Narendra Modi to Rohit Sharma, 5 newsmakers who ruled 2024 in India

The clock is ticking closer to 2025. It’s time to reflect on 2024, the year which saw India reach several milestones. Behind each milestone were the five newsmakers of the year that helped the country reach new heights.

Narendra Modi

The Indian prime minister’s historic third term made headlines not just in India but across the world. Apart from winning a complex election and emerging victorious, PM Modi’s contributions this year helped shape India’s future.

PM Modi’s vision 2047 took a step forward this year after the leader launched key infrastructure and development projects. The inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Temple was a landmark event that brought an end to a longstanding dispute.

The prime minister also advanced India’s position in the world by making several bilateral visits to ally nations. From Russia to UAE, PM Modi furthered India’s interests by maintaining good relations with key players in world politics.

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He also became the first Indian prime minister to visit Nigeria and Kuwait in more than two decades, reflecting India’s shifting foreign policy.

DY Chandrachud

DY Chandrachud retired from the post of Chief Justice of India this year but left behind a legacy of landmark judgments. The 2024 was no different.

The former CJI pronounced a number of key judgments this year which set the future course of action in motion.

In February, a five-judge bench headed by Chandrachud struck down the electoral bonds scheme that was introduced in 2018 for election funding to facilitate funding for political parties. The former CJI noted that the scheme was arbitrary and unconstitutional and could lead to a quid pro quo arrangement between parties and donors.

Earlier this month, an 8:1 majority decision by a nine-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Chandrachud, ruled that not all privately owned properties can be considered community resources subject to state takeover for the public benefit.

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A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud, upheld the revocation of Article 370, affirming the constitutional validity of the abrogation and its implications on the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Rahul Gandhi

Although the Lok Sabha election results were not in his alliance’s favour, Rahul Gandhi’s personal achievements during the polls are worth mentioning. The Congress leader won both the seats – Rae Barelli and Wayanad – he contested in huge margins and subsequently became the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.

Gandhi spearheaded the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a nationwide campaign aimed at uniting citizens and addressing issues such as unemployment, inflation, and social justice. This initiative played a pivotal role in reconnecting the INC with grassroots supporters and enhancing Gandhi’s public image.

His Lok Sabha session speeches and public addresses have resonated among the Indian population and his comeback in the world of politics stunned many in 2024.

S Somanath

Indian Space Research Organisation’s Chairman S. Somanath, the man who took India to the darkest corner of the moon, made headlines this year for announcing ambitious plans that are expected to propel India’s space program to new heights.

SRO plans to conduct the first uncrewed test flight of the Gaganyaan program, designated as Gaganyaan-1, in February 2025. This mission will carry the humanoid robot Vyommitra to low Earth orbit, aiming to validate the performance of the Human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle and the Gaganyaan spacecraft systems.

The uncrewed test will pave the way for further abort tests and system validations, leading up to the first crewed mission, Gaganyaan-2, which will carry Indian astronauts to space.

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is scheduled for launch in 2025. This Earth science mission aims to provide critical data on natural hazards, ecosystem disturbances, and climate change, enhancing our understanding of Earth’s dynamic processes.

Rohit Sharma

The hero of the cricket world, Rohit Sharma brought smiles to millions of Indians by clinching the the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in June 2024, ending a 17-year wait since their last T20 World Cup victory in 2007.

During the tournament, Sharma delivered a standout performance against Australia, scoring 92 runs off 41 deliveries, which was instrumental in India’s progression to the semifinals.

Sharma also led India to the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2024, demonstrating his versatility and strategic acumen across different formats of the game.