Business

On the fifth consecutive day of IndiGo Airlines’ operational crisis, the government has taken decisive action to protect passengers. Over 400 flights were canceled on Saturday, adding to more than 1,400 cancellations in the past four days, disrupting domestic air travel and causing fares on other airlines to spike. Government Orders The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has directed IndiGo to process all pending refunds for canceled or disrupted flights by 8 PM on Sunday, 7 December. The ministry warned that failure to comply will result in immediate regulatory action. Additionally, passengers affected by rescheduling must not be charged any fees. Fare Caps Introduced To curb exorbitant fares during the disruption, MoCA has also imposed fare caps across all airlines. The minist...

IndiGo Airlines’ operational crisis entered its fifth consecutive day on Saturday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across India. Over 450 flights were canceled on Saturday alone, adding to the chaos after more than 1,000 cancellations on Friday. Major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Thiruvananthapuram witnessed long queues and frustrated travelers. Cause of the Crisis The disruption stems from a combination of regulatory changes, planning missteps, and operational pressures. The DGCA’s new Crew Rest and Duty Time regulations, known as Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), were designed to reduce pilot fatigue and enhance flight safety. However, these rules conflict with IndiGo’s high-utilization, low-cost operational model, creating a shortag...

Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his two-day visit to India on Friday, leaving with several high-profile trade agreements signed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The deals cover sectors ranging from energy and fertilizers to logistics and shipping, sending a clear signal to both the United States and China that India will not compromise its strategic autonomy. Key Highlights of the Summit The India-Russia annual summit took place amid rising global tensions, with the US recently imposing high tariffs on Indian exports and sanctions on Russian oil imports. China has also intermittently restricted exports of specialty fertilizers. The agreements reaffirmed India’s right to independently shape its international partnerships, despite external pressure. Modi emphasized Ind...

Passengers traveling across India faced severe inconvenience on Saturday as IndiGo Airlines continued to grapple with widespread cancellations and delays. Despite directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airline’s services showed little improvement. Over 400 flights were affected, causing long queues at check-in counters, crowded terminals, and mounting passenger frustration in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Thiruvananthapuram. Airport authorities noted that while conditions are slowly returning to normal, certain routes continue to face operational challenges. Flight Disruptions Across Key Airports Mumbai: 109 flights canceled (51 arrivals, 58 departures), making it the most impacted airport. Delhi: 106 fligh...

India’s spiritual landscape is enriched not only by renowned male Katha Vachaks, but also by several influential female storytellers who draw massive audiences across the country and abroad. Some of them charge fees running into lakhs, while others perform without taking any personal remuneration. Here is a look at India’s top 5 most popular female Katha Vachaks and how much they earn for a single event. 1. Jaya Kishori – ₹9 to ₹10 lakh per Katha Among India’s most celebrated female Katha Vachaks, Jaya Kishori enjoys a vast global following. Her Bhagwat Katha draws thousands of devotees from India and overseas. A gifted storyteller and devotional singer, she brings the teachings and life of Lord Krishna alive for her audiences.According to media reports, she charges ₹9–10 lakh for on...

Simone Tata, one of the most influential figures of the Tata family and a pioneer of India’s beauty and fashion retail industry, passed away in Mumbai on Friday at the age of 95. She had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at Breach Candy Hospital. Simone Tata was the Chairperson Emeritus of Trent, mother of Noel Tata, and stepmother of former Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata. Born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1930 as Simone Dunoyer, she came from a wealthy French–Swiss family. She first visited India in the early 1950s as a young graduate. During her brief stint with Air India in Geneva in 1953, she met Naval Tata at an ILO conference. The two married in 1955, marking the beginning of her lifelong association with India. Transformed Beauty Culture in Indian Middle Class ...

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has significantly broadened the range of free services offered under Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) or zero-balance accounts, directing banks to treat these accounts at par with regular savings accounts. The central bank has made it clear that BSBD accounts should not be seen as “inferior” or “limited-service” options. According to new RBI guidelines, if a customer submits a written or online request, banks must convert an existing savings account into a BSBD account within seven days. These guidelines will come into effect from April 1 next year. As per an Economic Times report, RBI has also instructed banks to provide mobile banking, internet banking, unlimited cash deposits, and both online and cheque-based fund transfer facilities for BSBD accou...

As the weekend begins, many people who postponed their banking tasks to Saturday may be wondering: Are banks open or closed today, 6 December 2025? Here is the complete update. Are Banks Open Today? Yes, banks across India are open today, 6 December 2025.This is because it is the first Saturday of the month. As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, banks remain open on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays of every month. Only the second and fourth Saturdays are designated as bank holidays—unless an additional public holiday is officially declared. December 2025 Bank Holidays Banks will observe several holidays across different states this month. These include: Swadeshi Aastha Diwas Feast of St. Francis Xavier Pa Togan Nengminza Sangma Death Anniversary U So...

Six years ago, when Pradeep Kannan walked away from his lucrative corporate job, many mocked him. Some even called him “crazy” for giving up a comfortable life in Bengaluru to start a small business back home in Karur. But Pradeep chose to follow his passion instead of a predictable career path. Today, that very ‘crazy’ decision has turned into a remarkable success story. His venture, ‘The Falooda Shop’, has grown from a single small outlet to 18 stores across India and Dubai, becoming a fast-rising brand in the dessert and beverage space. Leaving a High-Paying Corporate Job In 2019, Pradeep Kannan shocked everyone around him when he resigned from his senior role at Oracle, where he served as Head of Operations. Despite the security of a high salary and a prestigious position, he ...

India’s foreign exchange reserves have witnessed a decline for the second consecutive week, largely due to a steep drop in Foreign Currency Assets (FCA). According to the Reserve Bank of India’s latest data, forex reserves fell by $1.87 billion in the week ending 28 November 2025. The previous week had already seen a massive dip of $4.47 billion. However, a notable rise in gold reserves helped cushion the overall fall. Forex Reserves Slip to $686 Billion As per RBI’s weekly bulletin, India’s total foreign exchange reserves have dropped to $686.227 billion, marking a sharp reduction caused primarily by falling FCA. In the week under review, FCA declined by $3.569 billion, following a $1.69 billion drop in the previous week. For context, India had touched its all-time high forex res...