptions in urban and rural areas.
- Regional variances: In Kolkata, transport is running normally with metro, buses, trams, and ferries operational under heavy police control; however, banking services face setbacks. In Gujarat, around 20,000 bank employees are expected to strike, disrupting lakhs of crore worth of transactions.
While banking and public sector utilities bear the brunt, educational institutions, private offices, and rail services are largely expected to remain open, albeit with potential delays.
Why the Strike Now? Demands & Stakes
The strike originates from a 17-point charter of demands submitted to the government last year, focusing on reversing labor code amendments, reinstating collective bargaining, increasing MNREGA wages, restoring old pension schemes, and ending public sector downsizing.
Unions have also criticized:
- The decade-long neglect of the annual labour conference;
- Rising unemployment, soaring inflation, and wage stagnation;
- Cuts in welfare spending and increasing rural economic distress.
Farmers’ platforms like the Samyukta Kisan Morcha have thrown their weight behind the bandh, mobilizing rural protest over price hikes and employment uncertainty.
Union leaders assert that these policies marginalize labor and farmers, shifting the government’s priorities toward corporate interests—hence the urgent nationwide mobilisation .
Bharat Bandh : What Lies Ahead?
If you’re planning to visit a bank, mail a parcel, or manage travel today, be prepared for:
- Long queues and slow services at banks and ATMs.
- Postal delays and cash crunches.
- Possible local roadblockages and sporadic transport disruptions due to protests and traffic control.
However:
- Schools, colleges, and private offices are expected to operate normally unless local closures are ordered.
- Rail services will run, though passengers should monitor for regional delays caused by agitations near stations.
- Power supply might experience interruptions in specific regions, as over 27 lakh electricity workers are reported to join the strike.
Citizens are advised to stay updated through local media and consider postponing non-essential banking or travel today.
In summary, Bharat Bandh 2025 represents a broad-based worker-farmer protest aiming to halt reforms perceived as undermining labor welfare. Expect major slowdowns in banking, postal, mining, and transport sectors, while other services continue under daily rhythms.
(Source)