UK offers liberal visa scheme for Indian businessmen

November 7, 2016

New Delhi, Nov 7: Eyeing India as a key trade partner after exiting from the European Union, the UK today announced a first-ever easier visa regime for Indian businessmen that will come with swifter passage through British airports and access to EU.

India had in past also sought easier visa regime for its nationals and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked his counterpart Theresa May to provide "greater mobility" for its students and researchers.

Speaking at the India-UK Tech Summit, May said: "So we will offer, for the first time to any country that needs visas to enter Britain, what we called 'Registered Traveller Scheme'.

"That means the Indian nationals who frequently come to the UK and to fuel growth in both our countries, the entry process will become significantly easier," she said at the event organised by CII that was also attended by Modi.

She said the businesses will have to fill fewer forms, and they would get access to the EU-EEA (European Economic Area) passport control and swifter passage through British airports.

"In short, more opportunities for Britain and India and a clear message that Britain is very much open for business," she added.

May said it is not just the legal framework that are essential for effective trade and investment, it is about people too.

"It is crucial that those who do need to travel between our countries for business can do so, that is the reason why when I was Home Secretary, I made visa process for Indians much easier," May said.

She further said India now has one of the best UK visa services in the world with more application points than any other country and is the only place where it is possible to get a same day visa.

"...that happened because we listened to our businesses. And we are still listening. Listening to the fact that there are many people from India who are to bring their skill, ideas, businesses to Britain for the good of your economy and ours," May added.

Talking about removing trade and investment barriers, the UK Prime Minister said Britain is working side by side with India to make it easier to do business here.

"We can break down barriers and make it easier to do business...That is why the UK is working side by side with Prime Minister Modi to make it easier to do business in India, for example by strengthening intellectual property rights, and paving the way for world's leading services sector to operate in Indian market benefiting India and UK alike, But I am determined that we will go further," she said.

The UK Prime Minister said, "I will be discussing with Prime Minister Modi how we can increase the detail and depth of our trade and investment discussions, and identify what more we can do, now, to unleash our businesses, industries, exporters and investors." She added "this does not need to wait for us to leave the EU".

"As countries, we both need to ensure we take advantages of the opportunities for the century ahead and we can do so together," she said.

May further said that as Prime Minister Modi pursues his ambition for smart cities, 'Make in India' and 'Digital India', in Britain "we are focused on the economic reform and social reform and building the country that works for everyone".

"I believe we should throw our entire weight behind each other's efforts. In fact, Prime Minister Modi and I are going even further and announcing a new India-UK urban partnership focusing on smart cities," she added.

This is demonstration of long-term relationship, not just trading but sharing skills, technology expertise, she said.

Emphasising on the importance of India, the UK Prime Minister said that outside Europe, this is her first bilateral visit and "first ever trade mission".

"We listen to each other's music and eat each other's food and share a passionate rivalry with each other on cricket," she said, adding "I want to talk about the importance of the relationship today and the limitless possibilities that I believe would be open to us in the future".

Talking about importance of free trade, May said it creates rising tides that lifts all boats, it creates jobs, improves productivity, and improves living standards.

"We have a strong starting point with Britain investing in India more than any other G20 country and India investing in Britain that it does in all EU countries put together," she added.

May said that right now, British businesses are exporting everything from engines to insurance to India.

"...those things are happening despite the continuous existence of barriers to trade and barriers to cooperation," she said while stressing on the needs to exchange ideas and technology.

The UK Prime Minister said that huge opportunities for tech companies exists in India as every second three Indians are experiencing internet for the first time, there is a billion plus people with so many graduates and startups. "I am looking forward to visiting Bengaluru tomorrow to see the startup capital in India," she said.

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Whatever cheddis are doing is making easy for the ambanis and adanis... Common people are left out or ignored...

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IndiGo offers full waiver on cancellations, reschedule requests for bookings between Dec 5 and 15

News Network

December 6,2025

With IndiGo flight disruptions impacting thousands of passengers, the airline on Saturday said that it will offer full waiver on all cancellations/reschedule requests for travel bookings between December 5, 2025 and December 15, 2025.

Earlier in the day, the civil aviation ministry had directed the airline to complete the ticket refund process for the cancelled flights by Sunday evening, as well as ensure baggage separated from the travellers are delivered in the next two days.

In a post on X, titled 'No questions asked', IndiGo wrote, "In response to recent events, all refunds for your cancellations will be processed automatically to your original mode of payment."

"We are deeply sorry for the hardships caused," it further added.

Several passengers, however, complained of not getting full refund as promised by the airline.

Netizens have shared screenchots of getting charged for airline cancellation fee and convenience fee.

"Please tell me why u have did this airline cancellation charges when u say full amount will be refunded (sic)," a user wrote sharing a screenshot of the refund page.

"Well, but you have still debited the convenience charges," wrote another.

Passengers have also raised concerns about the "cancel" option being disabled on the IndiGo app. "First enable the 'Cancel' button on your App & offer full refund on tickets cancelled by customers between the said dates," wrote a user.

A day after the country's largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled more than 1,000 flights and caused disruptions for the fifth day on Saturday, the ministry said that any delay or non-compliance in refund processing will invite immediate regulatory action.

The refund process for all cancelled or disrupted flights must be completed by 8 pm on Sunday, the ministry said in a statement.

"Airlines have also been instructed not to levy any rescheduling charges for passengers whose travel plans were affected by cancellations," it said.

On Saturday, more than 400 flights were cancelled at various airports.

IndiGo has also been instructed to set up dedicated passenger support and refund facilitation cells.

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Over 58 lakh names dropped from draft voter list in Bengal ahead of polls

News Network

December 16,2025

The deletion of over 58 lakh names from West Bengal’s draft electoral rolls following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has sparked widespread concern and is likely to deepen political tensions in the poll-bound state.

According to the Election Commission, the revision exercise has identified 24 lakh voters as deceased, 19 lakh as relocated, 12 lakh as missing, and 1.3 lakh as duplicate entries. The draft list, published after the completion of the first phase of SIR, aims to remove errors and duplication from the electoral rolls.

However, the scale of deletions has raised fears that a large number of eligible voters may have been wrongly excluded. The Election Commission has said that individuals whose names are missing can file objections and seek corrections. The final voter list is scheduled to be published in February next year, after which the Assembly election announcement is expected. Notably, the last Special Intensive Revision in Bengal was conducted in 2002.

The development has intensified the political row over the SIR process. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress have strongly opposed the exercise, accusing the Centre and the Election Commission of attempting to disenfranchise lakhs of voters ahead of the elections.

Addressing a rally in Krishnanagar earlier this month, Banerjee urged people to protest if their names were removed from the voter list, alleging intimidation during elections and warning of serious consequences if voting rights were taken away.

The BJP, meanwhile, has defended the revision and accused the Trinamool Congress of politicising the issue to protect what it claims is an illegal voter base. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the ruling party fears losing power due to the removal of deceased, fake, and illegal voters.

The controversy comes amid earlier allegations by the Trinamool Congress that excessive work pressure during the SIR led to the deaths by suicide of some Booth Level Officers (BLOs), for which the party blamed the Election Commission. With the draft list now out, another round of political confrontation appears imminent.

As objections begin to be filed, the focus will be on whether the correction mechanism is accessible, transparent, and timely—critical factors in ensuring that no eligible voter is denied their democratic right ahead of a crucial election.

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