India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing war in West Asia, Air India has suspended all its flights to Israel. An Air India official said that the flights on the New Delhi-Tel Aviv route were suspended till May 31. Over 40,000 Indians in Israel face challenges due to suspended flights, forcing many to travel via Jordan or Egypt. Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv has stepped up support, maintaining constant contact with the community, opening a 24×7 emergency helpline, and launching a large-scale registration drive. AAmbassador J P Singh and his team recently held a virtual meeting with Indian workers and students, listening to their concerns and assuring them of continuous assistance during the crisis and beyond. Air India and Air India Express together are operating scheduled and non-scheduled flights, to and from the West Asia region regularly to specific destinations.
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 >
New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) Air India has tweaked its frequent flyer programme, which has around 1 crore members, providing more flexibility and reduced points requirements for cabin upgrades. The loss-making airline, which is in the midst of an ambitious transformation trajectory, is currently facing multiple headwinds due to the West Asia conflict that has pushed fuel prices higher and increased the duration of many of its international flights due to airspace restrictions in the region. On Wednesday, the airline said it has introduced significant enhancements to its Maharaja Club loyalty progr ...Read More >
Indian carriers have cancelled over 10,000 flights since Iran war. ShowQuick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed * Indian carriers cancelled over 10,000 flights since West Asia conflict began in February * Daily flights to the Middle East dropped from 300-350 to 80-90 due to airspace closures * DGCA extended pilot flight duty limits to manage longer routes and avoid crew shortages Did our AI summary help? Let us know. Switch To Beeps Mode New Delhi: Indian carriers have canc ...Read More >
Mumbai, Apr 7 (PTI) Airlines' grouping Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) has sought the Centre's help in removal of restrictions of one rotation a day imposed on foreign carriers by Dubai Airport Authorities. In a communication to Civil Aviation Secretary last week, FIA, which represents Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, said continuation of such restrictions on Indian carriers is already leading to anti-competitive market conditions and substantial revenue losses, among others. "As per the said communication, DXB authorities have mandated flight cancellations for the Northern Summer 2026 s ...Read More >
New Delhi, March 30: India has enough aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for the next 60 days and there is no immediate risk of disruption, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu told the Rajya Sabha on Monday amid concerns over the ongoing West Asia conflict. Responding to questions in the Rajya Sabha, Naidu assured that the country's aviation fuel supply remains stable despite the oil crisis triggered by the West Asia war. "India currently has adequate ATF reserves and does not foresee any shortage in the near future," he said. "India follows a balanced production system for ATF, where n ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 2 (ANI): The ongoing West Asia crisis is beginning to impact aviation economics, with airlines now facing rising war-risk insurance costs. The conflict is not only disrupting global energy markets but also increasing the cost of operating flights in sensitive airspaces, as insurers move to price in elevated geopolitical risks. On the question of whether war-risk insurance has gone up post the West-Asia crisis, an airline industry source told ANI that "Previously, Indian carriers did not have dedicated war risk insurance coverage. However, due to the ongoing Iran-Israe ...Read More >
The prices of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, have seen a spike, though not as steep as reported earlier, following a clarification from Indian Oil Corporation. Reports had earlier suggested that ATF prices had more than doubled to over ₹2 lakh per kilolitre in Delhi, driven by a surge in global crude oil prices amid escalating tensions in West Asia. Advertisement However, Indian Oil has now clarified that ATF prices have risen by about 8.5%, not 115% as previously indicated. The current price of jet fuel stands at around ₹1.04 lakh per kilolitre. The rise in ATF prices continues ...Read More >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...Read More >
India has enough aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for the next 60 days and there is no immediate risk of disruption, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu told the Rajya Sabha on Monday amid concerns over the ongoing West Asia conflict. Responding to questions in the Rajya Sabha, Naidu assured that the country's aviation fuel supply remains stable despite the oil crisis triggered by the West Asia war. "India currently has adequate ATF reserves and does not foresee any shortage in the near future," he said. "India follows a balanced production system for ATF, where nearly half of the f ...Read More >
The government on Tuesday appointed senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Vir Vikram Yadav as the Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), replacing Faiz Ahmed Kidwai. Kidwai, a 1996 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as additional secretary in the department of personnel and training (DoPT), according to an order by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Yadav, an Odisha cadre IAS officer who replaces Kidwai at DGCA ...Read More >
New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said that over 10,000 flights by Indian carriers to West Asia have been cancelled since the war broke out in the region. The move of the government comes at a time when widespread closures of key transit corridors have forced airlines to suspend or reroute services, particularly on long-haul routes to Europe and North America, according to a senior civil aviation ministry. "On average, Indian carriers used to fly about 300 to 350 flights daily to the Middle East (both ways put together). Today that number has come down to 80-90. That takes the total (fligh ...Read More >
India has enough aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for the next 60 days and there is no immediate risk of disruption, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu told the Rajya Sabha on Monday amid concerns over the ongoing West Asia conflict. New Delhi: India has enough aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for the next 60 days and there is no immediate risk of disruption, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu told the Rajya Sabha on Monday amid concerns over the ongoing West Asia conflict. Responding to questions in the Rajya Sabha, Naidu assured that the country's aviation fuel supply rem ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): In a move aimed at curbing the sharp rise in domestic airfares amid the West Asia crisis, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to reduce landing and parking charges at non-major airports. According to an official communication issued by the Ministry, AAI will reduce Landing and Parking Charges -- part of the aeronautical tariff -- at all its non-major airports by 25 per cent of the approved rate. The order states that the reduction will come into immediate effect for all domestic flights and will remain applicable ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) of India has ordered a 25 per cent cut in landing and parking charges at major airports across the country to airlines to help them tide over the financial crisis arising out of the West Asia crisis. This move came after the government asked for temporary support to airlines hit by rising costs linked to the Iran conflict. IndiGo and Air India has raised the issue of reduced charges, Reuters reported. The reduced charges will only be for domestic flights though and last for three months. Indian carriers are suffering as they are u ...Read More >
New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) A new Director General is set to take over the reins of DGCA after many challenging months as it works to ensure high safety standards, help airlines navigate the headwinds of the West Asia conflict and implement various passenger-friendly initiatives. During the tenure of incumbent chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, who is being replaced by Vir Vikram Yadav, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) grappled with multiple challenges, including massive disruptions at IndiGo in December last year, lapses at various airlines, crashes involving aircraft of non-scheduled oper ...Read More >
Air India's chief executive officer Campbell Wilson has resigned as the airline deals with challenges, including financial losses and the aftermath of a deadly crash last year that killed 260 people. Wilson, whose term was set to end in 2027, will stay in the role until a successor is appointed, Air India said. A former Singapore Airlines executive, Wilson was brought in to lead a turnaround after Tata Group bought Air India from the Indian government in 2022 following years of losses. During ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Senior bureaucrat Vir Vikram Yadav has been appointed Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), replacing Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, according to an official order issued on Tuesday, cited by PTI. Yadav, a 1996-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, is currently serving as additional secretary in the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. Kidwai, who headed the aviation safety regulator for a little over a year, has been appointed additional secretary in the department of personnel and training. The leadership change comes at a time when the DGCA is ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], March 11 (ANI): An Air India Express flight travelling from Hyderabad to Phuket was involved in a landing incident on Wednesday after a technical issue with its nose wheel left the aircraft stranded on the runway at Phuket International Airport. According to an AIR India Express Spokesperson, "We confirm that our Hyderabad-Phuket flight on 11 March experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport. The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned. We thank our guests, the Phuket airport authorities, and all stakeholders for their cooperation." Me ...Read More >
New Delhi: As geopolitical tensions escalate between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is sending shockwaves through the aviation industry. Air travelers now face a massive surge in ticket prices as jet fuel costs have more than doubled for April, leaving the global economy reeling from the fallout of the Iran conflict. Oil PSUs on Wednesday announced that Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices have been revised upward in major metro cities from April 1, 2026. Prices of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, were more than doubled to a record Rs 2.07 la ...Read More >
Mumbai: Air India's chief executive officer Campbell Wilson has reportedly tendered his resignation and is serving notice period. The expat executive will continue his duties until the airline finds a successor, which is ongoing from January. Transition period Wilson, a New Zealand-national, who took the helm in September 2022 shortly after the airline was privatised by the Tata Group, will stay on with the company to ensure a smooth transition until his successor takes over. The airline's board reportedly accepted his resignation last week. Wilson had informed the board in January of his de ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), representing the country's leading scheduled carriers, Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to initiate calibrated and reciprocal action against the temporary foreign aircraft caps imposed by UAE authorities at DXB (Dubai International) airport. This appeal comes amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, as the FIA seeks to address the competitive disadvantage faced by Indian airlines due to these recent operational restrictions. In its letter, the FIA claimed that in light of the Nort ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), representing the country's leading scheduled carriers, Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to initiate calibrated and reciprocal action against the temporary foreign aircraft caps imposed by UAE authorities at DXB (Dubai International) airport. This appeal comes amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, as the FIA seeks to address the competitive disadvantage faced by Indian airlines due to these recent operational restrictions. Also Read | TCS Layoffs: 16% of Top Executives at Tata C ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) The country's largest airline IndiGo on Wednesday announced revised fuel charges ranging from Rs 275 to Rs 10,000, which will push airfares higher for many domestic and international flights amid the rise in jet fuel prices. The announcement from the country's largest airline comes on a day when the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices were revised, and the government decided to only partially hike the price by 25 per cent for the domestic flights. From March 14 onwards, the airline has been levying fuel charges ranging from Rs 425 to Rs 2,300 on domestic and internation ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, veteran diplomat of nearly four decades and former Indian envoy to Washington, joins the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) as Advisor to the Board and will be the Chairman of the USISPF Geopolitical Institute, USISPF said in an official statement. Also Read | Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash Investigation: AAIB Slams International Media Speculation on AI171 Crash, Urges Patience for Final Report. As per the statement, in this new avatar, Ambassador Sandhu will lend his diplomatic acumen to guide USISPF's strategic ...Read More >
New Delhi, March 11: An Air India Express flight travelling from Hyderabad to Phuket was involved in a landing incident on Wednesday after a technical issue with its nose wheel left the aircraft stranded on the runway at Phuket International Airport. According to an AIR India Express Spokesperson, "We confirm that our Hyderabad-Phuket flight on 11 March experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport. The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned. We thank our guests, the Phuket airport authorities, and all stakeholders for their cooperation." Meanwhile, Air In ...Read More >
New Delhi: A new Director General is set to take over the reins of DGCA after many challenging months as it works to ensure high safety standards, help airlines navigate the headwinds of the West Asia conflict and implement various passenger-friendly initiatives. During the tenure of incumbent chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, who is being replaced by Vir Vikram Yadav, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) grappled with multiple challenges, including massive disruptions at IndiGo in December last year, lapses at various airlines, crashes involving aircraft of non-scheduled operators and the ...Read More >
New Delhi: Airfares are expected to rise with the steep increase in jet fuel prices amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. The price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) has more than doubled to a record Rs 2.07 lakh per kilolitre on Wednesday, and this is the first time that the jet fuel price has crossed the Rs 2 lakh per kilolitre mark. In Delhi, ATF price has been hiked by Rs 1,10,703.08 per kilolitre, or 114.5 per cent, to Rs 2,07,341.22 per kl, according to state-owned fuel retailers. Officials said airfares are expected to rise as airlines would have to increase fares to cover the higher opera ...Read More >
Airline safety audits have increased, says aviation minister India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has limited the increase in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices for domestic airlines to 25 percent, even as global benchmarks indicated a potential spike of over 100 percent from April 1 due to disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In a clarification, the ministry said ATF prices in India have been deregulated since 2001 and are revised monthly based on international b ...Read More >
Urges cash conservation, tighter project timing, cost control and employee support Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran has cautioned group CEOs and managing directors to prepare for a tougher business environment, warning of a demand slowdown, project delays driven by supply chain disruptions, and rising costs linked to oil prices, currency movements and logistics pressures as the conflict in West Asia continues, according to sources. The message was delivered at a review meeting with over 30 T ...Read More >
Aviation turbine fuel (ATF), which accounts for nearly 40% of an airline's operating costs, "has seen significant price escalation due to supply interruptions" since early March, the group said in a statement. Globally, jet fuel prices have roughly doubled since the conflict began, surging from around $85-90 a barrel to between $150 and $200. Airlines in other regions have moved to pass on the cost too. Australia's Qantas, Scandinavia's SAS and Air New Zealand announced fare hikes or temporary ...Read More >