New Delhi: 2025 emerged as a defining chapter in the public and personal journey of Anant Ambani, a year where faith, leadership, seva, and conservation came together with rare clarity and purpose. It was a year that reflected not just milestones, but a deeper alignment between belief, responsibility, and long-term vision.

At the heart of this journey was a 140-kilometre padyatra from Jamnagar to Dwarka, undertaken as an act of devotion, discipline, and spiritual reflection. The walk resonated with millions, symbolising humility, perseverance, and an unwavering connection to India’s civilisational ethos. Far from being symbolic alone, the padyatra underscored the belief that leadership begins with inner conviction and service. 

Professionally, 2025 also marked a significant expansion of responsibilities as Anant Ambani took on a larger leadership role as Executive Director at Reliance Industries Ltd. His growing involvement reflected a focus on sustainable growth, long-term stewardship, and aligning enterprise with societal impact—values increasingly central to modern corporate leadership. 

 

2025 Marked A Year Of Faith, Leadership, Seva, And Conservation For Anant Ambani#AnantAmbani #SevaAndConservation #Vantara #WildlifeConservation pic.twitter.com/Or0ikzi2GU
— Zee News English (@ZeeNewsEnglish) January 2, 2026

A major highlight of the year was large-scale pilgrim welfare initiatives during the Maha Kumbh, where efforts were directed toward healthcare, logistics, and support services for millions of devotees. These initiatives reinforced the spirit of seva, placing service to people at the centre of action.

Equally significant was the national recognition received by Vantara, India’s ambitious wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation initiative. Its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a watershed moment for conservation in the country. Throughout the year, Vantara also became a global showcase, with prominent international personalities witnessing India’s commitment to ecological responsibility and compassionate conservation.

Together, these moments defined 2025 as a year of convergence—where devotion met duty, leadership embraced service, and conservation became a shared national and global mission.

Last Updated:January 02, 2026, 20:45 IST

Aside from the hashtags and social media abuses, the facts about trade and business terms between India and Bangladesh reveal a deeply intertwined and profitable relationship

Actor Shah Rukh Khan has come under sharp attack from Hindu religious preachers and some BJP leaders over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) signing Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the IPL 2026 auction. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

As the internet erupts over Shah Rukh Khan and the Kolkata Knight Riders’ decision to hire a Bangladeshi cricketer for the upcoming IPL season, branding the actor a “traitor”, the trade numbers from the union ministry of commerce and industry, accessed by News 18, quietly puncture the seemingly manufactured outrage.

Trade, economic, and diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh were never cut off, even though India imposed some reciprocal restrictions on Bangladesh, including the withdrawal of transhipment facilities and port access. Beyond the hashtags and social media abuses, the facts about trade and business terms between India and Bangladesh reveal a deeply intertwined and profitable relationship, even a year after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

Decoding the trade data

According to the export and import data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and updated on January 2, 2026, India’s exports to Bangladesh stood at 11.48 billion US dollars in FY 2025, up from 11.06 billion dollars in FY 2024. This shows a marginal growth of around 3 to 4% despite a year marked by political strain, border tensions, visa-route-port restrictions, and periodic diplomatic unease. According to the ministry data, India exported goods worth around 4 billion US dollars to Bangladesh in 2025-26 as of January 2.

The India Brand Equity Foundation (a trust backed by the commerce ministry) stated in its factsheet that India exported 5,069 commodities to Bangladesh in FY25, ranging from petroleum products, cotton yarn, cereals, machinery, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, to chemicals. In return, India imported around 806 commodities, including ready-made garments, jute products, leather goods, and select agricultural items. The trade balance remains heavily tilted in India’s favour, with no sign of a country “boycotting” its neighbour.

Economics over outrage

Data shows that robust trade continued through moments of visible political discomfort. Issues such as border management, water-sharing disputes, concerns over illegal migration, and domestic political churn in Bangladesh have cast long shadows over bilateral relations. Yet, trade and commerce have marched on, driven by supply chains, geography, and mutual economic interest rather than emotion or online virtue signalling.

Observers point out that this is not an argument for ignoring security or political concerns but a reminder that the Indian state engages Bangladesh through a pragmatic lens, distinguishing between geopolitical caution and economic engagement. This nuance is conspicuously absent in the digital mobs targeting a film star for a cricketing decision made by a franchise operating in a global sports ecosystem.

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Elon Musk once laughed off Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD (Build Your Dreams), scoffing in 2011, “Have you seen their car?” That mockery turned into a rude shock on Friday, as BYD dethroned Tesla to become the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles (EVs) on a calendar-year basis.

In a statement released Thursday, BYD reported that sales of its battery-powered vehicles rose nearly 28% to 2.26 million units in 2025. Tesla, on the other hand, delivered 1.64 million vehicles during the same period, marking around 8% drop from 2024 and its second consecutive annual decline. Fourth-quarter deliveries for Tesla fell about 16% compared with the same quarter in 2024, when the company reported 495,570 vehicles.

Musk had openly dismissed BYD in an October 2011 interview with Bloomberg TV, stating, “I don’t think they have a great product,” and adding that he did not consider BYD a competitor. Since then, BYD has experienced a spectacular rise, resulting in Friday’s historic shift in the global EV market.

Tesla endured a turbulent 2025, with shares collapsing in the first quarter amid stiff competition, particularly from Chinese EV makers, and reputational challenges tied to Musk’s political statements, according to ABC News.

Analysts had expected Tesla’s fourth-quarter deliveries to slow less, predicting around 449,000 vehicles, but the elimination of the $7,500 US EV tax credit at the end of September 2025 contributed to the slowdown. In addition to economic factors, Tesla faced political headwinds, with sales struggling in key markets due to Musk’s public support for President Donald Trump and other far-right figures.

Known in Chinese as “Biyadi” — which translates to “Build Your Dreams” in English — the company was originally founded in 1995 as a battery manufacturer. It has since grown into a leading player in China’s highly competitive new energy vehicle market, producing both fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. With China being the world’s largest EV market, BYD has leveraged its affordable, high-volume models to capture significant market share.

While facing hefty tariffs in the United States, BYD is expanding overseas, gaining traction in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. In 2025, the company exported over 1 million vehicles, a 150% increase from the previous year. December alone saw a record 133,000 units shipped abroad, with production soon set to begin in new plants in Brazil and Hungary to bypass trade barriers and strengthen its global presence.

The 2025 leadership shift reflects two contrasting trajectories. Tesla’s deliveries fell due to aging models, political challenges, and the EV tax credit phase-out, while BYD surged nearly 30% by targeting entry-level, high-volume segments that Tesla has yet to penetrate. Analysts note that BYD’s vertical integration — producing its own batteries and semiconductors — creates a scale advantage that protects margins as competitors struggle.

Despite record sales, analysts say BYD could face potential challenges in 2026 due to a Chinese policy shift. Fixed rebates have been replaced with a percentage-based system, requiring vehicles to cost at least 166,700 yuan to receive the maximum 20,000 yuan subsidy. A new 5% purchase tax may further impact demand for budget models like the Seagull, although analysts believe BYD’s premium sub-brands are well-positioned to capture consumers moving upmarket.

Tesla narrowly beat BYD in 2024, with 1.79 million units sold versus BYD’s 1.76 million, but 2025 marks the first time BYD has outproduced the American EV giant.

Despite Tesla shares dipping 0.5% in early New York trading on Friday, analysts at Los Angeles-based Wedbush Securities Inc, a leading American financial services firm, noted that its quarterly sales exceeded some expectations, while highlighting ongoing challenges in Europe and other key markets.

With its affordable models, efficient manufacturing, and growing international footprint, BYD is now positioned to reshape the global EV landscape, signaling a historic shift in the balance of power between Chinese and American automakers.