PM Modi Gifts Russian Edition of Bhagavad Gita to President Putin During Delhi Visit 2
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he gifted a Russian-language edition of the Bhagavad Gita to President Vladimir Putin during the latter’s ongoing two-day visit to New Delhi.
“Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world,” Modi wrote in a post on X.
The prime minister hosted a private dinner for the Russian leader at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence as part of the engagements ahead of the 23rd India–Russia summit.
'IndiGo Chaos Is the Cost of Govt's Monopoly Model': Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre Over Flight Disruptions 4
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday blamed the massive IndiGo flight disruptions on what he called the government’s “monopoly model,” alleging that ordinary citizens are being forced to pay the price for flawed policies that reduce competition.
As IndiGo cancelled more than 550 flights on Thursday and over 400 on Friday—throwing travel plans into disarray—Gandhi said the episode exposed the consequences of allowing dominant players to operate without real competition.
“IndiGo fiasco is the cost of this Govt’s monopoly model. Once again, it’s ordinary Indians who pay the price — in delays, cancellations and helplessness,” the Leader of the Opposition wrote on X, adding that India needs “fair competition in every sector, not match-fixing monopolies.”
IndiGo has informed aviation regulator DGCA that its operations are unlikely to stabilise before February 10, 2026. The airline sought temporary relaxations in flight duty rules as it struggles with the second phase of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), admitting to “misjudgment and planning gaps.”
The carrier warned of further cancellations until December 8, followed by a reduction in services thereafter.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu convened a high-level review meeting and expressed displeasure over IndiGo’s handling of the new FDTL norms despite having ample preparation time.
Putin Lands in Delhi for 2-Day Visit as India, Russia Set Stage for High-Stakes Summit 6
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening the nearly eight-decade-old India–Russia partnership, even as global geopolitics undergoes sharp realignments.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting a private dinner for the Russian leader tonight ahead of the 23rd India–Russia summit on Friday. Defence cooperation, safeguarding bilateral trade from external pressures, and discussions on collaboration in small modular nuclear reactors are expected to dominate the talks—closely watched by Western capitals.
Putin’s 27-hour visit carries added significance amid the current strain in India–US ties. Both sides are expected to sign a series of agreements on Friday, particularly in trade and strategic cooperation.
On Friday morning, Putin will receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan before holding summit talks with Modi at Hyderabad House, where the prime minister will also host a working lunch.
The Russian president will visit Rajghat earlier in the day and is scheduled to launch the new India channel of the Russian state-run broadcaster after the summit. President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet in his honour later in the evening.
Putin is expected to depart from New Delhi around 9 pm on Friday.
Delhi Air Quality Slips Back to ‘Very Poor’; IMD Warns of Cold Wave from December 5 8
Delhi’s air quality deteriorated again on Thursday, sliding back into the “very poor” category after a brief morning improvement. The city’s 24-hour average AQI rose to 304 by evening, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Earlier in the day, Delhi had shown slight relief with an AQI of 299—just within the “poor” bracket—before pollution levels climbed once more by late afternoon. Data from CPCB’s SAMEER app showed that 27 of the 40 monitoring stations recorded “very poor” air quality, with Nehru Nagar posting the highest reading at 362.
Over the past week, the capital has witnessed dramatic fluctuations in pollution levels: an AQI of 279 on November 30, climbing to 304 on December 1, then spiking to 372 on December 2, slipping to 342 on December 3, before Thursday’s brief dip and renewed decline.
The Air Quality Early Warning System forecasts that the city will remain in the “very poor” category over the coming days. Transport emissions accounted for the largest share of local pollution on Thursday at 13.7%, with the Decision Support System projecting the sector’s contribution to rise to 15% on Friday.
Neighbouring NCR areas also featured in the pollution mix, with Jhajjar contributing 11.8%, Rohtak 4.3%, Sonipat 3.4% and Gurgaon 1.2%.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of a possible cold wave in Delhi starting December 5, which could further compound pollution levels due to slower dispersion of pollutants.
Kohli, Gaikwad Hundreds Not Enough as South Africa Pull Off Stunning 359 Chase to Level ODI Series 10
Centuries from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad went in vain as South Africa pulled off a remarkable run chase, beating India by four wickets in the second ODI on Wednesday to level the three-match series.
Tasked with overhauling a daunting 359, the visitors rode on skipper Aiden Markram’s sublime 110, Dewald Brevis’ explosive 54 off 34 balls and Matthew Breetzke’s composed 68 to cross the finish line with four balls to spare. Corbin Bosch (29* off 15) and Keshav Maharaj (10* off 14) held their nerve in the final overs to seal the victory.
Heavy dew hampered India’s spinners, while erratic bowling from Prasidh Krishna (2/79) added to the hosts’ woes. Although Prasidh and Arshdeep Singh (2/54) struck late to dismiss Breetzke and Marco Jansen, the Proteas’ lower order kept calm to complete the chase — only the second time India have lost an ODI after scoring 350-plus.
Markram led from the front, counterattacking on a flat pitch and dominating a 101-run second-wicket stand with Temba Bavuma (46). He capitalised on a dropped catch at long-on when Yashasvi Jaiswal misjudged a powerful hit off Kuldeep Yadav, allowing the South African captain to extend his charge before falling to Harshit Rana (1/70).
Brevis then unleashed a flurry of sixes, and alongside Breetzke, added 92 runs off just 64 deliveries to put South Africa in full control.
Earlier, Kohli (102 off 93) struck his 53rd ODI hundred and Gaikwad (105 off 83) registered his maiden ton, stitching a record 195-run stand for India’s third wicket against South Africa. KL Rahul’s brisk 66* off 43 powered India to 358/5, giving the hosts what looked like a winning total.
But South Africa’s fearless batting under lights ensured the series heads to a decider in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
'No Snooping Possible': Scindia Says Govt Ready to Modify Sanchar Saathi Order Amid Privacy Row 12
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday dismissed privacy concerns over the Sanchar Saathi app, asserting in the Lok Sabha that “snooping is neither possible nor will it ever happen” through the platform.
Responding to Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda’s question on alleged surveillance risks, Scindia said the government is open to modifying the ministry’s November 28 order that mandates all mobile manufacturers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi on new devices and push it to existing phones through software updates.
“Sanchar Saathi app se na snooping sambhav hai, na snooping hoga,” he said, emphasising that the app is designed solely for consumer protection and not for accessing personal messages or data.
The mandate sparked a public backlash over fears that the app could be misused for surveillance. Scindia, however, stressed that the app will remain inactive unless the user registers and can be deleted at any time.
So far, around 1.5 crore users have downloaded the app. According to the minister, the Sanchar Saathi portal and app have helped trace 26 lakh stolen mobile phones, returned 7 lakh devices to their owners, disconnected 41 lakh fraudulent mobile connections and blocked 6 lakh fraud attempts.
The ministry’s directive requires phone makers to ensure the app is visible during device setup and that its core functions cannot be disabled or restricted — a clause that has fuelled further criticism from privacy advocates.
Scindia reiterated that the government’s intention is to safeguard consumers, adding that changes will be made if stakeholder feedback calls for it.
Delhi CM Sets Up Special Powers Panel, Orders Pothole-Free, Dust-Free Roads to Fight Pollution 14
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday directed all government departments to act on a war footing to combat pollution and announced the formation of a special powers committee to intensify and monitor the capital’s pollution-control efforts.
Chairing an inter-departmental review meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, Gupta said the government was treating pollution as an “emergency mission” and warned that no lapse by agencies responsible for maintaining air quality and cleanliness would be tolerated. Delhi’s AQI stood at 342—“very poor”—according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
The chief minister said a high-level expert committee, comprising senior officials from key departments, IIT experts and environmental scientists, is being set up with enhanced powers to enforce compliance and take corrective action.
She directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to issue challans and impose heavy penalties on departments failing to meet dust-control and road-maintenance norms. Gupta expressed strong displeasure over unauthorised road-cutting and poor road restoration by certain agencies and instructed officials to file FIRs against those found violating rules.
“No agency, government or private, will be spared in the fight against pollution,” she said.
All departments have been ordered to identify and repair potholes within 72 hours. The Public Works Department must fix potholes across its 1,400 km network and upload before-and-after photos on a monitoring app. The Delhi Development Authority has been instructed to maintain cleanliness on its roads, clear waste from vacant land and expedite the handover of its markets to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has been told to repair damaged stretches under elevated corridors and strengthen dust-mitigation measures.
Gupta said clean, green and dust-free roads are central to Delhi’s anti-pollution strategy, stressing that delays in on-ground action will not be accepted.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, present at the meeting along with senior officials from PWD, MCD, DDA, Delhi Metro, DSIIDC, NBCC and DUSIB, said the 311 Green App is being upgraded as the central platform for monitoring dust hotspots, potholes and brown zones.
A six-month plan is underway to roll out dust-free measures across identified areas. Sirsa added that strict action will be taken against vehicles below BS-IV norms and that e-autos will be prioritised to boost last-mile connectivity and promote Metro usage.
Mist-spray dust mitigation, successful in pilot areas, will now be expanded citywide, he said.
The MCD has been asked to ensure its 8,000-km road network is pothole-free and dust-free, deploying 1,000 vacuum-based litter pickers and 100 mechanical road sweepers within 45 days. Most of the city’s landfill sites are also expected to be cleared in the coming months.
All construction sites must ensure fencing and full compliance with pollution-control norms within 48 hours.
BMC Says No GRAP-4 in Mumbai as Air Quality Improves, Enforcement to Continue 16
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday said Mumbai’s air quality has improved significantly since November 26 due to multiple pollution-control measures undertaken across the city and suburbs. The civic body also clarified that Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-4 restrictions are not applicable in the city at present, though intensified monitoring will continue.
Municipal commissioner and BMC administrator Bhushan Gagrani has directed officials to maintain strict action against both private and government construction projects violating the civic body’s 28-point dust and pollution mitigation guidelines.
According to the BMC, the improved AQI readings over the past 48 hours are the result of increased wind speed, which rose from 3–4 kmph before November 28 to 10–18 kmph, aiding pollution dispersion. Enforcement measures such as notices to errant construction sites, misting, water sprinkling, road washing, awareness drives, and the transition of bakeries and crematoria to cleaner fuels have also contributed.
To ensure compliance, the civic body has deployed 94 ward-level flying squads to monitor pollution mitigation efforts. These teams are inspecting private construction areas and metro and road project stretches, issuing stop-work notices where violations are found. They are also checking sensor-based AQI monitoring systems at various sites.
Mumbai’s GRAP-4 rules primarily cover construction activity, small industrial units and pollution-linked operations. AQI categories range from good (0–50) to severe (401–500), with the city currently reporting levels well below the threshold for GRAP-4.
Supreme Court Orders Nationwide CBI Probe Into Digital Arrest Scams, Questions RBI on AI Use 18
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the CBI to conduct a unified, nationwide investigation into the fast-rising cases of digital arrest scams and questioned the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on why Artificial Intelligence is not being used to detect and freeze bank accounts operated by cybercriminals.
Digital arrest scams involve fraudsters impersonating police, court officials or government agencies through audio and video calls, coercing victims—often senior citizens—into paying money by threatening them with fabricated charges.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked all states, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana, to grant the CBI consent to investigate such cases within their jurisdictions. The directive came during a suo motu hearing based on a complaint filed by an elderly Haryana couple who lost their savings to cyber fraud.
The court issued a notice to the RBI seeking an explanation for not deploying AI or machine learning tools to proactively track and freeze scam-linked accounts. It also directed IT intermediaries to fully cooperate with CBI investigators and asked the agency to seek assistance from Interpol to reach scammers operating from offshore tax havens.
The bench further instructed the Department of Telecom to ensure telecom providers do not issue multiple SIM cards to a single user or entity—an enabler frequently exploited in cybercrime. States and UTs have been asked to establish regional cybercrime coordination centres to streamline intelligence sharing with the CBI.
The court made it clear that all states, UTs, and police agencies are empowered to freeze accounts used to defraud citizens, and ordered the CBI to investigate bank officials complicit in operating mule accounts that facilitate the laundering of illicit funds.
Earlier, on November 3, the bench had described the surge in digital arrest scams—responsible for over ₹3,000 crore in losses—as alarming, saying such crimes must be dealt with “with an iron hand.”
A major error has surfaced in the draft voter list for the BMC General Elections 2025, with RTI activist Anil Galgali exposing that 6,834 voters belonging to Ward 162 have been incorrectly placed in Ward 163.
In a letter to the Assistant Commissioner of L Ward, Galgali highlighted that multiple List Parts—officially and geographically part of Ward 162—were wrongly included under Ward 163 in the newly released rolls. The affected List Parts include 247, 248, 249, 250, 251 and 252, with misclassified voter counts ranging from 796 to 1,454, adding up to 6,834 voters.
Calling the mix-up a serious lapse rather than a clerical mistake, Galgali warned that such large-scale misclassification threatens the integrity and fairness of the upcoming civic elections. He demanded that all affected voters be immediately restored to Ward 162 to maintain the transparency of the delimitation and electoral process.
The complaint has been escalated to the Assistant Commissioner of L Ward, with copies sent to Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr Ashwini Joshi, urging swift corrective action.
Galgali said the BMC must act promptly if it intends to uphold public trust and claim credibility in the conduct of the 2025 elections.
