DGCA threatens to suspend Air India license over 'repeated violations'
As reported by Hindustan Times earlier, DGCA ordered an immediate removal of Choorah Singh, divisional vice president of the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC); Pinky Mittal, chief manager-DOPS, crew scheduling; and Payal Arora, crew scheduling-planning from all roles related to crew scheduling and rostering.
The regulatory body cited 'systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability' for its swift action.
In its June 20 enforcement order, the DGCA highlighted 'systemic errors', saying, 'Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses. These officials have been involved in serious and repeated lapses.'
The regulator issued stern warning that 'any future violation of crew scheduling norms, licensing, or flight time limitations detected in any post-audit or inspection, will attract strict enforcement action, including but not limited to penalties, license suspension, or withdrawal of operator permissions as applicable.'
Air India has come under growing scrutiny after the June 12 crash of its London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and at least 30 on the ground. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the crash.
While the DGCA did not directly link its latest enforcement action to the crash, documents seen by HT suggest that the regulator is stepping up scrutiny of the airline. Air India responds
Air India said it has complied with the DGCA directive and removed the three officials named in the order
'In the interim, the company's chief operations officer will provide direct oversight to the IOCC,' the airline said in a statement. 'Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Economy MCQs on sustainable aviation fuel, MCLR and more (Week 124)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on the Economy to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), consider the following statements: 1. SAF is a biofuel that is produced from sustainable feedstocks and has chemistry similar to conventional aviation turbine fuel (ATF). 2. In line with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) framework, India's National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) has set the initial indicative targets for blending of SAF with jet fuel from 2025 onwards, starting with domestic flights. 3. The Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) became the first company in India to receive the ISCC CORSIA certification for SAF production. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — Air India, a Tata group airline, and India's largest refiner and fuel supplier, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), have signed a memorandum of understanding to supply Air India with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) manufactured by IOC. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — IOC was the first firm in India to acquire ISCC CORSIA certification for SAF production at its Panipat refinery in Haryana. ISCC CORSIA is a certification method for SAF that ensures compliance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) requirements. It is a requirement for commercial SAF manufacture. According to IOC, the certification serves as a baseline for other domestic refiners and industry participants looking to increase SAF production. — SAF is a biofuel that is produced from sustainable feedstocks and has chemistry similar to conventional aviation turbine fuel (ATF) or jet fuel, which is derived from crude oil. This means that existing aircraft engines can easily use the SAF-ATF blend. For instance, Airbus claims that all its aircraft are capable of flying on a maximum 50 per cent blend of SAF and conventional fuel. Various Indian airlines have already operated successfully a few test and demonstration flights using jet fuel doped with SAF in various proportions. According to aviation industry and energy experts, SAF alone is likely to account for over 60 per cent of the global aviation industry's decarbonisation efforts. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — With the mandatory phase of CORSIA beginning in 2027, the year 2027 will be a watershed moment for global SAF implementation. CORSIA, which applies to international flights, would mandate airlines worldwide to offset any increase in CO2 emissions above 2020 levels. Using jet fuel blended with SAF is one option for carriers to keep their emissions under acceptable levels. — India, too, will have to comply with the mandatory phase starting 2027. In line with the CORSIA framework, India's National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) has set the initial indicative targets for blending of SAF with jet fuel 2027 onwards, starting with international flights. The indicative targets are: 1 per cent blending in 2027 and 2 per cent in 2028. The government is expected to announce SAF blending mandates for domestic flights in India as well, but only after blending for international flights begins 2027 onwards. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Consider the following countries: 1. United Arab Emirates (UAE) 2. United Kingdom (UK) 3. United States of America (USA) 4. Singapore What is the correct order of non-residents from the above countries (from high to low) who own a share of domestic mutual fund (MF) units in terms of face value? (a) 3—2—1—4 (b) 3—4—1—2 (c) 1—3—4—2 (d) 1—3—2—4 Explanation — Domestic mutual fund industry's foreign liabilities surged 19.9 per cent to $30.5 billion, in market value terms during financial year 2025, primarily driven by an increase in units issued to non-residents, a Reserve Bank of India survey showed. — Among major countries, non-residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held the largest share in mutual fund (MF) units, both in terms of face value (21.2 per cent) as well as at market value (20.2 per cent) during fiscal 2025. In face value terms, foreign liabilities in units of MFs held by non-residents of UAE increased by 32.8 per cent to Rs 3,305 crore in FY25, while in market value terms, they rose by 28 per cent to Rs 11,508 crore. — The non-residents of other countries that own a large share of domestic MF units, in face value terms, include the United States of America (USA) – 11.2 per cent, the United Kingdom (UK) – 10.8, and Singapore – 6.6 per cent. — The survey showed that overseas assets of MFs declined by 5.6 per cent and stood at $8.3 billion in March 2025, due to lower holdings of foreign equity securities. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Consider the following statements: 1. Indian coffee exporters have benefitted from global ending stocks for 2024-25 due to subpar crops in Brazil and Vietnam. 2. India mostly exports arabica beans. 3. In India, Kerala is the largest coffee-producing state. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — India exported goods valued at $437.4 billion during 2024-25, which was 0.1% higher than the $437.1 billion in the previous financial year ended March 31, 2025. During April-June 2025, total exports, at $112 billion, were 1.7% up over the $110.1 billion for April-June 2024. — Indian coffee exporters have benefitted from global ending stocks for 2024-25 depleting to their lowest since 1999-2000, mainly courtesy of subpar crops in Brazil and Vietnam, the world's biggest producers of arabica and robusta varieties respectively. India mostly exports robusta beans and powder used in instant coffee and espresso blends. Tobacco exports have similarly got a boost from output shortfalls in Brazil and Zimbabwe. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct. — Karnataka leads in production followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Other Source: Consider the following statements: 1. Eliminating the duty on cotton imports could soften the impact of high US tariffs on the labour-intensive sector. 2. The elimination of duty is largely aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the industry. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — The government agreed to a long-standing demand of the textile industry to eliminate the 11 per cent duty on cotton imports, in a bid to soften the impact of high US tariffs on the labour-intensive sector, which is expected to take the hardest hit from the 50 per cent US levy. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — However, the calibrated relief measure to eliminate the duty until September 30 could also help ease trade tensions with the US, as Washington is the second-largest cotton exporter to India and has been pushing for broader access to the Indian market during negotiations for a trade deal. — While the elimination of duty is largely aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the industry — ranging from steep US tariffs to high cotton prices — it also acts as a signal to US negotiators that India could be willing to negotiate imports of cotton from Washington, an industry executive said. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — New Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that almost all of India's $1.20 billion cotton imports in FY2025 were of staple length 28 mm or above and that under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, 51,000 MT of such cotton already enters duty-free. This means the biggest winner from India's new duty-free window will be the US, GTRI said. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. MCLR, or Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate, is a: (a) benchmark interest rate set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for banks to determine the minimum interest rate they can charge on loans. (b) Rate fixed by RBI at which it lends money to commercial banks. (c) Interest rate paid by the government on its borrowings from the public. (d) Benchmark rate at which banks borrow from international financial institutions. Explanation — Public sector lenders, including the State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) have reduced their marginal cost of funds-based lending rates (MCLR) by up to 35 basis points (bps) across various tenors. — The reduction follows a cumulative reduction of 100 bps in the repo rate to 5.5 per cent by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) between February and June. In the August monetary policy meeting, the six-member MPC left the repo rate unchanged. One basis point is one hundredth of one percentage point. — MCLR, or Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate, is a benchmark interest rate set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for banks to determine the minimum interest rate they can charge on loans. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 122) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 124) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 124) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 123) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘Work is not your life': London entrepreneur urges employees to leave work on time; gives 12 reasons why ‘it's not good for health'
A London-based entrepreneur's simple LinkedIn post about the importance of leaving the office on time has struck a chord with professionals online. In his reflection, Dan Murray reminded readers that 'work is a never-ending process, and your time is valuable.' While acknowledging the importance of jobs, he stressed they should not become our sole identity, or come at the cost of health, happiness, and relationships. Murray pointed out that extra hours rarely equal extra productivity, and that research shows efficiency drops sharply after the eight-hour mark. Putting in long days may look like commitment in the short term, he argued, but it is neither sustainable nor healthy. What resonated most was his emphasis on boundaries. Leaving on time, he said, isn't shirking responsibility—it's about protecting energy, relationships, and balance. It creates space to recharge, pursue hobbies, and spend quality time with loved ones, ultimately leading to greater well-being. He closed with a reminder that self-care benefits everyone: 'When you care for yourself outside of work, you'll be a better contributor to your team overall. Don't sacrifice your well-being for work.' The post went viral and netizens reacted to the post. An agreeing individual wrote, 'Leaving on time isn't about working less, it's about living more. A well-rested you will always bring more value than an overworked one.' Another user wrote, 'I love this post! Thanks for the reminder that work is a marathon, not a sprint. Our health and happiness depend on it.' A third person said, 'Love this… long hours might look like commitment, but they often erode the very qualities that make work great. Boundaries, rest, and time for life outside the office are what keep people energised and creative.'
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Tata-owned Air India, Air India Express face combined loss of ₹9,568.4 crore
Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in a written reply on August 21 shared provisional figures with the Lok Sabha, stating that Tata Group-owned Air India and Air India Express reported combined loss before tax of ₹ 9,568.4 crore in FY25, PTI reported. The figures shared by Mohol reflected that domestic carriers except IndiGo, registered losses. IndiGo recorded a profit before tax of ₹ 7,587.5 crore in the financial year ended March 2025; while SpiceJet saw ₹ 58.1 crore of loss before tax, and Akasa Air had loss before tax of ₹ 1,983.4 crore, the report added. Full service carrier Air India recorded a loss before tax of ₹ ₹ 3,890.2 crore, while Tata Group's low cost carrier Air India Express registered a loss of ₹ 5,678.2 crore in 2024-25. Notably, Air India Express has long been a profitable venture compared to the full service airline, the report noted. The loss-making Air India and profitable Air India Express were both acquired by Tata Group in January 2022. The data shared by MoS Mohol in Parliament, showed that the debt of Air India stood at ₹ 26,879.6 crore; while that of IndiGo touched ₹ 67,088.4 crore. 26,879.6 crore; while that of IndiGo touched 67,088.4 crore. Further, the debt of Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet stood at ₹ 617.5 crore, ₹ 78.5 crore, and ₹ 886 crore, respectively, the data showed. 'With the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation has been deregulated. The financial and operational decisions, including resource mobilisation and debt restructuring, are managed by the respective airlines based on commercial considerations,' minister Mohol said in his written reply to the Lok Sabha on August 21.
