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The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Gujarat’s electoral rolls has identified over 17 lakh deceased voters, 6.14 lakh absent voters, and 30 lakh permanently migrated individuals.

SIR in Gujarat: More than 17 lakh deceased voters found on electoral rolls

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Gujarat&rsquo;s electoral rolls has identified over 17 lakh deceased voters, 6.14 lakh absent voters, and 30 lakh permanently migrated individuals.

The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Gujarat has revealed that more than 17 lakh deceased voters were still included in the existing voter list across the state, a release by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has stated.
According to the release issued on Thursday, the SIR exercise started in Gujarat on November 4 with booth-level officers (BLOs) distributing enumeration forms in their designated areas. The campaign will continue till December 11.
"In the last one month, enumeration forms have been distributed to more than five crore voters registered in the 2025 electoral roll. In most of the 33 districts, 100 per cent of the distribution has been completed. Work on digitising the returned forms is currently underway. So far, the digitisation work has been completed in 12 out of 182 assembly constituencies," it said.
These include Dhanera and Tharad of Banaskantha district, Limkheda and Dahod (ST) of Dahod district, Bayad of Aravalli district, Dhoraji, Jasdan and Gondal of Rajkot district, Keshod of Junagadh district, Mehmadabad of Kheda district, Khambhat of Anand district and Jalalpore of Navsari district.
Dang district is at the forefront in this work with 94.35 per cent digitisation of the counting forms, said the release.
"During this exercise, it was revealed that 17 lakh deceased voters were still included in the electoral roll across the state. More than 6.14 lakh voters were found absent from their addresses. It has been noticed that more than 30 lakh voters have permanently migrated," the release said.
BLOs found more than 3.25 lakh voters in the "repeated" category, which means that their names figured at more than one place, the release stated.&nbsp;

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath honoured winners of the 69th National School Games 2025 and announced plans to strengthen sports infrastructure.

Indian athletes boosting nation's pride globally: UP CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath honoured winners of the 69th National School Games 2025 and announced plans to strengthen sports infrastructure.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said Indian sportspersons are enhancing the country&rsquo;s prestige globally and the state government is strengthening sports infrastructure at every level to support young talent.
According to a statement, Adityanath was speaking at a function to felicitate winners of the 69th National School Games 2025 (Greco-Roman) wrestling competition at Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College. He honoured medalists in the under-17 and under-19 categories.
Addressing the participants, he said, "Sports play a vital role in the all-round development of an individual, and the way Indian sportspersons are enhancing the nation's prestige on the global stage is a matter of great pride.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Keeping this in mind, he said, the state government has taken significant steps to strengthen sports infrastructure at every level. He also urged the athletes to aim for a strong performance at the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted in India.
The chief minister reiterated that sports are a powerful medium for holistic growth and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s vision of an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat is closely linked to the health and strength of the youth. This will be possible only when sports are given equal importance as academics in institutions, he said.
He said the government has decided to build a stadium in every district and a mini-stadium in every block. Mini-stadiums are being constructed in government colleges in 18 districts, each with an allocation of nearly Rs 5 crore, he added.
Similar facilities are coming up in government colleges in Gorakhpur and Maharajganj. To boost sports in educational institutions, the government is providing Rs 25,000 to each college, Rs 5,000 to schools under basic and secondary education, and Rs 10,000 to junior high schools.
He said a sports university is being established in Meerut and will be named after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.Encouraging the wrestlers, Adityanath said those competing in the under-17 and under-19 categories should target medals at the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad.
He advised runners-up and those who missed medals to learn from their shortcomings and continue working hard, noting that the first competition is always with oneself.

Uttarakhand has started pre-registration for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, focusing on verifying voters from the 2003 lists.

Uttarakhand begins pre-revision exercise to verify voters from 2003 rolls

Uttarakhand has started pre-registration for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, focusing on verifying voters from the 2003 lists.

Uttarakhand has begun pre-registration work for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, aimed at verifying voters whose names figured in the 2003 rolls, an official statement said on Thursday.
According to the statement by the chief electoral officer&rsquo;s office, the exercise includes preparatory work for the upcoming SIR. A campaign is also underway to "reach out, coordinate, and communicate with every voter" to ensure smooth coordination with voters.
Chief Electoral Officer B V R C Purushottam said the last SIR was undertaken in 2003.During the pre-SIR phase, voters aged 40 and above whose names appeared on the 2003 list will be verified through the Booth Level Officer (BLO) app, he said. Those in the same age group whose names were not on the 2003 list will be verified using the details of their parents or grandparents, he added.
The officer further said the 2003 rolls are available on the Chief Electoral Officer&rsquo;s and Election Commission websites.
Purushottam also asked recognised national parties to verify their voter lists and appoint booth level agents (BLAs). At present, 4,155 BLAs have been appointed against 11,733 booths, he said.
District Magistrates, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and BLOs have been directed to strengthen voter outreach efforts, while help desks are being set up at district and ERO levels for assistance, the statement added.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a Russian-language copy of the Bhagavad Gita to President Vladimir Putin during a private dinner in New Delhi, highlighting the scripture’s universal message and cultural significance.

PM Modi presents copy of Gita in Russian to Putin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a Russian-language copy of the Bhagavad Gita to President Vladimir Putin during a private dinner in New Delhi, highlighting the scripture&rsquo;s universal message and cultural significance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;
"Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world," PM Modi said in a post on X.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world.<a href="https://twitter.com/KremlinRussia_E?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KremlinRussia_E</a> <a href="https://t.co/D2zczJXkU2">pic.twitter.com/D2zczJXkU2</a>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1996640866468090252?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
PM Modi hosted a private dinner at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence for Putin, who is on a two-day visit to New Delhi.

IndiGo informed DGCA that flight disruptions stem from planning gaps in new FDTL implementation, seeks temporary relaxations, warns of further cancellations, and targets full operational stability by February 10, 2026.

IndiGo says ops to be fully normal by Feb 10, seeks FDTL relaxations; cancels over 550 flights

IndiGo informed DGCA that flight disruptions stem from planning gaps in new FDTL implementation, seeks temporary relaxations, warns of further cancellations, and targets full operational stability by February 10, 2026.

IndiGo on Thursday told aviation watchdog DGCA that operations are expected to be fully stabilised by February 10, 2026, and sought temporary relaxations in flight duty norms on a day when the country's largest airline cancelled more than 550 flights, disrupting the travel plans of hundreds of passengers.
Acknowledging that the flight disruptions happening for the past few days are primarily due to misjudgment and planning gaps in implementing the second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, IndiGo also informed the regulator that there will be more cancellations till December 8 and from that day, there will also be a reduction in services.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu held a high-level review meeting to assess the situation of significant flight disruptions and expressed his displeasure at the way IndiGo handled the new FDTL norms implementation despite having ample time.
Sources said IndiGo on Thursday cancelled more than 550 domestic and international flights, and services were delayed at various airports.
The airline, which generally operates around 2,300 flights daily and presents its punctuality as a hallmark, recorded an on-time performance of 19.7 per cent on Wednesday, a steep fall from 35 per cent reported on Tuesday.
The airline has been instructed by the minister to proactively inform passengers of any likely cancellations well in advance, and DGCA will conduct strict real-time monitoring of IndiGo's operations.
With some spike seen in airfares amid IndiGo flight cancellations, authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and the airline has also been asked to ensure that there is no increase in airfares due to the current disruptions.
Officers have been deployed to IndiGo's operational control centres for continuous oversight, the civil aviation ministry said in a statement.
In a significant development that might not go well with the pilots' community, IndiGo has sought certain exemptions from specific FDTL requirements for A320 plane operations till February 10, 2026, as part of efforts to normalise the operations.
Following the request, DGCA will review the FDTL relaxations sought by the airline.
Briefing the regulator on the crew for its A320 family planes, IndiGo said the availability of captains and first officers is 2,357 and 2,194, respectively, for December.
In November, the requirement of captains was 2,422 and first officers at 2,153; the numbers rose after the implementation of the second phase of the FDTL norms.
In October, the requirements of captains were 2,186 and first officers were 1,948.
These numbers reflect the shortage of crew, a key factor for the ongoing disruptions and with the new FDTL reducing the number of night landings per pilot, night operations have also been impacted.
The airline told the regulator that crew requirements exceeded their anticipation and provided data, including projections.
IndiGo has informed the regulator that corrective actions are underway, stable flight operations will be fully restored by February 10, 2026, while more cancellations are expected in the next few days.
The airline will reduce flight operations from December 8 to minimise disruptions, according to a statement issued by DGCA.
The regulator has also asked the airline to submit a detailed roadmap covering projected crew recruitment, viz-a-viz induction of aircraft, plans for crew training, roster restructuring, safety-risk assessments, and mitigation measures.
Besides outlining immediate measures to stabilise operations, the airline has been directed to submit a detailed progress report every 15 days, covering operational improvements, crew availability and roster stability.
On Thursday, a DGCA team inspected Delhi airport's Terminal 1, where the airline has substantial operations.
"The team observed that IndiGo's passenger-handling manpower was inadequate to manage disruption-induced crowding," DGCA said, adding that it has instructed the airline to urgently increase manpower as well as strengthen passenger-support services at all affected terminals.
Meanwhile, the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) has said the operational disruptions at IndiGo due to crew issues point to a failure of proactive resource planning by dominant airlines, and claimed that there could also be an effort to pressurise regulator DGCA to dilute the new flight duty time limitation norms.
Pilots' body Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has alleged that IndiGo, despite getting a two-year preparatory window before the full implementation of new flight duty and rest period norms for cockpit crew, "inexplicably" adopted a "hiring freeze".
The airline's CEO Pieter Elbers told the staff that normalising operations and bringing back punctuality will not be an "easy target".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly received Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi for a 27-hour visit focused on strengthening defence cooperation.

PM Modi warmly welcomes Putin at Delhi airport; hosts private dinner, reflecting time-tested friendship

Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly received Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi for a 27-hour visit focused on strengthening defence cooperation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday warmly welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin as he kick-started a nearly 27-hour visit to India to further shore up an eight-decade bilateral partnership that remained in firm footing notwithstanding fractious geopolitical upheavals.
In reflection of the importance India attached to the Russian leader's first visit to India in four years, Modi received him at New Delhi's Palam airport with a hug amid a group of artistes performing traditional dances.
From the airport, the two leaders travelled to Modi's official residence in his car, nearly three months after the prime minister rode with Putin in the Russian leader's vehicle in Chinese city of Tianjin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
"Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefited our people," the prime minister said on social media.
In the evening, Modi hosted a private dinner for the Russian president in a reciprocal gesture to the hospitality extended to the prime minister by Putin during his visit to Moscow in July last year. Modi's official residence was decorated with bright lights and flowers on the occasion.
The conversation between the two leaders over the dinner is expected to set the tone for the 23rd India-Russia summit talks on Friday that is expected to produce a number of tangible outcomes to further broadbase the time-tested relationship.
Boosting defence ties, insulating India-Russia trade from external pressure and exploring cooperation in small modular reactors are set to be the focus of the summit between the two leaders that is expected to be closely watched by Western capitals.
The Russian leader's visit to New Delhi has assumed greater significance as it is taking place against the backdrop of rapid downturn in India-US relations.
Following the summit, the two sides are expected to seal several agreements including in areas of trade.
On Friday, Putin will be accorded a ceremonial welcome and a tri-services guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, before he goes to Raj Ghat to pay homage at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
It will be followed by talks between the two leaders in a restricted format and with their delegations at Hyderabad House, the venue for the summit.
Modi and Putin will also attend a business event jointly organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Roscongress at Bharat Mandapam.
In the evening, Putin will attend a state banquet to be hosted in his honour by President Droupadi Murmu. The Russian leader is expected to leave India at around 9 pm on Friday.
In the summit talks, New Delhi is expected to press for addressing the increasing trade deficit caused by India's procurement of large volumes of Russian crude oil.
The Russian president's trip to India is taking place at a time when India-US relations are going through possibly the worst phase in the last two decades after Washington imposed a whopping 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, including 25 per cent levies for New Delhi's procurement of Russian crude oil.
The impact of American sanctions on India's procurement of Russian crude oil is likely to be discussed at the summit. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said New Delhi's purchase of crude oil from Russia may decline for "a brief period" in view of Western sanctions, but, at the same time, he said Moscow is taking steps to enhance the supplies.
At the summit, Putin is expected to apprise Modi about the latest US efforts to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict. India has been consistently maintaining that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward to end the war.
Following the Modi-Putin talks, the two sides are expected to ink a plethora of agreements, including one on facilitating the movement of Indian workers to Russia, and another on logistical support under a broader framework of defence cooperation.
It is learnt that under the trade basket, Indian exports to Russia are expected to significantly increase in areas of pharma, agriculture, food products and consumer goods.
The move comes amid concerns in New Delhi over a ballooning trade deficit in favour of Russia.
India's annual procurement of goods and services from Russia amounts to around USD 65 billion, while Russia's imports from India stand at around USD 5 billion. Officials said India is also looking at boosting cooperation in the fertiliser sector. Russia supplies three to four million tonnes of fertilisers to India annually.
The Indian and Russian sides are also likely to discuss New Delhi's proposed free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
Ahead of the summit, the defence ministers of the two countries held wide-ranging talks on Thursday with a focus on India's plan to procure additional batches of S-400 missile systems and other critical military hardware from Russia.
The S-400 missile systems proved to be very effective during Operation Sindoor.
In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Peskov said there may be a discussion on the possibility of Russia supplying Su-57 fighter jets to India. India is in the process of procuring a batch of fifth-generation fighter jets.
Dassault Aviation's Rafale, Lockheed Martin's F-21, Boeing's F/A-18 and the Eurofighter Typhoon are the main contenders.
Ways to bolster bilateral energy ties are also expected to figure prominently in the summit.
It is learnt that Russia has offered India additional discounts for its procurement of crude oil.
The offer came after the volume of India's purchase of Russian crude oil registered a decline in the last few weeks following the latest wave of US sanctions on two Russian oil producers.
India and Russia have a mechanism under which India's prime minister and the Russian president hold a summit meeting annually to review the entire gamut of ties. So far, 22 annual summit meetings have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. The Russian president had last visited New Delhi in 2021.
In July last year, Modi travelled to Moscow for the annual summit.
Russia has been a time-tested partner for India and a key pillar of New Delhi's foreign policy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin affirms that India-Russia cooperation is solely focused on protecting mutual national interests, rejects US pressure over energy ties, and highlights deep trust in defence and trade partnerships.

Russian President Putin says India, Russia collaboration not directed against anyone

Russian President Vladimir Putin affirms that India-Russia cooperation is solely focused on protecting mutual national interests, rejects US pressure over energy ties, and highlights deep trust in defence and trade partnerships.

The India-Russia collaboration is not directed against any country and it is solely aimed at safeguarding the national interests of the two sides, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said against the backdrop of Washington's aggressive approach towards New Delhi and Moscow.
In the context of India's energy ties with Russia, Putin said certain "actors" dislike New Delhi's growing role in international markets in view of its close relations with Moscow and these elements are aiming to constrain India's influence for political reasons by imposing "artificial obstacles".
In an interview to India Today news channel that was released on Thursday evening, the Russian president, referring to Western sanctions against Moscow, said his country's energy cooperation with New Delhi largely "remains unaffected".
Putin landed in New Delhi this evening on a two-day visit to hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His trip comes at a time India-US relations are going through possibly the worst phase in the last two decades after Washington imposed a whopping 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, including 25 per cent levies for New Delhi's procurement of Russian crude oil.
"Neither me nor Prime Minister Modi, despite certain external pressure we face, have never approached our collaboration to work against someone," the Russian president said in response to a question on Washington's aggressive approach.
"President Trump has his own agenda, his own goals, whereas we focus on ours -- not against anyone, but rather aimed at safeguarding our respective interests, India's and Russia's interests," he said.
Rejecting Washington's objection to India procuring crude oil from Russia, Putin said if the US has the right to buy Russian fuel, why "shouldn't India have the same privilege".
"As for India's purchase of energy resources from Russia, I would like to note and have already mentioned this once, the US itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants," Putin said.
The Russian president also responded to a question on India lowering procurement of crude oil from Russia in view of Western sanctions on Moscow.
"Well, there is a certain decline in overall trade turnover during the first nine months of this year. This is just a minor adjustment. Overall, our trade turnover stands almost at the same level as before," he said.
"I can't give you exact monthly figures right now, but trade in petroleum products and crude oil, as well as the production of petroleum products for consumers of oil, Russian oil, is running smoothly in India," he said.
Putin also said that India cannot be treated the way it was several decades back.
"Prime Minister Modi is not someone who succumbs to pressure easily. The Indian people can certainly take pride in their leader. This is absolutely obvious," he said.
"His stance is unwavering and straightforward, without being confrontational. Our goal is not to provoke conflict; rather, we aim to protect our lawful rights. India does the same," he said.
On the Ukraine conflict, Putin said he believed the US is actively seeking a solution to this problem.
"I am absolutely certain, with no doubt at all, he (Trump) sincerely aims for a peaceful resolution."
Putin said Trump genuinely wants to end the hostilities and prevent further loss of lives.
"But there could also be political interests tied to ending the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, or economic motives too."
On bilateral trade, Putin said over 90 per cent of "our transactions are already conducted in national currencies".
"While some complications arise due to the presence of numerous intermediaries, there are also solutions," he said.
The Russian president also complimented PM Modi's leadership.
"Our collaborative endeavours with Prime Minister Modi carry significant weight because they transcend our mutual ties," he said.
"Given its direct relevance to both nations, ensuring stability in key areas of engagement is crucial, as it helps secure the fulfilment of our objectives. Prime Minister Modi sets very challenging tasks for the country --and for himself in the first place, then for the administration, and eventually for the nation," he said.
The Russian president did not give a direct reply to a question on if India was looking at procuring additional batches of S-400 missile systems.
"India stands out as one of our reliable and privileged partners in this area. We are not merely selling something to India and India isn't merely buying something from us in the sphere of defence and security.
"It is a different level, a different quality of relations we have with India, and we value this. We see how India values this relationship too," he said.
Putin said Russia is not simply selling defence technology to India but it is sharing it with the country.
"It is a very rare thing to see in the sphere of military-technical cooperation. It speaks to the level of trust between the two countries and the level of trust between the two peoples.
"We have a broad portfolio indeed, including naval construction, rocket and missile engineering, and aircraft engineering," he added.

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked states and union territories to consider deputing additional staff to reduce the workload of booth level officers (BLOs) during the time-bound special revision of electoral rolls.

SC asks states, UTs to provide more staff to EC for SIR duty to ease pressure of BLOs

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked states and union territories to consider deputing additional staff to reduce the workload of booth level officers (BLOs) during the time-bound special revision of electoral rolls.

Taking note of a plea alleging extreme work pressure faced by booth level officers (BLOs) engaged in time-bound special revision of electoral rolls, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the states and union territories to consider deputing additional employees for reducing their working hours.
The top court was hearing an application by actor Vijay's party Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) seeking a direction to the poll panel to not take coercive actions under the Representation of the People Act against the BLOs for not performing the duty in a time-bound manner.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions of senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the TVK, that some instructions are needed to be issued as many BLOs, who are either teachers or Anganwadi workers, have died due to extreme pressure exerted by the EC officials.
Advocate Sankaranarayanan said, moreover, the poll panel officials are also registering FIRs against the BLOs if they fail to perform the duties assigned.
CJI Kant said that the state government may consider deploying additional staff so that the work pressure is eased.
&ldquo;In case they are facing hardships, including they being overburdened with their routine duties as well as the additional duties assigned by the Election Commission, the state government can obviate such hardships," the bench noted.
The state governments may consider the "desirability of deputing additional staff at the disposal of the EC so that the working hours can be proportionately reduced", an order issued by the court stated.
The bench said if any employee has any &ldquo;specific reason&rdquo; for seeking exemption from the SIR duty, the competent officer of the state government can consider such requests on a case-to-case basis and replace such an employee with another.
"However, it shall not be construed or understood as if they can withdraw the employees who have been assigned the duty if their substitutes are not provided,&rdquo; it said.
It further said states and the UTs, where the SIR is underway, &ldquo;shall be obligated to deploy the requisite work force at the disposal of the EC, though the strength of such employees can be increased as explained above."

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit New Delhi for a two-day summit with PM Modi, aimed at boosting defence ties, addressing trade deficits, and expanding cooperation amid US sanctions.

PM Modi to host Putin in Delhi as India-Russia summit focuses on trade, defence, and US sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit New Delhi for a two-day summit with PM Modi, aimed at boosting defence ties, addressing trade deficits, and expanding cooperation amid US sanctions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a private dinner for Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, hours after he lands in New Delhi to further expand a nearly eight-decade partnership that has remained steadfast notwithstanding fractious geopolitical environment and tensions.
Boosting defence ties, insulating India-Russia trade from external pressure and exploring cooperation in small modular reactors are set to be the focus of the summit meeting between Modi and Putin on Friday that is expected to be closely watched by Western capitals.
The Russian leader's nearly 27-hour visit to New Delhi has assumed greater significance as it is taking place against the backdrop of rapid downturn in India-US relations. Following the 23rd India-Russia summit, the two sides are expected to seal several agreements, including in areas of trade.
As the Russian leader is visiting India amid renewed American push to end the war in Ukraine, the issue is likely to figure prominently at the summit.
The Russian president is likely to arrive in New Delhi at around 6:35 pm on Thursday, and hours later, Modi will host him for a private dinner in reciprocation of a similar gesture extended to the Indian prime minister by the Russian leader during his visit to Moscow in July last year.
On Friday, Putin will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan before the 23rd India-Russia summit. Modi will also host a working lunch for the Russian leader and his delegation at Hyderabad House, the venue for the summit. Putin will also visit Rajghat in the morning, according to people familiar with the matter.
After the summit, Putin is set to launch the new India channel of Russian state-run broadcaster, following which he will attend a state banquet to be hosted in his honour by President Droupadi Murmu. The Russian leader is expected to leave India at around 9 pm on Friday.
In the summit talks, New Delhi is expected to press for addressing the increasing trade deficit caused by India's procurement of large volumes of Russian crude oil.
The Russian president's trip to India is taking place at a time when India-US relations are going through possibly the worst phase in the last two decades after Washington imposed a whopping 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, including 25 per cent levies for New Delhi's procurement of Russian crude oil.
The impact of American sanctions on India's procurement of Russian crude oil is likely to be discussed at the summit. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said New Delhi's purchase of crude oil from Russia may decline for "a brief period" in view of Western sanctions, but, at the same time, he said Moscow is taking steps to enhance the supplies.
At the summit, Putin is expected to apprise Modi about the latest US efforts to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict. India has been consistently maintaining that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward to end the war.
Following the Modi-Putin talks, the two sides are expected to ink a plethora of agreements, including one on facilitating the movement of Indian workers to Russia, and another on logistical support under a broader framework of defence cooperation.
It is learnt that under the trade basket, Indian exports to Russia are expected to significantly increase in areas of pharma, agriculture, food products and consumer goods. The move comes amid concerns in New Delhi over a ballooning trade deficit in favour of Russia.
India's annual procurement of goods and services from Russia amounts to around USD 65 billion, while Russia's imports from India stand at around USD 5 billion. Officials said India is also looking at boosting cooperation in the fertiliser sector. Russia supplies three to four million tonnes of fertilisers to India annually.
The Indian and Russian sides are also likely to discuss New Delhi's proposed free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
Ahead of the summit, the defence ministers of the two countries will hold wide-ranging talks on Thursday that are likely to focus on India's plan to procure additional batches of S-400 missile systems and other critical military hardware from Russia.
The S-400 missile systems proved to be very effective during Operation Sindoor. Top military officials said the overall focus will be to further expand the already close defence and security ties between the two countries, with a particular focus on ensuring expeditious supply of military hardware from Russia to India.
In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Peskov said there may be a discussion on the possibility of Russia supplying Su-57 fighter jets to India. India is in the process of procuring a batch of fifth-generation fighter jets. Dassault Aviation's Rafale, Lockheed Martin's F-21, Boeing's F/A-18 and the Eurofighter Typhoon are the main contenders.
Ways to bolster bilateral energy ties are also expected to figure prominently in the summit. It is learnt that Russia has offered India additional discounts for its procurement of crude oil.
The offer came after the volume of India's purchase of Russian crude oil registered a decline in the last few weeks following the latest wave of US sanctions on two Russian oil producers.
India and Russia have a mechanism under which India's prime minister and the Russian president hold a summit meeting annually to review the entire gamut of ties. So far, 22 annual summit meetings have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. The Russian president had last visited New Delhi in 2021.
In July last year, PM Modi travelled to Moscow for the annual summit. Russia has been a time-tested partner for India and a key pillar of New Delhi's foreign policy.

IndiGo cancels over 180 flights from Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru due to crew shortages after implementation of new flight-duty and rest-period norms, with DGCA investigating the disruption.

IndiGo cancels over 180 flights from 3 major airports

IndiGo cancels over 180 flights from Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru due to crew shortages after implementation of new flight-duty and rest-period norms, with DGCA investigating the disruption.

Domestic carrier IndiGo has cancelled over 180 flights from three major airports on Thursday, as the Gurugram-based airline struggles to secure the required crew to operate its flights in the wake of new flight-duty and rest-period norms for pilots.
"IndiGo has cancelled over 180 flights on Thursday at three airports&mdash;Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru," a source told PTI. While the number of cancellations at Mumbai airport stands at 86 (41 arrivals and 45 departures) for the day, at Bengaluru, 73 flights have been cancelled, including 41 arrivals, the source said.
Besides, it had cancelled as many as 33 flights at Delhi Airport for Thursday, the source said, adding, "The number of cancellations is expected to be higher by the end of the day."
The airline's On-Time Performance (OTP) nosedived to 19.7 per cent at six key airports&mdash;Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad&mdash;on December 3, as it struggled to get the required crew to operate its services, down from almost half of December 2, when it was 35 per cent.
"IndiGo has been facing acute crew shortage since the implementation of the second phase of the FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) norms, leading to cancellations and huge delays in its operations across the airports," a source had told PTI on Wednesday.
DGCA has already said it is investigating IndiGo flight disruptions and has asked the airline to submit the reasons for the current situation, as well as its plans to reduce flight cancellations and delays.
It may be mentioned here that the pilots' body Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has alleged that IndiGo, despite getting a two-year preparatory window before the full implementation of new flight duty and rest period norms for cockpit crew, "inexplicably" adopted a "hiring freeze."
FIP said it has urged the safety regulator, DGCA, not to approve airlines' seasonal flight schedules unless they have adequate staff to operate their services "safely and reliably" in accordance with the New Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.
In a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) late Wednesday, FIP urged the DGCA to consider re-evaluating and reallocating slots to other airlines, which have the capacity to operate them without disruption during the peak holiday and fog season if IndiGo continues to "fail in delivering on its commitments to passengers due to its own avoidable staffing shortages."

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Delhi hit by early-morning dust storm; IMD projects more rain and thunderstorm during next 2 hours

Delhi hit by early-morning dust storm; IMD projects more rain, thunderstorm during next 2 hours

The weather body says a cluster of cloud patches are currently passing over the national capital region

Rain along with strong winds hit parts of Delhi early today as the national capital sees a respite after days of heatwave.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted thunderstorms and duststorms along with light to moderated rainfall in Delhi and the adjoining national capital region during the next two hours.
It said that the current developments in the weather condition came after a cluster of cloud patches is seen passing over the Delhi-NCR region.

Gujarat AAP raises concerns over manipulation and delays in distribution of ₹10,000-crore relief package for farmers affected by unseasonal rainfall. Only 3.29 lakh of 29.8 lakh applicants have received aid so far.

Gujarat AAP alleges irregularities in farmer relief package distribution

Gujarat AAP raises concerns over manipulation and delays in distribution of ₹10,000-crore relief package for farmers affected by unseasonal rainfall. Only 3.29 lakh of 29.8 lakh applicants have received aid so far.

Gujarat&rsquo;s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday raised serious concerns over the state government&rsquo;s distribution of a relief package announced for farmers affected by unseasonal rainfall, which caused crop losses reportedly worth thousands of crores.
Releasing a statement, Gujarat AAP General Secretary and prominent farmer leader Sagar Rabari alleged significant irregularities in the aid distribution process.&nbsp;
He said, &ldquo;Unseasonal rain has inflicted crop losses worth thousands of crores. The government carried out a satellite survey and subsequently announced a ₹10,000-crore package, also officially declaring that 42 lakh hectares of farmland were impacted. Despite all these claims, I had full faith in the BJP&rsquo;s ability to shortchange farmers &mdash; and unfortunately, that has now been proven. Today, I am presenting evidence of how injustice has been carried out in the relief meant for farmers.&rdquo;
According to Rabari, while farmers submitted 29,80,000 crop-loss compensation applications, the government has provided aid to only 3,29,000 farmers so far, without clarifying when the remaining applicants would receive their dues. &ldquo;The government has offered no transparency on this,&rdquo; he added.
Rabari explained why he accused the ruling BJP of deliberately shortchanging farmers. He said he had received two official forms regarding a farmer&rsquo;s crop-loss claim. The first, submitted through a Village Computer Entrepreneur (VCE), listed:
- Survey No. 233 &mdash; Farm area 0.3675 hectares, crop loss 100%
- Survey No. 474 &mdash; Area 0.3881 hectares, crop loss 100%
- Survey No. 616 &mdash; Area 0.4352 hectares, crop loss 100%
&ldquo;The total surveyed farm area was 1.1908 hectares, and the total crop-loss affected area recorded was also 1.1908 hectares &mdash; well within the 2-hectare limit, making the farmer eligible to receive the full compensation amount,&rdquo; Rabari said.
However, he added, the form was later edited by an agricultural officer, and the printed copy he received showed:
- Survey No. 233 &mdash; Area 0.3675 hectares, damaged area reduced to 0.33 hectares
- Survey No. 474 &mdash; Area 0.3881 hectares, damaged area edited to 0
- Survey No. 617 &mdash; Area 0.4352 hectares, damaged area edited to 0
&ldquo;So, while the originally submitted form recorded 1.1908 hectares of crop loss, the edited form shows total loss area reduced to just 0.13 hectares. Now this farmer will only receive compensation for 0.13 hectares. This is what I call relief manipulation and injustice against farmers,&rdquo; Rabari said.
He further highlighted that many farmers reportedly received only ₹4,000, blaming this on manipulation in the compensation process. &ldquo;This is also why, after a satellite survey, the government ordered fresh ground surveys and made farmers refill forms &mdash; because the system has been given access to edit submitted forms. To ensure no manipulation takes place, and to fight any that does, every farmer must be ready for a battle,&rdquo; he asserted.
Rabari concluded, &ldquo;This time, we will not permit any form of injustice by the government in Gujarat.&rdquo;

IndiGo cancelled all departing domestic flights from Delhi Airport on December 5, 2025, due to ongoing operational disruptions.

IndiGo cancels all departing flights from Delhi airport till Friday midnight

IndiGo cancelled all departing domestic flights from Delhi Airport on December 5, 2025, due to ongoing operational disruptions.

IndiGo on Friday cancelled all its departing domestic flights from the Delhi airport till midnight as the airline continues to grapple with significant operational disruptions.&nbsp;
Delhi airport operator DIAL said operations of all other carriers remain as scheduled.&nbsp;
"IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport on 5th December 2025 are cancelled till midnight today (till 23:59 hours)," Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said in a post on X.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/693279d4a78bb_1764915668.jpg" width="365" height="361">
DIAL also said its dedicated on-ground teams are working diligently with all partners to mitigate the disruption and ensure a comfortable passenger experience.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of summit talks with PM Narendra Modi, focusing on defence ties, trade, and energy cooperation amid India-US tensions.

Russian President Putin accorded ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Russian President Vladimir Putin was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of summit talks with PM Narendra Modi, focusing on defence ties, trade, and energy cooperation amid India-US tensions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was on Friday accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt here ahead of his summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;
Prime Minister Modi on Thursday received Putin at New Delhi's Palam airport with a hug amid a group of artistes performing traditional dances.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
LIVE: Ceremonial welcome of President Vladimir Putin of Russian Federation at Rashtrapati Bhavan <a href="https://t.co/ZTENsWvpyO">https://t.co/ZTENsWvpyO</a>
&mdash; President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1996818847958245542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
From the airport, the two leaders travelled to Modi's official residence in his car for a private dinner.
Boosting defence ties, insulating India-Russia trade from external pressure and exploring cooperation in small modular reactors are set to be the focus of the summit between the two leaders that is expected to be closely watched by Western capitals.
The Russian leader's visit to New Delhi has assumed greater significance as it is taking place against the backdrop of rapid downturn in India-US relations.&nbsp;

IndiGo cancelled more than 400 flights on Friday across major Indian airports, including Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, causing passenger hardships.

IndiGo cancels over 400 flights at various airports on Friday

IndiGo cancelled more than 400 flights on Friday across major Indian airports, including Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, causing passenger hardships.

IndiGo cancelled more than 400 flights, and a large number of flights were delayed at various airports on Friday, according to sources.&nbsp;
Hundreds of passengers faced hardships at the airports as flights were delayed for long periods. The sources told PTI that over 220 flights, including departures and arrivals, were cancelled at the Delhi airport, while more than 100 were cancelled at the Bangalore airport.&nbsp;
At the Hyderabad airport, over 90 flights were cancelled, the sources said. There were also cancellations at other airports, and many flights were delayed.&nbsp;
IndiGo has been grappling with operational disruptions due to cabin crew woes and other factors. The civil aviation ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are closely monitoring the situation regarding IndiGo flight disruptions that have been ongoing for the past few days.&nbsp;
On Thursday, IndiGo told the aviation regulator, the DGCA, that flight operations are expected to be fully stabilised by February 10, 2026.

Delhi Police has announced traffic curbs, diversions, and no-parking zones across central Delhi on Friday due to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit. Commuters are advised to use alternate routes and public transport.

Major traffic restrictions in Delhi amid Putin's visit

Delhi Police has announced traffic curbs, diversions, and no-parking zones across central Delhi on Friday due to Russian President Vladimir Putin&rsquo;s visit. Commuters are advised to use alternate routes and public transport.

Traffic restrictions and diversions are in place in several parts of the national capital, including central Delhi, on Friday in view of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit, the Delhi Police said in an advisory and advised commuters to plan their journey accordingly.&nbsp;
Putin is expected to make diplomatic visits to Rajghat, Bharat Mandapam, Hyderabad House and Rashtrapati Bhavan among other places as part of his engagements in the city.&nbsp;
Office-goers and commuters will face traffic diversions on Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, Janpath Road, Pragati Maidan tunnel, ITO Chowk, among others.&nbsp;
According to the advisory, traffic curbs will be in place from 9 am to 12 noon along W Point, A Point, ITO Chowk, BSZ Marg, Delhi Gate, JLN Marg, Rajghat Crossing, Shanti Van Crossing, Hanuman Setu Y Point, Netaji Subhash Marg, Nishad Raj Marg, Saleem Garh Flyover Bypass, the MGM Pragati Maidan Tunnel to Hanuman Setu, Kashmere Gate, Vikas Marg and IP Marg.&nbsp;
MGM Pragati Maidan Tunnel towards Hanuman Setu will remain closed during this period and commuters have been asked to use alternative routes, it said.&nbsp;
"Parking will be allowed only in designated areas," it read. No parking will be permitted on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, JLN Marg and Ring Road from Hanuman Setu'-Shanti Van to Rajghat, IP Flyover to Pragati Maidan Tunnel, and along Nishad Raj Marg and IP Marg on Friday, it added.&nbsp;
Vehicles parked on these stretches will be towed and prosecuted as per law, the Delhi Traffic Police said in a post on X.&nbsp;
No vehicle will be allowed to halt or park from 10 am to 11.30 am on Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, MLNP and Janpath Road. Vehicles parked in violation of the advisory will be towed and kept at Kali Bari Mandir Marg traffic pit and in front of Bhairon Mandir traffic pit.&nbsp;
The advisory lists diversions at Vandematram Marg to Simon Bolivar Marg, RA Kautilya Marg, San Martin to Manas Crossing, San Martin to ABHM Crossing, San Martin to Abhai Crossing, Sunheri Masjid Road and R A Rail Bhawan.&nbsp;
Routes to avoid during this period, according to the Delhi Traffic Police, are Sardar Patel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, MLNP and Janpath Road, while alternative routes suggested are DDU Marg, Asaf Ali Road, Maulana Azad Road, K Kamraj Marg, Raisina Road and Rafi Marg.&nbsp;
The advisory also states that no vehicle will be permitted to halt or park on Janpath Road, R A Windsor Place, Firoz Shah Road, R A Mandi House, Sikandra Road and W Point from 11 am to 12.30 pm. Diversions announced for this period include Janpath-Tolstoy Marg, Tolstoy-KG Marg, Ranjit Singh Flyover-Barakhamba Road, Sunheri Masjid Road and R A Rail Bhawan.&nbsp;
The advisory adds that Janpath-Tolstoy Marg, Tolstoy-KG Marg, Ranjit Singh Flyover'-Barakhamba Road, Firoz Shah Road, Sikandra Road, W Point, Akbar Road, MLNP and Janpath Road should be avoided, and that commuters may instead use DDU Marg, Asaf Ali Road, Maulana Azad Road, K Kamraj Marg, Raisina Road and Rafi Marg.&nbsp;
Between 3 pm and 5 pm, no vehicle will be allowed to halt or park on Janpath Road, R A Windsor Place, Firoz Shah Road, R A Mandi House, Sikandra Road, W Point, Mathura Road and Bhairon Marg. Vehicles found parked will be towed and prosecuted and kept at the designated traffic pits, it said.&nbsp;
According to the advisory, between 5 pm and 9 pm, no parking or halting will be allowed on Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, MLNP and Janpath Road.&nbsp;
The advisory lists diversions at Janpath-Tolstoy Marg, Tolstoy-KG Marg, Ranjit Singh Flyover-Barakhamba Road, W Point, MLNP, Q Point, Sunheri Masjid Road, R A Sunheri Masjid Road, Claridge Hotel, Akbar Road, Man Singh Road, NSCI Club at Mathura Road and Bhagwan Das Road or Tilak Marg. Firoz Shah Road, Sikandra Road, Janpath Road, Kartavya Path, Mathura Road and Bhairon Road should also be avoided, it said.&nbsp;
Alternative routes suggested by the advisory include Prithvi Raj Road, DDU Marg, Asaf Ali Road and Maulana Azad Road.&nbsp;
The Delhi Traffic Police has advised commuters to use public transport as much as possible and plan travel in advance, especially for airport, railway station and ISBT.

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