Starlink has clarified that the India pricing briefly visible on its website on Monday was the result of a configuration error, stressing that the figures were only dummy data and not the final cost for Indian customers.

Starlink fixes website error after India pricing appears briefly

The satellite-based internet service displayed monthly pricing of ₹8,600 and a hardware kit cost of ₹34,000 before the company removed the information. Starlink said the numbers were unintentionally visible due to a glitch and do not represent its official India pricing.

Lauren Dreyer, Starlink’s Vice President and Senior Director of Business Operations at SpaceX, said in a post on X that the India website is not yet live and that service pricing has not been announced. She reiterated that Starlink is currently not accepting orders from customers in India.

Dreyer added that teams are working to secure final government approvals to begin services in India, and the website will go live only after this process is completed.

Maharashtra signs LoI with Starlink for satellite-based connectivity

Even as commercial rollout details remain pending, Starlink’s India preparations appear to be moving ahead. Recent hiring activity in Bengaluru indicates strengthening operations, with roles announced across payments, accounting, treasury and taxation.

Separately, the Maharashtra government has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited to deploy satellite-based internet services for government institutions and underserved districts including Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv and Washim.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the initiative marks Maharashtra as the first Indian state to formally collaborate with Starlink for remote connectivity solutions.

The Lok Sabha is set to witness an extended discussion on electoral reforms today, with a full 10-hour window allocated to examine several key issues linked to India’s voting and election management processes. The time has been evenly distributed between the ruling bloc and the Opposition, reflecting the importance and sensitivity of the deliberation.

Debate to begin at 1 pm

The discussion, scheduled to start at 1:00 pm, will cover subjects ranging from the role and accountability of the Election Commission to campaign finance transparency, the scrutiny of candidates with criminal backgrounds, the use of electronic voting machines and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The government argues that the exercise aims to improve electoral integrity, while the Opposition has indicated it will raise concerns over fairness and proposals such as “One Nation, One Election.”

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will initiate the debate. Among the BJP speakers listed are Nishikant Dubey, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, Sanjay Jaiswal and PP Chaudhary, who also heads the Joint Parliamentary Committee studying the “One Nation, One Election” proposal.

Opposition lines up senior speakers

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi will front the Congress’s charge. He has frequently criticised both the Election Commission and the ruling party in recent months. Other Congress MPs slated to speak include KC Venugopal, Manish Tewari, Varsha Gaikwad, Mohammed Jawed, Ujjwal Raman Singh, Isa Khan, Ravi Mallu, Imran Masood, Gowal Padvi and Jyotimani. The party has issued a whip asking all its MPs to remain present.

Alliance partners will also contribute to the debate, with the Shiv Sena represented by Srikant Shinde and Naresh Mhaske. LJP (Ram Vilas) member Arun Bharati and TDP MPs Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and GM Harish Balayogi are also scheduled to participate.

The government is expected to reply on December 10, with Meghwal responding on behalf of the Centre.

The Centre has directed IndiGo to reduce its daily flight operations by 5%, marking the most stringent corrective step yet in the ongoing aviation disruption. Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that the airline’s winter schedule will be curtailed, with its vacated slots potentially allocated to other carriers.

DGCA orders reduction in IndiGo’s daily operations

According to the minister, IndiGo currently operates around 2,200 flights each day. With the Directorate General of Civil Aviation instructing a 5% cut, nearly 115 flights will be removed from daily operations. He said the government intends to set an example for all airlines to ensure strict compliance with safety and operational norms.

The minister also said the airline has processed refunds worth ₹745 crore for more than 7.30 lakh cancelled PNRs between December 1 and December 8.

“Internal crisis” behind mass cancellations

Naidu told the Rajya Sabha that the large-scale cancellations seen over the past week were triggered by IndiGo’s “internal crisis” as new passenger safety regulations came into effect. The updated norms, designed to tackle pilot fatigue by increasing mandatory rest time, required airlines to enhance crew strength. IndiGo reportedly fell short, resulting in significant disruptions.

Passengers left stranded as safety rules strain airline workforce

With over 2,200 flights scheduled daily and a traditional model built on minimising downtime, IndiGo struggled to meet staffing needs under the revised safety standards. As delays and cancellations mounted, the DGCA temporarily relaxed the new norms to stabilise operations.

Opposition walkout as government faces heat

While the government reiterated its commitment to passenger welfare and safety, the Opposition staged a walkout expressing dissatisfaction with the minister’s explanation. The Centre maintains it aims to bring more competition into the aviation sector, asserting India has the potential to sustain five major airlines.