Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

05 Dec

RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25%, Signaling Relief for Borrowers

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, TrendingRBI, Repo Rate

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday announced a reduction in the repo rate by 25 basis points, lowering it from 5.5% to 5.25%, in a unanimous decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The move is expected to make loans more affordable for retail and corporate borrowers alike. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra explained that the decision follows careful consideration of easing inflationary pressures and the recent depreciation of the rupee, which reached its lowest level yesterday. “The MPC evaluated the current economic landscape and concluded that a moderate reduction in the repo rate would…

05 Dec

Delhi chokes under heavy smog as AQI climbs to 323, air quality stays ‘very poor’

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): A thick veil of pollution settled over the capital on Friday morning, pushing Delhi’s air quality back into the “very poor” zone and leaving neighbourhoods across the city enveloped in a persistent layer of smog. Readings from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the average AQI at 323 by 8 am, signalling yet another day of hazardous conditions for residents. City wakes up to hazy skies and low visibility The morning commute was marked by reduced visibility in several areas, particularly in the eastern and northern parts of the city. Ghazipur, Akshardham, and neighbouring stretches…

05 Dec

Overnight ordeal for Chandigarh–Pune flyers as IndiGo’s operational crisis deepens

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Trending

Chandigarh (Rajeev Sharma): Passengers booked on IndiGo’s late-evening Chandigarh–Pune service endured a sleepless night at Mohali airport after the flight, originally scheduled for 9:15 pm on Thursday, finally departed nearly 10 hours late on Friday morning. The incident has become one of the most striking examples of the airline’s ongoing meltdown, which has disrupted operations across the country for days. A night of confusion and frayed tempers Travellers said the experience was marked by shifting departure times and little reliable information. The boarding time moved repeatedly—first by a couple of hours, then in smaller increments—leaving fliers unsure whether they should…

04 Dec

Supreme Court Orders UPSC to Boost Accessibility for Blind Candidates Ahead of Civil Services Exam

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaCivil Services Exam, Scribe Change Order, Supreme Court, UPSC Accessibility

New Delhi, December 4, 2025— The Supreme Court has taken a significant step toward making national-level examinations more inclusive by directing the Union Public Service Commission to allow blind candidates to change their scribes up to at least seven days before the Civil Services Examination. The court also asked the UPSC to adopt screen reader software and other assistive technologies so that visually disabled candidates receive equal opportunity during the exam process.The bench said that a society’s fairness is not defined only by the freedoms it offers but by the opportunities it ensures for every individual to reach their full…

04 Dec

India Busts Espionage Network as Gujarat ATS Arrests Ex-Army Man and Woman for Leaking Military Secrets

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaEspionage Case India, Gujarat ATS, Pakistan Spy Network, Retired Army Man

Ahmedabad, December 4, 2025— The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad has uncovered a cross-border espionage operation with the arrest of a retired Army soldier and a woman accused of sharing confidential information about Indian military establishments with Pakistani intelligence handlers. Officials said the arrests were made on Thursday after investigators traced communications between the accused and agents operating from Pakistan.Ajaykumar Singh, 47, who retired as a Subedar in 2022, was taken into custody from Goa, where he worked in a distillery. Investigators revealed that he was targeted by a Pakistani operative posing as ‘Ankita Sharma’, who contacted him during his posting in…

04 Dec

IndiGo CEO Admits Service Lapses as Airline Battles Major Flight Disruptions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaflight disruptions India, IndiGo cancellations, IndiGo delays, Pieter Elbers statement

New Delhi, December 4, 2025— IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on Thursday acknowledged that the airline failed to deliver a satisfactory travel experience in recent days as large-scale operational disruptions led to widespread cancellations and delays across the network. He said the immediate priority is to stabilise operations and restore punctuality, a task he described as “not an easy target”.In a message to IndiGo employees, Elbers said the past few days had been challenging for customers and staff alike. More than 300 flights were cancelled on Thursday, while many others faced significant delays, adding to passenger frustration.“We serve close to 380,000…

04 Dec

Modi Welcomes Putin in Delhi as Russian President Begins First India Visit Since Ukraine Conflict

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsIndia-Russia Summit, Modi Putin meeting, Su-57 jets India, Vladimir Putin India visit

New Delhi, December 4, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Russian President Vladimir Putin with a warm embrace at Delhi’s Palam airport on Thursday evening, marking the start of Putin’s first visit to India in more than four years. The two leaders exchanged hugs, handshakes and smiles before heading to a private dinner hosted by the Prime Minister.Putin’s arrival comes ahead of the 23rd Annual India-Russia Summit, scheduled for Friday at Hyderabad House. This is his first trip to India since the conflict in Ukraine began. His previous visit was in December 2021. The Russian President is visiting New Delhi…

04 Dec

IndiGo Cancels Over 180 Flights Amid Crew Shortages Following New Pilot Duty Rules

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingIndiGo

New Delhi/Bengaluru/Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma): IndiGo faced another wave of operational disruption on Thursday, with more than 180 flights cancelled across its key hubs due to a shortage of pilots caused by recently enforced Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. The Gurugram-based airline, which handles the largest volume of domestic flights in India, struggled to maintain schedules at Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi airports. At Mumbai Airport, 86 flights were affected, comprising 45 departures and 41 arrivals. Bengaluru reported 73 cancellations, including 41 incoming flights, while Delhi saw 33 flights cancelled by midday. Airline sources cautioned that the total number of cancellations…

04 Dec

Supreme Court Pushes for Stronger Welfare Net for Acid Attack Survivors, Seeks Nationwide Trial Data

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingSupreme Court

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Supreme Court on Thursday called for a comprehensive review of how India treats acid attack survivors, urging the Union government to examine whether they should be formally recognised as persons with disabilities—a change that could significantly broaden their access to state-supported welfare schemes. The direction came while the Bench heard a petition filed by an acid attack survivor who argued that current laws fail to account for the lasting physical and psychological damage inflicted by such assaults. Inclusion under disability categories, the petitioner said, would help survivors receive sustained medical care, rehabilitation assistance, and financial…

04 Dec

PM Modi Marks International Cheetah Day, Highlights India’s Conservation Gains

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingCheetah, Narendra Modi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended greetings on International Cheetah Day, celebrating India’s recent strides in re-establishing the world’s fastest land animal on Indian soil. In a message shared on social media, he lauded wildlife enthusiasts, conservation teams and local communities for contributing to what he described as a revival of “lost ecological heritage.” Modi recalled that it has been three years since the Centre launched Project Cheetah, a flagship initiative aimed at reintroducing the species to India after it vanished from the subcontinent decades ago. He said the programme was envisioned not only to…