India's economic engine is revving up, but navigating the global headwinds requires sharp strategy. The rupee's recent volatility against the dollar underscores the complexities facing Indian businesses, impacting everything from import-export trade to domestic inflation. This week alone, we've seen significant shifts in the IT sector, with major players announcing restructuring and a renewed focus on AI-driven solutions. Meanwhile, the burgeoning startup ecosystem continues to attract substantial funding, despite a cautious global investor sentiment. The government's recent policy announcements on infrastructure development and digitalization are poised to further shape the business landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and established corporations alike. Understanding these market dynamics is crucial for success in today's rapidly evolving Indian economy. Stay informed with Abtak.com for the latest insights and analysis on key sectors including finance, manufacturing, and technology – empowering your business decisions in a dynamic market. Explore the complete business news section now to stay ahead of the curve.
NEW DELHI: SpiceJet has launched special festive flights to enhance connectivity to Bihar ahead of Chhath Puja and Diwali. Air India and Air India Express today announced the addition of 166 flights to and from Patna to meet the surging festive demand. The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, had last week asked airlines to operate additional flights to cater to public rush and not to resort to any kind of surge pricing in the existing flights. The special flights by SpiceJet will be from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also increasing the frequencies of trips from Delhi and Mumbai. Additionally, the airline has also strengthened connectivity to Darbhanga with extra flights from Delhi and Mumbai. The new flights of SpiceJet commenced operations from October 10 in a phased manner. "The enhanced schedule caters to the surge in festive travel demand, ensuring greater convenience and flexibility for passengers returning home for the celebrations," it said in a release. These new flights are in addition to the airline's existing services to Patna from Delhi, Mumbai, and Guwahati, and to Darbhanga from Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, the release said.
Mumbai: Air India has issued a statement explaining the reason behind the delay in the take off of the Bangkok-bound Air India Flight AI 2354, on June 25. The flight was delayed for more than 5 hours after hay was discovered lodged beneath the left wing of the aircraft, the airline confirmed in a statement. Reportedly, Flight AI 2354, operated by an Airbus A320Neo, was scheduled to depart Mumbai at 7:45 AM but took off only around 1:00 PM. The airline's immediate action in the matter resulted in the quick removal of the hay, stated the airline. The aircraft was subsequently deemed fit for ope ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): Senior officials of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) told a parliamentary panel on Wednesday that the preliminary report on the plane crash in Ahmedabad is likely to be placed in the public domain in the next few days, sources said. Parliament's Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture met here on Wednesday with members making queries and seeking clarifications on the issue of safety and aircraft maintenance. The members, sources said, talked about the vast expansion of air sector in India, the projected growth and the need to exp ...Read More >
Delhi and the National capital Region (NCR) are grappling with heavy rainfall, leading to disruptions in air travel and widespread waterlogging, particularly in Gurugram. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a "red" alert, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall throughout Thursday. Authorities are working to mitigate the impact, with assurances of improvements in the coming year. The relentless downpour has significantly impacted flight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Several airlines have issued advisories to passengers, urging them to ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing from all angles, including sabotage, in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed 274 people on board and on the ground last month, Minister of State (MoS) For Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said. Mohol said the black box of the Air India flight AI 171 that has been recovered is in AAIB's custody and will not be outside the country for a thorough assessment. The MoS was speaking at the Pune chapter of the Emerging Business Conclave. "It (plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investig ...Read More >
Patna: A Delhi-bound flight carrying 175 passengers and crew members had a close call when the plane encountered a bird strike soon after taking off from the Jayprakash Narayan International Airport on Wednesday morning. The IndiGo Airlines aircraft, operating the Patna-Delhi route, experienced turbulence shortly after becoming airborne, necessitating its return to Patna.Confirming the incident, airport director Krishna Mohan Nehra said the flight 6E-5009 from Patna to Delhi reported a bird hit after take-off at 8.42am on Wednesday. "Soon after departure, a message was received by ATC (air tra ...Read More >
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) informed a parliamentary panel that the initial investigation report on the Air India Flight AI-171 incident in Ahmedabad is still pending, contrary to media reports. The AAIB clarified that the preliminary report will be released within 30 days of the June 12 crash, setting a timeline for the public disclosure of findings. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has clarified to a parliamentary panel that it has not yet submitted the i ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 12: Both switches feeding fuel to the two engines of Air India flight 171 were cut off followed by pilot confusion before the plane crashed in Ahmedabad, seconds after taking off, the first investigation report into the crash has revealed. It said that one pilot asked why he had shut off the fuel, and the other responded he didn't do it. The crash on June 12 was the first fatal disaster involving a Boeing 787, killing a total of 260 people -- all but one of the 242 people on board the aircraft died -- when the plane ploughed into a medical college hostel. The preliminary repo ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): Former Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Flight Operations Inspector Captain Prashant Dhalla on Saturday floated the idea of startle effect in play before the Air India flight 171 crashed in Ahmedabad shortly after departure while noting that it was premature to assume human error. Discussing the importance of understanding human factors in crash incidents, he noted that the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) states the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was out. On this basis, he pushed a theory that refers to pilots trying ...Read More >
New Delhi/Mumbai, Jul 13 (PTI) A five-member team, headed by 56-year-old Sanjay Kumar Singh, is probing the fatal crash of the Air India aircraft last month in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Director Singh is the Investigator-in-Charge and Deputy Director Jasbir Singh Larhga is the Chief Investigator. Also Read | Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Approves To Install CCTV Cameras in All 74,000 Coaches To Enhance Passenger Safety. There are also three Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials in the investigation team -- Deputy Dir ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, July 14 (Reuters) - The Indian aviation regulator on Monday ordered Indian airlines to examine fuel switches on Boeing aircraft, including the 787 and 737 models, to check for any malfunctions in their locking mechanism. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said it had issued the order after several Indian and international airlines began making their owns inspections of fuel switches. Reuters earlier reported that Air India Group had begun inspecting fuel switches on its Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft over the weekend and had discovered no problems yet. (Reporting by Abhijith G ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) Nagaland University has launched a postgraduate program in rural development and management aimed at building a cadre of professionals, officials said on Monday. The students will be equipped to address the pressing challenges and opportunities in rural areas, especially in Nagaland and the North Eastern Region. Also Read | Ahmedabad Plane Crash: DGCA Directs Airlines To Check Locking Mechanism of Fuel Switches of Boeing Planes After Air India Crash Report. Graduates of this program will have strong career pathways in government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) ...Read More >
New Delhi: Union minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Sunday said the investigating agencies were examining all angles in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, and this included the possibility of sabotage. He said that CCTV footage and passports of passengers were being scrutinised as part of this probe. He added the crash was a rare case and noted that both engines shutting down simultaneously was unprecedented. He said the AAIB had commenced an investigation into the crash on June 12 that claimed 260 lives in all. "Once the report comes, we will be able to ascertain if ...Read More >
Travellers in India -- both domestic and international -- have been facing numerous flight delays and disruptions in recent days. These include delays in Air India's Dreamliner fleet due to stricter inspection norms set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after the AI 171 crash, long-haul flight delays due to route disruptions caused by the Middle East tension, and domestic delays owing to bad weather conditions. Many passengers have taken to social media to express frustration and share images of the chaos across airports. So, if you're one of the affected airline passengers ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): Members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday raised serious concerns over aviation safety following the Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad and the sudden surge in flight fares from Srinagar to other cities after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, according to sources. The Parliamentary panel today met with top officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry and representatives from major airlines. As per sources, several committe members have expressed strong dissatisfaction over the way various airlines drastically increased their ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Aviation regulator DGCA said on Tuesday it will put in place a mechanism to curb whopping surge in air ticket prices, recently witnessed during the Maha Kumbh and post-Pahalgam terror attack, as the issue coupled with concerns over air safety after the Ahmedabad plane crash dominated proceedings at a parliamentary panel meeting. Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson told the committee his airline will complete retrofitting of its fleet in two years to address frequent complaints about its seats and other facilities, and underscored its commitment to flight safety, source ...Read More >
Mumbai: Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday asked airlines to inspect the fuel switch locking system in their Boeing 787 and 737 planes, a move that comes days after the preliminary probe report into the Air India's Boeing 787 crash found that the switches were cut off before the accident last month. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), back in 2018, had flagged the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on certain models of Boeing aircraft, including 787s and 737s. It was mentioned in a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) but there was no airwort ...Read More >
Mumbai: Recurring aircraft defects, unserviceable ground handling gear, and faded runway markings are among a range of safety lapses discovered by the civil aviation regulator after an intensive survey of key airports including Delhi and Mumbai. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered airport operators and airlines to address these safety concerns within a week. The inspections come on the heels of the June 12 crash of an Air India plane in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people on ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre and Rajasthan governments over the reported plan to redraw the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve for the reactivation of over 50 mining operations, saying the move would be "ecologically devastating". The opposition party also said that with the Rajasthan and Union environment ministers both being from Alwar, this "double engine" cannot be supporting such a move. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X a media report which claimed that a plan to redraw the boundaries of Rajasthan's ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 1(ANI): An Air India flight en route to Vienna from Delhi experienced a serious mid-air incident on June 14, during which the aircraft suddenly lost altitude by nearly 900 feet, prompting an investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Air India, in an official statement, confirmed that both pilots involved in the incident have been removed from active duty pending the outcome of the probe. The airline stated that the matter was reported to the DGCA immediately, by aviation regulations. Also Read | India Developing Its Own Bunker-Buster Missile? ...Read More >
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 4 (ANI): Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Friday has raised objections to the timing of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, stating that it could result in the exclusion of a large number of voters who return to the state only during the festive season. Speaking to ANI, Kishor said, 'We are against this, we have expressed concern, and we have also called a meeting of our executive to discuss this issue because there is a very large section in Bihar that comes from outside during Diwali, Chhath, and for them, coming before Diwali, ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture is holding a meeting at Parliament House Annexe. The meeting will focus on the Overall review of safety in the civil aviation sector Committee Chairman Sanjay Kumar Jha, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, and Officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and the Airports Authority of India. are attending the Tuesday meeting being held at Parliament House Annexe On Tuesday, Members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) raised serious concerns ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 12 (PTI) The Air India aircraft, which crashed soon after takeoff in Ahmedabad last month, might have suffered mechanical or power supply issues that could have led to the change in the position of the switches that feed fuel into the plane, according to experts. They also opined that the reasons for the change in fuel switch position will be known during further investigations. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary report has mentioned that fuel switches of engine 1 and 2 of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft were cut off within a gap of one second and later tur ...Read More >
New Delhi: Aviation watchdog DGCA will soon come out with streamlined regulations for wet-leasing of planes by Indian airlines that will also entail enhanced oversight of the aircraft, amid airlines looking to operate more planes to meet rising travel demand. With persisting supply chain woes, there is a delay in aircraft deliveries and to meet the near-term needs, carriers are opting for planes on dry and wet leases. A senior official in the know told PTI that the efforts are on to streamline the regulations for wet-leasing of planes to assist in the growth of the aviation. "Realities of the ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) Maharashtra on Friday recorded 13 new cases of COVID-19, which took the tally of infections to 2,462, and one death, the health department said. A 65-year-old woman suffering from comorbidities, including rheumatoid arthritis, died in Kolhapur, an official said. Also Read | Ahmedabad Plane Crash Probe: Parliamentary Committee To Grill Boeing and Air India Executives, DGCA Officials; Sources Say 'Multiple Shortcomings' Matter of Concern. Since January 1, the state has recorded 2,462 COVID-19 cases and 37 deaths, the department said. Also Read | Did 21-Year-Old Muslim Ma ...Read More >
Gangtok: Sikkim's sole Lok Sabha MP, Indra Hang Subba, on Monday met Sanjay Kumar Jha, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, and submitted a representation urging urgent intervention to restore flight services at Pakyong airport and improve road connectivity in the northern parts of the State. According to a statement from the MP's office, Subba briefed the committee chief on the challenges faced by residents and tourism stakeholders in North Sikkim, following successive natural disasters -- including the Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) on O ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has conducted an inspection of the Air India office and discovered that there is currently no chief pilot assigned to oversee the operations and safety of the Boeing 787 fleet. This alarming revelation comes just days after Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, flight AI-171, crashed into a building mere seconds after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The tragic incident involved 242 passengers and resulted in over 250 casualties, as the aircraft crashed into a medical hostel building. Out of the ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) An Air India flight from Delhi to Washington, which took off on July 2, could not complete its journey after it developed a technical glitch during a scheduled refuelling stopover in Vienna, the Tata Group-owned airline said on Thursday. Consequently, its return flight from Washington to Delhi, scheduled on July 2, was also cancelled. Also Read | India Weather Forecast: Monsoon in Active Phase, Heavy Rainfall to Continue in Most Parts of India for Almost Entire Week, Says IMD Scientist. Of late, frequent delays and cancellations of long-haul flights by Air India have bee ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 4 (ANI): Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday came down heavily on the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) over its pitch to reconsider the words 'secular and socialist' from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution while saying that it was 'all talk'. He dared and challenged RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and top leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the centre to remove the words 'secular and socialist' from the Preamble. 'Days before, I heard that some RSS person said that we should remove Secular and Socialist words from ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jul 4: Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha Friday said that he was proud to see women breaking barriers in agricultural sciences and technology. In his address at the 6th convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K), the LG said, "Proud to see our daughters breaking barriers and achieving success in Agricultural Science and Technology. It reflects a bright future for J&K and the nation." During the convocation, of the 5250 degrees of undergraduate, master's, and PhD, 2661 degrees were awarded to women, of the 150 stu ...Read More >