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As Russian President Vladimir Putin smiled elegantly and patiently addressed questions in a rare interview with an Indian television channel ahead of his arrival in New Delhi, I could not help but ask myself two questions: 1) Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi having an Indira Gandhi moment on ties with Moscow? 2) Is there a Raj Kapoor who can take bilateral relations to another level?The answer to both questions, on a closer look, seems to be a “No” – but not a resounding one. But the warmth, the optics and the hugs between the two leaders in an annual summit are enough to send a message to President Donald Trump in Washington and indeed to the whole world is that this is a good show of India’s strategic autonomy – a term that is increasingly a cliché, but a very useful one in a world that is more multilateral than we saw during the Cold War years when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi signed the Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty in 1971.The treaty of 1971 was signed with the then communist Soviet Union, when Putin was only 18, under pressure. Pakistan had edged so close to the US and China that the treaty was a comprehensive one covering the economy, technology, peace, friendship, and cooperation, and most important of all, a clear defence agreement. Article IX of the treaty had said that if one of the parties was attacked or threatened, the other would immediately assist the other. That clause, signed in August 1971, became critical for India in the war that liberated East Pakistan to create Bangladesh four months later.India’s economy was then a weak one, and there was not much of a choice for Mrs Gandhi as President Richard Nixon in the White House played hardball, even deploying the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet in the Bay of Bengal.Many of the items figuring in the to-do list of Indo-Russian cooperation on Putin’s agenda this year look like a repeat of the ones in 1971, with much more scope emerging in fields like military manufacturing and nuclear power. Apparel and labour mobility are emerging as new focus areas on the economic front, not to speak of the elephant in the room: Russian oil, whose imports by India have invited indirect US sanctions on Russian entities to pressure India, in addition to penal tariffs on India tied to Russian oil.In spite of all that, the defence part of Putin’s summit with Modi this year is somewhat muted as it is more about trade than a military alliance that the 1971 treaty smelled of. &nbsp;There is little doubt, however, that like in 1971, the terms set by the US and the body language of President Trump will naturally make Modi dial M for Moscow if push comes to shove.India’s Operation Sindoor attack on Pakistan-based terror bases saw two starkly contrasting images. While Russia’s S-400 air defence systems helped India strike Islamabad’s airborne missiles and aircraft deep inside Pakistani territory, Trump’s repeated claim that he brokered peace in the backdrop of an outdated India-Pakistan false equivalence framework (a familiar theme in the US State Department) left mouths sour in Delhi.All that would make some believe that it is 1971 redux, but that would be misleading and superficial. &nbsp; Trump, with his quirky personality, is more of a hardline American nationalist than a superpower sniper. &nbsp;US defence deals with India involve too many conditions that make it difficult to do business, and defence trade, like oil deals, are a natural area of convergence between Moscow and New Delhi.Beyond that, however, there have been fundamental shifts that make the US a strategic partner for India in trade, especially with the ghost of China looming over both countries.A hard look at trade data gives us a clearer picture.India-Russian trade touched nearly US $69 billion in FY 2024-25, a nearly six-fold increase from pre-COVID levels, thanks to India buying Russian oil that turned cheaper in the wake of the Ukraine war. &nbsp;But Indian exports at close to $5 billion contrast with the oil-laden imports at close to $64 billion – showing a gaping deficit that could widen if there are no corrective efforts. India’s export basket, including pharmaceuticals, textiles, chemicals, and engineering goods, shows a wide range but is limited in numbers.The US remains India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade close to $132 billion in FY 2024-25, with a huge surplus for India that sold everything from diamonds to software. India’s exports to the US in excess of $86 billion are way above the $45 billion in imports. Understandably, Trump is under pressure at home under his “Make America Great Again” plank to contain the deficit.Putin’s visit to India is thus a signal to the US that a MAGA overdose in the White House, compounded by a sanctions regime that clearly goes against independence for countries in bilateral trade, is something that India cannot stomach beyond a point. But the underlying trade numbers are such that, barring defence manufacture and areas like nuclear power, you cannot expect a magic wand that makes Russia a truly strategic trading partner for India.Once Putin flies back, and hopefully force Ukraine into a peace deal that looks more probable than it has been for the past two years, trade details will take centre-stage again. Modi’s “Make In India” dreams, defence manufacturing ambitions and fiercely autonomous nationalism may make Moscow and New Delhi edge closer – and even bring back the spirit of the Indo-Soviet rupee-rouble trade that marked the Cold War years. About 90% of Indo-Russian trade is already dollar-free.The Modi-Putin summit is an opportunity for both leaders to strengthen their respective economies, with new areas like labour mobility involving talent-rich Indians widening the scope of action. But a lot of hard work is needed, and much would now depend on what the US does in response to the bonhomie visible in Delhi.And there is no Raj Kapoor charming Russians to get any brownie points. Everything is down to the nitty-gritty and shifting circumstances. However, it can be said with reasonable certainty that on the world stage, India has emerged as a credible power, not the Third World client Nixon wanted or the tameable schoolboy that Trump’s cocky tones suggest. &nbsp;UK and the European Union also need to take note of this.Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The warmth, the optics and the hugs between the two leaders in an annual summit are enough to send a message to President Donald Trump in Washington and indeed to the whole world that this is a good show of India’s strategic autonomy.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin smiled elegantly and patiently addressed questions in a rare interview with an Indian television channel ahead of his arrival in New Delhi, I could not help but ask myself two questions: 1) Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi having an Indira Gandhi moment on ties with Moscow? 2) Is there a Raj Kapoor who can take bilateral relations to another level? The answer to both questions, on a closer look, seems to be a “No” – but not a resounding one. But the warmth, the optics and the hugs between the two leaders in an annual summit are enough to send a message to President Donald Trump in Washington and indeed to the whole world is that this is a good show of India’s strategic autonomy – a term that is increasingly a cliché, but a very useful one in a world that is more multilateral than we saw during the Cold War years when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi signed the Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty in 1971. The treaty of 1971 was signed with the then communist Soviet Union, when Putin was only 18, under pressure. Pakistan had edged so close to the US and China that the treaty was a comprehensive one covering the economy, technology, peace, friendship, and cooperation, and most important of all, a clear defence agreement. Article IX of the treaty had said that if one of the parties was attacked or threatened, the other would immediately assist the other. That clause, signed in August 1971, became critical for India in the war that liberated East Pakistan to create Bangladesh four months later. India’s economy was then a weak one, and there was not much of a choice for Mrs Gandhi as President Richard Nixon in the White House played hardball, even deploying the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet in the Bay of Bengal. Many of the items figuring in the to-do list of Indo-Russian cooperation on Putin’s agenda this year look like a repeat of the ones in 1971, with much more scope emerging in fields like military manufacturing and nuclear power. Apparel and labour mobility are emerging as new focus areas on the economic front, not to speak of the elephant in the room: Russian oil, whose imports by India have invited indirect US sanctions on Russian entities to pressure India, in addition to penal tariffs on India tied to Russian oil. In spite of all that, the defence part of Putin’s summit with Modi this year is somewhat muted as it is more about trade than a military alliance that the 1971 treaty smelled of. There is little doubt, however, that like in 1971, the terms set by the US and the body language of President Trump will naturally make Modi dial M for Moscow if push comes to shove. India’s Operation Sindoor attack on Pakistan-based terror bases saw two starkly contrasting images. While Russia’s S-400 air defence systems helped India strike Islamabad’s airborne missiles and aircraft deep inside Pakistani territory, Trump’s repeated claim that he brokered peace in the backdrop of an outdated India-Pakistan false equivalence framework (a familiar theme in the US State Department) left mouths sour in Delhi. All that would make some believe that it is 1971 redux, but that would be misleading and superficial. Trump, with his quirky personality, is more of a hardline American nationalist than a superpower sniper. US defence deals with India involve too many conditions that make it difficult to do business, and defence trade, like oil deals, are a natural area of convergence between Moscow and New Delhi. Beyond that, however, there have been fundamental shifts that make the US a strategic partner for India in trade, especially with the ghost of China looming over both countries. A hard look at trade data gives us a clearer picture. India-Russian trade touched nearly US $69 billion in FY 2024-25, a nearly six-fold increase from pre-COVID levels, thanks to India buying Russian oil that turned cheaper in the wake of the Ukraine war. But Indian exports at close to $5 billion contrast with the oil-laden imports at close to $64 billion – showing a gaping deficit that could widen if there are no corrective efforts. India’s export basket, including pharmaceuticals, textiles, chemicals, and engineering goods, shows a wide range but is limited in numbers. The US remains India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade close to $132 billion in FY 2024-25, with a huge surplus for India that sold everything from diamonds to software. India’s exports to the US in excess of $86 billion are way above the $45 billion in imports. Understandably, Trump is under pressure at home under his “Make America Great Again” plank to contain the deficit. Putin’s visit to India is thus a signal to the US that a MAGA overdose in the White House, compounded by a sanctions regime that clearly goes against independence for countries in bilateral trade, is something that India cannot stomach beyond a point. But the underlying trade numbers are such that, barring defence manufacture and areas like nuclear power, you cannot expect a magic wand that makes Russia a truly strategic trading partner for India. Once Putin flies back, and hopefully force Ukraine into a peace deal that looks more probable than it has been for the past two years, trade details will take centre-stage again. Modi’s “Make In India” dreams, defence manufacturing ambitions and fiercely autonomous nationalism may make Moscow and New Delhi edge closer – and even bring back the spirit of the Indo-Soviet rupee-rouble trade that marked the Cold War years. About 90% of Indo-Russian trade is already dollar-free. The Modi-Putin summit is an opportunity for both leaders to strengthen their respective economies, with new areas like labour mobility involving talent-rich Indians widening the scope of action. But a lot of hard work is needed, and much would now depend on what the US does in response to the bonhomie visible in Delhi. And there is no Raj Kapoor charming Russians to get any brownie points. Everything is down to the nitty-gritty and shifting circumstances. However, it can be said with reasonable certainty that on the world stage, India has emerged as a credible power, not the Third World client Nixon wanted or the tameable schoolboy that Trump’s cocky tones suggest. UK and the European Union also need to take note of this. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

The warmth, the optics and the hugs between the two leaders in an annual summit are enough to send a message to President Donald Trump in Washington and indeed to the whole world that this is a good show of India’s strategic autonomy.

Putin’s India visit is strong on potential but needs a long haul to match the optics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a clear note of peace on Friday (Dec 5) as he prepared to sit down for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Before the formal meeting began, Modi talking to the press addressed the war in Ukraine directly. He told Putin that India was not sitting on the sidelines, but standing firmly "on the side of peace."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/modi-putin-chemistry-back-on-display-as-pm-gifts-the-russian-leader-a-gita-in-his-own-language-1764899290609">Modi-Putin chemistry back on display as PM gifts the Russian leader a Gita in his own language</a>Modi told the Russian President that “Whenever I had an interaction with the world leaders, in detailed discussions, I always said that India is not neutral. India has a side and that side is of peace. We support all efforts for peace and we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all efforts for peace.” He implored Putin towards peace, saying, "We should keep looking for peaceful solutions," and revealed that they have exchanged opinions on the Ukraine issue.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark" data-dnt="true" align="center"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | In his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, PM Narendra Modi says, &quot;Whenever I had an interaction with the world leaders, in detailed discussions, I always said that India is not neutral. India has a side and that side is of peace. We support all efforts for… <a href="https://t.co/mYwZQC3Pk6">pic.twitter.com/mYwZQC3Pk6</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1996843574256718037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Modi said both leaders had already exchanged views on Ukraine and that the search for a peaceful way forward must continue. He also reflected on how much the world has endured in recent years, from the COVID pandemic to economic shocks and conflicts on multiple fronts. He said he believes that the global community "will be relieved from such disasters".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/breaking-news-rbi-cuts-repo-rate-by-25-bps-to-5-25-percent-mpc-votes-unanimously-1764909422242">RBI cuts repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25 per cent. Here's what it means for your loan interest rates</a><h2>Putin acknowledged India-Russia ties</h2>The Russian President, in his bilateral meeting with PM Modi, discussed the deep and enduring India-Russia relationship, which he said was based on actions rather than mere talk. "I could share a great deal of details of events that are taking place in Ukraine, and the actions we are taking are in partnership with the US on a possible peaceful settlement. Thank you for your attention and action in finding a solution for the situation," he said. "Our relations are deeply rooted in history - but it's not words that matter; it's the substance, which is profound," he added. Putin also appreciated PM Modi's personal involvement in advancing bilateral cooperation, highlighting the level of trust between the two nations.

PM Narendra Modi in Delhi, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that India stands on the side of peace. He urged renewed efforts toward a Ukraine resolution, said both leaders had already shared views on the war, and added that India will keep pushing for peaceful solutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a clear note of peace on Friday (Dec 5) as he prepared to sit down for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Before the formal meeting began, Modi talking to the press addressed the war in Ukraine directly. He told Putin that India was not sitting on the sidelines, but standing firmly "on the side of peace." Also read | Modi-Putin chemistry back on display as PM gifts the Russian leader a Gita in his own language Modi told the Russian President that “Whenever I had an interaction with the world leaders, in detailed discussions, I always said that India is not neutral. India has a side and that side is of peace. We support all efforts for peace and we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all efforts for peace.” He implored Putin towards peace, saying, "We should keep looking for peaceful solutions," and revealed that they have exchanged opinions on the Ukraine issue.

PM Narendra Modi in Delhi, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that India stands on the side of peace. He urged renewed efforts toward a Ukraine resolution, said both leaders had already shared views on the war, and added that India will keep pushing for peaceful solutions.

Ahead of key talks, Modi tells Putin: 'India is not neutral, it's on the side of peace'

India’s one of the biggest airlines, IndiGo, is hit by massive disruptions in flight operations, with hundreds of flights being cancelled across the country and thousands of passengers stranded at the airports. On Friday (Dec 5), the airlines have requested exemptions from the specific Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) provisions up to February 10. More than 1,000 flights have been cancelled nationwide in four days, causing inconvenience to thousands of passengers and resulting in chaos at the airports.Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers has blamed an accumulation of several operational challenges for the flight disruptions. In an email to employees, he said that “minor technology glitches, schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, heightened congestion in the aviation ecosystem, and the implementation of the newly released Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms” have resulted in disruption in flight operations.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>The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the situation and has asked IndiGo to provide a detailed explanation for the issues. Following the disruptions, the revised FDTL have come to light, with over 750 flights cancelled just because of it. But what are these regulations?<h2>What are FDTL guidelines?</h2>The FDTL rules are issued by the DGCA and restrict flight time and duty periods for pilots. After reviewing fatigue reports and international standards, the regulatory body revised the limits in January 2024. These rules aim to reduce fatigue-related safety risks.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>First notified in May 2024, the rules were implemented in two phases, in July 2025 and November 2025. The guidelines have revealed serious issues in staffing at airlines, especially at IndiGo, which is India’s largest carrier operating about 2,300 flights every day.The following norms are part of the revised FDTL:<ul><li>The weekly rest period for pilots has been increased from 36 hours to 48 hours.</li><li>The night landings have also been limited to two from six in a week, with no more than two consecutive night duties.</li><li>The guidelines state that basic flight cannot be more than 8 hours of flight time and 13 hours for two crew set-ups.</li><li>The new rules also redefine night hours as 00:00 – 06:00 instead of 00:00 – 05:00.</li><li>Roster adjustments and quarterly fatigue reporting have been made mandatory.</li></ul>

Following the disruptions, the revised FDTL have come to light, with over 750 flights cancelled just because of it. But what are these regulations?

India’s one of the biggest airlines, IndiGo, is hit by massive disruptions in flight operations, with hundreds of flights being cancelled across the country and thousands of passengers stranded at the airports. On Friday (Dec 5), the airlines have requested exemptions from the specific Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) provisions up to February 10. More than 1,000 flights have been cancelled nationwide in four days, causing inconvenience to thousands of passengers and resulting in chaos at the airports. Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers has blamed an accumulation of several operational challenges for the flight disruptions. In an email to employees, he said that “minor technology glitches, schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, heightened congestion in the aviation ecosystem, and the implementation of the newly released Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms” have resulted in disruption in flight operations. Also read | IndiGo cancels all departures at Delhi airport on Friday, requests FDTL exemptions The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the situation and has asked IndiGo to provide a detailed explanation for the issues. Following the disruptions, the revised FDTL have come to light, with over 750 flights cancelled just because of it. But what are these regulations? What are FDTL guidelines? The FDTL rules are issued by the DGCA and restrict flight time and duty periods for pilots. After reviewing fatigue reports and international standards, the regulatory body revised the limits in January 2024. These rules aim to reduce fatigue-related safety risks. Also read | Indian civil aviation agency DGCA withdraws weekly rest instructions to airlines after massive disruptions across nation First notified in May 2024, the rules were implemented in two phases, in July 2025 and November 2025. The guidelines have revealed serious issues in staffing at airlines, especially at IndiGo, which is India’s largest carrier operating about 2,300 flights every day. The following norms are part of the revised FDTL: The weekly rest period for pilots has been increased from 36 hours to 48 hours. The night landings have also been limited to two from six in a week, with no more than two consecutive night duties. The guidelines state that basic flight cannot be more than 8 hours of flight time and 13 hours for two crew set-ups. The new rules also redefine night hours as 00:00 – 06:00 instead of 00:00 – 05:00. Roster adjustments and quarterly fatigue reporting have been made mandatory.

Following the disruptions, the revised FDTL have come to light, with over 750 flights cancelled just because of it. But what are these regulations?

IndiGo meltdown: How new pilot fatigue rules forced India’s largest airline to cancel over 1,000 flights

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday (Dec 5) cut the policy repo rate by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 5.25 per cent. The announcement came right after the three-day Monetary Policy Committee meeting that ran from December 3 to 5. Announcing the repo rate cut, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the committee had gone through a full review of the economic outlook before arriving at the decision. "The MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) voted unanimously to reduce the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% with immediate effect," he said. With the latest rate cut, the RBI MPC has lowered the repo rate by 125 bps this calendar year.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark" data-dnt="true" align="center"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a> | Reserve Bank of India reduces repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%, announces Governor Sanjay Malhotra.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RBI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepoRate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepoRate</a> <a href="https://t.co/D3U4QshPkL">pic.twitter.com/D3U4QshPkL</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1996802536003850450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Unanimous decision</h2>The RBI governor said that the Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to bring about the rate cut. "The MPC met on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of December to deliberate and decide on the policy repo rate. After a detailed assessment of the evolving macroeconomic conditions and outlook, the MPC voted unanimously to reduce the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent, with immediate effect."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/when-will-i-get-my-tax-refund-will-it-be-delayed-cbdt-says-it-will-be-given-on-1764144921904">When will I get my tax refund? Will it be delayed? CBDT says it will&nbsp;be&nbsp;given on...</a> The rate cut comes at a time when the broader economy is still showing strength. India posted GDP growth of 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of the financial year, while inflation slipped to 0.25 per cent in October — a record low, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.The move marks a shift from the previous policy review on October 1, when the central bank held the repo rate steady at 5.5 per cent. Then too, the MPC had voted unanimously, opting to keep the rate unchanged after reviewing domestic and global trends across three days of discussions.<h2>What does the repo rate cut mean for you and your home loan?</h2>A lower repo rate usually filters down to home loan borrowers. In most cases, banks keep the EMI unchanged and shorten the repayment tenure after a rate cut. For example, if you took a ₹50 lakh home loan for 20 years at 8.5 per cent interest. With a combined 125 basis point cut, the tenure would drop by over 190 months. Over the life of the loan, that works out to about ₹18.32 lakh saved in interest.If, instead, the borrower opts for a lower EMI rather than a shorter tenure, you would end up saving roughly ₹9.29 lakh.

The RBI has cut the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25 per cent after a three-day review, marking its fifth cut this year. Here's what it means for your home loan.

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday (Dec 5) cut the policy repo rate by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 5.25 per cent. The announcement came right after the three-day Monetary Policy Committee meeting that ran from December 3 to 5. Announcing the repo rate cut, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the committee had gone through a full review of the economic outlook before arriving at the decision. "The MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) voted unanimously to reduce the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% with immediate effect," he said. With the latest rate cut, the RBI MPC has lowered the repo rate by 125 bps this calendar year.

The RBI has cut the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25 per cent after a three-day review, marking its fifth cut this year. Here's what it means for your home loan.

RBI cuts repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25 per cent. Here's what it means for your loan interest rates

IndiGo airline announced that it is cancelling all departures from Delhi Airport on December 5 till midnight amid massive disruption in flight operations over the last few days. The airlines also requested exemptions from specific Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) provisions up to February 10, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Friday (Dec 5). This comes as hundreds of flights continue to be delayed and cancelled at airports across the country, triggering outrage from passengers.&nbsp;The Delhi Airport, in an advisory, said that “IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport on 5th December 2025 are cancelled till midnight today (till 23:59 hours).” At least 225 arrivals and departures were cancelled at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Passenger Advisory issued at 11:10 Hours<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DelhiAirport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DelhiAirport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PassengerAdvisory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PassengerAdvisory</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DELAdvisory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DELAdvisory</a> <a href="https://t.co/dZBdrW5aob">pic.twitter.com/dZBdrW5aob</a>&mdash; Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiAirport/status/1996817051613384942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;In an earlier advisory, the airport stated that “operational challenges affecting one domestic carrier are resulting in flight delays and cancellations.” It further urged passengers to check their flight status with airlines before leaving for the airport. “Our dedicated on-ground teams are working diligently with all partners to mitigate the disruption and ensure a comfortable passenger experience,” the advisory added.&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>&nbsp;Meanwhile, 52 arrivals and 50 departures of IndiGo were cancelled at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. A total of 104 flights were cancelled at Mumbai airport. IndiGo flights were also disrupted at Pune, Goa, Ahmedabad, and Kerala airports.&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.&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;A passenger said, as quoted by ANI, “We have arrived at the Goa airport just now. Our connecting flight was to Lakshadweep but we couldn’t take it due to the late arrival. This has all been caused by IndiGo... We didn’t get any cooperation from them...The last night I was at Delhi airport, they would not inform anyone of anything. It is a chaos that they have created…”&nbsp;“I had an IndiGo flight from Ahmedabad to Varanasi scheduled yesterday... After numerous delays we cancelled our flight but we did not get back our luggage on time. We are stranded here for almost 10-12 hours now, and we have received neither water nor food. It is a chaotic situation here. Taking another flight also doesn’t seem very possible, other airlines have increased their airfare...The fare on other airlines has doubled-tripled,” said another passenger.

This comes as hundreds of flights continue to be delayed and cancelled at airports across the country, triggering outrage from passengers.

IndiGo airline announced that it is cancelling all departures from Delhi Airport on December 5 till midnight amid massive disruption in flight operations over the last few days. The airlines also requested exemptions from specific Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) provisions up to February 10, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Friday (Dec 5). This comes as hundreds of flights continue to be delayed and cancelled at airports across the country, triggering outrage from passengers. The Delhi Airport, in an advisory, said that “IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport on 5th December 2025 are cancelled till midnight today (till 23:59 hours).” At least 225 arrivals and departures were cancelled at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday.

This comes as hundreds of flights continue to be delayed and cancelled at airports across the country, triggering outrage from passengers.

IndiGo cancels all departures at Delhi airport on Friday, over 500 flights affected

A team of US representatives is reportedly expected to visit India next week to hold talks on reaching a bilateral trade agreement. Reports suggested that dates for the negotiations are being finalised and discussions have begun between New Delhi and Washington. The visit by the US officials would be the second since US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on the Asian nation, citing its Russian oil purchases. A US team had earlier visited New Delhi on September 16.“The team is likely to come next week. Dates are being finalised, and discussions are on,” news agency PTI reported, citing sources.Earlier on September 22, an Indian delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also visited the United States for trade talks. He was also accompanied by the then special secretary in the ministry, Rajesh Agrawal and other officials. Agrawal is now the country’s commerce secretary. The US delegation was led by Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch. Goyal had also met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington earlier in May.Bloomberg reported, citing a US official, that the US delegations for the upcoming talks will be led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer.Last week, Indian Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said, “We are very optimistic and hopeful that we should find some solution this calendar year.” He added, “What needs to come out first is a framework trade deal which is able to address the reciprocal tariffs.”Trump said last month that he would lower the tariffs on Indian goods “at some point”, adding that the two nations were “pretty close” to reaching a trade agreement.Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently on a visit to India, said that if Washington is permitted to buy Russian nuclear fuel for its power plants, New Delhi should similarly have the right to purchase Russian energy resources.“As for India’s purchase of energy resources from Russia, I would like to note and have already mentioned publicly this once, the United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants,” Putin said on Thursday (Dec 4). “That is also fuel, Uranium for the reactors operating in the United States. If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn't India have the same privilege?”

Earlier on September 22, an Indian delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also visited the United States for trade talks.

A team of US representatives is reportedly expected to visit India next week to hold talks on reaching a bilateral trade agreement. Reports suggested that dates for the negotiations are being finalised and discussions have begun between New Delhi and Washington. The visit by the US officials would be the second since US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on the Asian nation, citing its Russian oil purchases. A US team had earlier visited New Delhi on September 16. “The team is likely to come next week. Dates are being finalised, and discussions are on,” news agency PTI reported, citing sources. Earlier on September 22, an Indian delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also visited the United States for trade talks. He was also accompanied by the then special secretary in the ministry, Rajesh Agrawal and other officials. Agrawal is now the country’s commerce secretary. The US delegation was led by Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch. Goyal had also met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington earlier in May. Bloomberg reported, citing a US official, that the US delegations for the upcoming talks will be led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer. Last week, Indian Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said, “We are very optimistic and hopeful that we should find some solution this calendar year.” He added, “What needs to come out first is a framework trade deal which is able to address the reciprocal tariffs.” Trump said last month that he would lower the tariffs on Indian goods “at some point”, adding that the two nations were “pretty close” to reaching a trade agreement. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently on a visit to India, said that if Washington is permitted to buy Russian nuclear fuel for its power plants, New Delhi should similarly have the right to purchase Russian energy resources. “As for India’s purchase of energy resources from Russia, I would like to note and have already mentioned publicly this once, the United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants,” Putin said on Thursday (Dec 4). “That is also fuel, Uranium for the reactors operating in the United States. If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn't India have the same privilege?”

Earlier on September 22, an Indian delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also visited the United States for trade talks.

India-US trade deal soon? Officials from Washington expected to visit New Delhi next week

India-Russia Summit 2025 LIVE Updates: Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in New Delhi on Thursday (Dec 4) for a two-day visit. The trip comes at a moment when India is juggling its old defence ties with Moscow and steady pressure from Washington to scale back on the purchase of Russian oil. Putin last came to India in 2021, before the Ukraine war.On Thursday, Modi hosted Putin for a private dinner. Today (Friday, Dec 5), the two leaders will take part in the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, with trade and defence likely to dominate the agenda.Stay connected to WION for LIVE updates of Day 2 of Putin's visit to India.

Russian President Vladimir Putin left New Delhi after concluding his two-day State visit, which featured the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit and a string of high-level engagements. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar was present at the airport to see the Russian leader off, underscoring the diplomatic warmth and significance attached to the visit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves from Delhi, EAM Jaishankar sees him off

MEA in a press conference on Friday (December 5) said that to celebrate 25 years of strategic partnership, PM Modi specially went to the airport to receive Putin. Both leaders addressed the India-Russia Trade Forum. The event aims to increase trade partnership between the two countries. The joint statement highlights the special and deep ties between the two countries. Agreements have been reached in several fields, such as labour mobility, health, and culture. Today's discussion focused on the Free Trade Agreement, which can be expanded with a rapid timeline. Discussions were held regarding the Inter-National North-South Corridor. Discussions were also held regarding technology partnerships related to defense.

India-Russia Summit 2025 Day 2 LIVE updates: 'PM Modi received Putin to celebrate 25 years of strategic partnership', says MEA

“I thank the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister of India and all our Indian colleagues for the warm and hospitable welcome accorded to the Russian delegation...I thank PM Modi for the dinner at his residence yesterday,” Putin says

Putin thanks President Murmu, PM Modi for yesterdy's dinner

Speaking on oil, gas and energy supply to India, Putin said that Russia is ready to continue uninterrupted supply. He also announced bringing the largest nuclear power plant to Kudankulam

Russia to bring largest nuclear power plant in Kudankulam

Fifteen years ago, in 2010, our partnership was granted the status of a Special Privileged Strategic Partnership. For the past two and a half decades, he (President Putin) has nurtured this relationship with his leadership and vision. 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.

PM Modi expresses gratitude to Putin

Two new Indian consulates opened in Russia, PM Modi announced. He also announced a 30-day free e-visa for tourists facility for Russian nationals.

PM Modi: India opened two new consulates in Russia, 30 days free visa for Russians

PM Modi applauds and expresses gratitude towards President Putin for the decades-old friendship. This bond of mutual respect has seen the test of time, he said.

PM Modi lauds India-Russia ties during press conference

Russian President Putin, PM Modi arrive for press statements

Russian President Putin, PM Modi arrive for press statements

Trade Minister Piyush Goyal, EAM Dr S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman all arrived ahead of the press statements of PM Modi and Russian President Putin.Shipping Minister, Economic Advisor to the PM, Indian Ambassador to Russia, and Foreign Secretary are also present.

Jaishankar, Doval, Sitharaman arrive ahead of Modi-Putin presser

In his meeting with PM Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "Over the past years, you have done a great deal of work to develop our relationship...We open additional areas for cooperation, including hi-tech aircraft, space exploration and artificial intelligence..."

Putin lauds PM Modi's effort to build India-Russia relations

President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed the guestbook of the Raj Ghat memorial complex:

Putin signed guestbook of the Raj Ghat memorial

“Our relations deeply rooted in history, we really appreciate that PM has given special attention, over the past years we have developed special relations”, said Putin.

India-Russia relation is 'special'

"We should keep looking for peacefull solutions, and have exchanged opinions on the Ukraine issue, said PM Modi in meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi.

PM Modi on Ukraine

PM modi speaking at the Hyderabad house said, “India is not neutral, it is on the side of peace” and added, “This meeting will add hope into this , and this meeting will strengthen our economic partnership too”.

 'India is on the side of peace'

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi where they are likely to discuss defence deals and other business matters.

Putin meets Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian President Droupadi Murmu shake hands at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Russian President &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VladimirPutin?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#VladimirPutin&lt;/a&gt; and Indian President &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DroupadiMurmu?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#DroupadiMurmu&lt;/a&gt; shake hands at the forecourt of the &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RashtrapatiBhavan?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#RashtrapatiBhavan&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Source: ANI &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMModi?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#PMModi&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="https://t.co/mLgOLKpnth"&gt;pic.twitter.com/mLgOLKpnth&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; WION (@WIONews) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1996820518067229014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;December 5, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

Putin meets Indian President Droupadi Murmu

PM Narendra Modi arrives at the Rashtrapati Bhawan ahead of the ceremonial welcome that is to be accorded to Russian President Vladimir Putin. EAM Dr S Jaishankar welcomes him.

PM Narendra Modi arrives at the Rashtrapati Bhawan

Here is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s schedule for the day in India (all times in IST):11:00 AM – Ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan 11:30 AM – Wreath laying at Rajghat 11:50 AM – Meeting with PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House 1:50 PM – Joint press statement at Hyderabad House 3:40 PM – Business event 7:00 PM – Meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan 9:00 PM – Departure for Russia &nbsp;

Putin's full schedule in Delhi today

Flex boards welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian national flags were put up outside ITC Maurya on Friday morning. Putin, who arrived in India on Thursday for a two-day state visit for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, is staying in the hotel’s 4,700 square foot grand presidential suite.Security around the hotel has been tightened, and national flags from both India and Russia have been placed along key routes leading to official venues.

Flex boards, flags up outside ITC Maurya as Putin stays in Delhi’s grand presidential suite

The domestic equity market opened on a cautious note on Friday, slipping slightly as investors waited for the Reserve Bank of India’s policy announcement and tracked Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India.The Nifty 50 opened at 25,999.80, down 33.95 points or 0.13 per cent. The BSE Sensex began at 85,125.48, a drop of 139.84 points or 0.16 per cent, reflecting a muted start as traders looked for cues from the central bank’s forward guidance.

Markets open flat as investors await RBI policy, track Putin’s India visit

Russian chess grandmaster Sergey Karjakin on Friday welcomed the growing ties between New Delhi and Moscow, calling India a “friendly country” and a key partner for future collaborations. His comments came as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India for a two-day state visit.Speaking in Delhi, Karjakin said, “I hope our relationship will grow. We see a friendly country in India. We hope we'll have a lot of projects here and maybe also in chess.” &nbsp;

Russian chess grandmaster Karjakin praises India as 'friendly country' during Putin visit

As Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor highlighted the importance of the bilateral relationship with Moscow. Speaking to ANI, he noted that Russia has been a key partner for India in areas like oil, gas, and defence, including during Operation Sindoor.Tharoor said, “It's hugely significant. First of all, it is a very important relationship, which has been for a long time. In today's rather turbulent world, where so many relationships have become uncertain, it becomes important to shore up the ones we have. Secondly, the value of Russian friendship has been proven in recent years, particularly in two domains. We've had a lot of oil and gas from Russia in recent years, and the value of defence imports from Russia was demonstrated once again during Operation Sindoor when the S-400 protected us from a number of Pakistani missiles that were targeting our cities, including Delhi.”

Shashi Tharoor hails Russia-India ties as Putin arrives for state visit

BJP MP Sambit Patra called Gandhi’s remarks “inappropriate” and “factually incorrect,” saying they project India in a poor light during Putin’s visit.“The way Rahul Gandhi ji has spoken today is not only inappropriate, but I feel it is wrong. This does not present India in a good light. This statement is without any facts. Rahul Gandhi said that the Government of India does not allow the LoP to meet the foreign dignitaries who come because the Government of India has a sense of insecurity. Why would there be insecurity in the Government of India? I would like to tell him that today India is the fourth-largest economic power. Today, India has a stature in the world, so there is probably no insecurity...I think he's overestimating himself,” Patra said.He added, “Secondly, he said, whenever I visit abroad, the Indian government informs other countries not to allow the LoP to meet leaders. Judging our country this way, talking about our country this way, especially when foreign guests like Putin are about to arrive, is not appropriate to say such things about the country... It's important for everyone to know clearly: when a foreign delegate comes to India, it's the Ministry of External Affairs' responsibility to arrange meetings with government officials and other individuals. We, the government, can't interfere in who they want to meet.”

BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav said, “Many traditions have changed; this is one more in that series. Whenever any foreign diplomat or leader came, they would meet both the ruling side and the opposition leaders. So the BJP is changing these traditions.”Congress MP Karti Chidambaram added, “Whenever a visiting head of state or head of government comes to India, it's only normal to let the leader of the opposition also meet them. That’s how the visiting head of state and government will get a holistic view of our country. I think Rahul Gandhi is absolutely right, and the government should have fixed a meeting for the leader of the opposition with the visiting dignitary or invite him for the dinner which they are hosting.”

Other opposition MPs support Rahul Gandhi

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the government is reversing protocol, undermining democratic norms.“It is very weird. There is a protocol, and all visiting dignitaries meet the LoP. The protocol is being reversed by the government and all their policies are based on this. They don't want anyone to raise their voice. They don't want to listen to any other opinion. They should abide by the protocols of a democracy,” she said."God knows what they are scared of... In a democracy, everyone should be able to put forward their opinions, discussions must be held, and appropriate action must be taken... The government is insecure, and this decision is a reflection of that... What will they get by breaking and reversing this protocol? This is their insecurity... The image of democracy is tarnished in the world," she added.RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha added, “Just as the government is elected, the opposition is also elected in the same way, and it has been our tradition to know about the country's psyche, but this tradition is being ended due to someone's insecurity.”Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said, “There has been a tradition that when a national president comes from any country, he is introduced to the opposition leader. Atal Ji and Manmohan Ji followed this. What Rahul Gandhi has just said is correct because this is no longer happening... One should not break the tradition.”

Opposition leaders back Rahul Gandhi’s remarks

Government sources told ANI that it is the visiting delegation, not the Modi government, that decides meetings outside official events.“During a visit, MEA organises meetings for the incoming dignitary with Government officials and Government bodies. It is up to the visiting delegation to organise meetings outside the government,” they said.They added that several foreign leaders have met the LoP since June 2024, including:- Sheikh Hasina, Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh – June 10, 2024 - Pham Minh Ching, Prime Minister of Vietnam – August 1, 2024 - Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia – August 21, 2024 - Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius – September 16, 2025 - Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand – March 8, 2025

Government rejects LoP Rahul Gandhi’s claim

Amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed that the Centre advises visiting foreign leaders not to meet the LoP. He said this breaks a long-standing tradition and reflects the government's “insecurity.”Speaking outside Parliament, Gandhi on Thursday (Dec 4) said, "This has been a tradition. But these days, foreign dignitaries visit, or when I visit abroad, the government suggests that they not meet the LoP. This is their policy, and they do it all the time."He added, "We have relations with everyone. LoP gives a different perspective. We too represent India. It is not just the government which does it. The government doesn't want the Opposition meeting people from outside. Modi ji and the Foreign Ministry don't follow this norm. It is their insecurity."&nbsp;

Rahul Gandhi sparks row over foreign dignitary meetings with LoP

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, saying India can take pride in him. Speaking to Aaj Tak and India Today at the Kremlin ahead of his visit, Putin described Modi’s stance as resolute and independent, noting that he does not succumb to pressure from any country, including the US.“Prime Minister Modi is not someone who succumbs to pressure easily. The Indian people can certainly take pride in their leader. This is absolutely obvious. His stance is unwavering and straightforward, without being confrontational. Our goal is not to provoke conflict; rather, we aim to protect our lawful rights. India does the same,” Putin said.He called his relationship with Modi both professional and personal, built on trust and long-term cooperation. Putin also highlighted the PM’s ambitious initiatives, such as Make in India, and said Modi sets “very challenging tasks” that drive India’s growth.

Putin lauds Modi’s leadership, says India can take pride in its PM

India's Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut in New Delhi on Thursday (Dec 4) to explore expanding bilateral cooperation in farming. The two discussed modern practices, research exchange and ways to boost sustainable growth. Chouhan later posted on X that both sides want to deepen the India-Russia farm partnership and push new initiatives that can help farmers and support tech-driven progress in the sector.&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark" data-dnt="true" align="center"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Delighted to meet Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut in New Delhi today. We discussed ways to strengthen Indo-Russian cooperation in agriculture and explored opportunities in modern farming, innovation, research exchange, and sustainable growth. Under the leadership of Prime… &lt;a href="https://t.co/JZHraOCoRg"&gt;pic.twitter.com/JZHraOCoRg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/ChouhanShivraj/status/1996589459039453309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;December 4, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

India and Russia push for deeper farm partnership in New Delhi meet

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (Dec 4) gifted Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently on a two-day visit to India, a copy of the Bhagavat Gita in Russian. Modi later shared a photo of the moment on X, describing the holy text as a source of inspiration for millions of people across the world.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/modi-putin-chemistry-back-on-display-as-pm-gifts-the-russian-leader-a-gita-in-his-own-language-1764899290609">Read more here</a><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20251205/image-1764899426141.jpeg?rect=(0,154,3788,2840)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="Modi-Putin chemistry back on display as PM gifts the Russian leader a Gita in his own language">

Modi-Putin chemistry back on display as PM gifts the Russian leader a Gita in his own language

India-Russia Summit 2025 Day 2 LIVE updates: 'To celebrate 25 years of strategic partnership, PM Modi specially went to airport to receive Putin', says MEA

India-Russia Summit 2025 LIVE Updates: Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in New Delhi on Thursday (Dec 4) for a two-day visit. The trip comes at a moment when India is juggling its old defence ties with Moscow and steady pressure from Washington to scale back on the purchase of Russian oil. Putin last came to India in 2021, before the Ukraine war. On Thursday, Modi hosted Putin for a private dinner. Today (Friday, Dec 5), the two leaders will take part in the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, with trade and defence likely to dominate the agenda. Stay connected to WION for LIVE updates of Day 2 of Putin's visit to India.

India-Russia Summit 2025 LIVE Updates: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday. Day one of his trip featured a private dinner with PM Narendra Modi. Day 2 will include vital talks and agreements on trade, defence, and mobility. All LIVE updates HERE.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (Dec 4) gifted Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently on a two-day visit to India, a copy of the Bhagavat Gita in Russian. Modi later shared a photo of the moment on X, describing the holy text as a source of inspiration for millions of people across the world.<h2>Modi-Putin bromance and a gift</h2>Posting a photo of the moment when he handed over the Hindu scripture to the visiting President, PM Modi wrote, “Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world.”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/india-russia-summit-2025-as-putin-heads-to-delhi-russian-dancers-go-viral-dancing-to-this-punjabi-hit-watch-viral-video-here-1764834347922">As Putin heads to Delhi, Russian dancers go viral dancing to THIS Punjabi hit. Watch video here</a>Putin arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening and was greeted at the airport by Modi. The two leaders then rode together to the PM's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, a short trip that highlighted the partnership and close relationship the two leaders share.This is Putin's first trip to India in four years. He will stay in Delhi until December 5 and hold the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with Modi, a meeting that usually sets the tone for the year ahead. With both countries facing shifting geopolitical pressures, every word and handshake is being watched closely.Analysts have been quick to frame the visit as more than just a symbolic reunion. They say it could push forward cooperation in defence, trade, technology, culture, and other areas that have quietly kept both countries tied together for decades.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-largest-state-abduction-operation-in-history-un-demands-russia-return-thousands-of-captive-ukrainian-children-1764815231216">'Largest state abduction operation in history': UN demands Russia return thousands of captive Ukrainian children</a>Former diplomat Arun Singh, who served two postings in Moscow, spoke about the long arc of the relationship. He said India’s memory of Russian political backing still runs deep, especially the support shown at key moments on the world stage, including at the UN Security Council. Talking to ANI, he said that the sense of trust goes both ways. I could sense that there is a historical nature to the partnership," he said. "There is a confidence in the relationship on both sides. In India, there is a memory of Russia being an important partner which has provided political support that we've needed from time to time, including at the UN Security Council," he added.

Indian PM Narendra Modi gifts Russian President Vladimir Putin a Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita as the Russian leader arrives in Delhi for a two-day visit.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (Dec 4) gifted Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently on a two-day visit to India, a copy of the Bhagavat Gita in Russian. Modi later shared a photo of the moment on X, describing the holy text as a source of inspiration for millions of people across the world. Modi-Putin bromance and a gift Posting a photo of the moment when he handed over the Hindu scripture to the visiting President, PM Modi wrote, “Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world.” Also read | As Putin heads to Delhi, Russian dancers go viral dancing to THIS Punjabi hit. Watch video here Putin arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening and was greeted at the airport by Modi. The two leaders then rode together to the PM's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, a short trip that highlighted the partnership and close relationship the two leaders share. This is Putin's first trip to India in four years. He will stay in Delhi until December 5 and hold the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with Modi, a meeting that usually sets the tone for the year ahead. With both countries facing shifting geopolitical pressures, every word and handshake is being watched closely. Analysts have been quick to frame the visit as more than just a symbolic reunion. They say it could push forward cooperation in defence, trade, technology, culture, and other areas that have quietly kept both countries tied together for decades. Also read | 'Largest state abduction operation in history': UN demands Russia return thousands of captive Ukrainian children Former diplomat Arun Singh, who served two postings in Moscow, spoke about the long arc of the relationship. He said India’s memory of Russian political backing still runs deep, especially the support shown at key moments on the world stage, including at the UN Security Council. Talking to ANI, he said that the sense of trust goes both ways. I could sense that there is a historical nature to the partnership," he said. "There is a confidence in the relationship on both sides. In India, there is a memory of Russia being an important partner which has provided political support that we've needed from time to time, including at the UN Security Council," he added.

Indian PM Narendra Modi gifts Russian President Vladimir Putin a Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita as the Russian leader arrives in Delhi for a two-day visit.

Thousands of flyers were stranded on Thursday after over 550 IndiGo flights were cancelled as operational disruptions continued for the third day after the airline failed to make sufficient changes to accommodate new government regulations. IndiGo has told the aviation regulator that its operations will be fully restored by February 10 and has asked for relief from some provisions that limit pilot duty hours at night. The airline cancelled hundreds of flights this week. The airline, which flies around 2,300 flights daily and presents its punctuality as a hallmark, said more flights will be cancelled in the next two-three days. IndiGo is grappling with significant flight disruptions due to several factors, including cabin crew woes and technology issues.&nbsp;The Civil Aviation Ministry and the regulator DGCA met senior IndiGo officials on Thursday to look into the matter and work on a solution.&nbsp;&nbsp;A government source said IndiGo’s request for relief from the provisions had been received and was under consideration.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-zardari-appoints-asim-munir-as-country-s-first-chief-of-defence-forces-1764866852975">President Zardari appoints Asim Munir as country’s first chief of defence forces</a>&nbsp;There were around 118 flight cancellations at the Mumbai airport, 100 at Bangalore, 95 at Delhi, 75 at Hyderabad, 35 at Kolkata, 26 at Chennai, 16 at Pune, 11 at Goa, and more at other airports, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;The airline has admitted that it misjudged crew requirements under the new norms and faced planning gaps, resulting in inadequate crew availability at a time when weather and congestion were also affecting operations.&nbsp;<h2>CEO blames ‘accumulation’ of several operational challenges</h2>&nbsp;Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers blamed “an accumulation of several operational challenges” for flight disruptions over the past two days. In an email to employees the CEO listed “minor technology glitches, schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, heightened congestion in the aviation ecosystem, and the implementation of the newly released Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms” as the reasons for disruption.&nbsp;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>&nbsp;“These past few days have been difficult for many of our IndiGo customers and colleagues. We serve close to 380,000 customers a day and want each of them to have a good experience. We could not live up to that promise these past days and we have publicly apologized for that,” Elbers wrote.&nbsp;<h2>‘Faced tough moments before, turned challenges into triumphs’</h2>&nbsp;“We have faced tough moments before, but we turned challenges into triumphs, proving our resilience, strength, and unity. This moment will be no different,” he added.&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;“Given the size, scale and complexity of our network, these disruptions grow large immediately and require interventions on multiple levels and dimensions. For that, a lot of work is being conducted right now,” he further explained.“Our immediate goal is to normalize our operations and bring punctuality back on track in the coming days, which is not an easy target. But this is the time for all of us to come together, prove our mettle once again, and showcase what IndiGo truly stands for,” he said.&nbsp;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>&nbsp;Using the recent software update in Airbus planes as an example, the CEO said, “Just a few days ago, we performed remarkably well as a united team to achieve an unimaginable feat of upgrading 200 aircraft (A320s) in less than 24 hours. I am confident we all can deal with this challenge too. Together, as one team, we will overcome this challenge and emerge even stronger.”

The Civil Aviation Ministry and the regulator DGCA met senior IndiGo officials on Thursday to look into the matter and work on a solution. A government source said IndiGo’s request for relief from the provisions had been received and was under consideration.

Thousands of flyers were stranded on Thursday after over 550 IndiGo flights were cancelled as operational disruptions continued for the third day after the airline failed to make sufficient changes to accommodate new government regulations. IndiGo has told the aviation regulator that its operations will be fully restored by February 10 and has asked for relief from some provisions that limit pilot duty hours at night. The airline cancelled hundreds of flights this week. The airline, which flies around 2,300 flights daily and presents its punctuality as a hallmark, said more flights will be cancelled in the next two-three days. IndiGo is grappling with significant flight disruptions due to several factors, including cabin crew woes and technology issues. The Civil Aviation Ministry and the regulator DGCA met senior IndiGo officials on Thursday to look into the matter and work on a solution. A government source said IndiGo’s request for relief from the provisions had been received and was under consideration. Also Read: President Zardari appoints Asim Munir as country’s first chief of defence forces There were around 118 flight cancellations at the Mumbai airport, 100 at Bangalore, 95 at Delhi, 75 at Hyderabad, 35 at Kolkata, 26 at Chennai, 16 at Pune, 11 at Goa, and more at other airports, news agency PTI reported. The airline has admitted that it misjudged crew requirements under the new norms and faced planning gaps, resulting in inadequate crew availability at a time when weather and congestion were also affecting operations. CEO blames ‘accumulation’ of several operational challenges Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers blamed “an accumulation of several operational challenges” for flight disruptions over the past two days. In an email to employees the CEO listed “minor technology glitches, schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, heightened congestion in the aviation ecosystem, and the implementation of the newly released Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms” as the reasons for disruption. Also Read: Pakistan to hold bidding again to sell loss-making PIA on Dec 23; Asim Munir-controlled firm among bidders “These past few days have been difficult for many of our IndiGo customers and colleagues. We serve close to 380,000 customers a day and want each of them to have a good experience. We could not live up to that promise these past days and we have publicly apologized for that,” Elbers wrote. ‘Faced tough moments before, turned challenges into triumphs’ “We have faced tough moments before, but we turned challenges into triumphs, proving our resilience, strength, and unity. This moment will be no different,” he added. Also Read: Russian President Putin’s aircraft was world’s most-tracked plane en route India “Given the size, scale and complexity of our network, these disruptions grow large immediately and require interventions on multiple levels and dimensions. For that, a lot of work is being conducted right now,” he further explained. “Our immediate goal is to normalize our operations and bring punctuality back on track in the coming days, which is not an easy target. But this is the time for all of us to come together, prove our mettle once again, and showcase what IndiGo truly stands for,” he said. Also Read: ‘Radical Islam poses grave threat to the US and entire world’: Marco Rubio Using the recent software update in Airbus planes as an example, the CEO said, “Just a few days ago, we performed remarkably well as a united team to achieve an unimaginable feat of upgrading 200 aircraft (A320s) in less than 24 hours. I am confident we all can deal with this challenge too. Together, as one team, we will overcome this challenge and emerge even stronger.”

The Civil Aviation Ministry and the regulator DGCA met senior IndiGo officials on Thursday to look into the matter and work on a solution. A government source said IndiGo’s request for relief from the provisions had been received and was under consideration.

Over 550 IndiGo flights cancelled as disruption continues for third day, airline seeks relief from new provisions

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed US criticism of India's oil purchases from Russia. Putin argued that if the United States is permitted to buy Russian nuclear fuel for its power plants, India should similarly have the right to purchase Russian energy resources. "As for India's purchase of energy resources from Russia, I would like to note and have already mentioned publicly this once, the United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants," Putin was quoted as saying in an interview to India Today. "That is also fuel, Uranium for the reactors operating in the United States. If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn't India have the same privilege?" Putin added. &nbsp;Putin pointed out that the US imports uranium from Russia for its nuclear reactors, and questioned why India, which relies on energy imports, should be treated differently. &nbsp;This statement comes after US President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on India's purchases of Russian oil, the highest tariff on any country, back in August. Putin, however, refrained from criticising Trump directly, acknowledging that his tariff decisions were made with the belief that they would benefit the US economy.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/putin-india-visit-delhi-traffic-police-issues-advisory-for-commuters-check-affected-routes-diversions-and-which-ones-to-avoid-1764866229068">Putin India visit: Delhi traffic police issues advisory for commuters. Check affected routes, diversions and which ones to avoid</a>&nbsp;He also noted that Russia does not impose such tariffs and emphasised that Russia’s economy remains open to trade. He assured that Russia does not engage in such practices and has no intention of doing so in the future. Speaking on Trump's tariffs, Putin said, “He (Trump) is acting in good faith, I presume.” “He pursues his own policy and he has advisors. His decisions aren't made out of thin air. He has advisors who believe in implementing such tariff policies involving the imposition of additional duties on trade partners ultimately benefits the US economy. He is acting in good faith, I presume,” Putin was quoted as saying.

'If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn't India': Vladimir Putin defends India's right to buy Russian oil amid US tariffs

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed US criticism of India's oil purchases from Russia. Putin argued that if the United States is permitted to buy Russian nuclear fuel for its power plants, India should similarly have the right to purchase Russian energy resources. "As for India's purchase of energy resources from Russia, I would like to note and have already mentioned publicly this once, the United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants," Putin was quoted as saying in an interview to India Today. "That is also fuel, Uranium for the reactors operating in the United States. If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn't India have the same privilege?" Putin added. Putin pointed out that the US imports uranium from Russia for its nuclear reactors, and questioned why India, which relies on energy imports, should be treated differently. This statement comes after US President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on India's purchases of Russian oil, the highest tariff on any country, back in August. Putin, however, refrained from criticising Trump directly, acknowledging that his tariff decisions were made with the belief that they would benefit the US economy. Also Read: Putin India visit: Delhi traffic police issues advisory for commuters. Check affected routes, diversions and which ones to avoid He also noted that Russia does not impose such tariffs and emphasised that Russia’s economy remains open to trade. He assured that Russia does not engage in such practices and has no intention of doing so in the future. Speaking on Trump's tariffs, Putin said, “He (Trump) is acting in good faith, I presume.” “He pursues his own policy and he has advisors. His decisions aren't made out of thin air. He has advisors who believe in implementing such tariff policies involving the imposition of additional duties on trade partners ultimately benefits the US economy. He is acting in good faith, I presume,” Putin was quoted as saying.

Russia president defends India's right to buy Russian oil, questioning US tariffs on such imports, and reaffirms Russia’s open trade policies without using tariffs

Airports across India have Indigo airline passengers frustrated due to delays and cancellations. Over 1,232 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;&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. As the situation unfolded, the airline released a note which highlighted, “A large share of cancellations arose from crew, FDTL compliance and airport, airspace and ATC-related factors, many of which lie beyond the operator's direct control. And as a corrective measure, IndiGo informed that it will be “strengthening crew planning and rostering while adhering to FDTL norms. Enhancing coordination with ATC and airports to manage capacity constraints.”&nbsp;

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Of the 1232 flights cancelled, 755 (61%) were due to FDTL constraints, the airline reported to the regulator. Speaking to news agency PTI, aviation expert Sanjay Lazar noted the “huge lapse on the part of IndiGo. “Despite a two-year head start to recruit pilots required for the new norms that were coming into being,” he highlighted.&nbsp;<h2>Airline Pilots' Association of India says…</h2>&nbsp;“Airlines do not have the requisite number of pilots, or so they claim, to operate these flights in a timely manner,” Airline Pilots' Association of India President Capt Sam Thomas tells news agency PTI. He stressed on the fact that this is not the first time this pressure tactic has been used, but this DGCA said this is too old a tactic and you must get your act together with the revised FDTL norms.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">VIDEO | Delhi: Airline Pilots&#39; Association of India President Capt Sam Thomas says, &quot;These flight disruptions are artificially created by airlines to put pressure on the DGCA...&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiGo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CivilAviation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CivilAviation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DGCA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DGCA</a> (Full video available on PTI Videos – <a href="https://t.co/n147TvrpG7">https://t.co/n147TvrpG7</a>) <a href="https://t.co/JlAmWousH0">pic.twitter.com/JlAmWousH0</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1996447150348374327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Speaking of the winter schedule, particularly in northern India, which is regularly impacted by fog, Capt Thomas said, “There will be ensuing flight delays, and there are going to be fatigue-related matters as well. Airlines have to plan for sufficient backup, but somehow the commercial interest has taken precedence.” <h2>IndiGo pilots rested and happy?</h2> IndiGo’s parent company, InterGlobe Aviation, is among the world's five largest airlines by market capitalisation. Keeping passenger safety in mind, the airline has said that pilots will do only two landings if it is between midnight and 6 AM, but it becomes three at times. On other days, they are given a rest day, but on this day they could be called in to fly as a passenger to the next location from where they are expected to operate. Pilots get paid only for the hours they fly, which means after pushback. You may have seen pilots in uniform seated beside you during your travels. Now, you know they are only prepping for their next flight. Also, if a flight is delayed and the pilot operating that sector is on duty, she/he will not be paid for the time spent at the airport. It is only after pushback that hours will be calculated.

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. 

Airports across India have Indigo airline passengers frustrated due to delays and cancellations. Over 1,232 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. 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. As the situation unfolded, the airline released a note which highlighted, “A large share of cancellations arose from crew, FDTL compliance and airport, airspace and ATC-related factors, many of which lie beyond the operator's direct control. And as a corrective measure, IndiGo informed that it will be “strengthening crew planning and rostering while adhering to FDTL norms. Enhancing coordination with ATC and airports to manage capacity constraints.”

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.&nbsp;

61% of flights cancelled due to FDTL update, says IndiGo; pilot body highlights discrepancies. All you need to know

On Friday (December 5), traffic movement will be restricted on key roads in New Delhi due to a special event, as announced by Delhi police. An official advisory highlights the areas where parking and stopping will be prohibited to ensure smooth traffic flow and reduce congestion. The restrictions will be enforced between 10:00am and 11:30am. During this period, vehicles will not be allowed to stop or park on Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, MLNP, and Janpath Road. These roads lie within a high-security and high-traffic zone, and authorities anticipate an increase in activity due to the event.&nbsp;Delhi police have warned that any vehicles found parked in these areas will be towed. Offenders who violate parking rules or ignore instructions from traffic officers will face penalties. Towed vehicles will be taken to two designated locations: one near Kali Bari Mandir Marg and the other in front of Bhairon Mandir, where owners can retrieve their vehicles after completing the necessary formalities.&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;While these measures are temporary, police emphasize their importance in maintaining order. The arrangements have been made well in advance to prevent disruptions and to facilitate smooth movement around the event venue without impacting the rest of the district. Motorists are urged to avoid these routes during the restricted hours and to choose alternative roads to avoid delays. Commuters heading to central Delhi are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their travels.<h2>See the post from Delhi traffic police below</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">TRAFFIC ADVISORY Special traffic arrangements will be in place in New Delhi District on 05.12.2025 due to a special event. 📍RESTRICTIONS AND NO PARKING ZONES: Different stretches including Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, MLNP, Janpath Road, Firoz Shah… <a href="https://t.co/ugexGDdCSQ">pic.twitter.com/ugexGDdCSQ</a>&mdash; Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) <a href="https://twitter.com/dtptraffic/status/1996604296763478194?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Delhi Traffic Police posted on X. TRAFFIC ADVISORY. Special traffic arrangements will be in place in New Delhi District on 05.12.2025 due to a special event.📍RESTRICTIONS AND NO PARKING ZONES: Different stretches including Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, MLNP, Janpath Road, Firoz Shah Road, Sikandra Road, Windsor Place, Mandi House, Mathura Road &amp; Bhairon Marg will remain restricted during: •10:00–11:30 AM •11:00 AM–12:30 PM •03:00–05:00 PM •05:00–09:00 PM📍MAJOR DIVERSIONS: Vande Matram Marg → Simon Boliver Marg • R/A Kautilya Marg • Sunheri Masjid • R/A Rail Bhawan • Janpath Tolstoy Marg • Tolstoy KG Marg • Barakhamba Road, etc.📍ROUTES TO AVOID: Mother Teresa Crescent • Teen Murti Marg • Akbar Road • MLNP • Janpath Road • Firoz Shah Road • Sikandra Road • W-Point • Mathura Road • Bhairon Road📍SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: Vande Matram Marg • Yashwant Place • Maulana Azad Road • K. Kamraj Marg • Raisina Road • Rafi Marg • DDU Marg • Asaf Ali Road.📍PUBLIC ADVISORY: Use public transport, follow traffic police directions and plan travel to ISBT/Railway Stations/Airports in advance📍STAY UPDATED THROUGH DELHI TRAFFIC&nbsp;POLICE&nbsp;CHANNEL

Putin India visit: Delhi traffic police issues advisory for commuters. Check affected routes, diversions and which ones to avoid

On Friday (December 5), traffic movement will be restricted on key roads in New Delhi due to a special event, as announced by Delhi police. An official advisory highlights the areas where parking and stopping will be prohibited to ensure smooth traffic flow and reduce congestion. The restrictions will be enforced between 10:00am and 11:30am. During this period, vehicles will not be allowed to stop or park on Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, MLNP, and Janpath Road. These roads lie within a high-security and high-traffic zone, and authorities anticipate an increase in activity due to the event. Delhi police have warned that any vehicles found parked in these areas will be towed. Offenders who violate parking rules or ignore instructions from traffic officers will face penalties. Towed vehicles will be taken to two designated locations: one near Kali Bari Mandir Marg and the other in front of Bhairon Mandir, where owners can retrieve their vehicles after completing the necessary formalities. Also Read: Russian President Putin’s aircraft was world’s most-tracked plane en route India While these measures are temporary, police emphasize their importance in maintaining order. The arrangements have been made well in advance to prevent disruptions and to facilitate smooth movement around the event venue without impacting the rest of the district. Motorists are urged to avoid these routes during the restricted hours and to choose alternative roads to avoid delays. Commuters heading to central Delhi are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their travels. See the post from Delhi traffic police below

Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory for the commuters as Russia President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday evening (December 4). PM Modi welcomed him as the red carpet was rolled out at Palam airport

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Indian on Thursday (Dec 4) for a state visit. He will be staying in India for 30 hours, as per the official schedule. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Russian president at the Palam Airport, and the duo carpooled to reach the official residence of PM Modi.&nbsp;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;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-dubai-is-only-place-indians-respect-law-says-andrew-tate-internet-reminds-him-he-s-on-wanted-list-of-3-nations-1764688844758">'Dubai is only place Indians respect law', says Andrew Tate. Internet reminds him he’s on wanted list of 3 nations</a>

<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> | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin travel in the same car, as they depart from the Palam Technical Airport in Delhi President Putin is on a two-day State visit to India. He will hold the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with PM Narendra… <a href="https://t.co/oVtsOL7SnM">pic.twitter.com/oVtsOL7SnM</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1996578653774451122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Details of the car&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.&nbsp;During G20 (2023), India officially deployed over 100 Toyota Vellfires for delegates, reported widely by major outlets. This made it a default “VIP MPV” for protocol movements.&nbsp;Where will Modi-Putin meeting take place?&nbsp;Putin and PM Modi are scheduled to hold 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.&nbsp;In a few hours after being landed, as per the official schedule, Putin will be hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner. On Friday morning, the two leaders will assemble at Hyderabad House for delegation-level talks before issuing press statements around 1:50 pm.&nbsp;Amid this, the Hyderabad House has become a centre of attraction. It is not just another government venue. The Hyderabad House has evolved into the country’s principal stage for high-level diplomacy.

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.



Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Indian on Thursday (Dec 4) for a state visit. He will be staying in India for 30 hours, as per the official schedule. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra 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. Also read: 'Dubai is only place Indians respect law', says Andrew Tate. Internet reminds him he’s on wanted list of 3 nations

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;

WATCH: PM Modi-Putin's bromance as they carpooled to Indian PM's residence

The aircraft carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi, India, was the most tracked flight in the world on Thursday, said global aircraft tracker Flight Radar 24. “Our most tracked flight now: one of the Russian government aircraft en route to India. Russian President Putin and Indian PM Modi are scheduled to meet over two days in Delhi,” the aircraft tracker said in a post on X and its website.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our most tracked flight now: one of the Russian government aircraft en route to India. Russian President Putin and Indian PM Modi are scheduled to meet over two days in Delhi. <a href="https://t.co/Q5GikRN1Vd">https://t.co/Q5GikRN1Vd</a> <a href="https://t.co/DcbA9wFYrF">pic.twitter.com/DcbA9wFYrF</a>&mdash; Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) <a href="https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/1996498859758145814?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;President Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday evening and was personally received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport in a gesture of friendship and goodwill. The two leaders will discuss a range of matters, from defence to trade.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin with a smile, a handshake, and a warm hug. The two leaders then travelled in the same car as they headed to PM Modi’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, for a private dinner.&nbsp;After the grand welcome, the Russian president's office said in a post on social media that PM Modi’s decision to greet Putin at the aircraft ramp was unexpected, and the Russian president was not informed in advance about it.&nbsp;The two leaders will hold delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House on Friday morning before issuing press statements around 1.50 pm.&nbsp;Flight Radar 24 said that two aircraft were spotted earlier. While one turned off its transponder, the other turned it on, and the cycle continued. A transponder sends aircraft coordinates and other key flight information to air traffic controllers.&nbsp;As one of the world’s most heavily protected leaders, Putin rarely travels without two symbols of Russian state power: his Aurus Senat armoured limousine and his highly customised presidential aircraft, the Ilyushin IL-96-300PU, widely known as the “Flying Kremlin”.&nbsp;The “Flying Kremlin” is a modified version of the IL-96-300, a long-range, four-engine Russian airliner developed in the 1980s by the Ilyushin Design Bureau. It first flew on September 28, 1988, and entered service in the early 1990s.

As one of the world’s most heavily protected leaders, Putin rarely travels without two symbols of Russian state power: his Aurus Senat armoured limousine and his highly customised presidential aircraft, the Ilyushin IL-96-300PU, widely known as the “Flying Kremlin”.

The aircraft carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi, India, was the most tracked flight in the world on Thursday, said global aircraft tracker Flight Radar 24. “Our most tracked flight now: one of the Russian government aircraft en route to India. Russian President Putin and Indian PM Modi are scheduled to meet over two days in Delhi,” the aircraft tracker said in a post on X and its website.

As one of the world’s most heavily protected leaders, Putin rarely travels without two symbols of Russian state power: his Aurus Senat armoured limousine and his highly customised presidential aircraft, the Ilyushin IL-96-300PU, widely known as the “Flying Kremlin”.

Russian President Putin’s aircraft was world’s most-tracked plane en route India

Russia President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday (December 4) evening. India Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed him as the red carpet was rolled out for the Russian president. Both the leaders shook hands, exchanged warm hug and smiled. This is Putin's first visit in four years. Putin's two-day trip includes talks with PM Narendra Modi, a private dinner at the PM's residence, ceremonial welcome, Raj Ghat tribute, and agreements on trade, defence and mobility.&nbsp;Welcoming him, PM Modi tweeted in Russian to welcome Vladimir Putin. Taking it to his X account, Modi wrote, “Я рад приветствовать в Дели своего друга - Президента Путина. С нетерпением жду наших встреч сегодня вечером и завтра. Дружба между Индией и Россией проверена временем; она принесла огромную пользу нашим народам. @KremlinRussia_E.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-modi-putin-hug-as-indian-pm-receives-russian-president-with-a-red-carpet-1764855356119">WATCH | Modi, Putin hug as Indian PM receives Russian president with a red carpet</a><h2>See PM Narendra Modi's tweet in Russian</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Я рад приветствовать в Дели своего друга - Президента Путина. С нетерпением жду наших встреч сегодня вечером и завтра. Дружба между Индией и Россией проверена временем; она принесла огромную пользу нашим народам.<a href="https://twitter.com/KremlinRussia_E?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KremlinRussia_E</a> <a href="https://t.co/yqmhCbZBde">pic.twitter.com/yqmhCbZBde</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1996590132812460454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

For nearly two years, Vladimir Putin avoided major global gatherings, not because of logistical constraints, but because of the political and legal storm surrounding him. He skipped the G20 Summit in New Delhi. He avoided BRICS and multiple multilateral events where his presence would have been overshadowed by the Ukraine war, sanctions, and the ICC arrest warrant. Against that backdrop, the decision to travel to India is not casual; it is deliberate.&nbsp;This visit is Putin’s biggest political bet after his trips to China and the US. Those two capitals symbolise the polar ends of global power. India represents something else entirely: the swing power in the middle, whose partnership Russia cannot afford to lose. And for India, hosting Putin at this juncture is equally meaningful. It is a quiet assertion of strategic autonomy, a reminder that New Delhi charts its own geopolitical course, and a signal to the world that India will not be pressured into taking sides in the new Cold War.<h2>See the full itinerary of Russia President Vladimir Putin here</h2>Friday: December 5, 2025 - 11:00 hoursCeremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan Photo Op: AV Media&nbsp;Friday: December 5, 2025 -11:30 hours Wreath Laying at Rajghat Photo Op: AV Media&nbsp;Friday: December 5, 2025 - 11:50 hours Meeting with the Prime Minister at Hyderabad House Photo Op: AV Media&nbsp;Friday: December 5, 2025 -13:50 hours Press Statements at Hyderabad House Photo Op: All Media&nbsp;Friday: December 5, 2025 -15:40 hours Business Event Venue: TBC&nbsp;Friday: December 5, 2025 -19:00 hours Meeting with the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan Photo Op: Official Only&nbsp;Friday: December 5, 2025 -21:00 hours Departure from Delhi

'Pleased to welcome my friend': PM Narendra Modi tweets in Russian as he warmly greets Russian president Vladimir Putin

Russia President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday (December 4) evening. India Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed him as the red carpet was rolled out for the Russian president. Both the leaders shook hands, exchanged warm hug and smiled. This is Putin's first visit in four years. Putin's two-day trip includes talks with PM Narendra Modi, a private dinner at the PM's residence, ceremonial welcome, Raj Ghat tribute, and agreements on trade, defence and mobility. Welcoming him, PM Modi tweeted in Russian to welcome Vladimir Putin. Taking it to his X account, Modi wrote, “Я рад приветствовать в Дели своего друга - Президента Путина. С нетерпением жду наших встреч сегодня вечером и завтра. Дружба между Индией и Россией проверена временем; она принесла огромную пользу нашим народам. @KremlinRussia_E.” Also Read: WATCH | Modi, Putin hug as Indian PM receives Russian president with a red carpet See PM Narendra Modi's tweet in Russian

Russia President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday evening (December 4). PM Modi welcomed him as the red carpet was rolled out at Palam airport

'Pleased to welcome my friend': PM Narendra Modi tweets in Russian as he warmly greets Russian President Vladimir Putin

Coinciding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's State visit to India on Thursday (December 4), Russian nuclear power agency Rosatom has announced 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; Of the KKNPP's six 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; In November 2025, Rosatom had announced that preparations are underway for one of the key milestones- testing of safety systems on an open reactor at Unit 3 of KKNPP. The Nuclear Fuel Division of Rosatom has delivered the first consignment of nuclear fuel for the initial loading of the VVER-1000 reactor at Unit 3 of the KKNPP. The cargo flight successfully delivered fuel assemblies manufactured by the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (an enterprise of the Rosatom’s Nuclear Fuel Division), Rosatom said. A total of seven flights from Russia to India are planned to supply the entire reactor core and some reserve fuel. The shipments are provided under the contract signed in 2024, which includes fuel supply for units 3 and 4 of the KKNPP for the entire service life of the reactors.<h2>Kudankulam unit 3 to use longer-lasting nuclear fuel</h2>According to Rosatom, during the operation of Units 1 &amp; 2 of the KKNPP, Russian and Indian engineers have worked towards increasing the reactors' efficiency through the introduction of advanced nuclear fuel and extended fuel cycles.&nbsp; Starting from 2022, the KKNPP is supplied with nuclear fuel of the TVS-2M model. It provides more reliable and cost-effective reactor operation due to its rigid design, a new generation anti-debris filter and a increased mass of uranium. Its introduction has also enabled elongation of the fuel cycle of the reactors from 12 to 18 months, so the power units are being stopped less frequently for fuel re-load. Earlier, the reactors had to be refuelled every year, but now they need to be refuelled only once in 18 months, offer increased runtime after every refuelling. The upcoming Units 3 &amp; 4 of the KKNPP will become the first-ever&nbsp; VVER-1000 type reactors commence operations in an 18-month fuel cycle. This is the result of successful cooperation in recent years between Rosatom's Nuclear Fuel Division and Indian partners, as the efficient solutions that had been previously implemented at similar power plants in Russia and China were introduced at the two operational Kudankulam power units. Throughout the entire operational life of nuclear power plants, Rosatom not only supplies nuclear fuel, but also provides engineering services, increasing the efficiency of power units introducing new fuel and fuel cycle solutions.

Russia starts delivering nuclear fuel for India's Kudankulam unit 3

Coinciding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's State visit to India on Thursday (December 4), Russian nuclear power agency Rosatom has announced 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 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. In November 2025, Rosatom had announced that preparations are underway for one of the key milestones- testing of safety systems on an open reactor at Unit 3 of KKNPP. The Nuclear Fuel Division of Rosatom has delivered the first consignment of nuclear fuel for the initial loading of the VVER-1000 reactor at Unit 3 of the KKNPP. The cargo flight successfully delivered fuel assemblies manufactured by the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (an enterprise of the Rosatom’s Nuclear Fuel Division), Rosatom said. A total of seven flights from Russia to India are planned to supply the entire reactor core and some reserve fuel. The shipments are provided under the contract signed in 2024, which includes fuel supply for units 3 and 4 of the KKNPP for the entire service life of the reactors. Kudankulam unit 3 to use longer-lasting nuclear fuel According to Rosatom, during the operation of Units 1 & 2 of the KKNPP, Russian and Indian engineers have worked towards increasing the reactors' efficiency through the introduction of advanced nuclear fuel and extended fuel cycles. Starting from 2022, the KKNPP is supplied with nuclear fuel of the TVS-2M model. It provides more reliable and cost-effective reactor operation due to its rigid design, a new generation anti-debris filter and a increased mass of uranium. Its introduction has also enabled elongation of the fuel cycle of the reactors from 12 to 18 months, so the power units are being stopped less frequently for fuel re-load. Earlier, the reactors had to be refuelled every year, but now they need to be refuelled only once in 18 months, offer increased runtime after every refuelling. The upcoming Units 3 & 4 of the KKNPP will become the first-ever VVER-1000 type reactors commence operations in an 18-month fuel cycle. This is the result of successful cooperation in recent years between Rosatom's Nuclear Fuel Division and Indian partners, as the efficient solutions that had been previously implemented at similar power plants in Russia and China were introduced at the two operational Kudankulam power units. Throughout the entire operational life of nuclear power plants, Rosatom not only supplies nuclear fuel, but also provides engineering services, increasing the efficiency of power units introducing new fuel and fuel cycle solutions.

Of the KKNPP's six 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

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in India on Thursday (Dec 4). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Russian president, and the duo left the Palam airport in the same car. Putin and PM Modi are scheduled to hold 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.&nbsp;In a few hours after being landed, as per the official schedule, Putin will be hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner. On Friday morning, the two leaders will assemble at Hyderabad House for delegation-level talks before issuing press statements around 1:50 pm.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-dubai-is-only-place-indians-respect-law-says-andrew-tate-internet-reminds-him-he-s-on-wanted-list-of-3-nations-1764688844758">'Dubai is only place Indians respect law', says Andrew Tate. Internet reminds him he’s on wanted list of 3 nations</a>&nbsp;Amid this, the Hyderabad House has become a centre of attraction. It is not just another government venue. The Hyderabad House has evolved into the country’s principal stage for high-level diplomacy.&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. Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-first-congratulate-him-for-gaza-deal-say-russia-supported-it-then-in-leaked-call-transcript-witkoff-reveals-how-to-crack-a-deal-with-trump-1764239775071">'First congratulate him for Gaza deal, then...': In LEAKED call transcript, Witkoff reveals how to crack a deal with Trump</a>&nbsp;But, strangely, when he finally set foot inside the palatial residence nearly a decade after its completion, he reportedly sneered at it, dismissing it as nothing more than a “stable". He never stayed there, not even once. Nizam entrusted the design to Sir Edwin Lutyens, the architect tasked with shaping much of New Delhi’s imperial core. By 1954, the Ministry of External Affairs leased Hyderabad House from the Andhra Pradesh government. And since then, it became the venue for &nbsp;high-stakes diplomacy.

Putin and PM Modi are scheduled to hold 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.

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in India on Thursday (Dec 4). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Russian president, and the duo left the Palam airport in the same car. Putin and PM Modi are scheduled to hold 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. In a few hours after being landed, as per the official schedule, Putin will be hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner. On Friday morning, the two leaders will assemble at Hyderabad House for delegation-level talks before issuing press statements around 1:50 pm. Also read: 'Dubai is only place Indians respect law', says Andrew Tate. Internet reminds him he’s on wanted list of 3 nations Amid this, the Hyderabad House has become a centre of attraction. It is not just another government venue. The Hyderabad House has evolved into the country’s principal stage for high-level diplomacy. 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: 'First congratulate him for Gaza deal, then...': In LEAKED call transcript, Witkoff reveals how to crack a deal with Trump But, strangely, when he finally set foot inside the palatial residence nearly a decade after its completion, he reportedly sneered at it, dismissing it as nothing more than a “stable". He never stayed there, not even once. Nizam entrusted the design to Sir Edwin Lutyens, the architect tasked with shaping much of New Delhi’s imperial core. By 1954, the Ministry of External Affairs leased Hyderabad House from the Andhra Pradesh government. And since then, it became the venue for high-stakes diplomacy.

Putin and PM Modi are scheduled to hold 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.

Why is PM Modi meeting Putin at Hyderabad House? Here’s story behind the venue

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for the first time since 2021 on Thursday evening (Dec 4). He was grandly welcomed by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a warm hug, handshake and smile. Along with PM Modi, Putin was also welcomed by a troupe of women with an Indian classical dance, following which both leaders departed New Delhi’s Palam Air Base together in the same car.<h2>Watch the video here</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a> | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs Vladimir Putin as the Russian president arrives in India on 2-day historic visit <a href="https://t.co/PIV9PRfN9C">pic.twitter.com/PIV9PRfN9C</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1996577152142282777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After Putin's grand welcome, the Russian president's office said in a post on social media that PM Modi’s decision to meet him at the aircraft ramp was unexpected, and the Russian president was not informed in advance about it.&nbsp;His arrival in New Delhi, his first major visit after travelling to the US and China, and his first to India since the Ukraine war upended Russia’s global standing, carries far more weight than its ceremonial packaging.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 23rd India-Russia annual summit is not just a bilateral meeting but also a geopolitical signal, a strategic recalibration, and a diplomatic test for India in a world that has become increasingly bipolar.<h3>India releases FULL itinerary of Putin's visit:</h3>Friday - December 5, 2025 - 11:00 hoursCeremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan Photo Op: AV Media&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 -11:30 hours Wreath Laying at Rajghat Photo Op: AV Media&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 - 11:50 hours Meeting with the Prime Minister at Hyderabad House Photo Op: AV Media&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 -13:50 hours Press Statements at Hyderabad House Photo Op: All Media&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 -15:40 hours Business Event Venue: TBC&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 -19:00 hours Meeting with the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan Photo Op: Official Only&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 -21:00 hours Departure from Delhi

Russian President Vladimir Putin was also welcomed by a troupe of women with an Indian classical dance, following which both leaders departed New Delhi’s Palam Air Base together in the same car.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for the first time since 2021 on Thursday evening (Dec 4). He was grandly welcomed by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a warm hug, handshake and smile. Along with PM Modi, Putin was also welcomed by a troupe of women with an Indian classical dance, following which both leaders departed New Delhi’s Palam Air Base together in the same car. Watch the video here

Russian President Vladimir Putin was also welcomed by a troupe of women with an Indian classical dance, following which both leaders left New Delhi’s Palam Air Base together in the same car for a private dinner at the PM's residence

WATCH | Modi, Putin hug as Indian PM receives Russian president with a red carpet

Tributes pour in for Swaraj Kaushal, who was the youngest Governor of Mizoram and also the youngest the country had ever sworn in 1990. He was brought to AIIMS, Delhi, in critical condition, according to the press note released by the medical institute. The statement read, “Swaraj Kaushal, former Hon'ble Member of Parliament and former Hon'ble Governor, male, 72 years old, was brought to the AIIMS Delhi Emergency Department on 4 December 2025 at 10:45 AM in critical condition. The emergency medical team immediately initiated resuscitation measures. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 1:50 PM.”&nbsp;<h2>Tributes:&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;President Droupadi Murmu's office tweeted, “Saddened to know about the demise of Shri Swaraj Kaushal ji, former Governor of Mizoram, former Member of Parliament and a distinguished legal luminary. His contributions will always be remembered. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his daughter and MP Bansuri Swaraj, other family members and admirers.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Saddened to know about the demise of Shri Swaraj Kaushal ji, former Governor of Mizoram, former Member of Parliament and a distinguished legal luminary. His contributions will always be remembered. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his daughter and MP Bansuri Swaraj, other…&mdash; President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1996557416847364497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Prime Minister Modi expressed his grief, he wrote, “Pained by the passing of Shri Swaraj Kaushal Ji. He distinguished himself as a lawyer and a person who believed in using the legal profession to improve the lives of the underprivileged. He became India’s youngest Governor and left a lasting impression on the people of Mizoram during his gubernatorial tenure…”

Former Mizoram governor Swaraj Kaushal passes away at 73. On Thursday (Dec 4), his daughter Bansuri confirmed the news.

Tributes pour in for Swaraj Kaushal, who was the youngest Governor of Mizoram and also the youngest the country had ever sworn in 1990. He was brought to AIIMS, Delhi, in critical condition, according to the press note released by the medical institute. The statement read, “Swaraj Kaushal, former Hon'ble Member of Parliament and former Hon'ble Governor, male, 72 years old, was brought to the AIIMS Delhi Emergency Department on 4 December 2025 at 10:45 AM in critical condition. The emergency medical team immediately initiated resuscitation measures. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 1:50 PM.” Tributes: President Droupadi Murmu's office tweeted, “Saddened to know about the demise of Shri Swaraj Kaushal ji, former Governor of Mizoram, former Member of Parliament and a distinguished legal luminary. His contributions will always be remembered. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his daughter and MP Bansuri Swaraj, other family members and admirers.”

Former Mizoram governor Swaraj Kaushal passes away at 73. On Thursday (Dec 4), his daughter Bansuri confirmed the news.

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