bharat bandh

India braces for a nationwide bharat bandh on February 12, 2026, as over 10 trade unions and farmers' groups protest new labour codes. Disruptions are expected in public transport, banking, and potentially schools, with Odisha and Assam facing complete shutdowns. Essential services will remain operational. Commuters are advised to plan ahead and monitor local advisories.

India gears up for a massive nationwide strike on February 12, 2026, as millions of workers across various sectors unite. Trade unions have called for this bharat bandh, anticipating widespread participation from industrial labourers, farmers, and public sector employees. Disruptions are expected in nearly 600 districts, with Odisha, Assam, Kerala, and West Bengal anticipated to face the most significant impact.

Over 10 trade and farmers' unions have called for a nationwide bharat bandh on February 12, protesting the Centre's 'anti-worker, anti-farmer and pro-corporate policies.' An estimated 30 crore workers are expected to participate, potentially impacting public banking, transport, and government sectors across over 600 districts.

A nationwide bharat bandh on February 12, 2026, has significantly disrupted public life and transportation across states like Odisha, Assam, and Kerala. Trade unions and farmers' organizations are protesting government policies, leading to road blockades and near-total shutdowns in affected regions. Essential services remain operational, while air and rail travel are largely unaffected.

Prominent opposition leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, DMK chief MK Stalin and PAGD chairman Farooq Abdullah issued a joint statement on Sunday supporting the call for bharat bandh on December 8 by farmer groups and demanded that the Centre meet the legitimate demands of the protesters.

Versatile Minorities Forum (VMF), a city-based non-government organization, has supported the call given for bharat bandh on Wednesday by Maulana Sajjad Nomani, secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law board, to protest against Citizen (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The RJD, Congress and the five Left parties on Sunday decided to support and actively participate in bharat bandh called by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (AIKSS) on December 8.

Major businesses, public services and traders' association in several states are unlikely to function on Monday following calls of 'bharat bandh' by the Congress in protest against the BJP-led NDA government's inability to curb the rise in fuel prices and the falling value of the rupee, among other issues.

A large number of farmers across the country will answer the bharat bandh call on Monday to protest against the Centre’s new farm laws. The impact of the demonstrations in Karnataka, however, is expected to be minimal despite the backing of Congress and JD(S).

State Congress on Monday said issued a statement saying the party is in total support of the bharat bandh called by farmers on Tuesday against the three agro-reform laws passed by the Centre.

: State government offices will be closed on Tuesday on account of the bharat bandh, called by farmers’ organisations against the Centre’s new farm laws.

On August 21, 2024, India witnessed a nationwide bharat bandh organized by the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti in response to a Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations. The ruling allowed states to create sub-categories within these groups, sparking controversy. Authorities heightened alert levels, with potential disruptions in markets, transport, and possible impact on daily life.

The bharat bandh called by some organisations against the CAA and the NRC failed to evoke much response in Maharashtra's Pune, barring few areas in the city where shops remained shut.

The bharat bandh called on Tuesday in support of farmers got a lukewarm response across the country, with reports of disruptions of normal life from only a few states like Telangana, Andhra and Odisha. While there were no reports of violence in Punjab, movement of vehicles, including buses, was affected due to closure of roads at various places by farmers.

Incidents of road blockade and stone-pelting were reported during the ‘bharat bandh' called by various organisations to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Gujarat on Wednesday, police said.

The ruling TRS, opposition parties including the Congress and various unions on Tuesday held protests across Telangana as part ofthe 'bharat bandh' against the NDA government's new agri laws. Expressing support to the bandh, the TRS decided to actively participate in the protests in the state to ensure it was a success.

The central trade unions said that they will go on a general strike or 'bharat bandh' on January 8 "to protest against anti-labour policies" of the government.

With key APMC markets closing on Tuesday to support the bharat bandh for farmers, fruit and vegetable supply to the city will be impacted.

Members of Bahujan Kranti Morcha on Wednesday blocked a railway track at Mumbai's Kanjurmarg station amid a 'bharat bandh' call against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). It briefly disrupted the Central Railway services.

The bharat bandh called by farmers between 11am and 3pm on Tuesday seeking repeal of recent farm laws may not affect normal life in the city. Transport services are unlikely to be hit.

Normal life was affected in parts of Karnataka as farmers and workers hit the roads on Tuesday as part of nation-wide bharat bandh called by various unions and political parties protesting the farm and labour laws recently introduced by the Centre.

While various farmers’ organizations on Saturday burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, organized tractor rallies, raised slogans and protested against the Centre’s farm laws in various parts of state, they also appealed to all sections of society to come out in support of bharat bandh call by the farmers on December 8. The farmers will begin moving towards Delhi ahead of the bandh.

bharat bandh, called by the Opposition on Tuesday is nothing but opposition to Modi government, said state opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis.

The dawn-to-dusk bharat bandh called by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and supported by 16 different political parties, including the ruling JMM, Congress and RJD against the three new farm laws of the Union government evoked mixed response in several parts of the state on Monday.

Asserting that the autorickshaw and taxi drivers have already been suffering because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Delhi Auto-Taxi Union decided to stay away from the bharat bandh call by farmers, agitating against the new agricultural laws, on Tuesday.

TRS MLC K Kavitha on Sunday said that the ruling TRS will support the bharat bandh on December 8.

Bank unions said they will not participate in the 'bharat bandh' on Tuesday, even as they expressed solidarity with farmers protesting against the new farm laws. Farmer groups, camping at various Delhi border points for over a week, have called for a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday to protest against three recently enacted agriculture-related legislations.

A nationwide bharat bandh called by 10 central trade unions has sparked anxiety among students and parents over possible school closures. While the strike protests new labour codes, privatisation and trade policies, no nationwide shutdown of schools or colleges has been ordered. Most major states report institutions functioning normally, despite expected local disruptions.