New Delhi, Sept 24: A Delhi court on Thursday sent former Jawaharlal Nehru University student Umar Khalid to judicial custody till October 22 for his alleged role in the North-east Delhi violence earlier this year.
Khalid was produced before the Karkardooma court through videoconferencing after the end of his 10-day police remand.
He was arrested on September 14 and booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by Special Cell of Delhi Police.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, is battling one of its worst operational disruptions in recent years, with hundreds of delays and cancellations throwing domestic travel into chaos.
Government data on Tuesday showed its on-time performance plunging to 35%, an unusual dip for a carrier long associated with punctuality.
By Wednesday afternoon, airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad had collectively reported close to 200 cancellations, stranding travellers across the country.
Crew Shortage After New Duty Norms
A major trigger behind the meltdown is a severe crew shortage, especially among pilots, following the rollout of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms last month.
The rules mandate longer rest hours and more humane rosters — a shift IndiGo has struggled to incorporate across its vast network.
Sources said several flights were grounded due to lack of cabin crew, while some delays stretched upwards of eight hours.
With IndiGo controlling over 60% of India’s domestic aviation market, the ripple effect has impacted airports nationwide.
IndiGo Issues Apology, Lists “Compounding Factors”
In a statement, IndiGo acknowledged the large-scale disruption:
“We sincerely apologise to customers. A series of unforeseen operational challenges — technology glitches, winter schedule changes, adverse weather, system congestion and updated FDTL norms — created a compounding impact that could not have been anticipated.”
To stabilise operations, the airline has begun calibrated schedule adjustments for the next 48 hours, aiming to restore punctuality. Affected passengers are being offered refunds or alternate travel arrangements, IndiGo said.
What the FDTL Rules Require
The FDTL norms, designed to reduce pilot fatigue, cap duty and flying hours as follows:
• Maximum 8 hours of flying per day
• 35 hours per week
• 125 hours per month
• 1,000 hours per year
Crew must also receive rest equalling twice the flight duration, with a minimum 10-hour rest period in any 24-hour window.
The DGCA introduced these limits to enhance flight safety.
Hyderabad: 33 Flights Cancelled, Long Queues Reported
Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport saw heavy early-morning crowds as 33 IndiGo flights (arrivals and departures) were cancelled.
The airport clarified on X that operations were normal, advising passengers to contact IndiGo directly for latest flight status.
Cancellations included flights to and from Visakhapatnam, Goa, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Madurai, Hubli, Bhopal and Bhubaneswar.
Bengaluru: 42 Flights Disrupted
Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport recorded 42 cancellations — 22 arrivals and 20 departures — affecting routes to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata and Lucknow.
Passengers Vent on Social Media
Irate travellers took to X to share their experiences. One passenger stranded in Hyderabad wrote: “I have been here since 3 a.m. and missed an important meeting.”
Another said: “My flight was pushed from 1:55 PM to 2:55 PM and now 4:35 PM. I was informed only three minutes before entering the airport.”
Delhi Airport Hit by Tech Glitch
At Delhi Airport, the disruption deepened due to a slowdown in the Amadeus system — used for reservations, check-ins and departure control.
The technical issue led to longer queues and sluggish processing, adding to delays already worsened by staff shortages.
Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is observed every year on November 26 to honor the adoption of the Constitution of India and to recognize the visionary effort that shaped the world’s largest democracy.
Historical Background
It’s on November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the Constitution.This date is commemorated to acknowledge the completion of nearly three years of drafting, debate, and refinement.
On January 26, 1950, the Constitution came into force, marking India’s transition from a dominion to a sovereign republic.
The date 26 January was chosen to honor the “Purna Swaraj” declaration made in 1930 that marked the relentless efforts & sacrifices of the many.
Why Constitution Day is Celebrated
* To honor & remember the framers of the Constitution, especially Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, & many others.
* To remind the citizens of the values, responsibilities, and rights enshrined in the Constitution.
* To promote constitutional values & literacy among students, institutions, and the general public.
* To reaffirm the nation’s commitment to justice, equality, liberty, fraternity and secular values.
Vision and Significance of the Constitution
It establishes the fundamental political and legal framework for the nation.
Defines the structure, powers and functions of:
• The Executive
• The Legislature
• The Judiciary
• Guarantees a comprehensive set of Fundamental Rights, including:
-Equality before law
-Freedom of speech & expression
-Protection of life and personal liberty
-Freedom of religion
-Embeds Directive Principles of State Policy, guiding governance toward social justice and welfare.
-Introduces Fundamental Duties to ensure civic responsibility among citizens.
Key Features Celebrated on Constitution Day
-The Indian constitution is considered one of the longest written constitutions of the world. It’s systematically drafted considering almost all aspects that properly fits to the country.
-Blend of multiple global constitutional principles while staying rooted in Indian values and realities.
-Framework that balances Federalism, Secularism, Democracy and Rule of Law. This makes everyone-from President to common man-below the law & are equal in the sight of law.
-Another feature is that it’s based on built-in mechanisms for amendments, ensuring the Constitution grows with changing needs.
Message of the Day
The core ethos of this Constitution Day is not merely about looking back at history-it’s a reminder of the continuous duty to protect democratic values, respect diversity and uphold the principles that define India as a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic.
Happy Constitution Day to all my compatriots
New Delhi: IndiGo, India’s largest airline, faced major operational turbulence this week after failing to prepare for new pilot-fatigue regulations issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The stricter rules—designed to improve flight safety—took effect in phases through 2024, with the latest implementation on November 1. IndiGo has acknowledged that inadequate roster planning led to widespread cancellations and delays.
Below are the key DGCA rules that affected IndiGo’s operations:
1. Longer Mandatory Weekly Rest
Weekly rest for pilots has been increased from 36 hours to 48 hours.
The government says the extended break is essential to curb cumulative fatigue. This rule remains in force despite the current crisis.
2. Cap on Night Landings
Pilots can now perform only two night landings per week—a steep reduction from the earlier limit of six.
Night hours, defined as midnight to early morning, are considered the least alert period for pilots.
Given the disruptions, this rule has been temporarily relaxed for IndiGo until February 10.
3. Reduced Maximum Night Flight Duty
Flight duty that stretches into the night is now capped at 10 hours.
This measure has also been kept on hold for IndiGo until February 10 to stabilize operations.
4. Weekly Rest Cannot Be Replaced With Personal Leave
Airlines can no longer count a pilot’s personal leave as part of the mandatory 48-hour rest.
Pilots say this closes a loophole that previously reduced actual rest time.
Currently, all airlines are exempt from this rule to normalise travel.
5. Mandatory Fatigue Monitoring
Airlines must submit quarterly fatigue reports along with corrective actions to DGCA.
This system aims to create a transparent fatigue-tracking framework across the industry.
The DGCA has stressed that these rules were crafted to strengthen flight safety and align India with global fatigue-management standards. The temporary relaxations are expected to remain until February 2025, giving IndiGo time to stabilise its schedules and restore normal air travel.
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