While it feels like a conspiracy, it’s more of a market correction. In a positive sense, the Government is using the Indigo crisis as a catalyst to push for a more "distributed" aviation sector so that the "Indigo effect" never paralyzes Indian travel again. The reason the NOCs are making headlines right now is that the Ministry of Civil Aviation is also actively trying to break the "duopoly" (IndiGo and Air India) in a flash, it is argued. An alibi necessitates a logic. Indigo crisis still remains a mystery!

NEW DELHI, Dec 24 (INS): In a move seen as a decisive step on the double to break the current "duopoly" in Indian skies, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to three new airlines.

The new airlines are Al Hind Air, FlyExpress and Shankh Air, which received the NOC earlier. The announcement, confirmed by Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, comes at a critical juncture as the nation’s largest carrier, IndiGo, remains under intense regulatory scrutiny following a massive operational collapse earlier this month.

The three new entrants represent a mix of regional focus and aggressive expansion plans. Al Hind Air, backed by the Kerala-based Alhind Group, aims to operate as a regional commuter airline from its primary hub in Kochi, initially utilizing a fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft. FlyExpress has also secured its clearance this week, joining the race to tap into India's burgeoning domestic demand.

Shankh Air has hubs planned in Lucknow and Noida, with a focus on connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Al Hind Air is a regional commuter airline, primarily focused on South India. FlyExpress is focused on cargo operations with broader aviation expansion plans, according to Aviation News.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air, which had already received its NOC earlier, is reportedly gearing up for a launch in the first quarter of 2026. The airline plans to scale its fleet to 25 aircraft within three years, positioning itself as a cost-competitive alternative to established players.

The timing: coincidence or strategy?

The timing of these approvals has sparked industry debate, coinciding with a period of unprecedented turbulence for IndiGo. Throughout December, IndiGo was forced to cancel thousands of flights—peaking at 1,600 cancellations in a single day—after failing to adequately plan for new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) that mandated increased rest for pilots, leading to a pilot shortage.

The Government has since intervened, slashing IndiGo’s winter schedule by 10% (approximately 214 flights per day) to stabilize the network. Analysts suggest that the swift issuance of NOCs to new carriers is a strategic "market correction" by the Ministry. By encouraging fresh competition, the Government aims to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on IndiGo, which currently commands over 65% of the market.

"It has been our endeavor to encourage more airlines in Indian aviation," Naidu stated, highlighting that the recent disruptions proved the risks of a market dominated by a single entity. The entry of these carriers follows the suspension of operations by regional player Fly Big in October, which had further narrowed traveller choices.

However, industry veterans warn that an NOC is merely the first hurdle. To begin commercial operations, these airlines must still navigate the complex process of obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the DGCA, which requires inducting aircraft and passing rigorous safety "proving flights."

The Indigo "sabotage"

This month Indigo airline was forced to cancel thousands of flights (including over 1,600 in a single day on December 5). The Cause: It wasn't "sabotage" in the traditional sense, but rather a massive planning failure, say experts. The Government implemented new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) on November 1, 2024, which increased pilot rest hours. While other airlines prepared, IndiGo—holding a massive 65% market share—miscalculated its crew requirements.

The recent IndiGo collapse proved that having one airline control 65% of the sky is a major risk for the country. By fast-tracking these NOCs, the Government is signaling that they want more "spouts" in the garden to ensure that if one giant stumbles, the whole country doesn't stop moving.

IndiGo is currently under a "high-level inquiry" by the DGCA and a "suo motu" examination by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to see who created this chaos or if they themselves "engineered" the crisis to force the Government to relax safety rules.

The CCTV footage and the video circulating on social media do not indicate any serious abnormalities in takeoff or descent, it has been confirmed. The disaster is becoming curiouser and curiouser. The flight path was not curvy. And the aircraft maintained a steady, gliding descent with its nose straight and the wings perfectly level. The pilot's distress call does not specify what prevented lift and climb-out. Here are some expert opinions. The sole purpose is to raise travellers' awareness about air travel.

Many of the victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification difficult. Three hundred nineteen body parts have been sent for DNA matching with relatives to determine the identities.

• The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla line provides Kashmir with all-weather connectivity and integrates the Valley with the rest of India.
• The saying 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' is now a dream come true.
• The Chenab bridge on the line, an engineering marvel, is the world's highest railway bridge, taller than the Eiffel Tower. (Video: File)

A comment on social media on Kanimozhi's answer on the question of national language read: "Daughter of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Delivered the Birthday Present to her Father!!" (Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924) (Today's headlines )

Trump said, "Elon is not really leaving" and will be "back and forth" to the White House because DOGE is his "baby." "I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”

Musk wrote: "My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end... The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Now on it will be on auto-pilot.

PROGNOSIS: DOGE was prematurely born to protect the country by aborting an impending socio-economic disaster which very few people could see coming.

Although its immediate job was to save American taxpayers billions by slashing waste, eliminating fraud, cutting Government bloat and ensuring utmost efficiency in administration for the good of the people. (Today's headlines )

"Coming from a system like in England, empowering," she says she never had an idea of this sort of experience... being asked to “socialise with middle-aged men” who financed the event...humiliating...

Originally from Junagadh, Gujarat, Pataudi was relocated to Etawah Lion Safari in September 2019 before being transferred to Gorakhpur Zoo in 2021. Recently it was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. After tigress Shakti died in the zoo on May 7 due to bird flu, Pataudi was shifted to Kanpur. Some birds are also reported to have died mysteriously around Gorakhpur. All zoos in UP are closed for fear of a bird flu outbreak.

Three other animals too had died - a tiger, a leopardess and a female wolf. Wolf Bhairavi died last Saturday, leopardess Mona died the Thursday before that and tiger Kesari died on March 30. Some of them had Shakti's symptoms but the cause of death has not been confirmed yet.

As tourist inflow is an indicator of normalcy returning to an erstwhile terrorist infested Valley, the Government has been trying hard to make everything travel-friendly, launching lot many projects and bringing Kashmir on the national rail map that physically completes the process of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. And that defeats the designs of Pakistan eyeing Kashmir and simply explains a recrudescence of terrorism in J&K.

The committee headed by justice Kurian Joseph will study Centre-State relations and make proposals to ensure foolproof separation of powers.

"It's a big victory not just for Tamil Nadu but for all Indian States. DMK will continue to struggle for and win State autonomy and Federal polity," Chief Minister MK Stalin said.

Of 2.08 km in length, it features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train services to the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban island.

ANALYSIS: There is a lot of hue and cry around the world over Trump's tariffs. But tariff, simply put, is a tax. But unlike tax, it affects the exporting country too. Domestic prices will go up for some time. Nothing more will happen, good or bad!

What motivated Trump's newfound policy, apart from being a stunt to justify his existence in the White House, is a false realisation that increased tariff will make foreign goods prohibitive, thereby boosting local production, and create more jobs, and more prosperity will ring in! If that is true, India would have been shining by now: Producing own Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and Scotch Whiskies! And what about coconut and palm oil by America! (Today's headlines )

PROGNOSIS: It looks a Real New Trump is emerging - courageous, balanced, powerful and disinterested. Determined to save his country from the cliff, he has done quite a few draconian things that will reduce the burden of debts of the Federal entity, like the golden handshake, stopping senseless funding, pulling out of a worthless WHO. Shutting the Education Department is another. On the other hand, running it is also not the Centre's job either (We will convincingly elaborate it in the next chapter).

In India the scene is just the opposite. Centralisation is the core agenda and identity of the ruling dispensation without which it has no existence, or in other words, it exists for that set of schemes only. A realisation of this never dawned upon any Opposition party in 2014 or any time thereafter, what to talk of being able to see it coming 70 years ago! The consequence of all this violation of basic natural law of the universe we cannot predict.

THE AMERICAN CONUNDRUM: Political venom has migrated to top echelons in the US. It was reported last year NASA has become politicised, vitiated. But NASA refuted the charge. How Boeing developed a glitch but its unmanned return was smooth. When Suni-Wilmore were stranded last June, why the return was set for February? Because that comes only after January 20! SpaceX called the shots, for itself and for Trump. Then the mission was manipulated for March for a better bargain! In between, what made Elon Musk 'predict' during campaign if Kamala Harris wins he would be in jail. In politics, it is said, "the only rule is there are no rules." Difficult times for Americans too.

The terminations are part of a large-scale exercise going on all across Fed departments and organisations to reduce wasteful Government expenditure as decided by a Trump in a mess gone berserk, and improve administrative efficiency following the whims of billionaire and his associate Elon MusK and his DOGE. It has not been shared how terminations are going to raise the efficiency bar! It looks like Trump has stolen some of the prescriptions meant for India. But the American problems are quite different.

Suddenly these colonial clerks feel this effortless, little rule will tremendously enhance security and convenience for the railway passengers manifold. More stations will be covered in the next 77 years! (Also See: New Delhi station stampede... What went wrong?)

ANALYSIS: "The standard operating procedure for deportations by aircraft used by ICE that is effective from 2012 provides for the use of restraints," says the Government. That means, it is taken for granted the US will set the standard for deportations. For another, the Government is more interested in comparing with what happened in 2012 under a different Government to justify its own compliance! No surprise, others are trampling upon us. (How we conduct ourselves inside decides, inherently, how we are treated outside) Thirdly, the Government blamed the gangs doing the business of human trafficking for the illegal migration. For all the crimes taking place in the country, let us blame the criminals! Funny! We will never move an inch forward! The mindset defines what we are.

Meanwhile, a UN-returned Congress leader Shashi Tharoor sounded like a layman when he said, "If they are citizens of India we have an obligation to take them back." Who said 'No'?. He should know that is not the issue now. Who will identify an undocumented person, and how?

The function was held indoors from 12 pm (10:30 pm IST) at the rotunda of the US Capitol building because of unusually intense cold and snow. Delivering his inaugural address, Trump remarked, “The golden age of America begins right now," and just hours later signed a slew of executive orders to redeem the election pledges.