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: Air India has rolled out an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven feature eZ Booking whereby customers can complete their reservation on its website in fewer steps than currently available by just texting or talking to the AI Agent his detailed travel itinerary. Currently available exclusively for members of Maharaja Club, Air India's loyalty programme, the innovation "helps customers book their ticket on the Air India website, airindia.com, by eliminating a number of commands and without having to navigate multiple screens. eZ Booking is another step in Air India's endeavour to give its customers an enhanced and seamless experience," AI said in a statement. "The reservation journey on digital channels for airline customers involves navigation through multiple screens to enter travel details, make selections from available choices, feed in information about travellers, etc. before making the payment and getting the ticket. eZ Booking aims to streamline the process to fewer clicks and pages by eliminating multi-step navigation on the website," AI said in a statement. "In our pursuit of developing technologies to elevate customer experience and provide them a seamless and intelligent digital interface, we have introduced eZ Booking on our website, initially for our loyalty programme members. This is an industry-leading initiative and we are taking early steps in deploying the emerging 'Agentic AI' capabilities across all our digital footprint. We hope our guests will enjoy the ease-of-use, speed and convenience of eZ Booking, that further enriches our strong digital channel presence," said Dr Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Air India.
New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) A male passenger onboard an Air India flight from Amritsar to the national capital on Saturday behaved in an unruly manner, engaged in verbal altercation with a co-passenger and was handed over to the airport security after landing at the Delhi airport. The incident happened in flight AI454. "During cabin preparations for landing, a member of our cabin crew noticed a passenger standing in the aisle, engaged in a verbal altercation with another passenger. "The second passenger reported to the crew that the individual was being abusive," the airline said in a statement ...Read More >
Air India launched a Black Friday Sale with discounts up to 20% on domestic flights and up to 12% on international flights to various destinations. The sale is available through the airline's website and mobile apps. Additional savings are possible with waived convenience fees and specific payment methods. The airline continues offering student and senior citizen discounts.Air India on Friday launched a limited-time Black Friday Sale offering discounts of up to 20 per cent off base fares for domestic flights within India. The Tata-owned airlines will also offer up to 12 per cent off base fares ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
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 >
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): The grand annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced in Odisha's Puri on Friday, as thousands of devotees began pulling the majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, amidst chants, drumbeats, and spiritual fervour. Following the completion of key rituals, including the sacred 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping ceremony) performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the deities were ceremonially placed on their respective chariots -- Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana. Also ...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 >
New Delhi [India], July 4 (ANI): An Air India flight from Bengaluru to Delhi was delayed in the early hours of Friday after a medical emergency involving one of its pilots. Flight AI2414 was set to depart on schedule, but the rostered pilot fell ill just before takeoff and was immediately taken to a local hospital. In a statement, an Air India spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying, 'There was a medical emergency involving one of our pilots in the early hours of 04 July. As a result, the pilot was unable to operate the flight AI2414 from Bengaluru to Delhi, which he was rostered for, and ...Read More >
GURUGRAM : Samsung, India's largest consumer electronics brand, today introduced its 2025 Bespoke AI appliance lineup, built on four distinct consumer benefits: Easy, Care, Save and Secure to enrich and simplify your lives with AI. These experiences are powered by Samsung's new AI Home screen interface, Bixby voice assistant with two-way natural communication, Samsung Knox security, and seamless SmartThings connectivity, delivering hyper-personalized, energy-efficient, and secure smart home solutions for modern Indian households. At the heart of the new lineup is the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo, ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Air India on Friday ordered four senior employees of its gateway services provider, AISATS, to resign after they were found partying at their workplace in Gurugram, just days after the Dreamliner crash on June 12. The tragic accident had claimed the lives of 275 people, including all but one of the 242 on board. The terminated employees include two senior vice presidents, the chief operating officer and the training head of AISATS. A video of the employees partying on June 20 at a DJ event recently went viral on social media. In several clips shared online, at least 30 people can ...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 4 (ANI): Air India on Friday denied allegations of coercing families of victims of the AI-171 accident into signing documents about their financial dependency on the deceased to reduce compensation payouts. In a detailed statement, the airline called the claims 'unsubstantiated and inaccurate.' The controversy surfaced following reports that some of the bereaved families were being compelled to disclose financial ties to their deceased loved ones--allegedly as a prerequisite for receiving compensation. However, the airlines clarified that the request for such informa ...Read More >
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has submitted its initial findings to the Ministry of Civil Aviation regarding the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad. The tragic accident, which occurred on June 12, involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London and resulted in the loss of 241 lives, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The AAIB's preliminary report -- compiled with assistance from global and domestic aviation experts -- marks the first formal insight into one of India's worst aviation disasters. The aircraft crashed shortly a ...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 >
Vodafone Idea has launched an AI-powered Spam SMS solution to protect users from unwanted messages and potential fraud. The technology uses machine learning to detect and flag spam in real-time, with over 24 million messages identified since its testing phase. The solution complements existing measures like a user-friendly mobile app for filing complaints and reporting spam. Vi is also working on reducing unwanted voice calls and uses customer feedback for further detection. This initiative aims to provide proactive protection and safeguard customers' digital experience. Vodafone Idea's stock ...Read More >
Kolkata, Dec 6 (PTI) Air India Express, the budget-carrier arm of Air India, is embarking on a significant expansion by increasing its fleet size and introducing new routes, as passenger growth remains robust. The airline, however, has deferred plans to launch direct flights between Kolkata and Dhaka, citing the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh. "You would recall we had announced our operational plan for Dhaka, which is a new and significant market for us. But because of the situation there, we have deferred those plans," Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, said. "As ...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 >
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Following public backlash over a video showing Air India SATS executives partying in their Gurugram office shortly after the June 12 Air India flight 171 crash, Tata Group has taken disciplinary action against several people.Four senior officials were suspended from Air India SATS, while multiple others were issued a warning, the company said on Friday.The video, which garnered over 3.8 million views on X, captured several executives dancing with loud music playing during a cele ...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 >
New Delhi: Weeks after the deadly crash of Air India flight AI-171, families of victims are now accusing the airline of pressuring and misleading them during the early stages of the compensation process. The fatal crash, which resulted in the deaths of 241 of the 242 passengers onboard, occurred moments after the plane took-off from Ahmedabad, en route to London. According to a UK-based law firm representing over 40 families, Air India has allegedly threatened the victims' families with "no compensation" unless they fill out a detailed questionnaire, even as they remain in grief. 'Forced to ...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 >
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): Delhi government will be rolling out the 'Saheli Smart Card' for women and transgender people, allowing them to travel the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses for free of cost. According to sources, the Saheli Smart Card scheme is expected to be rolled out on August 15, Independence Day. Also Read | Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar Reiterate Their Faith in Air India After AI 171 Crash As Both Travel to London To Attend Wimbledon 2025; Call It 'Best Inflight Service'. The scheme is meant to replace the 'Pink Ticket' system which was launched by t ...Read More >
Haridwar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sakshi Maharaj on Sunday demanded that hotel, dhaba and eatery owners on the Kanwar Yatra routes should display their names and identities on boards outside their business establishments. The owners, who hide their identities under fake names, on the Kanwar Yatra routes should not be spared, he told reporters here. "Tampering with faith of the Hindu devotees during the Kanwar Yatra will not be tolerated," said the Unnao MP. The food shops on the Kanwar Yatra routes should have a board outside with the names of their owners clearly written on them, h ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: An Air India flight from Bengaluru to Delhi was delayed on Friday morning after the pilot collapsed just before take-off. The airline arranged for an alternate pilot and the flight finally took off 90 minutes later. The incident follows recent concerns raised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which pulled up the airline for the pilot roster system. Flight AI2414 was supposed to take-off by 3 am on July 4 from Terminal 2 of the Kempgowda International Airport. However, a pilot was reported to have fallen seriously ill inside the cockpit just before departure. The flight ...Read More >
Baramulla, Jul 5: Hundreds of mourners from Delina and its neighbouring villages Saturday participated in the Muharram procession, the 9th day of the month of Muharram-Ul-Haram at Delina area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district. The procession was one of the series of processions being held in the month of Muharram, the first month of Islamic calendar. Dressed in black and carrying flags bearing religious inscriptions, participants from the villages of Hygam, Bulgam, Bohripora, Syedpora, Uri, Boniyar and other villages marched from new Imambargah through the National Highway NH-1 to the ma ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): Air India announced on Thursday that it has added more flights to Bangkok, Colombo, and Kathmandu to meet the growing passenger demand. Effective July 7, 2025, Air India will add a sixth daily flight between Delhi and Kathmandu, increasing frequency from 35x weekly to 42x weekly. Air India will add a second daily flight between Delhi and Colombo, doubling the route's frequency from 7x weekly to 14x weekly. The Tata Group airline will add a third daily flight between Mumbai and Bangkok, increasing frequency from 13x weekly to 18x weekly. Air India said in a ...Read More >
Mumbai: In a bizzare incident, an Air India flight scheduled to Bangkok from Mumbai's Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) faced delay by 5+ hours as hay from bird's nest gets stuck in the left wing of Aircaft. Video of the crew trying to clear the wing is taking rounds on social media platforms. The flight tracking website flightradar24.com shows that AI 2354, an Airbus A320Neo plane, was scheduled to depart from Mumbai airport at 7:45 am. The flight departed around 1 am. A video has been surfacing where the airport crew can be seen removing the nest from the aircraft's w ...Read More >
BENGALURU: BBMP marshals deployed at lake security and supervision wing, ward monitoring and Indira Canteens are working without salaries since March. The situation has arisen after Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited was carved out of BBMP for garbage management. Their salaries are usually given through the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society and each marshal is paid Rs 17,500 monthly. "Supervisors say the delay is due to a set of procedures. Earlier, the amount was given to the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society towards payments from BBMP. Now the files have to be cleared from BWSML to ward mars ...Read More >
From Lucknow To Stars: 5 Lesser-Known Facts About Shubhanshu Shukla - 1st Indian On International Space Station The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) took a significant initiative by recently hosting a high-level workshop that brought together all the key players in civil aviation and VIP security to enhance safety and improve the passenger experience for everyone. The "Functional Workshop of Airport Sector," held at CISF's Airport Sector Headquarters on June 27, 2025, saw top CISF offic ...Read More >