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AI disinvestment:Ministers to decide fate of Air India’s art collection

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Huge exercise needed, says official

After an in-principle approval given by the cabinet to begin the disinvestment of Air India, a ministerial panel has now been set up to oversee the fate of the priceless art collection of Air India, acquired over six decades.

The Air India headquarters in Mumbai also houses some of the priceless works of the biggest names in Indian art, including Arpana Caur, B Prabha, KA Ara, MF Husain and VS Gaitonde.

There is back-story to how the erstwhile Tata Airlines, which was taken over by the government and renamed Air India in the 1960, was starting to market itself by promoting India as a young country and in turn creating an distinguished image for itself. This led to showing off art and artifacts in the booking office it opened across the globe, in places such as, Paris, Lebanon and Cairo, which would represent the rich cultural heritage of India.

“We have tried to put into it (the office) a little of India in the hope that when you visit it, you will feel the urge of visiting our country, even if you foolishly choose to deprive yourself of the delights of a voyage on Air India,” said JRD Tata, on the occasion of the opening of an office at Paris.

Air India’s collection stretches from both the paintings of Mughal and Rajput areas, depicting romance and war to the stone sculptors, antique rugs, wall hangings and a collection of clocks from the late 19th century.

Interestingly, some of the art works were also bartered for air tickets to artists travelling abroad. However, over the course of time, new methods of purchasing tickets developed and the size of the offices drastically reduced from displaying to only being stored. The lack of interest in buying new works also led to shrinking of Air India offices as it ceased to add in its collection.

After the in principle approval for disinvestment, questions about funding of the museum have also been raised as government is looking at various options to liquidate Air India’s assets. Those who are in know of the situation say it is an extremely herculean task to collect the pieces as they are spread across the globe.

“Bringing these art pieces is a challenge as movement of art is not easy. You need specialists to do the job and you need insurance for these works before transporting them. All this can be an extremely expensive business. We are hoping that the MEA would cooperate and bring it back,” said Meera Das, consultant to Air India for the project.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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PM Modi marks Operation Sindoor anniversary, calls it India’s firm stand against terrorism

PM Modi said Operation Sindoor showcased India’s firm response against terrorism while paying tribute to the armed forces on the operation’s first anniversary.

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s firm response against terrorism and highlighted the country’s commitment to national security.

Marking one year of the operation, the Prime Minister praised the courage, precision and professionalism of the Indian armed forces. He said the military action was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that had claimed the lives of 26 civilians in 2025.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, as a calibrated tri-services operation targeting terror infrastructure linked to cross-border terrorism. Reports said the operation showcased coordinated action by the armed forces and was seen as a major counter-terror response by India.

On the anniversary of the operation, PM Modi also changed the display pictures across his social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The image carried the text “Operation Sindoor” along with the Indian tricolour design.

The Indian Air Force also shared visuals and messages recalling the operation and highlighting India’s military response. A video released by the force described the operation as a strong message against terrorism and referred to the precision strikes carried out during the mission.

Operation Sindoor was launched following the Pahalgam terror attack, after which India carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to official statements and reports published at the time.

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Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Governor again as TVK pushes to prove majority

TVK chief Vijay held another meeting with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as the party intensified efforts to secure majority support after emerging as the single-largest party in the Assembly elections.

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Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar again on Thursday as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), continued efforts to prove it has enough support to form the next government in the state.

TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly after winning 108 seats, but it remains short of the majority mark of 118.

The Congress has extended support to TVK, adding five MLAs to Vijay’s side. However, the alliance still needs additional backing from other parties or independents to comfortably cross the halfway mark.

According to reports, the Governor has not yet been fully convinced that TVK currently has the required numbers to form a stable government. This has delayed clarity over the swearing-in ceremony and the formal invitation to form the government.

Political activity intensified after reports emerged that some AIADMK legislators were moved to a resort in Puducherry amid speculation over possible support to TVK. AIADMK leaders, however, publicly denied any internal crisis.

TVK sources have expressed confidence that the party will be able to demonstrate majority support during discussions with the Governor.

The Tamil Nadu election results marked a major political shift in the state, with TVK breaking the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in its first Assembly election contest.

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PM Modi changes social media profile pictures to mark Operation Sindoor anniversary

PM Modi changed his social media profile pictures to commemorate one year of Operation Sindoor, with several NDA leaders following the move.

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PM Modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday updated the display pictures of his social media accounts to mark the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. The new image was seen across his profiles on X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp channels.

The updated profile picture carries the text “Operation Sindoor” on a black background along with elements of the Indian tricolour. One of the letters in the word “Sindoor” has been stylised using vermilion, commonly associated with married Hindu women.

Operation Sindoor was launched a year ago by Indian defence forces and the Border Security Force along the western border. The anniversary was also marked by several Union ministers and NDA leaders, who changed their social media profile pictures in a similar manner.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other senior leaders were among those who adopted the commemorative display image on social media platforms, according to reports.

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