Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi today for a two-day visit that is set to focus on defence cooperation, energy supplies, mobility agreements and trade expansion. His trip includes a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

Key highlights of the visit

President Putin is scheduled to land in the capital this evening, where an informal dinner with PM Modi will set the stage for formal discussions on Friday. He will receive a ceremonial welcome in the morning before visiting Rajghat to pay homage at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial. The two leaders will then meet at Hyderabad House for the annual summit, followed by a working lunch.

India is expected to raise the issue of pending military hardware deliveries, which have slowed since the Ukraine conflict began. The agenda also includes additional S-400 air defence systems — part of a USD 5 billion contract under which three squadrons have already been delivered. Two more units are expected by mid-next year.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has indicated that talks may also touch upon India’s interest in the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft, with New Delhi currently assessing several next-generation platforms.

Energy cooperation will be another crucial component of the dialogue. Russia is expected to update India on efforts to maintain steady crude oil supplies amid US sanctions that have impacted shipments. Peskov noted that supplies may dip briefly, but Moscow is working to stabilise flows.

On the sidelines, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov are expected to hold discussions on key military programmes.

President Putin’s visit comes as India navigates recent friction with Washington, including steep tariffs — 50 per cent across several categories and an additional 25 per cent linked to Russian crude oil imports.

The Russian President is also expected to brief PM Modi on the latest US diplomatic moves concerning the Ukraine conflict. India continues to advocate for a resolution based on dialogue and diplomacy while refraining from criticising Moscow.

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is grappling with widespread disruption across major airports as flight delays and cancellations continue for the second consecutive day. With operations strained and punctuality plunging sharply, thousands of passengers have been left inconvenienced across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

IndiGo’s on-time performance dips sharply

Government data showed the airline’s on-time performance had dropped to 35%, a rare slump for the carrier known for punctuality. IndiGo, which operates more than 2,200 flights daily, saw over 1,400 flights delayed on Tuesday, followed by around 200 cancellations by Wednesday afternoon.

Mumbai Airport issued an advisory alerting passengers to check their flight status, citing airline-related operational issues impacting departures and arrivals.

New duty norms trigger severe crew shortage

A major factor behind the disruptions is the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules last month. The updated norms mandate longer rest hours and more humane rosters for pilots and cabin crew. Sources indicated many flights were grounded over the past 48 hours as crew availability dipped sharply.

IndiGo acknowledged a “multitude of unforeseen operational challenges” including technology glitches, winter schedule adjustments, weather-related issues and the new rostering norms. The airline said it has begun calibrated schedule adjustments for the next 48 hours to restore normalcy.

FDTL rules cap crew flying to eight hours a day and mandate a minimum rest period of 10 hours within a 24-hour window, with rest time amounting to twice the flight duration.

Airports across India see cancellations

The ripple effect of IndiGo’s disruptions has been felt nationwide:

• Hyderabad’s RGIA reported 33 cancellations, leading to long queues and disrupted travel plans.
  
• Bengaluru Airport saw 42 cancellations, including 22 arrivals and 20 departures, impacting routes to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Goa and Kolkata.
  
• Delhi Airport also saw congestion as a slowdown in the Amadeus system, used for check-ins and reservations, added to delays.
  

Passengers vent frustration

Several passengers took to social media to share their ordeal.
One traveller stranded in Hyderabad since early morning said they missed an important meeting due to continuous delays. Another flyer complained their Udaipur-bound flight was repeatedly delayed, calling the experience “a joke”.

IndiGo issues apology, offers rebooking

IndiGo said it is offering alternate travel options or refunds to affected travellers and urged passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport. The airline reiterated its commitment to stabilising operations “as quickly as possible”.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by-election results for 12 wards were declared today, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the leading performer by winning seven seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured three wards, while Congress and the Left picked up one seat each.

BJP maintains edge in civic bypolls

Voting was conducted on November 30 across 12 wards, nine of which were earlier represented by BJP councillors. The remaining three were held by AAP. This round of bypolls witnessed a voter turnout of 38.51%, lower compared to 50.47% recorded in the 2022 civic elections.

The counting process was carried out at 10 centres — including Kanjhawala, Pitampura, Civil Lines, Rouse Avenue, Dwarka, Najafgarh, Gole Market, Bharat Nagar, Pushp Vihar, and Mandawali — as shared by the State Election Commission.

Ward-wise highlights

• AAP’s Anil won the Mundka ward.
• AAP’s Ram Swaroop Kanojia won Dakshin Puri.
• Congress’ Suresh Choudhary secured a win in Sangam Vihar-A with a comfortable margin.
• BJP’s Anita Jain clinched Shalimar Bagh with 6,742 votes.
• BJP’s Suman Kumar Gupta won Chandni Chowk with 7,825 votes.
• AIFB’s Mohammad Imran led in Chandani Mahal, adding the lone Left victory.

With all results declared, the final tally stands at: BJP 7, AAP 3, Congress 1, AIFB 1.