Good morning. A high-stakes diplomatic engagement and a major aviation crisis headline the news on Thursday, December 4, 2025. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in India for a two-day state visit, his first since the Ukraine war began, even as the country's largest airline, IndiGo, grapples with massive operational disruptions that led to over 150 flight cancellations in a single day.
IndiGo's Operational Crisis and DGCA Probe
IndiGo cancelled more than 150 flights on Wednesday, December 3, with delays and cancellations expected to continue. The airline attributed the widespread disruptions to a severe crew shortage, exacerbated by the recent implementation of new "crew rostering rules" that govern rest and duty hours. Technical issues, congestion at major airports, and adverse weather conditions further strained operations.
In response, the airline announced "calibrated adjustments" to its schedule over the next 48 hours, which will involve further rescheduling and cancellations to restore stability. The aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has initiated an investigation into the causes and handling of the crisis.
The High-Stakes Diplomacy of Putin's Visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India carries significant geopolitical weight. The Indian Express has learned that envoys and officials from several European capitals have privately urged the Indian government to leverage its influence with Putin to help end the war in Ukraine. Their messaging indicated a belief that Putin listens to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This represents a shift from Europe's 2022 stance, which demanded India pick a side. India has maintained a neutral position, refraining from condemning the invasion while reiterating that "this is not the era of war." The visit occurs against the backdrop of steep US secondary sanctions on India for its trade with Russia.
Hours before Putin's arrival in Delhi, the Kremlin engaged in lengthy discussions with the United States about ending the conflict. US President Donald Trump stated that they had the impression Putin "would like to make a deal," though the path forward remains unclear. Initial US peace proposals have faced criticism from Ukraine and Europe for conceding too much to Russia.
Exclusive Insights and Other Major Developments
In a significant development within the Maoist movement, Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Sonu, the ideological head of the CPI (Maoist), gave his first interview since surrendering in October. He stated that the armed struggle had failed in India and discussed his reasons for surrender and the future of the movement.
In a swift reversal, the government revoked its order mandating the pre-installation of the state-owned Sanchar Saathi app on all mobile devices. The decision followed intense backlash over privacy concerns and pushback from major tech firms like Google and Apple.
The Indian rupee continued its slide, breaching the 90-mark against the US dollar for the first time on Wednesday. The depreciation is linked to uncertainty surrounding the India-US trade deal. The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) reluctance to intervene is seen by some as beneficial for exporters, as a weaker rupee could help Indian goods compete in the US market despite high tariffs.
In a heart-wrenching story, Sunali Khatun, a 25-year-old pregnant migrant ragpicker from West Bengal, remains stuck in Bangladesh after being detained in Delhi and pushed across the border. Her wish is simple: to deliver her baby in India.
In a positive turn, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted aerospace engineer Nishant Aggarwal, who was awarded a life sentence in 2018 on charges of leaking sensitive information to Pakistan. He spoke about his ordeal and future plans after being released.
Finally, an analysis traces the changing demographics of Mumbai and its civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), noting the shrinking of traditional non-Marathi communities and the rise of migrants and Hindi speakers.
