Bharat Bandh on July 9: Banks affected, schools open, power and transport face disruptions

A nationwide strike, or Bharat Bandh, has been called for Wednesday, July 9, 2025, with over 25 crore workers across various public service sectors expected to participate. This major industrial action, announced by a forum of 10 central trade unions, is anticipated to significantly disrupt services across India, particularly affecting banking, insurance, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services. Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of Hind Mazdoor Sabha confirmed the widespread impact of the strike.

Banking services are highly likely to be disturbed across the nation, as an association of bank employees, affiliated with the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), has stated the sector will join the bandh. The insurance sector is also expected to participate. Despite the widespread strike call, no official banking holiday has been announced. Meanwhile, educational institutions, including schools and colleges, have not received any notification for a holiday and are expected to function as usual on July 9.

The strike may also impact electricity supply, with over 27 lakh power workers slated to participate. While there has been no official announcement regarding a nationwide railway strike, commuters should anticipate potential delays or disruptions in train services due due to the protests. The trade unions called for the Bharat Bandh to protest the government's economic policies, which they allege are contributing to rising unemployment, increasing prices of essential commodities, and a depression in wages, further claiming these policies are detrimental to the country's growth, especially impacting the large youth demographic.