eznews.inIndiGo Airlines faced significant operational disruptions over the weekend, cancelling over 1,000 flights on Friday and more than 400 on Saturday due to a pilot shortage. The chaos particularly affected Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, where 104 flights were cancelled, including 61 arrivals and 63 departures. Major airports in Delhi and Mumbai also saw substantial cancellations, with 109 flights grounded in Mumbai and 106 in Delhi. Following the crisis, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers issued a video apology after three days of silence, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to passengers. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) provided temporary relief by relaxing flight duty and rest period regulations for pilots, allowing for a return to fewer than 1,000 flights on Saturday. The airline is grappling with the implications of new court-mandated regulations while attempting to restore normalcy in its operations. 
Published: Dec 06 2025, 3 pmeznews.inAhead of the Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans to simplify customs regulations, marking it as a key reform agenda for the government. Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit, she emphasized the need for a comprehensive overhaul to enhance transparency and ease compliance, drawing parallels with recent income tax and Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms aimed at boosting consumer spending. Sitharaman indicated that proposed customs reforms, including duty rate rationalisation, could be unveiled in the upcoming Budget on February 1. She noted a steady reduction in customs duties over the past two years and highlighted the elimination of additional tariff rates on industrial goods. On the depreciating rupee, which recently hit a record low against the dollar, she expressed confidence that it would find its natural level. Meanwhile, India's economy is projected to grow by 7% or more this financial year, bolstered by strong factory production and a robust services sector.
Published: Dec 06 2025, 3 pmeznews.inEconomic Affairs Secretary Anuradha Thakur has highlighted India's enhanced fiscal discipline under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) framework, alongside the expansion of the formal tax base and increased transparency in fiscal systems at both Union and State levels. Speaking at a seminar on public financial management (PFM) for Global South countries, Thakur noted that innovations such as paperless budget preparation and electronic fund releases have fostered a transparent fiscal ecosystem. She emphasized the transformative impact of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the integration of budgetary workflows through systems like the Public Financial Management System (PFMS). Controller General of Accounts TCA Kalyani echoed these sentiments, underscoring India's commitment to custodial integrity in public finance. The seminar served as a platform for knowledge exchange, with participants discussing India's digital solutions and their applicability to treasury reforms in developing economies.
Published: Dec 06 2025, 1 pmeznews.inThe Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%, marking what rating agency ICRA believes is the final reduction in the current easing cycle. ICRA anticipates an extended pause on policy rates unless India's economic growth significantly underperforms projections. The RBI has revised its inflation forecast for 2025-26 down to 2.0% from earlier estimates, attributing some of the decline to tax policy changes, particularly GST rate cuts, which have cooled core-CPI inflation. Additionally, the RBI plans to inject durable liquidity through open market operations, amounting to Rs. 1 trillion, which is expected to positively impact G-sec yields. Governor Sanjay Malhotra described the current economic climate as a "rare goldilocks period," highlighting robust growth alongside low inflation, as the central bank aims to support and accelerate economic progress into the new year.
Published: Dec 06 2025, 1 pmeznews.inAir travel in India has faced significant disruption this week as IndiGo cancelled over 1,000 flights, prompting the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to impose fare caps to prevent opportunistic pricing. The ministry's directive aims to protect passengers, particularly vulnerable groups such as senior citizens and students, from financial strain during this period of operational irregularities. MoCA will monitor fare levels closely and enforce compliance, with corrective actions for any violations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted IndiGo a temporary exemption to address severe rostering issues linked to new Flight Duty Time Limitations. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu expressed optimism that flight schedules would stabilise within three days, while IndiGo's CEO Pieter Elbers noted that operational disruptions were expected to improve, with cancellations anticipated to drop below 1,000 by Saturday and a return to normalcy projected between December 10 and 15.
Published: Dec 06 2025, 1 pmeznews.inIndia could significantly boost its merchandise exports to Russia from approximately $5 billion to nearly $35 billion by 2030, according to a GTRI report coinciding with President Vladimir Putin's visit to Delhi. Despite bilateral trade reaching $70 billion, India's exports remain low, primarily due to a heavy reliance on crude oil imports from Russia, which totaled $63.8 billion in FY2025, resulting in a trade deficit of $58.9 billion. The report highlights that India captures only 2.4% of Russia's $202.6 billion import market, with substantial opportunities in food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. However, challenges such as payment delays due to limited access to SWIFT for Russian banks hinder progress. The GTRI suggests establishing a modern rupee-rouble settlement system and enhancing institutional support to diversify India's trade with Russia beyond energy, tapping into a broader range of goods.
Published: Dec 06 2025, 11 ameznews.inIndiGo, India's largest domestic airline, has cancelled over 200 flights from Delhi and Mumbai following a tumultuous week marked by disruptions due to new flight duty and rest period (FDTL) norms for pilots. The cancellations occurred a day after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted temporary relaxations to IndiGo, including a rollback of night duty definitions and an increase in permitted night landings. IndiGo's CEO, Pieter Elbers, issued an apology for the inconvenience caused to passengers after the airline had previously cancelled over 1,000 flights. The Airlines' Pilots Association (ALPA) India has expressed strong objections to the DGCA's selective relaxations, arguing they compromise safety and regulatory parity. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has since decided to suspend the implementation of the revised FDTL norms, which were initially mandated by the Delhi High Court to enhance pilot fatigue management and passenger safety.
Published: Dec 06 2025, 11 ameznews.inMaharashtra is poised to lead India in natural farming as the nation reassesses its agricultural strategies amid challenges like climate change and rising costs. With a total area of 307.6 lakh hectares, the state relies heavily on rainfall, making natural farming essential for sustainable agriculture. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has initiated the Natural Farming State Mission, aiming to create a market-driven policy framework that connects local clusters to Bio-input Resource Centres and Farmer Producer Organisations. This approach is expected to cut cultivation costs by 40-50%, increase farmer incomes by 35%, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Innovations like agroforestry models will further enhance farmer resilience and soil health. If successfully implemented, Maharashtra's transition to natural farming could set a national standard for ecologically sustainable and economically viable agriculture, benefiting farmers and consumers alike.
Published: Dec 06 2025, 10 ameznews.inOn December 6, 2025, passengers at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport faced significant disruptions as IndiGo Airlines cancelled 69 flights, including 46 departures and 26 arrivals, by 9:30 AM. Many travelers were informed of these cancellations late the previous night, leading to confusion and frustration as last-minute changes continued to affect their travel plans. The situation has raised concerns among air commuters, who are struggling to navigate the unexpected flight cancellations and delays. IndiGo's operational challenges have drawn attention to the broader issues affecting air travel in the region, as passengers seek clarity and assistance amid the ongoing disruptions.
Published: Dec 06 2025, 10 ameznews.inClimate change poses a significant threat to global industries, particularly agriculture, which is highly sensitive to environmental shifts. Erratic weather patterns disrupt crop lifecycles, workforce stability, and supply chains, leading to financial strain and regulatory uncertainties. Agriculture contributes approximately 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate issues, with practices like stubble burning in India further complicating the situation. In response, India is promoting low-carbon agricultural practices through initiatives such as the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme and precision agriculture technologies, including drones for crop monitoring and resource management. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture aims to enhance resilience through improved crop varieties, water efficiency, and pest management, while also encouraging contract farming to provide farmers with better resources and market access. As India navigates the intersection of tradition and modernity, it seeks to transform challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth in agriculture.
Published: Dec 06 2025, 9 am
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