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Raghav Chadha, the MP of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has called for a ban on the 10-minute delivery services in India, saying that they exploit the gig workers. Speaking at the Zero Hours in the Rajya Sabha on Friday (Dec 5), Chadha said that the services offered by quick-commerce companies are "cruel" in nature and workers get pushed into unsafe working conditions to meet strict deadlines.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-announces-40-billion-defence-budget-to-counter-china-s-invasion-and-to-refuse-to-submit-to-being-china-s-taiwan-1764156268611">Taiwan announces $40 billion defence budget to counter China’s invasion and to ‘refuse to submit to being China’s Taiwan’</a>&nbsp;“I want to tell you that these people are not robots. They are also someone’s father, husband, brother, or son. The House should think about them. And the cruelty of this 10-minute delivery should end," Raghav Chadha said, news agency PTI reported.He said that delivery personnel employed by platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Ola, Uber and home-service providers as the “invisible wheels of the Indian economy".&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-white-house-has-recieved-report-on-macron-s-plan-to-assassinate-me-candace-owens-another-big-claim-as-her-show-goes-off-air-1764165691510">‘White House has received report on Macron’s plan to assassinate me’: Candace Owens’ ANOTHER BIG CLAIM as her show goes off air</a>&nbsp;“A delivery boy standing on the red light keeps thinking that if he is late, the rating will fall, the incentive will be cut, the app will log out, and the ID will be blocked," he said, adding that this pressure leads them to endanger their lives.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-1-200-to-each-affected-house-38-5-million-for-residents-aid-hong-kong-govt-after-building-fire-kills-55-leaves-hundreds-homeless-1764243371424">‘$1,200 to each affected house, $38.5 million for residents’ aid’: Hong Kong govt after building fire kills 55, leaves hundreds homeless</a>&nbsp;“In official language, they are called gig workers. But I call them the invisible wheels of the Indian economy,” Chadha said, forming his argument, speaking in a mix of Hindi and English.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-scrambles-aircraft-after-chinese-drone-detected-off-island-near-taiwan-amid-diplomatic-tensions-details-here-1764070760725">Japan ‘scrambles aircraft’ after ‘Chinese’ drone detected off island near Taiwan amid diplomatic tensions. Details here</a>&nbsp;

Speaking at the Zero Hours in the Rajya Sabha on Friday (Dec 5), Chadha said that the services offered by quick-commerce companies are cruel in nature and workers get pushed into unsafe working conditions to meet strict deadlines.

Raghav Chadha, the MP of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has called for a ban on the 10-minute delivery services in India, saying that they exploit the gig workers. Speaking at the Zero Hours in the Rajya Sabha on Friday (Dec 5), Chadha said that the services offered by quick-commerce companies are "cruel" in nature and workers get pushed into unsafe working conditions to meet strict deadlines. Also read: Taiwan announces $40 billion defence budget to counter China’s invasion and to ‘refuse to submit to being China’s Taiwan’ “I want to tell you that these people are not robots. They are also someone’s father, husband, brother, or son. The House should think about them. And the cruelty of this 10-minute delivery should end," Raghav Chadha said, news agency PTI reported. He said that delivery personnel employed by platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Ola, Uber and home-service providers as the “invisible wheels of the Indian economy". Also read: ‘White House has received report on Macron’s plan to assassinate me’: Candace Owens’ ANOTHER BIG CLAIM as her show goes off air “A delivery boy standing on the red light keeps thinking that if he is late, the rating will fall, the incentive will be cut, the app will log out, and the ID will be blocked," he said, adding that this pressure leads them to endanger their lives. Also read: ‘$1,200 to each affected house, $38.5 million for residents’ aid’: Hong Kong govt after building fire kills 55, leaves hundreds homeless “In official language, they are called gig workers. But I call them the invisible wheels of the Indian economy,” Chadha said, forming his argument, speaking in a mix of Hindi and English. Also read: Japan ‘scrambles aircraft’ after ‘Chinese’ drone detected off island near Taiwan amid diplomatic tensions. Details here

Speaking at the Zero Hours in the Rajya Sabha on Friday (Dec 5), Chadha said that the services offered by quick-commerce companies are "cruel" in nature and workers get pushed into unsafe working conditions to meet strict deadlines.

BAN 10-minute delivery services: Why Raghav Chadha wants quick-commerce companies to shut down trend

IndiGo airline’s operational disruptions have caused distress to many passengers. A woman had to deal with her father’s loss and was stranded&nbsp;at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport with his mortal remains. She was to board a flight to Delhi, and without prior notice, her flight was cancelled. Her father’s ‘asthi visarjan’ is scheduled for Saturday, for which she has to be in Delhi and then in Dehradun. The budget airline, in one of its announcements, said that all flights departing from Delhi on December 5 have been cancelled until midnight. &nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking to news agency ANI, she said,&nbsp;“I have to reach Delhi from Bengaluru, then board a flight to Dehradun from Delhi to reach Haridwar. The asthi visarjan has to be done tomorrow.” She has been suggested to take another airline, prices of which have skyrocketed at this point.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | IndiGo flight disruptions | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Namita, stranded at Kempegowda International Airport while on her way to Haridwar for her father&#39;s &#39;Asthi Visarjan&#39;, says, &quot;I have my father&#39;s &#39;Asthi&#39; (mortal remains post cremation) with me. I have to reach Delhi from… <a href="https://t.co/PeIlIuByBY">https://t.co/PeIlIuByBY</a> <a href="https://t.co/vSvgPuYXpD">pic.twitter.com/vSvgPuYXpD</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1996854434207539651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;“Now they are saying that they have no flights for today. They are asking us to book a flight with other airlines. Flight tickets for other flights cost Rs 60,000 per person, which I cannot afford,” she added. Her family was flying to perform rituals in Ganga and then travelling to Rajasthan. And now, they are in fix as they may not be able to complete the rituals as they were earlier planned.&nbsp;<h2>IndiGo cancellations</h2>Airports across India have Indigo airline passengers frustrated due to delays and cancellations. Over a thousand flights have been cancelled. For now, the airline says it is due to changes in FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations), which DGCA had revised in January 2024 and was to be implemented in a phased manner; that’s the very bug that bit the system and has caused the disruptions. Passengers have been stranded at airports for hours; those planning to get to the airport have been receiving rescheduling notifications.&nbsp;When it comes to FDTL updates, the airline has been highlighting that pilots need rest, and so these implementations are important and necessary. During the implementation period, the airline brought in additional dispensation to the revised FDTL norms; as a result, it also increased flights in the winter schedule. These cancellations may not be entirely due to the revised standards.

She was to board a flight to Delhi, and without prior notice, her flight was cancelled. Her father’s ‘asthi visarjan’ is scheduled for Saturday, for which she has to be in Delhi and then in Dehradun.

IndiGo airline’s operational disruptions have caused distress to many passengers. A woman had to deal with her father’s loss and was stranded at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport with his mortal remains. She was to board a flight to Delhi, and without prior notice, her flight was cancelled. Her father’s ‘asthi visarjan’ is scheduled for Saturday, for which she has to be in Delhi and then in Dehradun. The budget airline, in one of its announcements, said that all flights departing from Delhi on December 5 have been cancelled until midnight. Speaking to news agency ANI, she said, “I have to reach Delhi from Bengaluru, then board a flight to Dehradun from Delhi to reach Haridwar. The asthi visarjan has to be done tomorrow.” She has been suggested to take another airline, prices of which have skyrocketed at this point.

She was to board a flight to Delhi, and without prior notice, her flight was cancelled. Her father’s ‘asthi visarjan’ is scheduled for Saturday, for which she has to be in Delhi and then in Dehradun.

Woman stranded at Bengaluru airport with father's mortal remains due to IndiGo cancellations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (Dec 05) raised the issue of the recruitment of Indian nationals in the Russian Armed Forces in a meeting with President Vladimir Putin and urged to secure the release of its citizens who have joined Moscow's military. The kins of Indians stranded in Russia have been protesting, seeking the government's intervention to bring their loved ones back.&nbsp;"This issue of the recruitment of Indian citizens into the Russian armed forces was broached by PM Modi," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during a special briefing on the state visit of Vladimir Putin, adding, "Our concerted efforts continue on a regular basis to secure the early release of Indian citizens from the Russian Army."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-russia-summit-2025-here-are-the-key-takeaways-from-the-joint-statement-between-two-countries-1764942784745">India-Russia Summit 2025: Here are the key takeaways from the joint statement between two countries</a>&nbsp;Misri also cautioned Indian citizens against accepting offers to join the Russian military. "I would just take this opportunity to reiterate once again that our citizens should avoid very, very carefully any offers to join the Russian armed forces. We are seeing several cases of people stranded there, appealing for rescue and to be brought out. As I said, we are actively engaged in that effort," he added.&nbsp;In November, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that at least 44 Indian nationals are currently serving in the Russian army. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government has raised the issue with Russian authorities, urging the release of these individuals and warning citizens against accepting recruitment offers, citing serious risks to life.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mossad-chief-with-no-intelligence-experience-who-is-general-gofman-netanyahu-s-new-pick-to-head-the-spy-agency-1764938268454">Mossad chief with no intelligence experience: Who is General Gofman, Netanyahu's pick to head spy agency</a>&nbsp; According to the MEA, several Indian nationals travelled to Russia after being offered what they believed were support or civilian roles. Instead, many claim they were deceived and “forced into military service” once they arrived. Some had entered the country on student or tourist visas, but reports say their passports were seized and they were pressured into signing military contracts.

According to the MEA, several Indian nationals travelled to Russia after being offered what they believed were support or civilian roles. Instead, many claim they were deceived and “forced into military service” once they arrived.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (Dec 05) raised the issue of the recruitment of Indian nationals in the Russian Armed Forces in a meeting with President Vladimir Putin and urged to secure the release of its citizens who have joined Moscow's military. The kins of Indians stranded in Russia have been protesting, seeking the government's intervention to bring their loved ones back. "This issue of the recruitment of Indian citizens into the Russian armed forces was broached by PM Modi," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during a special briefing on the state visit of Vladimir Putin, adding, "Our concerted efforts continue on a regular basis to secure the early release of Indian citizens from the Russian Army." Also Read: India-Russia Summit 2025: Here are the key takeaways from the joint statement between two countries Misri also cautioned Indian citizens against accepting offers to join the Russian military. "I would just take this opportunity to reiterate once again that our citizens should avoid very, very carefully any offers to join the Russian armed forces. We are seeing several cases of people stranded there, appealing for rescue and to be brought out. As I said, we are actively engaged in that effort," he added. In November, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that at least 44 Indian nationals are currently serving in the Russian army. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government has raised the issue with Russian authorities, urging the release of these individuals and warning citizens against accepting recruitment offers, citing serious risks to life. Also Read: Mossad chief with no intelligence experience: Who is General Gofman, Netanyahu's pick to head spy agency According to the MEA, several Indian nationals travelled to Russia after being offered what they believed were support or civilian roles. Instead, many claim they were deceived and “forced into military service” once they arrived. Some had entered the country on student or tourist visas, but reports say their passports were seized and they were pressured into signing military contracts.

According to the MEA, several Indian nationals travelled to Russia after being offered what they believed were support or civilian roles. Instead, many claim they were deceived and “forced into military service” once they arrived.

PM Modi takes up issue of Indians serving in Russian Army with Putin; MEA urges citizens to reject such offers

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in India on Thursday (Dec 4) for a 2-day state visit. He received a red carpet welcome from the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Palam Airport in New Delhi. On Friday (Dec 5), the Russian president received a ceremonial 21-gun salute at Rashtrapati Bhavan. But have you ever wondered why the foreign leaders receive the 21-gun salute in India? Here's all you need to know.&nbsp;The gesture is regarded as the highest ceremonial honour in India and is part of a tradition inherited from British rule. In present-day India, the 21-gun salute is reserved only for the Indian President, the national flag, and key state ceremonies. But it is also extended to foreign heads of state on official visits to the country.&nbsp;The history and significance&nbsp;During the British rule, the gun salute was institutionalised to denote rank and protocol. At that time, the 101-gun salute was used to be extended for the British Monarch, who also held the title “Maharaja of India". The Queen, members of the royal family, the Viceroy and the Governor-General used to get a 31-gun salute and the 21-gun salute was reserved for foreign heads of state and their families. In India, the 21-gun salute is reserved for the most solemn and prestigious national occasions.Putin's India visit&nbsp;PM Modi welcomed the Russian president at the Palam Airport, and the duo carpooled to reach the official residence of PM Modi. This was the second time the duo was seen sharing the same car. Last time, in September, Putin had offered a ride to PM Modi in his official car during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China.&nbsp;Both leaders held a bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House, a 97-year-old architectural landmark whose role in the country’s statecraft has only grown with time. But before that, Putin was hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner.&nbsp;During his two-day visit, the Russian president stayed at the luxurious Chanakya Suite at the ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi. The suit Putin stayed in had a massive area of 4,600 square feet. Within it, the suite contains the master bedroom, a steam room and sauna, a gym, its own reception, a living room, a dining room with a capacity to seat 12 guests. Moreover, the nightly tariff of the suit is around ₹8-10 lakh.

In present-day India, the 21-gun salute is reserved only for the Indian President, the national flag, and key state ceremonies. But it is also extended to foreign heads of state on official visits to the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in India on Thursday (Dec 4) for a 2-day state visit. He received a red carpet welcome from the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Palam Airport in New Delhi. On Friday (Dec 5), the Russian president received a ceremonial 21-gun salute at Rashtrapati Bhavan. But have you ever wondered why the foreign leaders receive the 21-gun salute in India? Here's all you need to know. The gesture is regarded as the highest ceremonial honour in India and is part of a tradition inherited from British rule. In present-day India, the 21-gun salute is reserved only for the Indian President, the national flag, and key state ceremonies. But it is also extended to foreign heads of state on official visits to the country. The history and significance During the British rule, the gun salute was institutionalised to denote rank and protocol. At that time, the 101-gun salute was used to be extended for the British Monarch, who also held the title “Maharaja of India". The Queen, members of the royal family, the Viceroy and the Governor-General used to get a 31-gun salute and the 21-gun salute was reserved for foreign heads of state and their families. In India, the 21-gun salute is reserved for the most solemn and prestigious national occasions. Putin's India visit PM Modi welcomed the Russian president at the Palam Airport, and the duo carpooled to reach the official residence of PM Modi. This was the second time the duo was seen sharing the same car. Last time, in September, Putin had offered a ride to PM Modi in his official car during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. Both leaders held a bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House, a 97-year-old architectural landmark whose role in the country’s statecraft has only grown with time. But before that, Putin was hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner. During his two-day visit, the Russian president stayed at the luxurious Chanakya Suite at the ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi. The suit Putin stayed in had a massive area of 4,600 square feet. Within it, the suite contains the master bedroom, a steam room and sauna, a gym, its own reception, a living room, a dining room with a capacity to seat 12 guests. Moreover, the nightly tariff of the suit is around ₹8-10 lakh.

In present-day India, the 21-gun salute is reserved only for the Indian President, the national flag, and key state ceremonies. But it is also extended to foreign heads of state on official visits to the country.

WION Explains | Why do foreign leaders, like Putin, receive 21-gun salute in India

On Wednesday, (3rd Dec) and Thursday, (4th Dec), chaos unfolded in the vicinity of the Thiruparankundram hilltop temple in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district. There were minor clashes between Hindu religious outfits backed by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) and the Tamil Nadu Police authorities. After multiple hearings at the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court this week, this issue pertaining to the lighting of the sacred stone lamp at the hilltop Hindu temple has reached the Supreme Court of India.What is the dispute?A temple and a mosque are situated in close proximity at &nbsp;Thiruparankundram hill in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district. The two shrines are - the Subramaniya Swamy temple, which dates back to the 6th century, and the Sikkander Badusha dargah, a mosque that came up in the 17th century.The issue pertains to the lighting of a sacred stone lamp at the hilltop temple on Karthigai Deepam, a one-day Hindu religious festival in Tamil Nadu. This festival is celebrated once a year.On one side, Hindu religious outfits backed by the Tamil Nadu BJP have been undertaking legal measures to ensure that the lamp be lit at the hilltop shrine, as per ancient custom. They believe that the ancient customs and faith must be upheld. They believe that the lamp must be lit at a spot that is in proximity to the mosque.On the other side, Tamil Nadu government authorities maintain that the lamp must be lit at what is known as the Deepa Mandapam, a different location in the vicinity of the hilltop temple. They cite that lighting the lamp at the Deepa Mandapam has been the practice for the last 100years or so. They also believe that lighting the lamp at the hilltop Hindu temple, close to a mosque, could potentially cause communal tensions and lead to law and order issues.What happened on Wednesday and Thursday nights ?Earlier this week, based on a petition from a member of a Hindu religious outfit, a single-judge from the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had ordered that the sacred lamp be lit at the hilltop shrine.On Wednesday evening, the Tamil Nadu Government authorities lit the lamp at the Deepa Mandapam, and not at the sacred stone lamp at the hilltop temple. On being apprised of this matter, the single-judge bench ordered that the petitioner and 10 others be permitted to light the lamp as per the court order. The judge also ordered the CISF paramilitary force to protect the petitioner.Amid crowding at the site, the Tamil Nadu Government issued prohibitory orders and prevented the petitioner and the CISF team from going up to the temple and lighting the lamp. That night, there were clashes between the Police and the BJP-backed Hindu outfits. The Tamil Nadu Government has maintained that it issued prohibitory orders and deployed a huge number of police personnel as they feared communal tensions that could have deteriorated.On Thursday, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had dismissed the petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Government. The court noted that communal harmony can be achieved by coexistence. Further, the court mentioned that preventing one side's religious function cannot achieve religious harmony. The court ordered that the lamp be lit at the hilltop shrine on Thursday evening.That evening, as the BJP-backed Hindu outfits began to gather for the lamp lighting, the Police did not permit them to proceed. The Police maintained that the Tamil Nadu government would be taking up this matter legally, once again. BJP leaders and members from Hindu outfits who protested at the site were taken into preventive custody.BJP VS DMK political battleOn Thursday night, defending their DMK Government's decision, Tamil Nadu Law Minister Reghupathy cited a 2014 order by a two-judge bench of the Madras High Court, which cited that the lamp must be lit at the Deepa Mandapam and not at the sacred stone lamp of the hilltop temple, near the mosque. He said that the decade-old order of the two-judge bench has not been set aside so far. The minister maintained that the DMK government is acting in accordance with the law. The DMK accused the BJP and its allied outfits of "fomenting trouble by mixing religion and politics to incite riots".The BJP, a part of the opposition alliance in Tamil Nadu, has accused the DMK government of being "anti-Hindu" and indulging in "minority appeasement politics", and "insulting Hindu faith".Tamil Nadu heads for the State Assembly polls in barely 4 months from now. BJP and AIADMK are part of the opposition NDA alliance, taking on the ruling DMK and its allies.Thiruparankundram case reaches the Supreme Court of IndiaOn Friday, (Dec 5th) the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court took up the matter, but agreed to initially hear the case on Tuesday, (Dec 9th), and later decided to hear it on Friday, (Dec 12th).Meanwhile, the DMK Government's counsel approached the Chief Justice of India for an urgent hearing of this issue. However, the Chief Justice refused to grant an urgent hearing, and clarity is yet to emerge on when it would be taken up for hearing.

The two shrines are - the Subramaniya Swamy temple, which dates back to the 6th century, and the Sikkander Badusha dargah, a mosque that came up in the 17th century.

On Wednesday, (3rd Dec) and Thursday, (4th Dec), chaos unfolded in the vicinity of the Thiruparankundram hilltop temple in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district. There were minor clashes between Hindu religious outfits backed by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) and the Tamil Nadu Police authorities. After multiple hearings at the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court this week, this issue pertaining to the lighting of the sacred stone lamp at the hilltop Hindu temple has reached the Supreme Court of India. What is the dispute? A temple and a mosque are situated in close proximity at Thiruparankundram hill in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district. The two shrines are - the Subramaniya Swamy temple, which dates back to the 6th century, and the Sikkander Badusha dargah, a mosque that came up in the 17th century. The issue pertains to the lighting of a sacred stone lamp at the hilltop temple on Karthigai Deepam, a one-day Hindu religious festival in Tamil Nadu. This festival is celebrated once a year. On one side, Hindu religious outfits backed by the Tamil Nadu BJP have been undertaking legal measures to ensure that the lamp be lit at the hilltop shrine, as per ancient custom. They believe that the ancient customs and faith must be upheld. They believe that the lamp must be lit at a spot that is in proximity to the mosque. On the other side, Tamil Nadu government authorities maintain that the lamp must be lit at what is known as the Deepa Mandapam, a different location in the vicinity of the hilltop temple. They cite that lighting the lamp at the Deepa Mandapam has been the practice for the last 100years or so. They also believe that lighting the lamp at the hilltop Hindu temple, close to a mosque, could potentially cause communal tensions and lead to law and order issues. What happened on Wednesday and Thursday nights ? Earlier this week, based on a petition from a member of a Hindu religious outfit, a single-judge from the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had ordered that the sacred lamp be lit at the hilltop shrine. On Wednesday evening, the Tamil Nadu Government authorities lit the lamp at the Deepa Mandapam, and not at the sacred stone lamp at the hilltop temple. On being apprised of this matter, the single-judge bench ordered that the petitioner and 10 others be permitted to light the lamp as per the court order. The judge also ordered the CISF paramilitary force to protect the petitioner. Amid crowding at the site, the Tamil Nadu Government issued prohibitory orders and prevented the petitioner and the CISF team from going up to the temple and lighting the lamp. That night, there were clashes between the Police and the BJP-backed Hindu outfits. The Tamil Nadu Government has maintained that it issued prohibitory orders and deployed a huge number of police personnel as they feared communal tensions that could have deteriorated. On Thursday, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had dismissed the petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Government. The court noted that communal harmony can be achieved by coexistence. Further, the court mentioned that preventing one side's religious function cannot achieve religious harmony. The court ordered that the lamp be lit at the hilltop shrine on Thursday evening. That evening, as the BJP-backed Hindu outfits began to gather for the lamp lighting, the Police did not permit them to proceed. The Police maintained that the Tamil Nadu government would be taking up this matter legally, once again. BJP leaders and members from Hindu outfits who protested at the site were taken into preventive custody. BJP VS DMK political battle On Thursday night, defending their DMK Government's decision, Tamil Nadu Law Minister Reghupathy cited a 2014 order by a two-judge bench of the Madras High Court, which cited that the lamp must be lit at the Deepa Mandapam and not at the sacred stone lamp of the hilltop temple, near the mosque. He said that the decade-old order of the two-judge bench has not been set aside so far. The minister maintained that the DMK government is acting in accordance with the law. The DMK accused the BJP and its allied outfits of "fomenting trouble by mixing religion and politics to incite riots". The BJP, a part of the opposition alliance in Tamil Nadu, has accused the DMK government of being "anti-Hindu" and indulging in "minority appeasement politics", and "insulting Hindu faith". Tamil Nadu heads for the State Assembly polls in barely 4 months from now. BJP and AIADMK are part of the opposition NDA alliance, taking on the ruling DMK and its allies. Thiruparankundram case reaches the Supreme Court of India On Friday, (Dec 5th) the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court took up the matter, but agreed to initially hear the case on Tuesday, (Dec 9th), and later decided to hear it on Friday, (Dec 12th). Meanwhile, the DMK Government's counsel approached the Chief Justice of India for an urgent hearing of this issue. However, the Chief Justice refused to grant an urgent hearing, and clarity is yet to emerge on when it would be taken up for hearing.

The two shrines are - the Subramaniya Swamy temple, which dates back to the 6th century, and the Sikkander Badusha dargah, a mosque that came up in the 17th century.

WION Explains | What is the Madurai Thirupanrankudram temple controversy about?

India on Friday (Dec 05) said that the Indian companies, private or public, make their decision to import oil from any country, including Russia, on the basis of evolving market dynamics and the commercial issues that they face while sourcing their supplies. Emphasising the energy needs of 1.4 billion people, New Delhi underlined that its policy of sourcing energy is based on twin goals of stable prices and secure supplies.&nbsp;"Ensuring stable energy prices and secure supplies are the twin goals of our sourcing policy, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on the issue of India's import of Russian oil.&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/putin-india-visit-all-the-deals-india-russia-have-signed-see-details-here-1764929395075"> Putin India visit: From defence to energy to fuel supplies, here are all the deals India-Russia have signed. See details</a>&nbsp;“And part of this, therefore, goes into the area of diversifying energy supplies and our partners, traditional as well as new, understand this and appreciate this. They also appreciate that Indian companies will take, and I point to the fact that this is something that covers both private companies as well as public companies, because in both cases, these are publicly listed companies,” he stated, adding that “These companies make decisions based on evolving market dynamics, and the commercial issues that they confront while sourcing their supplies. Within the four corners of this approach, we are continuing our cooperation between the two countries”.&nbsp;These statements from the Ministry of External Affairs followed a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The Russian president is visiting India for the first time since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-russia-summit-2025-here-are-the-key-takeaways-from-the-joint-statement-between-two-countries-1764942784745">India-Russia Summit 2025: Here are the key takeaways from the joint statement between two countries</a>&nbsp;India is facing significant pressure from the United States over its import of Russian energy. Accusing New Delhi of fueling Russia's war with Ukraine by purchasing oil from Moscow, &nbsp;President Trump has levied an additional 25 per cent tariff along with the 25 per cent baseline tariff on Indian exports to the US, taking the tariffs to a staggering 50 per cent.&nbsp;Reaffirming New Delhi's stand on the Russia-Ukraine war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told President Putin on Friday that India stands for peace and emphasised the need for the world to return to peaceful co-existence.&nbsp;

India emphasised that its policy of sourcing energy is driven by fulfilling the energy needs of its 1.4 billion people and guided by the twin goals of stable prices and secure supplies.

India on Friday (Dec 05) said that the Indian companies, private or public, make their decision to import oil from any country, including Russia, on the basis of evolving market dynamics and the commercial issues that they face while sourcing their supplies. Emphasising the energy needs of 1.4 billion people, New Delhi underlined that its policy of sourcing energy is based on twin goals of stable prices and secure supplies. "Ensuring stable energy prices and secure supplies are the twin goals of our sourcing policy, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on the issue of India's import of Russian oil. Also Read: Putin India visit: From defence to energy to fuel supplies, here are all the deals India-Russia have signed. See details “And part of this, therefore, goes into the area of diversifying energy supplies and our partners, traditional as well as new, understand this and appreciate this. They also appreciate that Indian companies will take, and I point to the fact that this is something that covers both private companies as well as public companies, because in both cases, these are publicly listed companies,” he stated, adding that “These companies make decisions based on evolving market dynamics, and the commercial issues that they confront while sourcing their supplies. Within the four corners of this approach, we are continuing our cooperation between the two countries”. These statements from the Ministry of External Affairs followed a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The Russian president is visiting India for the first time since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Also Read: India-Russia Summit 2025: Here are the key takeaways from the joint statement between two countries India is facing significant pressure from the United States over its import of Russian energy. Accusing New Delhi of fueling Russia's war with Ukraine by purchasing oil from Moscow, President Trump has levied an additional 25 per cent tariff along with the 25 per cent baseline tariff on Indian exports to the US, taking the tariffs to a staggering 50 per cent. Reaffirming New Delhi's stand on the Russia-Ukraine war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told President Putin on Friday that India stands for peace and emphasised the need for the world to return to peaceful co-existence.

India emphasised that its policy of sourcing energy is driven by fulfilling the energy needs of its 1.4 billion people and guided by the twin goals of stable prices and secure supplies.

Putin India visit: Indian firms source Russian energy based on evolving market dynamics, says MEA

The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, held on December 4-5, 2025, in New Delhi, marked a significant moment in strengthening the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ between India and Russia. The joint statement issued after the summit highlighted the enduring cooperation across various sectors, underscoring the resilience of this time-tested relationship. Here are the key takeaways from the summit:<h2>Strengthening the strategic partnership</h2>The leaders of India and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to a strong, multi-dimensional partnership, rooted in mutual respect and trust. This year marks 25 years since the Declaration on Strategic Partnership was signed, and both sides agreed to make every effort to unlock the full potential of their relationship. The two countries emphasised their role as major global powers, working together to promote peace and stability, based on the principles of equality and indivisible security.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/putin-india-visit-joint-statement-between-india-russia-see-full-text-here-1764939638416">Putin India visit: Joint statement between India-Russia. See full text here</a><h2>Expanding trade and economic cooperation</h2>A major focus of the summit was expanding economic cooperation, with both sides setting an ambitious goal of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. The leaders highlighted the launch of the Programme 2030, a framework to enhance economic ties, particularly in advanced high-tech industries, energy, and trade with the Eurasian Economic Union. Both sides also discussed initiatives to ease trade barriers, improve logistics, and strengthen financial cooperation, including the use of national currencies for transactions.<h2>Advancing energy and defense cooperation</h2>Energy and defense remain pillars of the India-Russia partnership. The summit saw further collaboration in sectors like oil, gas, nuclear energy, and defense technology. Both sides discussed joint ventures in the energy sector, including long-term supply of fertilizers and oil, as well as technological cooperation in nuclear energy. On defense, India and Russia committed to expanding joint research, development, and manufacturing of advanced defense technologies, in line with India’s “Make-in-India” initiative.<h2>Cooperation on regional and global issues</h2>In terms of international diplomacy, both India and Russia agreed to continue their strong cooperation in multilateral platforms like the UN, G20, BRICS, and SCO. The leaders emphasised their commitment to reforming the UN Security Council to reflect contemporary global realities and reiterated support for India’s permanent membership. On regional issues, the two countries expressed their unified stance on counter-terrorism, global climate change, and the security situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East.<h2>Focus on science, technology, and cultural exchange</h2>India and Russia agreed to ramp up cooperation in science, technology, and education. Both sides expressed interest in collaborative research, especially in emerging fields like critical minerals, AI, and digital technologies. Cultural exchanges were also a key part of the discussions, with both nations looking to expand bilateral ties through joint film productions, art festivals, and educational linkages.

India-Russia Summit 2025: Here are the key takeaways from the joint statement between two countries

The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, held on December 4-5, 2025, in New Delhi, marked a significant moment in strengthening the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ between India and Russia. The joint statement issued after the summit highlighted the enduring cooperation across various sectors, underscoring the resilience of this time-tested relationship. Here are the key takeaways from the summit: Strengthening the strategic partnership The leaders of India and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to a strong, multi-dimensional partnership, rooted in mutual respect and trust. This year marks 25 years since the Declaration on Strategic Partnership was signed, and both sides agreed to make every effort to unlock the full potential of their relationship. The two countries emphasised their role as major global powers, working together to promote peace and stability, based on the principles of equality and indivisible security. Also Read: Putin India visit: Joint statement between India-Russia. See full text here Expanding trade and economic cooperation A major focus of the summit was expanding economic cooperation, with both sides setting an ambitious goal of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. The leaders highlighted the launch of the Programme 2030, a framework to enhance economic ties, particularly in advanced high-tech industries, energy, and trade with the Eurasian Economic Union. Both sides also discussed initiatives to ease trade barriers, improve logistics, and strengthen financial cooperation, including the use of national currencies for transactions. Advancing energy and defense cooperation Energy and defense remain pillars of the India-Russia partnership. The summit saw further collaboration in sectors like oil, gas, nuclear energy, and defense technology. Both sides discussed joint ventures in the energy sector, including long-term supply of fertilizers and oil, as well as technological cooperation in nuclear energy. On defense, India and Russia committed to expanding joint research, development, and manufacturing of advanced defense technologies, in line with India’s “Make-in-India” initiative. Cooperation on regional and global issues In terms of international diplomacy, both India and Russia agreed to continue their strong cooperation in multilateral platforms like the UN, G20, BRICS, and SCO. The leaders emphasised their commitment to reforming the UN Security Council to reflect contemporary global realities and reiterated support for India’s permanent membership. On regional issues, the two countries expressed their unified stance on counter-terrorism, global climate change, and the security situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Focus on science, technology, and cultural exchange India and Russia agreed to ramp up cooperation in science, technology, and education. Both sides expressed interest in collaborative research, especially in emerging fields like critical minerals, AI, and digital technologies. Cultural exchanges were also a key part of the discussions, with both nations looking to expand bilateral ties through joint film productions, art festivals, and educational linkages.

Russia President Vladimir Putin is in India for his two-day visit for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. WION takes a look at the key takeaways from the joint statement issued after both the leaders met

Russian Nuclear Power Agency Rosatom's Chief Alexey Likhachev&nbsp;has announced that Unit 3 of the Indo-Russian Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant(KKNPP) in the Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu will begin commissioning operations in 2026. "Units 3 and 4 of Kudankulam NPP are at a high stage of readiness. Next year, we will begin commissioning operations directly at Unit 3. And year after year, we will put into operation Units 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Kudankulam NPP," said Likachev, Director General of the Rosatom State Corporation. Likachev is a part of the delegation that is accompanying Russian President Putin on his State visit to India.&nbsp;The update regarding operationalising Unit 3 follows Rosatom's announcement on Thursday, (Dec 4), that it has commenced delivery of Nuclear fuel for the upcoming Unit 3 of India's Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant(KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu. The Indo-Russian KKNPP is India's largest Nuclear power generation facility.&nbsp;&nbsp;Of the KKNPP's six Russian-origin&nbsp;VVER-1000 reactors, units 1 and 2 were connected to India’s national power grid in 2013 and 2016 respectively, and currently supply electricity to the southern regions of the country. Unit 3 is in the pre-commissioning phase, and Units 4,5,6 are in various stages of construction. Each of these reactors are capable of generating 1000Megawatts of power. When fully operational, KKNPP would generate about 6,000Megawatts of power. At present, KKNPP generates 2,000Megawatts, which is about one-fourth of India's total Nuclear power generating capacity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Likachev noted that India is among the few nations, like Russia, that has an end-to-end competence in the Nuclear sector, ranging from Uranium mining and processing to decommissioning a Nuclear power plant. Tracing India's progress in Nuclear power generation since the 1960s, he said that India's first Nuclear power plants were primarily supplied by North America.&nbsp;&nbsp;The nuclear reactors at India's Tarapur Atomic Power Station in Maharashtra, commissioned in 1969, were supplied by US firm General Electric. They are India's first nuclear reactors and the only reactors supplied directly by the West. Even the reactors at Rajasthan Atomic Power Station were designed with Canadian Assistance. These are the only two Nuclear projects in India with Western links.&nbsp;"It must be said that at a certain stage the Indians faced limitations, first of all in fuel supplies and uranium products," Likachev said. He elaborated that the peaceful atom has been the key area of cooperation between Russia and India, since the start of the millennium.&nbsp; &nbsp;Further, he noted that Units 1 &amp; 2 of the KKNPP are already operating at full capacity, providing stable power supply. "It is important to emphasise that their output exceeds the nominal level - above the declared 1,000 Megawatt - and the Indians are very pleased with this."

The update regarding operationalising Unit 3 follows Rosatom's announcement on Thursday, (Dec 4), that it has commenced delivery of Nuclear fuel for the upcoming Unit 3 of India's Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant(KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu. 

Russian Nuclear Power Agency Rosatom's Chief Alexey Likhachev has announced that Unit 3 of the Indo-Russian Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant(KKNPP) in the Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu will begin commissioning operations in 2026. "Units 3 and 4 of Kudankulam NPP are at a high stage of readiness. Next year, we will begin commissioning operations directly at Unit 3. And year after year, we will put into operation Units 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Kudankulam NPP," said Likachev, Director General of the Rosatom State Corporation. Likachev is a part of the delegation that is accompanying Russian President Putin on his State visit to India. The update regarding operationalising Unit 3 follows Rosatom's announcement on Thursday, (Dec 4), that it has commenced delivery of Nuclear fuel for the upcoming Unit 3 of India's Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant(KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu. The Indo-Russian KKNPP is India's largest Nuclear power generation facility. Of the KKNPP's six Russian-origin VVER-1000 reactors, units 1 and 2 were connected to India’s national power grid in 2013 and 2016 respectively, and currently supply electricity to the southern regions of the country. Unit 3 is in the pre-commissioning phase, and Units 4,5,6 are in various stages of construction. Each of these reactors are capable of generating 1000Megawatts of power. When fully operational, KKNPP would generate about 6,000Megawatts of power. At present, KKNPP generates 2,000Megawatts, which is about one-fourth of India's total Nuclear power generating capacity. Likachev noted that India is among the few nations, like Russia, that has an end-to-end competence in the Nuclear sector, ranging from Uranium mining and processing to decommissioning a Nuclear power plant. Tracing India's progress in Nuclear power generation since the 1960s, he said that India's first Nuclear power plants were primarily supplied by North America. The nuclear reactors at India's Tarapur Atomic Power Station in Maharashtra, commissioned in 1969, were supplied by US firm General Electric. They are India's first nuclear reactors and the only reactors supplied directly by the West. Even the reactors at Rajasthan Atomic Power Station were designed with Canadian Assistance. These are the only two Nuclear projects in India with Western links. "It must be said that at a certain stage the Indians faced limitations, first of all in fuel supplies and uranium products," Likachev said. He elaborated that the peaceful atom has been the key area of cooperation between Russia and India, since the start of the millennium. Further, he noted that Units 1 & 2 of the KKNPP are already operating at full capacity, providing stable power supply. "It is important to emphasise that their output exceeds the nominal level - above the declared 1,000 Megawatt - and the Indians are very pleased with this."

The update regarding operationalising Unit 3 follows Rosatom's announcement on Thursday, (Dec 4), that it has commenced delivery of Nuclear fuel for the upcoming Unit 3 of India's Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant(KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;

Commissioning of Kudankulam Unit-3 to start in 2026: Rosatom Chief

‘IndiGo standard time’ – if you fly with the budget airline frequently, then you are familiar with this phrase. Must also be acquainted with the fact that they always get you to your destination before time, or so they claim. But now, as the airline is facing massive operational drawbacks, thousands of passengers are stranded at airports across the country due to cancellations. This has led to a couple attending their own wedding reception online. The hall was booked; guests had arrived, but the couple to be celebrated couldn’t make it to the venue.&nbsp;&nbsp;Though they were being streamed online as the couple could not make it to Hubbali in Karnataka from Bhubaneswar in Odisha, as the bride interacted with her friends and family, she apologised. “Our flight was cancelled, and we did not get any other flight. We are extremely apologetic for not making it.” The Internet is surely a boon in this case; also, this may be a different kind of reception where the bride and groom, the stars of the evening, were missing from the scene.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">✈️ IndiGo Crisis + Desi Jugaad = Best Lesson for Professionals 😂 A techie couple’s IndiGo flight got cancelled… so they attended their own reception on Zoom! Parents turned the hall into a live theatre — laptop on stage, couple on big screen. Zero drama. Total jugaad. And… <a href="https://t.co/ZMXiXFcoB0">pic.twitter.com/ZMXiXFcoB0</a>&mdash; CA Kamlesh Kumar (@CaKamlesh_hzb) <a href="https://twitter.com/CaKamlesh_hzb/status/1996896427612790902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Internet reacts…</h2>&nbsp;Netizens had a field day and couldn't keep calm, one X user Gaurav Sharma, wrote, “Parents turned the hall into a live theater.....laptop on stage, newlyweds on big screen. Full desi jugaad.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A newly wed techie couple was forced to attend their own reception on Zoom after their IndiGo flight from Bhubaneswar to Hubballi was cancelled. Parents turned the hall into a live theater.....laptop on stage, newlyweds on big screen. Full desi jugaad <a href="https://t.co/s6YZn3VwZs">pic.twitter.com/s6YZn3VwZs</a>&mdash; Gaurav Sharma 🇮🇳 (@GaurxShreya) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaurxShreya/status/1996869376742768768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Another named Kamlesh Kumar wrote, “And honestly, this is the perfect professional lesson too. In life and in tax practice — plans fail, systems crash, deadlines shift. But adaptability is everything.”

For some it was unlocking a new fear. “New fear unlocked - Not being able to attend your own reception due to flight delays and cancellations!” Nisha Anandani wrote.&nbsp;<h2>The IndiGo saga</h2>&nbsp;Airports across India have Indigo airline passengers frustrated due to delays and cancellations. Over a thousand flights have been cancelled. For now, the airline says it is due to changes in FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations), which DGCA had revised in January 2024 and was to be implemented in a phased manner; that’s the very bug that bit the system and has caused the disruptions. Passengers have been stranded at airports for hours; those planning to get to the airport have been receiving rescheduling notifications.&nbsp;When it comes to FDTL updates, the airline has been highlighting that pilots need rest, and so these implementations are important and necessary. During the implementation period, the airline brought in additional dispensation to the revised FDTL norms; as a result, it also increased flights in the winter schedule. These cancellations may not be entirely due to the revised standards.&nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

The hall was booked; guests had arrived, but the couple to be celebrated couldn’t make it to the venue due to IndiGo flight cancellations.

‘IndiGo standard time’ – if you fly with the budget airline frequently, then you are familiar with this phrase. Must also be acquainted with the fact that they always get you to your destination before time, or so they claim. But now, as the airline is facing massive operational drawbacks, thousands of passengers are stranded at airports across the country due to cancellations. This has led to a couple attending their own wedding reception online. The hall was booked; guests had arrived, but the couple to be celebrated couldn’t make it to the venue. Though they were being streamed online as the couple could not make it to Hubbali in Karnataka from Bhubaneswar in Odisha, as the bride interacted with her friends and family, she apologised. “Our flight was cancelled, and we did not get any other flight. We are extremely apologetic for not making it.” The Internet is surely a boon in this case; also, this may be a different kind of reception where the bride and groom, the stars of the evening, were missing from the scene.

The hall was booked; guests had arrived, but the couple to be celebrated couldn’t make it to the venue due to IndiGo flight cancellations.

Couple attends own wedding reception online due to IndiGo flight cancellations

Putin India visit: Joint statement between India-Russia. See full text here

Russia President Vladimir Putin is in India for his two-day visit, where he held talks with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, looking to strengthen trade, defence and economic sector. Here is the full text of the joint statement between India-Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday (Dec 4) for a 2-day state visit. He received a red carpet welcome from the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Palam Airport. Meanwhile, the Congress Party claimed that the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, was not invited to the President’s banquet. The party claimed that neither its national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, was sent an invitation to meet Putin.&nbsp;But Congress Party's Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor received the invitation for the dinner. Tharoor confirmed receiving the invitation and said that he would “definitely" attend the event.&nbsp;“I don’t know about the Leader of the Opposition not being invited, and I am not aware of the basis on which invitations were issued," Tharoor said, adding that he was “honoured to be invited."&nbsp;This came after Tharoor led the multi-party delegation to express India's stand on zero-tolerance for terrorism and details of Operation Sindoor. President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin this evening at Rashtrapati Bhawan.&nbsp;Putin's India visit&nbsp;PM Modi welcomed the Russian president at the Palam Airport, and the duo carpooled to reach the official residence of PM Modi. This was the second time the duo was seen sharing the same car. Last time, in September, Putin had offered a ride to PM Modi in his official car during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China.&nbsp;Both leaders held a bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House, a 97-year-old architectural landmark whose role in the country’s statecraft has only grown with time. But before that, Putin was hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner.

During his two-day visit, the Russian president stayed at the luxurious Chanakya Suite at the ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi. The suit Putin stayed in had a massive area of 4,600 square feet. Within it, the suite contains the master bedroom, a steam room and sauna, a gym, its own reception, a living room, a dining room with a capacity to seat 12 guests. Moreover, the nightly tariff of the suit is around ₹8-10 lakh.

This came after Tharoor led the multi-party delegation to express India's stand on zero-tolerance for terrorism and details of Operation Sindoor. President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin this evening at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday (Dec 4) for a 2-day state visit. He received a red carpet welcome from the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Palam Airport. Meanwhile, the Congress Party claimed that the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, was not invited to the President’s banquet. The party claimed that neither its national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, was sent an invitation to meet Putin. But Congress Party's Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor received the invitation for the dinner. Tharoor confirmed receiving the invitation and said that he would “definitely" attend the event. “I don’t know about the Leader of the Opposition not being invited, and I am not aware of the basis on which invitations were issued," Tharoor said, adding that he was “honoured to be invited." This came after Tharoor led the multi-party delegation to express India's stand on zero-tolerance for terrorism and details of Operation Sindoor. President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin this evening at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Putin's India visit PM Modi welcomed the Russian president at the Palam Airport, and the duo carpooled to reach the official residence of PM Modi. This was the second time the duo was seen sharing the same car. Last time, in September, Putin had offered a ride to PM Modi in his official car during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. Both leaders held a bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House, a 97-year-old architectural landmark whose role in the country’s statecraft has only grown with time. But before that, Putin was hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner.

This came after Tharoor led the multi-party delegation to express India's stand on zero-tolerance for terrorism and details of Operation Sindoor. President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin this evening at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Not Rahul Gandhi but Shashi Tharoor gets invitation to meet Putin at President’s Banquet

India's civil aviation regulator on Friday (Dec 5) partially withdrew the strict implementation of pilot duty timing rules, moments after the biggest private carrier IndiGo suspended the day's flights out of Delhi and requested more time to implement the new norms. But as a common airline passenger, I knew something was amiss when IndiGo and other airlines started turning long-haul flights into two or three plane changes with stopovers. It became almost impossible to book straight flights for long journeys at what used to be ‘low-cost’ fares. The choice was to either shell out more money or change flights and suffer four or more hours of layovers for three-hour direct flying times. With practically only two or three airlines operating virtually all sectors of India, chaos was bound to happen. The method of continuous operations — sector-hopping — was possible only because airline crews and pilots were forced to work extra hours. But IndiGo chaos is only the tip of the iceberg. There are deeper issues. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-civil-aviation-agency-dgca-withdraws-weekly-rest-instructions-to-airlines-after-massive-disruptions-across-nation-1764921338252">Indian civil aviation agency DGCA withdraws weekly rest instructions to airlines after massive disruptions across nation</a><h2>What is ailing Indian civil aviation?</h2>The Air India accident earlier this year served as a literal wake-up call about the extent of pilot fatigue and sleep deprivation. After court orders, the regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), &nbsp;cracked down through stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). This upended the previously unchecked exploitation of airline workers, from ground staff to pilots. Work fatigue is real, and many airline employees are either quitting or lining up for interviews with foreign airlines.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chaos-at-major-indian-airports-indigo-finally-gives-an-explanation-1764866098588/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/chaos-at-major-indian-airports-indigo-finally-gives-an-explanation-1764866098588/embed</a><h2>Passenger numbers grow, but airline numbers go down</h2>As aspirational classes grow, more Indians are flying instead of taking trains — from migrant workers to middle-class families to honeymooners, for work, leisure or business. Domestic air travel reached 161.3 million passengers in 2024. In sharp contrast is the fall in the number of airlines operating: since the low-cost boom of the early 2000s, many airlines have shut down, merged or exited. Deccan Air, Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways, Vistara, Indian Airlines and AirAsia India are no longer operating as independent full-service carriers. Only a handful remain, and Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Go First operate only in limited sectors.&nbsp;<h2>Airports are stretched thin, under renovation, while more are expected</h2>Despite surging demand that could possibly support more airlines to operate profitably, an artificial scarcity appears to have been created by the above factors. Airport conditions add to the strain. Some military airstrips, such as Hindon Airport, have recently been opened to civil aviation to ease congestion. The proposed Noida International Airport — originally scheduled for a December 2024 opening — is now expected to take at least another year before full operations begin. Meanwhile, major airports such as those in Delhi — including Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminals 2 and 3) — are undergoing continuous cycles of construction and refurbishment. Yet passenger congestion shows little improvement.<h2>Poor take-offs, lucky landings: Indian flyers are on a wing and a prayer</h2>Airports in India still struggle with weather disruptions, particularly in northern states. In winter, low-visibility ‒ or “fog-delay” mechanisms — often fail despite best efforts, resulting in hundreds of routine delays or cancellations from December to February. Year 2026 appears likely to bring more chaos. Reports suggest that conditions may not stabilise before February, even for major carriers. After the Air India accident, it would not be an exaggeration to say that passengers are on a wing and a prayer, given the numerous near-misses, mid-air turbulence-related incidents, bird hits, weather-caused diversions and emergency landings involving major private airlines.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-flight-cancellations-airline-requests-fdtl-exemptions-as-disruptions-leave-passengers-stranded-on-friday-1764908704130">IndiGo cancels all departures at Delhi airport on Friday, over 500 flights affected</a><h2>FDTL, a sudden slap on airlines milking both passengers and crews</h2>The 300-rupee sandwich on low-cost airlines is not new. But the exploitation, it now emerges, has affected not only passengers but airline crews too. How much they had been stretched became clear when airlines simply failed to maintain schedules after mandatory rest periods were strengthened by law.The disruption at IndiGo came after the full enforcement of revised FDTL rules from November 1. DGCA mandated strict limits on night duties and rest hours to address pilot fatigue. Caught in the bind was IndiGo, the biggest private airline, which operates about 2,300 flights a day with over 400 aircraft in its fleet. It had not hired enough replacement pilots, having long relied on maximising overnight rotations.In November alone, IndiGo cancelled 1,232 flights, 755 of them directly linked to crew unavailability under the new FDTL norms. On-time performance (OTP), which the airline once boasted as its hallmark (remember IST or Indigo Standard Time?) dropped to 67.7 per cent in November from 84.1 per cent in October. The fallout affected airports nationwide.<h2>Airport congestion worsened in past months</h2>When pilots rest, aircraft are grounded. This caused a ripple effect on practically all airlines, leading to widespread delays and cancellations, which surged to 170–200 per day. Some days saw over 300 cancellations, leaving many passengers stranded and overwhelmed airports.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-flight-cancellations-fdtl-rule-delays-refund-compensation-2025-1764918319752">Indigo flight cancellations: Will you get a refund? What airlines' rules say?</a><h2>These are not the only issues: from technical snags to lack of fleet to fuel cost</h2>Airlines are also facing a double whammy of technical issues associated with the duopoly of Airbus / Boeing. In March this year, around 133 aircraft across Indian carriers, which is nearly 16 per cent of the commercial fleet, reportedly remained grounded due to engine-related supply chain delays and defects. Up to 70 planes of IndiGo were grounded as of January 2025, largely due to powder-metal contamination in engines. Replacement with wet-leased or older aircraft raised lease rental costs. Fuel efficiency was low even as fuel cost was going up, squeezing airline profit margins.Geopolitical headwinds like the wars in Ukraine and West Asia affected fuel supply, and new aircraft deliveries faced long backlogs.&nbsp;The net result is that capacity remains unable to catch up with soaring demand, creating persistent instability in Indian passenger aviation sector.So it is time to view the current chaos not as just an IndiGo crisis, but as a symptom of deeper, systemic failure. Stakeholders — the government, private carriers and worker unions — must put their heads together and act before the next major disaster.

IndiGo crisis made one thing clear: India’s civil aviation sector is facing chaos. Passenger demand has collided with pilot shortages.  FDTL rules have hit a sector already reeling under grounded aircraft and airport congestion. This is a systemic crisis.

India's civil aviation regulator on Friday (Dec 5) partially withdrew the strict implementation of pilot duty timing rules, moments after the biggest private carrier IndiGo suspended the day's flights out of Delhi and requested more time to implement the new norms. But as a common airline passenger, I knew something was amiss when IndiGo and other airlines started turning long-haul flights into two or three plane changes with stopovers. It became almost impossible to book straight flights for long journeys at what used to be ‘low-cost’ fares. The choice was to either shell out more money or change flights and suffer four or more hours of layovers for three-hour direct flying times. With practically only two or three airlines operating virtually all sectors of India, chaos was bound to happen. The method of continuous operations — sector-hopping — was possible only because airline crews and pilots were forced to work extra hours. But IndiGo chaos is only the tip of the iceberg. There are deeper issues. Also read: Indian civil aviation agency DGCA withdraws weekly rest instructions to airlines after massive disruptions across nation What is ailing Indian civil aviation? The Air India accident earlier this year served as a literal wake-up call about the extent of pilot fatigue and sleep deprivation. After court orders, the regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), cracked down through stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). This upended the previously unchecked exploitation of airline workers, from ground staff to pilots. Work fatigue is real, and many airline employees are either quitting or lining up for interviews with foreign airlines. https://www.wionews.com/videos/chaos-at-major-indian-airports-indigo-finally-gives-an-explanation-1764866098588/embed Passenger numbers grow, but airline numbers go down As aspirational classes grow, more Indians are flying instead of taking trains — from migrant workers to middle-class families to honeymooners, for work, leisure or business. Domestic air travel reached 161.3 million passengers in 2024. In sharp contrast is the fall in the number of airlines operating: since the low-cost boom of the early 2000s, many airlines have shut down, merged or exited. Deccan Air, Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways, Vistara, Indian Airlines and AirAsia India are no longer operating as independent full-service carriers. Only a handful remain, and Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Go First operate only in limited sectors. Airports are stretched thin, under renovation, while more are expected Despite surging demand that could possibly support more airlines to operate profitably, an artificial scarcity appears to have been created by the above factors. Airport conditions add to the strain. Some military airstrips, such as Hindon Airport, have recently been opened to civil aviation to ease congestion. The proposed Noida International Airport — originally scheduled for a December 2024 opening — is now expected to take at least another year before full operations begin. Meanwhile, major airports such as those in Delhi — including Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminals 2 and 3) — are undergoing continuous cycles of construction and refurbishment. Yet passenger congestion shows little improvement. Poor take-offs, lucky landings: Indian flyers are on a wing and a prayer Airports in India still struggle with weather disruptions, particularly in northern states. In winter, low-visibility ‒ or “fog-delay” mechanisms — often fail despite best efforts, resulting in hundreds of routine delays or cancellations from December to February. Year 2026 appears likely to bring more chaos. Reports suggest that conditions may not stabilise before February, even for major carriers. After the Air India accident, it would not be an exaggeration to say that passengers are on a wing and a prayer, given the numerous near-misses, mid-air turbulence-related incidents, bird hits, weather-caused diversions and emergency landings involving major private airlines. Also read: IndiGo cancels all departures at Delhi airport on Friday, over 500 flights affected FDTL, a sudden slap on airlines milking both passengers and crews The 300-rupee sandwich on low-cost airlines is not new. But the exploitation, it now emerges, has affected not only passengers but airline crews too. How much they had been stretched became clear when airlines simply failed to maintain schedules after mandatory rest periods were strengthened by law. The disruption at IndiGo came after the full enforcement of revised FDTL rules from November 1. DGCA mandated strict limits on night duties and rest hours to address pilot fatigue. Caught in the bind was IndiGo, the biggest private airline, which operates about 2,300 flights a day with over 400 aircraft in its fleet. It had not hired enough replacement pilots, having long relied on maximising overnight rotations. In November alone, IndiGo cancelled 1,232 flights, 755 of them directly linked to crew unavailability under the new FDTL norms. On-time performance (OTP), which the airline once boasted as its hallmark (remember IST or Indigo Standard Time?) dropped to 67.7 per cent in November from 84.1 per cent in October. The fallout affected airports nationwide. Airport congestion worsened in past months When pilots rest, aircraft are grounded. This caused a ripple effect on practically all airlines, leading to widespread delays and cancellations, which surged to 170–200 per day. Some days saw over 300 cancellations, leaving many passengers stranded and overwhelmed airports. Also read: Indigo flight cancellations: Will you get a refund? What airlines' rules say? These are not the only issues: from technical snags to lack of fleet to fuel cost Airlines are also facing a double whammy of technical issues associated with the duopoly of Airbus / Boeing. In March this year, around 133 aircraft across Indian carriers, which is nearly 16 per cent of the commercial fleet, reportedly remained grounded due to engine-related supply chain delays and defects. Up to 70 planes of IndiGo were grounded as of January 2025, largely due to powder-metal contamination in engines. Replacement with wet-leased or older aircraft raised lease rental costs. Fuel efficiency was low even as fuel cost was going up, squeezing airline profit margins. Geopolitical headwinds like the wars in Ukraine and West Asia affected fuel supply, and new aircraft deliveries faced long backlogs. The net result is that capacity remains unable to catch up with soaring demand, creating persistent instability in Indian passenger aviation sector. So it is time to view the current chaos not as just an IndiGo crisis, but as a symptom of deeper, systemic failure. Stakeholders — the government, private carriers and worker unions — must put their heads together and act before the next major disaster.

IndiGo crisis made one thing clear: India’s civil aviation sector is facing chaos. Passenger demand has collided with pilot shortages. &nbsp;FDTL rules have hit a sector already reeling under grounded aircraft and airport congestion. This is a systemic crisis. Here is why:

IndiGo flight chaos shows Indian passengers are on a wing and a prayer. And it's not a single airline's problem

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was the social reformer who challenged Indian societal barriers, rejected indignity in all forms and stood up for the marginalised and depressed classes of Hindus. From burning of the Manusmriti, standing against Gandhi to embracing Buddhism, Ambedkar's intellectual and political endeavours have shaped the definition of social justice in India. Eventhough caste pride is still evident, violence against Dalits is still prevalent, he laid the framework for the perpetual battle for the annihilation of caste. Here are some of the lesser-known facts about Ambedkar.&nbsp;<h2>Ambedkar refused to call M K Gandhi 'Mahtama'</h2>In a 1955 BBC interview, BR Ambedkar said that Gandhi "was never a Mahatma", he urged that “Gandhi did not deserve that title”, particularly because of the brand of politics of Gandhi. He said that Gandhism was a dangerous doctrine. Gandhi was a structural functionalist; he believed that social stratification, like class, caste, is there to serve certain functions. “He was just an episode in the history of India, not an epoch maker,” said Ambedkar. Peace researcher Johan Galtunberg said that the error was not in the man but in the structural violence itself. Gandhi, eventhough he recognised it, did not prioritise. His prescription was of an ideal society with an established caste system. However, he later resorted to euphemism to justify his caste support by attributing caste as ‘varna’.<h2>Ambedkar converted to Buddhism &nbsp;</h2>"Hindu religion is a dead religion…Nobody can get deliverance in the Hindu religion," said Ambedkar in Nagpur before converting to Buddhism along with his large followers in 1956. Instead, he presented Buddhism as a religion of equality and culture, where everyone from every caste, creed and community is connected by one thing only, suffering or ‘dukka’. Ambedkar was born in a Mahar family. He faced extreme difficulties due to his caste and poor financial conditions. Much of his intellectual and political struggle was influenced by his life experience.<h2>Ambedkar led the Mahad Satyagraha</h2>Ambedkar led all his followers to Chavdar Lake, Mahad, Maharashtra, on March 20, 1927, where he violated the long-imposed restriction on Dalits (untouchables) on the use of public water sources. On the eve of the protest, caste brahmins secured a stay order from the court. Against all the odds the act of drinking water from the tank was a symbolic resistance against the established caste system.&nbsp;<h2>Ambedkar Manusmriti Dahan&nbsp;</h2>Ambedkar, in 1927, publicly burnt the text that embodies the hegemony of the caste Hindu. The text Manusmriti perpetuated the caste system, patriarchy, and exploitation of the lower castes. Manusmriti was torn page by page and burnt by Dr Ambedkar, Sahastrabuddhe and six other Dalits. However, there was a single picture of Gandhi in the protest site, implying Dalits were still not disillusioned by him.<h2>Ambedkar advocated for the Dharma Chakra in the Indian flag</h2>Ambedkar pushed to replace the spinning wheel with the Ashok Chakra or Dharma Chakra in the Indian flag. The spinning wheel was the symbol attributed to Gandhi, which implied self-reliance, progress and justice. Ambedkar saw it as bound to a specific time and a political goal. Instead, he suggested the Asok Chakra, which represents India's spiritual, moral foundation, the 24 'wheel of law'.<h2>Ambedkar and the RSS</h2>There is a shift in RSS from burning effigies of Ambedkar to appropriating him. However, Union Home Minister Amit Shah once shouted in the Parliament, “Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar”, it has become a new fashion of late. In 1949, just before the drafting of the Indian Constitution, the RSS mouthpiece Organiser wrote that there is nothing Bharatiya about the constitution. The Hindu Code Bill, which addressed issues like intercaste marriage, inheritance and guardianship, was vehemently opposed by the Sangh, took out protests, and burnt its effigies. Now the RSS has shifted its stance from criticism to praise, actively seeking to co-opt Ambedkar's legacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Discover rare facts about Dr B.R. Ambedkar, from burning the Manusmriti and challenging Gandhi to converting to Buddhism and shaping India’s fight against caste.


Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was the social reformer who challenged Indian societal barriers, rejected indignity in all forms and stood up for the marginalised and depressed classes of Hindus. From burning of the Manusmriti, standing against Gandhi to embracing Buddhism, Ambedkar's intellectual and political endeavours have shaped the definition of social justice in India. Eventhough caste pride is still evident, violence against Dalits is still prevalent, he laid the framework for the perpetual battle for the annihilation of caste. Here are some of the lesser-known facts about Ambedkar. Ambedkar refused to call M K Gandhi 'Mahtama' In a 1955 BBC interview, BR Ambedkar said that Gandhi "was never a Mahatma", he urged that “Gandhi did not deserve that title”, particularly because of the brand of politics of Gandhi. He said that Gandhism was a dangerous doctrine. Gandhi was a structural functionalist; he believed that social stratification, like class, caste, is there to serve certain functions. “He was just an episode in the history of India, not an epoch maker,” said Ambedkar. Peace researcher Johan Galtunberg said that the error was not in the man but in the structural violence itself. Gandhi, eventhough he recognised it, did not prioritise. His prescription was of an ideal society with an established caste system. However, he later resorted to euphemism to justify his caste support by attributing caste as ‘varna’. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism "Hindu religion is a dead religion…Nobody can get deliverance in the Hindu religion," said Ambedkar in Nagpur before converting to Buddhism along with his large followers in 1956. Instead, he presented Buddhism as a religion of equality and culture, where everyone from every caste, creed and community is connected by one thing only, suffering or ‘dukka’. Ambedkar was born in a Mahar family. He faced extreme difficulties due to his caste and poor financial conditions. Much of his intellectual and political struggle was influenced by his life experience. Ambedkar led the Mahad Satyagraha Ambedkar led all his followers to Chavdar Lake, Mahad, Maharashtra, on March 20, 1927, where he violated the long-imposed restriction on Dalits (untouchables) on the use of public water sources. On the eve of the protest, caste brahmins secured a stay order from the court. Against all the odds the act of drinking water from the tank was a symbolic resistance against the established caste system. Ambedkar Manusmriti Dahan Ambedkar, in 1927, publicly burnt the text that embodies the hegemony of the caste Hindu. The text Manusmriti perpetuated the caste system, patriarchy, and exploitation of the lower castes. Manusmriti was torn page by page and burnt by Dr Ambedkar, Sahastrabuddhe and six other Dalits. However, there was a single picture of Gandhi in the protest site, implying Dalits were still not disillusioned by him. Ambedkar advocated for the Dharma Chakra in the Indian flag Ambedkar pushed to replace the spinning wheel with the Ashok Chakra or Dharma Chakra in the Indian flag. The spinning wheel was the symbol attributed to Gandhi, which implied self-reliance, progress and justice. Ambedkar saw it as bound to a specific time and a political goal. Instead, he suggested the Asok Chakra, which represents India's spiritual, moral foundation, the 24 'wheel of law'. Ambedkar and the RSS There is a shift in RSS from burning effigies of Ambedkar to appropriating him. However, Union Home Minister Amit Shah once shouted in the Parliament, “Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar”, it has become a new fashion of late. In 1949, just before the drafting of the Indian Constitution, the RSS mouthpiece Organiser wrote that there is nothing Bharatiya about the constitution. The Hindu Code Bill, which addressed issues like intercaste marriage, inheritance and guardianship, was vehemently opposed by the Sangh, took out protests, and burnt its effigies. Now the RSS has shifted its stance from criticism to praise, actively seeking to co-opt Ambedkar's legacy.

Discover rare facts about Dr B.R. Ambedkar, from burning the Manusmriti and challenging Gandhi to converting to Buddhism and shaping India’s fight against caste.

Dr BR Ambedkar death anniversary 2025: Untold stories of the architect of Indian constitution

The Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in India on Thursday (Dec 4), where he received a red-carpet welcome by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his two-day visit, the Russian president stayed at the luxurious Chanakya Suite at the ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi. The suit Putin stayed in had a massive area of 4,600 square feet. Within it, the suite contains the master bedroom, a steam room and sauna, a gym, its own reception, a living room, a dining room with a capacity to seat 12 guests. Moreover, the nightly tariff of the suit is around ₹8-10 lakh.&nbsp;Modi-Putin meeting at Hyderabad House&nbsp;Putin and PM Modi held a bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House, a 97-year-old architectural landmark whose role in the country’s statecraft has only grown with time. But before that, Putin was hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner.&nbsp;Completed in 1928, Hyderabad House is the legacy of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, then among the richest men in the world. Nizam wanted to build a permanent residence in Delhi, near the Viceroy's House (now Rashtrapati Bhawan). He purchased 8.2 acres, then added a neighbouring 3.73-acre plot.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-is-pm-modi-meeting-putin-at-hyderabad-house-here-s-story-behind-the-venue-1764857496732">Why is PM Modi meeting Putin at Hyderabad House? Here’s story behind the venue</a>&nbsp;Modi-Putin's bromance&nbsp;PM Modi welcomed the Russian president at the Palam Airport, and the duo carpooled to reach the official residence of PM Modi. This was the second time the duo was seen sharing the same car. Last time, in September, Putin had offered a ride to PM Modi in his official car during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China.&nbsp;As per the clips shared online, PM Modi and Putin travelled in a Toyota Alphard, 4th generation. The car is often used as a VIP limo van and is preferred for government delegations and secure movement.

The suit Putin stayed in had a massive area of 4,600 square feet. Within it, the suite contains the master bedroom, a steam room and sauna, a gym, its own reception, a living room, a dining room with a capacity to seat 12 guests. Moreover, the nightly tariff of the suit is around ₹8-10 lakh.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in India on Thursday (Dec 4), where he received a red-carpet welcome by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his two-day visit, the Russian president stayed at the luxurious Chanakya Suite at the ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi. The suit Putin stayed in had a massive area of 4,600 square feet. Within it, the suite contains the master bedroom, a steam room and sauna, a gym, its own reception, a living room, a dining room with a capacity to seat 12 guests. Moreover, the nightly tariff of the suit is around ₹8-10 lakh. Modi-Putin meeting at Hyderabad House Putin and PM Modi held a bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House, a 97-year-old architectural landmark whose role in the country’s statecraft has only grown with time. But before that, Putin was hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner. Completed in 1928, Hyderabad House is the legacy of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, then among the richest men in the world. Nizam wanted to build a permanent residence in Delhi, near the Viceroy's House (now Rashtrapati Bhawan). He purchased 8.2 acres, then added a neighbouring 3.73-acre plot. Also read: Why is PM Modi meeting Putin at Hyderabad House? Here’s story behind the venue Modi-Putin's bromance PM Modi welcomed the Russian president at the Palam Airport, and the duo carpooled to reach the official residence of PM Modi. This was the second time the duo was seen sharing the same car. Last time, in September, Putin had offered a ride to PM Modi in his official car during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. As per the clips shared online, PM Modi and Putin travelled in a Toyota Alphard, 4th generation. The car is often used as a VIP limo van and is preferred for government delegations and secure movement.

The suit Putin stayed in had a massive area of 4,600 square feet. Within it, the suite contains the master bedroom, a steam room and sauna, a gym, its own reception, a living room, a dining room with a capacity to seat 12 guests. Moreover, the nightly tariff of the suit is around ₹8-10 lakh.

Where did Putin stay during India visit? Here’s all about his grand suite at Delhi’s luxurious hotel

Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa announced that a newly inaugurated private facility near the southern Indian city of Chennai would roll out 30 million pieces of Corning Gorilla Glass in its first phase. The $111million(Rs.1,003cr) facility of BIG Tech, a joint venture between Corning and Optiemus, was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minster MK Stalin on Friday (December 5). American firm,&nbsp;Corning,&nbsp;is popularly known as the maker of Gorilla glass, a brand of toughened glass that is widely used in gadget displays.&nbsp;Speaking at the event, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that he was extremely delighted about Corning, a renowned American firm launching its industrial project in the state. He added that the project would create about 840 high-quality jobs.Referring to Tamil Nadu's business-friendly ecosystem, the chief minister recalled that this project went from foundation stone-laying to inauguration in a span of 17 months.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-offers-apology-full-refunds-from-dec-5-15-accommodation-amid-flight-cancellations-1764931624487">IndiGo offers apology, full refunds from Dec 5-15, accommodation amid flight cancellations</a>&nbsp;Tamil Nadu is ranked number one in India's electronics export sector, with over goods worth over $14.65billion being shipped out. "We con tribute a substantial 41% o the country's total electronics exports. Over the last four years, we have achieved a nine-fold growth in this sector," Stalin said.&nbsp;&nbsp;One among the Fortune 500 firms, US-headquartered, Corning&nbsp;International makes the Gorilla Glass brand of toughened glass that finds use in smartphones, tablet computers and other electronic gadgets. Gorilla glass is said to be used in more than eight billion smartphones. Indian firm Optiemus Infracom operates facilities that assemble smartphones and manufactures tempered glass units. They are involved in multi-domain experience including management, distribution and marketing of mobile and telecom products in the Indian subcontinent.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/putin-india-visit-india-s-economy-is-world-s-fastest-growing-economy-says-russia-president-vladimir-putin-1764932650967">Putin India visit: 'India's economy is world's fastest growing economy', says Russia President Vladimir Putin</a>

Corning Gorilla glass for gadgets to be made in India; $111mn facility inaugurated in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa announced that a newly inaugurated private facility near the southern Indian city of Chennai would roll out 30 million pieces of Corning Gorilla Glass in its first phase. The $111million(Rs.1,003cr) facility of BIG Tech, a joint venture between Corning and Optiemus, was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minster MK Stalin on Friday (December 5). American firm, Corning, is popularly known as the maker of Gorilla glass, a brand of toughened glass that is widely used in gadget displays. Speaking at the event, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that he was extremely delighted about Corning, a renowned American firm launching its industrial project in the state. He added that the project would create about 840 high-quality jobs. Referring to Tamil Nadu's business-friendly ecosystem, the chief minister recalled that this project went from foundation stone-laying to inauguration in a span of 17 months. Also Read: IndiGo offers apology, full refunds from Dec 5-15, accommodation amid flight cancellations Tamil Nadu is ranked number one in India's electronics export sector, with over goods worth over $14.65billion being shipped out. "We con tribute a substantial 41% o the country's total electronics exports. Over the last four years, we have achieved a nine-fold growth in this sector," Stalin said. One among the Fortune 500 firms, US-headquartered, Corning International makes the Gorilla Glass brand of toughened glass that finds use in smartphones, tablet computers and other electronic gadgets. Gorilla glass is said to be used in more than eight billion smartphones. Indian firm Optiemus Infracom operates facilities that assemble smartphones and manufactures tempered glass units. They are involved in multi-domain experience including management, distribution and marketing of mobile and telecom products in the Indian subcontinent. Also Read: Putin India visit: 'India's economy is world's fastest growing economy', says Russia President Vladimir Putin

Tamil Nadu is ranked number one in India's electronics export sector, with over goods worth over $14.65billion being shipped out

With the IndiGo flight disruptions entering the fourth day, and aggravating, the airline on Friday apologised for the inconvenience and announced that it would offer full refunds for all flights cancelled between December 5 and 15 which will be processed automatically to the original mode of payment. It will also provide a complete waiver on cancellations or rescheduling during this period.&nbsp;In a post on X, the airline also said that it has arranged thousands of hotel rooms and surface transport options along with food and snacks at airports to ease passenger inconvenience. In addition, the carrier said that it is also offering lounge access to senior citizens wherever possible.&nbsp;In the post on X, IndiGo also apologised to travellers, saying that it was deeply sorry for the flight meltdown that has triggered widespread chaos at all major airports in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/ckhaWnbo86">pic.twitter.com/ckhaWnbo86</a>&mdash; IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiGo6E/status/1996864171590500737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-550-indigo-flights-cancelled-as-disruption-continues-for-third-day-airline-seeks-relief-from-new-provisions-1764872985628">Over 550 IndiGo flights cancelled as disruption continues for third day, airline seeks relief from new provisions</a>&nbsp;Friday witnessed the highest number of IndiGo flight cancellations, with over 750 flights affected, compared to 550 on Thursday and 85 on Wednesday.&nbsp;Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were the worst-affected cities on Friday as hundreds of passengers were stranded and travel plans were in disarray. The airline cancelled all the 235 flights in the national capital.IndiGo, the largest airline in the country, usually operates around 2,300 flights a day and has a fleet of more than 400 aircraft.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-working-on-fta-moving-towards-mutual-settlements-in-national-currencies-says-putin-1764931650076">‘Working on FTA, moving towards mutual settlements in national currencies,’ says Putin</a>&nbsp;IndiGo’s operational collapse has caused its On-Time Performance (OTP), a key measure of airline punctuality, to plummet sharply.The airline’s OTP fell from 35 per cent on Tuesday to 19.7 per cent on Wednesday and plunged to 8.5 per cent on Thursday, according to the latest data from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, marking a sharp decline for an airline that has long promoted punctuality as one of its hallmarks.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-putin-s-aircraft-was-world-s-most-tracked-plane-en-route-india-1764861903043">Russian President Putin’s aircraft was world’s most-tracked plane en route India</a>&nbsp;The carrier has informed the aviation watchdog, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, that there will be more flight cancellations till December 8 and from that day, there will also be a reduction in services.

Friday witnessed the highest number of IndiGo flight cancellations, with over 750 flights affected, compared to 550 on Thursday and 85 on Wednesday. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were the worst-affected cities on Friday as hundreds of passengers were stranded.

With the IndiGo flight disruptions entering the fourth day, and aggravating, the airline on Friday apologised for the inconvenience and announced that it would offer full refunds for all flights cancelled between December 5 and 15 which will be processed automatically to the original mode of payment. It will also provide a complete waiver on cancellations or rescheduling during this period. In a post on X, the airline also said that it has arranged thousands of hotel rooms and surface transport options along with food and snacks at airports to ease passenger inconvenience. In addition, the carrier said that it is also offering lounge access to senior citizens wherever possible. In the post on X, IndiGo also apologised to travellers, saying that it was deeply sorry for the flight meltdown that has triggered widespread chaos at all major airports in the country.

Friday witnessed the highest number of IndiGo flight cancellations, with over 750 flights affected, compared to 550 on Thursday and 85 on Wednesday. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were the worst-affected cities on Friday as hundreds of passengers were stranded.

IndiGo offers apology, full refunds from Dec 5-15, accommodation amid flight cancellations

At the India-Russia Business Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasised the importance of strengthening the multi-dimensional economic ties between Russia and India. He said, “I pay particular attention to deepen multi-faceted economic ties between Russia and India. Following today's meetings, we adopted a document to develop India-Russia economic cooperation. Russian businesses are ready to increase purchases from India across a wide range of goods and services. I want to assure the businesses that Russia will support all initiatives.”&nbsp;He also noted the longstanding trade partnership between the two countries, highlighting that, “Indeed, Russia and India are long-time trade partners. Trade volumes are growing at a sustainable pace. And over the past three years, we saw a record increase of up to 80%. As a result, last year, the Russian-Indian trade volume reached $64 billion. There are vast opportunities for further increase of bilateral trade and investment. Russia and India have big consumer markets. Once again, I would like to stress that under the leadership of His Excellency Modi, India is conducting an absolutely independent and sovereign policy and at the same time achieves very good results in the economic field,” he added.&nbsp;In his speech, Putin also praised India’s economic progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "I would like to stress that under the leadership of PM Modi, India is conducting an independent and sovereign policy and at the same time achieving very good results. Today, the Indian economy is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Thanks to the sound economic policy and landmark initiative by PM Modi as the Make in India program, India is becoming technologically sovereign. India's IT and pharmaceutical sectors take a leading position in the world."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/putin-india-visit-all-the-deals-india-russia-have-signed-see-details-here-1764929395075">Putin India visit: From defence to energy to fuel supplies, here are all the deals India-Russia have signed. See details</a>&nbsp;Putin further underscored that the Russian delegation’s visit was not just focused on energy agreements, but also on expanding ties across a wide range of sectors, saying, "The Russian delegation did not only come to discuss energy issues and sign contracts for the supplies of oil and gas. What we want is the development of our multifaceted relations with India in various fields. Prime Minister stressed on many occasions in our private talks that India has vast and growing opportunities in many fields, but up until now they haven't been used to the extent both parties want to see it. That is precisely the reason why we convened this forum."&nbsp;Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed several key areas of cooperation between the two countries. He highlighted the liberalisation of sectors like defense and space, which have been opened to the private sector, creating new avenues for collaboration. "Defence and space have been opened to the private sector. This has created new opportunities in these sectors. Now we are going to open the door to new possibilities in the civil-nuclear sector as well. This is not just administrative reform, but mindset reform. The only resolve behind these reforms is a developed India," Modi said.&nbsp;On enhancing connectivity, Modi stressed the importance of fully utilising the potential of logistical corridors, particularly the Chennai-Vladivostok corridor, underlining the commitment to advancing projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Northern Sea Route. "I would like to present some ideas for furthering our cooperation. First, in the area of logistics and connectivity, in today's meeting, President Putin and I emphasised realizing the full potential of our connectivity. We are committed to moving forward on the INSTC, or the Northern Sea Route, i.e., the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor. Progress will be made in this direction soon. This will reduce transit times, lower costs, and open up new markets for businesses. With the power of digital technology, we can connect customs, logistics, and regulatory systems through virtual trade corridors. This will speed up customs clearance, reduce paperwork, and make cargo movement more seamless."&nbsp;Modi also outlined the ambitious target for bilateral trade, setting a goal of surpassing $100 billion by 2030. However, based on the ongoing momentum and the potential he sees, he expressed confidence that the target might be achieved ahead of schedule. “President Putin and I set a goal of exceeding the $100 billion target for bilateral trade by 2030. But from my conversations with President Putin since yesterday, and the potential we see, I don't think we'll have to wait until 2030. We are moving forward with determination to achieve that goal ahead of schedule, and my confidence is growing. Tariff and non-tariff barriers are being reduced. The speed and scale of change we have achieved in India over the past 11 years is unprecedented. Following the principle of reform, perform, and transform, India is rapidly moving towards becoming the world's third-largest economy. Our resolve is stronger than ever, and we are moving forward with great confidence and at a rapid pace towards our goals. Next-generation reforms in GST and reduction in compliance are steps taken to promote ease of doing business.”

Putin India visit: 'India's economy is world's fastest growing economy', says Russia President Vladimir Putin

At the India-Russia Business Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasised the importance of strengthening the multi-dimensional economic ties between Russia and India. He said, “I pay particular attention to deepen multi-faceted economic ties between Russia and India. Following today's meetings, we adopted a document to develop India-Russia economic cooperation. Russian businesses are ready to increase purchases from India across a wide range of goods and services. I want to assure the businesses that Russia will support all initiatives.” He also noted the longstanding trade partnership between the two countries, highlighting that, “Indeed, Russia and India are long-time trade partners. Trade volumes are growing at a sustainable pace. And over the past three years, we saw a record increase of up to 80%. As a result, last year, the Russian-Indian trade volume reached $64 billion. There are vast opportunities for further increase of bilateral trade and investment. Russia and India have big consumer markets. Once again, I would like to stress that under the leadership of His Excellency Modi, India is conducting an absolutely independent and sovereign policy and at the same time achieves very good results in the economic field,” he added. In his speech, Putin also praised India’s economic progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "I would like to stress that under the leadership of PM Modi, India is conducting an independent and sovereign policy and at the same time achieving very good results. Today, the Indian economy is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Thanks to the sound economic policy and landmark initiative by PM Modi as the Make in India program, India is becoming technologically sovereign. India's IT and pharmaceutical sectors take a leading position in the world." Also Read: Putin India visit: From defence to energy to fuel supplies, here are all the deals India-Russia have signed. See details Putin further underscored that the Russian delegation’s visit was not just focused on energy agreements, but also on expanding ties across a wide range of sectors, saying, "The Russian delegation did not only come to discuss energy issues and sign contracts for the supplies of oil and gas. What we want is the development of our multifaceted relations with India in various fields. Prime Minister stressed on many occasions in our private talks that India has vast and growing opportunities in many fields, but up until now they haven't been used to the extent both parties want to see it. That is precisely the reason why we convened this forum." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed several key areas of cooperation between the two countries. He highlighted the liberalisation of sectors like defense and space, which have been opened to the private sector, creating new avenues for collaboration. "Defence and space have been opened to the private sector. This has created new opportunities in these sectors. Now we are going to open the door to new possibilities in the civil-nuclear sector as well. This is not just administrative reform, but mindset reform. The only resolve behind these reforms is a developed India," Modi said. On enhancing connectivity, Modi stressed the importance of fully utilising the potential of logistical corridors, particularly the Chennai-Vladivostok corridor, underlining the commitment to advancing projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Northern Sea Route. "I would like to present some ideas for furthering our cooperation. First, in the area of logistics and connectivity, in today's meeting, President Putin and I emphasised realizing the full potential of our connectivity. We are committed to moving forward on the INSTC, or the Northern Sea Route, i.e., the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor. Progress will be made in this direction soon. This will reduce transit times, lower costs, and open up new markets for businesses. With the power of digital technology, we can connect customs, logistics, and regulatory systems through virtual trade corridors. This will speed up customs clearance, reduce paperwork, and make cargo movement more seamless." Modi also outlined the ambitious target for bilateral trade, setting a goal of surpassing $100 billion by 2030. However, based on the ongoing momentum and the potential he sees, he expressed confidence that the target might be achieved ahead of schedule. “President Putin and I set a goal of exceeding the $100 billion target for bilateral trade by 2030. But from my conversations with President Putin since yesterday, and the potential we see, I don't think we'll have to wait until 2030. We are moving forward with determination to achieve that goal ahead of schedule, and my confidence is growing. Tariff and non-tariff barriers are being reduced. The speed and scale of change we have achieved in India over the past 11 years is unprecedented. Following the principle of reform, perform, and transform, India is rapidly moving towards becoming the world's third-largest economy. Our resolve is stronger than ever, and we are moving forward with great confidence and at a rapid pace towards our goals. Next-generation reforms in GST and reduction in compliance are steps taken to promote ease of doing business.”

Russia President Vladimir Putin is in India for his two-day visit, where he held talks with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, looking to strengthen trade, defence and economic sector

On Friday (December 5), India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia President Vladimir Putin announced Economic Cooperation Programme aimed at boosting trade and investment between the two countries till 2030. The announcement came during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, reflecting the strong bilateral ties that have endured various global challenges over decades.&nbsp;In his remarks, PM Modi stressed on the enduring nature of India-Russia relations, describing them as “steadfast like a pole star.” He expressed that the partnership, based on mutual respect and deep trust, has withstood the test of time and several global shifts. Modi highlighted that the new Economic Cooperation Programme will aim to diversify and balance trade, ensuring its sustainability. Additionally, he showed optimism about the India-Russia Business Forum, scheduled to follow the summit, which will serve as a platform to enhance export opportunities, co-production ventures, and innovation between the two countries.&nbsp;Modi further mentioned that both countries are actively working towards finalising a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union, which will expand economic ties. Reflecting on the historical progression of the partnership, he recalled that 25 years ago, President Putin laid the groundwork for a strategic relationship between India and Russia. Over time, this partnership was elevated to a "special and privileged strategic" status, which has been continually nurtured by Putin.<h2>Here are the key agreements signed during the summit</h2>Several agreements were signed across various sectors, further cementing the bilateral ties between India and Russia. Key highlights include:&nbsp;<ul><li>Energy cooperation: Russia reaffirmed its commitment to providing uninterrupted fuel shipments to support India's growing economy.</li><li>Industrial partnerships: Indian firms inked a deal with Russia’s URALCHEM to set up a urea manufacturing plant in Russia.</li><li>Food safety: India’s FSSAI and Russia’s consumer protection agency formalized agreements to strengthen food safety regulations.</li><li>Healthcare cooperation: Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to enhance collaboration in medical research and healthcare.</li><li>Maritime logistics: An MoU was signed to bolster India-Russia collaboration in port and shipping operations.</li><li>Migration and mobility: Both countries signed agreements to streamline migration and facilitate the movement of people between India and Russia.</li></ul>President Putin also highlighted joint efforts in building new international logistics routes and proposed future cooperation on small modular nuclear reactors and floating nuclear power plants.<h2>Energy and strategic partnership</h2>The energy and strategic partnership remain central to the India-Russia relationship. PM Modi emphasised that energy security plays a vital role in the partnership, especially in the fields of civil nuclear energy and critical minerals. Both leaders acknowledged the importance of these minerals in securing global supply chains and supporting the clean energy sector, high-tech manufacturing, and emerging industries.&nbsp;The two countries also expressed mutual interest in Arctic operations, with India offering training to seafarers for polar conditions, thus opening up employment opportunities and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the region. Both leaders set their sights on increasing annual bilateral trade to $100 billion and highlighted the shift towards settling trade in national currencies, marking a significant step towards deeper economic integration.<h2>Cultural and diplomatic engagements</h2>The summit was preceded by a formal reception for President Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he received a tri-services guard of honour. This was followed by a visit to Rajghat, where Putin paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, further solidifying the cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries.&nbsp;Prime Minister Modi personally welcomed President Putin at Palam Airport, with a hug, which underscored their strong personal rapport. The two leaders shared a ride to the Prime Minister's residence, where Putin was gifted a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, symbolising the cultural connection between India and Russia.&nbsp;Throughout the visit, President Putin is set to engage in various activities, including participating in the India-Russia Business Forum, launching the RT channel in India, and attending a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. Putin also thanked PM Modi for India’s role in mediating the ongoing Ukraine conflict, calling the discussions “informative and useful.” Both leaders reiterated their shared commitment to combating terrorism, promoting regional stability, and collaborating on environmental conservation. Additionally, Russia agreed to join India in the International Big Cat Alliance, a further extension of their environmental cooperation.

Putin India visit: All the deals India-Russia have signed. See details here

On Friday (December 5), India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia President Vladimir Putin announced Economic Cooperation Programme aimed at boosting trade and investment between the two countries till 2030. The announcement came during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, reflecting the strong bilateral ties that have endured various global challenges over decades. In his remarks, PM Modi stressed on the enduring nature of India-Russia relations, describing them as “steadfast like a pole star.” He expressed that the partnership, based on mutual respect and deep trust, has withstood the test of time and several global shifts. Modi highlighted that the new Economic Cooperation Programme will aim to diversify and balance trade, ensuring its sustainability. Additionally, he showed optimism about the India-Russia Business Forum, scheduled to follow the summit, which will serve as a platform to enhance export opportunities, co-production ventures, and innovation between the two countries. Modi further mentioned that both countries are actively working towards finalising a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union, which will expand economic ties. Reflecting on the historical progression of the partnership, he recalled that 25 years ago, President Putin laid the groundwork for a strategic relationship between India and Russia. Over time, this partnership was elevated to a "special and privileged strategic" status, which has been continually nurtured by Putin. Here are the key agreements signed during the summit Several agreements were signed across various sectors, further cementing the bilateral ties between India and Russia. Key highlights include: Energy cooperation: Russia reaffirmed its commitment to providing uninterrupted fuel shipments to support India's growing economy. Industrial partnerships: Indian firms inked a deal with Russia’s URALCHEM to set up a urea manufacturing plant in Russia. Food safety: India’s FSSAI and Russia’s consumer protection agency formalized agreements to strengthen food safety regulations. Healthcare cooperation: Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to enhance collaboration in medical research and healthcare. Maritime logistics: An MoU was signed to bolster India-Russia collaboration in port and shipping operations. Migration and mobility: Both countries signed agreements to streamline migration and facilitate the movement of people between India and Russia. President Putin also highlighted joint efforts in building new international logistics routes and proposed future cooperation on small modular nuclear reactors and floating nuclear power plants. Energy and strategic partnership The energy and strategic partnership remain central to the India-Russia relationship. PM Modi emphasised that energy security plays a vital role in the partnership, especially in the fields of civil nuclear energy and critical minerals. Both leaders acknowledged the importance of these minerals in securing global supply chains and supporting the clean energy sector, high-tech manufacturing, and emerging industries. The two countries also expressed mutual interest in Arctic operations, with India offering training to seafarers for polar conditions, thus opening up employment opportunities and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the region. Both leaders set their sights on increasing annual bilateral trade to $100 billion and highlighted the shift towards settling trade in national currencies, marking a significant step towards deeper economic integration. Cultural and diplomatic engagements The summit was preceded by a formal reception for President Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he received a tri-services guard of honour. This was followed by a visit to Rajghat, where Putin paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, further solidifying the cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi personally welcomed President Putin at Palam Airport, with a hug, which underscored their strong personal rapport. The two leaders shared a ride to the Prime Minister's residence, where Putin was gifted a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, symbolising the cultural connection between India and Russia. Throughout the visit, President Putin is set to engage in various activities, including participating in the India-Russia Business Forum, launching the RT channel in India, and attending a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. Putin also thanked PM Modi for India’s role in mediating the ongoing Ukraine conflict, calling the discussions “informative and useful.” Both leaders reiterated their shared commitment to combating terrorism, promoting regional stability, and collaborating on environmental conservation. Additionally, Russia agreed to join India in the International Big Cat Alliance, a further extension of their environmental cooperation.

Russia President Vladimir Putin is in India for his two-day visit, where he held talks with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, looking to strengthen trade, defence and economic sector. WION takes a look at some of the key deals that has been signed between the two countries

Putin India visit: From defence to energy to fuel supplies, here are all the deals India-Russia have signed. See details

At the joint press meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday following the 23rd India-Russia annual summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the two countries are working to finalise a Free Trade Agreement and are gradually moving to mutual settlements in national currencies. In his statement, Putin said, “The Prime Minister gave us a list of challenges that deserve the attention of both governments, and we will act on them. The creation of a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union will help. Our countries are gradually moving to mutual settlements in national currencies, which already account for 96 per cent of commercial transactions. We are also witnessing successful partnerships in energy - stable supplies of oil, gas, coal, and everything required for India’s energy needs.”&nbsp;President Putin also said that India-Russia trade grew 12% last year and the turnover this year is also expected to be strong.&nbsp;Putin added that Russia and India pursue independent foreign policies and defend UN principles with like-minded countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi | Russian President Vladimir Putin says, &quot;Russia and India are conducting independent and self-sufficient foreign policy with like-minded countries in BRICS, SCO and other countries of the global majority...We are defending the main principle of the law enshrined… <a href="https://t.co/rfoXgUMzvy">pic.twitter.com/rfoXgUMzvy</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1996877605317021722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-putin-s-aircraft-was-world-s-most-tracked-plane-en-route-india-1764861903043">Russian President Putin’s aircraft was world’s most-tracked plane en route India</a> Addressing the joint press meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the summit, PM Modi said, “India and Russia are working towards the early conclusion of a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.”PM Modi also shared that they have signed a Vision 2030 document to further economic cooperation. “Both of us will take part in the India-Russia Business Forum. I am confident this platform will strengthen our business relations and open new avenues for co-production and co-innovation. Both countries are also taking new steps to realise an FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union.” <h2>‘Energy security strong pillar of India-Russia ties’</h2> PM Modi said that energy security has been a strong and important pillar of the India-Russia partnership. “Our decades-old cooperation in civil nuclear energy has been crucial in realising our shared clean energy priorities. We will continue this win-win cooperation. Our cooperation in critical minerals is crucial to ensuring secure and diversified supply chains across the world. This will provide strong support to our partnership in clean energy, high-tech manufacturing, and new-age industries.” “Our deep cooperation in shipbuilding has the potential to strengthen Make in India. This is another excellent example of our win-win cooperation, which will boost jobs, skills, and regional connectivity.” Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-to-hold-bidding-again-to-sell-loss-making-national-airline-pia-on-dec-23-asim-munir-s-foundation-among-bidders-1764845432571">Pakistan to hold bidding again to sell loss-making PIA on Dec 23; Asim Munir-controlled firm among bidders</a><h2>Does trade in mutual currencies between nations impact US?</h2> Several countries had talked of building an alternative economic architecture to the existing one dominated by the West and trade in mutual currencies rather than in the US dollar.But trade in non-dollar currencies, referred to as ‘de-dollarisation’ poses a threat to the value and supremacy of the US dollar and US economic dominance. Russia and China took the lead in de-dollarisation and in 2023, announced plans to increase bilateral trade in non-USD currencies. In 2024, over 90% of Russia-China bilateral trade was carried out in Russian rubles and Chinese yuan. Both countries also launched an alternative cross-border payment mechanism to the US-dominated SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) system. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-radical-islam-poses-a-grave-threat-to-the-us-and-the-entire-world-marco-rubio-1764786437365">‘Radical Islam poses grave threat to the US and entire world’: Marco Rubio</a> US President Donald Trump adopted a tough stand against de-dollarisation and issued threats of imposing tariffs on nations challenging the supremacy of the US dollar. After assuming office in his second term, Trump threatened BRICS countries that they would face 100 per cent tariffs on trade with the US if they continued their de-dollarisation efforts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that India-Russia trade grew 12% last year and the turnover this year is also expected to be strong. Putin added that Russia and India pursue independent foreign policies and defend UN principles with like-minded countries.

At the joint press meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday following the 23rd India-Russia annual summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the two countries are working to finalise a Free Trade Agreement and are gradually moving to mutual settlements in national currencies. In his statement, Putin said, “The Prime Minister gave us a list of challenges that deserve the attention of both governments, and we will act on them. The creation of a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union will help. Our countries are gradually moving to mutual settlements in national currencies, which already account for 96 per cent of commercial transactions. We are also witnessing successful partnerships in energy - stable supplies of oil, gas, coal, and everything required for India’s energy needs.” President Putin also said that India-Russia trade grew 12% last year and the turnover this year is also expected to be strong. Putin added that Russia and India pursue independent foreign policies and defend UN principles with like-minded countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that India-Russia trade grew 12% last year and the turnover this year is also expected to be strong. Putin added that Russia and India pursue independent foreign policies and defend UN principles with like-minded countries.

‘Working on FTA, moving towards mutual settlements in national currencies,’ says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (Dec 5) announced that Russia is building India’s largest nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu’s Kudankulam. He made the remarks at the joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi during his two-day state visit. Earlier on Thursday (Dec 4), Russia’s state-run nuclear corporation delivered the first consignment of fuel for the third reactor at the power plant.&nbsp;“We are conducting a flagship project to build India’s largest nuclear power plant at Kudankulam. Two of the six reactor units are already connected to the grid, while four more are under construction. Bringing this plant to full capacity will make an impressive contribution to India’s energy needs, providing cheap and clean power for industries and households,” Putin said.&nbsp;He further added, “We can also discuss small modular reactors, floating nuclear plants, and non-energy uses of nuclear technology, including in medicine and agriculture. We are working with our Indian partners to build new international transport and logistics routes, including the International North–South Transport Corridor from Russia and Belarus to the Indian Ocean. There are major opportunities for bilateral trade with the expansion of this corridor, including its key link -the Northern Sea Route.”&nbsp;The fuel assemblies manufactured by the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant were delivered by a cargo flight operated by the Nuclear Fuel Division of Rosatom, the firm said on Thursday (Dec 4).&nbsp;The Kudankulam will have six VVER-1000 reactors with a total power capacity of 6,000 MW. The first two reactors at the plant were connected to the power grid of the country in 2013 and 2016. The other four reactors are currently under construction.&nbsp;Rosatom said that during the operations of the first two reactors as part of the first phase of the project, Russian and Indian engineers have collaborated to increase efficiency with advanced nuclear fuel and extended fuel cycles.

Earlier today, Russia’s state-run nuclear corporation said that it delivered the first consignment of fuel for the third reactor at the power plant.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (Dec 5) announced that Russia is building India’s largest nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu’s Kudankulam. He made the remarks at the joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi during his two-day state visit. Earlier on Thursday (Dec 4), Russia’s state-run nuclear corporation delivered the first consignment of fuel for the third reactor at the power plant. “We are conducting a flagship project to build India’s largest nuclear power plant at Kudankulam. Two of the six reactor units are already connected to the grid, while four more are under construction. Bringing this plant to full capacity will make an impressive contribution to India’s energy needs, providing cheap and clean power for industries and households,” Putin said. He further added, “We can also discuss small modular reactors, floating nuclear plants, and non-energy uses of nuclear technology, including in medicine and agriculture. We are working with our Indian partners to build new international transport and logistics routes, including the International North–South Transport Corridor from Russia and Belarus to the Indian Ocean. There are major opportunities for bilateral trade with the expansion of this corridor, including its key link -the Northern Sea Route.” The fuel assemblies manufactured by the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant were delivered by a cargo flight operated by the Nuclear Fuel Division of Rosatom, the firm said on Thursday (Dec 4). The Kudankulam will have six VVER-1000 reactors with a total power capacity of 6,000 MW. The first two reactors at the plant were connected to the power grid of the country in 2013 and 2016. The other four reactors are currently under construction. Rosatom said that during the operations of the first two reactors as part of the first phase of the project, Russian and Indian engineers have collaborated to increase efficiency with advanced nuclear fuel and extended fuel cycles.

Earlier today, Russia’s state-run nuclear corporation said that it delivered the first consignment of fuel for the third reactor at the power plant.

‘Impressive contribution to energy needs’: Russia to build India’s largest nuclear power plant in Kudankulam, says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would continue “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India during the press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday (Dec 5). This comes as India faces heavy US pressure to stop buying oil from Moscow.“Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and everything that is required for the development of India’s energy,” Putin told the press conference. “We are ready to continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel for the fast-growing Indian economy.”Addressing Putin as “my friend”, PM Modi also thanked him for his “unwavering commitment towards India.” He added that “energy security has been a strong and important pillar of the India-Russia partnership.” He also lauded time-tested ties between New Delhi and Moscow.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-impressive-contribution-to-energy-needs-russia-to-build-india-s-largest-nuclear-power-plant-in-kudankulam-says-putin-1764929473586">‘Impressive contribution to energy needs’: Russia to build India’s largest nuclear power plant in Kudankulam, says Putin</a>“We have agreed on an economic cooperation program until 2030,” PM Modi said after officials exchanged several key agreements, including on health, chemicals, jobs, and shipping.“This will ensure that our trade and investment are diversified, balanced, and sustainable,” he said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-we-cannot-interfere-what-kremlin-said-on-india-s-declining-russian-oil-imports-1764674130998">‘We cannot interfere…’: What Kremlin said on India’s declining Russian oil imports</a>Putin also announced that Russia is building India’s largest nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu’s Kudankulam. Earlier on Thursday (Dec 4), Russia’s state-run nuclear corporation delivered the first consignment of fuel for the third reactor at the power plant.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-us-trade-deal-soon-officials-from-washington-expected-to-visit-new-delhi-next-week-1764903476978">India-US trade deal soon? Officials from Washington expected to visit New Delhi next week</a>Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s Russian oil imports, saying it helps fund the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, reports suggested that US officials are expected to arrive in New Delhi next week to hold trade talks.&nbsp;

“Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and everything that is required for the development of India’s energy,” Putin told the press conference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would continue “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India during the press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday (Dec 5). This comes as India faces heavy US pressure to stop buying oil from Moscow. “Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and everything that is required for the development of India’s energy,” Putin told the press conference. “We are ready to continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel for the fast-growing Indian economy.” Addressing Putin as “my friend”, PM Modi also thanked him for his “unwavering commitment towards India.” He added that “energy security has been a strong and important pillar of the India-Russia partnership.” He also lauded time-tested ties between New Delhi and Moscow. Also read | ‘Impressive contribution to energy needs’: Russia to build India’s largest nuclear power plant in Kudankulam, says Putin “We have agreed on an economic cooperation program until 2030,” PM Modi said after officials exchanged several key agreements, including on health, chemicals, jobs, and shipping. “This will ensure that our trade and investment are diversified, balanced, and sustainable,” he said. Also read | ‘We cannot interfere…’: What Kremlin said on India’s declining Russian oil imports Putin also announced that Russia is building India’s largest nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu’s Kudankulam. Earlier on Thursday (Dec 4), Russia’s state-run nuclear corporation delivered the first consignment of fuel for the third reactor at the power plant. Also read | India-US trade deal soon? Officials from Washington expected to visit New Delhi next week Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s Russian oil imports, saying it helps fund the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, reports suggested that US officials are expected to arrive in New Delhi next week to hold trade talks.

“Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and everything that is required for the development of India’s energy,” Putin told the press conference.

‘Ready to continue uninterrupted shipments’: Putin assures Russian oil supply to India

Users around the world experienced significant disruptions in Cloudflare’s services on Friday (December 5), triggering a surge of frustration and complaints on social media platform X. The outage affected numerous websites, including popular services like Canva and Downdetector, leaving users unable to access essential online tools. Several trading platforms, including Groww and Zerodha, were also impacted by the downtime. Cloudflare acknowledged the issue, citing problems with its Dashboard and associated Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and said that it was investigating the cause.&nbsp;This is Cloudflare's second major disruption in less than a month. In November, a similar outage affected a wide range of platforms, including Spotify, ChatGPT, and even US President Donald Trump’s Truth Social. As a major provider of internet infrastructure, Cloudflare offers services designed to protect websites from cyberattacks and ensure they remain accessible during heavy traffic. Following the latest outage, social media was flooded with users expressing their frustration. Many shared how the disruption had impacted their work and businesses, with many demanding swift action and a permanent resolution.<h2>What caused today’s Cloudflare outage?</h2>Cloudflare said that the outage was due to an internal malfunction disrupting key parts of its network infrastructure. According to information shared publicly, problem led to slowdowns and instability across its services. Even Downdetector, the go-to site for monitoring online service failures, went down, showing just how big the disruption was. Users on X reported their apps crashing without warning and posted screenshots showing a variety of server error notices.&nbsp;The incident drew even more attention after a viral post on social media joked about a “tiny tweak” by a new Cloudflare engineer supposedly triggering the chaos and the outage. Although the remark originated from X users and wasn’t an official statement, it captured the uncertainty and speculation that spread during the outage.

Cloudflare outage today: Major websites affected as users unable to use apps; company issues statement

Users around the world experienced significant disruptions in Cloudflare’s services on Friday (December 5), triggering a surge of frustration and complaints on social media platform X. The outage affected numerous websites, including popular services like Canva and Downdetector, leaving users unable to access essential online tools. Several trading platforms, including Groww and Zerodha, were also impacted by the downtime. Cloudflare acknowledged the issue, citing problems with its Dashboard and associated Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and said that it was investigating the cause. This is Cloudflare's second major disruption in less than a month. In November, a similar outage affected a wide range of platforms, including Spotify, ChatGPT, and even US President Donald Trump’s Truth Social. As a major provider of internet infrastructure, Cloudflare offers services designed to protect websites from cyberattacks and ensure they remain accessible during heavy traffic. Following the latest outage, social media was flooded with users expressing their frustration. Many shared how the disruption had impacted their work and businesses, with many demanding swift action and a permanent resolution. What caused today’s Cloudflare outage? Cloudflare said that the outage was due to an internal malfunction disrupting key parts of its network infrastructure. According to information shared publicly, problem led to slowdowns and instability across its services. Even Downdetector, the go-to site for monitoring online service failures, went down, showing just how big the disruption was. Users on X reported their apps crashing without warning and posted screenshots showing a variety of server error notices. The incident drew even more attention after a viral post on social media joked about a “tiny tweak” by a new Cloudflare engineer supposedly triggering the chaos and the outage. Although the remark originated from X users and wasn’t an official statement, it captured the uncertainty and speculation that spread during the outage.

Cloudflare faces a second major outage in a month, impacting websites like Canva, Downdetector, and trading platforms. Several users expressed frustration on social media platforms

On Friday (Dec 5), Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a press conference. This is the former’s 11th visit to India and is aimed at strengthening ties and boosting trade. In his address, PM Modi honoured the relationship between the two nations. He said, “Exactly 25 years ago, President Putin laid the foundation for our strategic partnership, and in 2010, our friendship was granted the status of Special Privileged Strategic Partnership. His leadership, under all circumstances, has elevated our ties to new heights. I express my heartfelt gratitude to President Putin, my friend, for this deep friendship and unwavering commitment to India."&nbsp;Following the 23rd India-Russia annual summit, PM Modi says, "Over the past 8 decades, the world has witnessed numerous ups and downs. Humanity has had to pass through many challenges and crises. And amidst all this, the India-Russia friendship has remained steadfast like a pole star."

PM Modi honoured the relationship between the two nations, he said, “Exactly 25 years ago, President Putin had laid the foundation for our strategic partnership, and 2010 our friendship was honoured with special and privileged partnership.”

On Friday (Dec 5), Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a press conference. This is the former’s 11th visit to India and is aimed at strengthening ties and boosting trade. In his address, PM Modi honoured the relationship between the two nations. He said, “Exactly 25 years ago, President Putin laid the foundation for our strategic partnership, and in 2010, our friendship was granted the status of Special Privileged Strategic Partnership. His leadership, under all circumstances, has elevated our ties to new heights. I express my heartfelt gratitude to President Putin, my friend, for this deep friendship and unwavering commitment to India." Following the 23rd India-Russia annual summit, PM Modi says, "Over the past 8 decades, the world has witnessed numerous ups and downs. Humanity has had to pass through many challenges and crises. And amidst all this, the India-Russia friendship has remained steadfast like a pole star."

PM Modi honoured the relationship between the two nations, he said, “Exactly 25 years ago, President Putin had laid the foundation for our strategic partnership, and 2010 our friendship was honoured with special and privileged partnership.”

'Stood the test of time': PM Modi honours India-Russia friendship, expresses gratitude towards President Putin

Farm fires in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana are said to be one of the major reasons for rising air pollution in national capital Delhi and its adjoining areas, for which the governments have shown great concern and have been imposing various restrictions. However, the farmers in order to evade detection by polar satellites.&nbsp;According to a study by the Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) a gradual shift has been observed in peak farm-fire activity in Punjab and Haryana from the early afternoon to early evening over the five years beginning 2020 to avoid being mapped by satellites.&nbsp;This is why the ISRO study suggests that the falling numbers of farm fires likely reflect an “underestimation of active fire events during October-November in Punjab and Haryana”, as suggested by official data.&nbsp;“We observe a gradual temporal shift between 2021 and 2024, with peak fire activity occurring around 17:00 IST in 2024… At the same time, the window of fire activity narrowed substantially, suggesting an informed adjustment by farmers to avoid detection by polar-orbiting sensors,” the study, published in Current Science on 24 November, said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Punjab and Haryana farmers in order to evade detection by polar satellites have shifted stubble burning from the early afternoon to early evening hours.

Farm fires in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana are said to be one of the major reasons for rising air pollution in national capital Delhi and its adjoining areas, for which the governments have shown great concern and have been imposing various restrictions. However, the farmers in order to evade detection by polar satellites. According to a study by the Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) a gradual shift has been observed in peak farm-fire activity in Punjab and Haryana from the early afternoon to early evening over the five years beginning 2020 to avoid being mapped by satellites. This is why the ISRO study suggests that the falling numbers of farm fires likely reflect an “underestimation of active fire events during October-November in Punjab and Haryana”, as suggested by official data. “We observe a gradual temporal shift between 2021 and 2024, with peak fire activity occurring around 17:00 IST in 2024… At the same time, the window of fire activity narrowed substantially, suggesting an informed adjustment by farmers to avoid detection by polar-orbiting sensors,” the study, published in Current Science on 24 November, said.

Punjab and Haryana farmers in order to evade detection by polar satellites have shifted stubble burning from the early afternoon to early evening hours.

Farm fires going uncounted? ISRO study points to shift in stubble-burning time

IndiGo is experiencing widespread flight cancellations and severe delays across India due to the new government's Flight Duty Time Limit Rule. On-time performance of the Airlines across the six metro airports has dropped to 8.5 per cent. The Airlines have cancelled all flights from Delhi until midnight today, December 5. Altogether, Indigo has already cancelled 550 flights on Thursday and 400 flights today.&nbsp;Various opposition leaders have criticised the poor performance of Indigo. TMC leader Kirti Azad said that "IndiGo loots people"; they overcharge everything, especially during the festive season. He blamed Indigo for these cancellations and delays and said they should pay for it, but instead, they will make it up to the passenger. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "He held a meeting late in the night and issued some directives, but what is the point of directives if so many flights are still being cancelled? If you are not responsible for rising airfares and passenger grievances, then shut down the Civil Aviation Ministry."The FDTL, which was aimed at reducing the burden on crew and pilots to minimise flying risk, has landed Indigo Airlines in murky waters due to its staff shortcomings and highlighted exploitative working conditions. The first notification was announced in January 2024. But Indigo's hiring freeze, "lean manpower strategy", and the lack of planning, even after a two-year window given by the DGCA to prepare for FDTL, are at the root of this disruption. The cancellations had a ripple effect across the nation; the bays are overburdened, as the pilot and cabin crew wait for ground clearance to fly. People are stranded at the airport.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">PTI PHOTO | Stranded passengers search for their luggage near a counter at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru after IndiGo cancelled more than 400 flights at various airports on Friday. <a href="https://t.co/nCHfJS16lI">pic.twitter.com/nCHfJS16lI</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1996823453119488440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Will you get a refund? What do airlines' rules say?</h2>If you are stranded at an airport or have a flight due, it is advisable to check the live status of the flight using the live IndiGo flight tracker. The Airlines have provided a Plan B for the affected passenger. If your flight is cancelled, rescheduled by more than an hour or postponed by more than two hours, you are eligible to rebook to an alternate flight or process a full refund. According to DGCA rules, the customer can avail up to 10,000 in compensation from the airlines if it informed of cancellation less than two weeks before the flight.&nbsp;&nbsp;

IndiGo cancels 950+ flights after new FDTL rules trigger staff shortages. On-time performance drops to 8.5%. Passengers face delays, refunds, and compensation.

IndiGo is experiencing widespread flight cancellations and severe delays across India due to the new government's Flight Duty Time Limit Rule. On-time performance of the Airlines across the six metro airports has dropped to 8.5 per cent. The Airlines have cancelled all flights from Delhi until midnight today, December 5. Altogether, Indigo has already cancelled 550 flights on Thursday and 400 flights today. Various opposition leaders have criticised the poor performance of Indigo. TMC leader Kirti Azad said that "IndiGo loots people"; they overcharge everything, especially during the festive season. He blamed Indigo for these cancellations and delays and said they should pay for it, but instead, they will make it up to the passenger. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "He held a meeting late in the night and issued some directives, but what is the point of directives if so many flights are still being cancelled? If you are not responsible for rising airfares and passenger grievances, then shut down the Civil Aviation Ministry." The FDTL, which was aimed at reducing the burden on crew and pilots to minimise flying risk, has landed Indigo Airlines in murky waters due to its staff shortcomings and highlighted exploitative working conditions. The first notification was announced in January 2024. But Indigo's hiring freeze, "lean manpower strategy", and the lack of planning, even after a two-year window given by the DGCA to prepare for FDTL, are at the root of this disruption. The cancellations had a ripple effect across the nation; the bays are overburdened, as the pilot and cabin crew wait for ground clearance to fly. People are stranded at the airport.

IndiGo cancels 950+ flights after new FDTL rules trigger staff shortages. On-time performance drops to 8.5%. Passengers face delays, refunds, and compensation.

Indigo flight cancellations: Will you get a refund? What airlines' rules say?

The Indian civil aviation agency, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has withdrawn its instructions to all operators regarding weekly rest for crew members with immediate effect. This comes after massive flight disruptions in major Indian carriers, including IndiGo, which is the hardest hit with over 1,000 cancellations in the last few days. Reports suggested that Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah spoke to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu regarding the situation.&nbsp;“Whereas, reference is invited to the above-mentioned letter, specifically to the paragraph stipulating that ‘no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest,’” the DCGA said in a notice on Friday (Dec 5).&nbsp;The notice added, “Whereas, in view of the ongoing operational disruptions and representations received from various airlines regarding the need to ensure continuity and stability of operations, it has been considered necessary to review the said provision.”&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-meltdown-how-new-pilot-fatigue-rules-forced-india-s-largest-airline-to-cancel-over-1-000-flights-1764917740626">IndiGo meltdown: How new pilot fatigue rules forced India’s largest airline to cancel over 1,000 flights</a>&nbsp;It further stated, “Now, therefore, the instruction contained in the referenced paragraph that no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect.”&nbsp;IndiGo issued a statement saying, "In addition to this, several operational measures have been directed to ensure that normal airline services are restored at the earliest and that the inconvenience caused to travellers is significantly reduced. Based on the immediate implementation of these directives, we expect that flight schedules will begin to stabilise and return to normal by tomorrow. We anticipate that complete restoration of services will be achieved within the next&nbsp;three&nbsp;days."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Indian civil aviation agency, DGCA withdraws instructions to all operators regarding &#39;weekly rest&#39; for crew members. This comes in view of massive disruptions and delays across Indian airports as multiple Indigo flights stand cancelled. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indigo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indigo</a> Source: X <a href="https://t.co/HPMb9JYp7f">pic.twitter.com/HPMb9JYp7f</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1996851503341228320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

DGCA DG Faiz Ahmed Kidwai has also requested All Pilot Associations and Pilots for cooperation amid the ongoing flight disruptions.&nbsp;The move comes after the Delhi Airport announced that all IndiGo departures were cancelled for Friday (Dec 5). In a statement, the airline confirmed, “We confirm that all IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport (DEL) on Dec 5, 2025, stand cancelled till 11:59 PM. We express our profound apologies to all our valued customers and stakeholders who have been significantly impacted by these unforeseen events.” It added, “To support our affected customers, we are offering them refreshments, next available flight options as per their preference, hotel accommodation, assistance in retrieving their luggage and full refunds, as applicable...”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">IndiGo issues a statement amid the ongoing widespread flight delays and cancellations- &quot;We confirm that all IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport (DEL) on Dec 5, 2025 stand cancelled till 11:59 PM. We express our profound apologies to all our valued customers and… <a href="https://t.co/clkdEXcvpF">pic.twitter.com/clkdEXcvpF</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1996856570676932618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

IndiGo airline earlier requested exemptions from the specific Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) provisions up to February 10.&nbsp;Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-flight-cancellations-airline-requests-fdtl-exemptions-as-disruptions-leave-passengers-stranded-on-friday-1764908704130"> IndiGo cancels all departures at Delhi airport on Friday, requests FDTL exemptions</a>&nbsp;“To reduce passenger inconvenience while maintaining safety margins, IndiGo has requested operational variations/exemptions from specific FDTL provisions for A320 operations up to 10th February 2026. IndiGo has assured DGCA that corrective actions are underway and that normalised and stable operations will be fully restored by 10 February 2026,” the DGCA said as quoted by news agency ANI.&nbsp;Hundreds of passengers claimed that they were left stranded at the airports for hours with no information being provided by IndiGo about their flight status. The flights are affected across the country at major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, and Kerala.

This comes after massive flight disruptions in major Indian carriers, including IndiGo, which is the hardest hit with over 1,000 cancellations in the last few days.

The Indian civil aviation agency, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has withdrawn its instructions to all operators regarding weekly rest for crew members with immediate effect. This comes after massive flight disruptions in major Indian carriers, including IndiGo, which is the hardest hit with over 1,000 cancellations in the last few days. Reports suggested that Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah spoke to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu regarding the situation. “Whereas, reference is invited to the above-mentioned letter, specifically to the paragraph stipulating that ‘no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest,’” the DCGA said in a notice on Friday (Dec 5). The notice added, “Whereas, in view of the ongoing operational disruptions and representations received from various airlines regarding the need to ensure continuity and stability of operations, it has been considered necessary to review the said provision.” Also read | IndiGo meltdown: How new pilot fatigue rules forced India’s largest airline to cancel over 1,000 flights It further stated, “Now, therefore, the instruction contained in the referenced paragraph that no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect.” IndiGo issued a statement saying, "In addition to this, several operational measures have been directed to ensure that normal airline services are restored at the earliest and that the inconvenience caused to travellers is significantly reduced. Based on the immediate implementation of these directives, we expect that flight schedules will begin to stabilise and return to normal by tomorrow. We anticipate that complete restoration of services will be achieved within the next three days."

This comes after massive flight disruptions in major Indian carriers, including IndiGo, which is the hardest hit with over 1,000 cancellations in the last few days.

Indian civil aviation agency DGCA withdraws weekly rest instructions to airlines after massive disruptions across nation

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Indian civil aviation agency DGCA withdraws weekly rest instructions to airlines