EW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has slapped IndiGo with the steepest fine ever for an Indian carrier – Rs 22.2 crore – for its massive flight disruptions last month.Additionally, the airline has to submit a bank guarantee of Rs 50 crore whose release is tied to implementing, among other things, the more humane flight duty norms for pilots aimed to enhancing flight safety. The regulator has warned senior airline officials, including the CEO & COO. The senior VP of operation control centre has to be removed from his position.

The senior VP of operation control centre has to be removed from his position and not given any accountable position in the future. The aviation ministry has ordered “an internal inquiry to identify and implement systemic improvements within DGCA”.The regulator late on Saturday night released key findings of the report by its four-member panel that probed IndiGo schedule collapse last month. The airline’s unpreparedness and consequent inability to implement DGCA’s new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) for pilots has cost it dear. Each day’s exemption given for its Airbus A320 family pilots to ensure the airline was able to start resuming flights staring the second week of Dec is costing it Rs 30 lakh. This works out to Rs 20.4 crore for 68 days between Dec 5, 2025, & Feb 10, 2026.The airline has been fined one-time Rs 30 lakh each on six more counts, which add up the fine to Rs 22.2 crore. The six failures include failure to comply with new FDTL rules, rest periods, “inadequate buffer margins in roster planning… failure to strike balance between commercial imperatives and crew members’ ability to work effectively and failure of accountable management to ensure overall functioning, financing, and conduct of operations to DGCA standards.“Between Dec 3 and 5, 2,507 IndiGo flights were cancelled and 1,852 were delayed that left over 3 lakh passengers stranded at airports across the airline’s network. Flights had resumed gradually over the next week or so.What caused the crisis:“Over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness along with deficiencies in system software support and shortcomings in management structure & operational control on the IndiGo”, have been identified as the “primary causes for the disruption” by the DGCA probe panel. “The airline’s management failed to adequately identify planning deficiencies, maintain sufficient operational buffer, and effectively implement the revised FDTL provisions,” the report says.Action against IndiGo:Apart from fines, the airline’s CEO has been cautioned “for inadequate overall oversight of flight ops and crisis management.” Accountable manager & COO, Isidre Porqueras, has been warned for “failure to assess impact of winter schedule 2025 and revised FDTL leading to widespread disruptions.” Senior VP (ops control centre) has been asked to be relieved from the post and not be given any accountable position in future. Warnings have been issued to flight ops and crew resource planning “for operational, supervisory, manpower planning and roster management lapses.”Way ahead:DGCA has asked IndiGo to take appropriate action against any other personnel identified through its inquiry and submit a compliance report regarding the same. Sources say IndiGo has been made aware of the lapses of its senior officials, especially COO, and now the airline is expected to take action against them. “The findings underscore the need for operational planning, and effective management oversight to ensure sustainable operations and passenger safety & convenience,” report says.IndiGo statement:Confirming receipt of DGCA ruling, airline said it is “committed to taking full cognisance of the orders and will, in a thoughtful and timely manner, take appropriate measures… an in-depth review of the robustness and resilience of the internal processes at IndiGo (is) underway to ensure that the airline emerges stronger out of these events in its otherwise pristine record of 19 plus years of operations”.

MUMBAI: The Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) cancelled its Saturday board meeting, which was expected to consider the induction of chairman Noel Tata’s son, Neville Tata, as a trustee. In contrast, board meetings of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) and Tata Education and Development Trust (TEDT) proceeded as scheduled.The cancellation suggests that Neville’s appointment may have been pushed back to give trustees more time for discussions – since appointing a trustee requires unanimous approval. No new date for the SRTT meeting has been notified. An email query to Tata Trusts on the cancellation of the board meeting received no response. Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), and Tata Education and Development Trust (TEDT) have several trustees in common. Except for Jehangir HC Jehangir and Jimmy Tata, the other SRTT trustees — Noel, Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh and Darius Khambata — also serve on SDTT’s board and participated in its meeting on Saturday, people familiar with the matter said. Jimmy, Noel’s older half-brother, usually does not attend SRTT meetings.Saturday’s development comes amid unresolved issues from the last round of inductions in Nov 2025 when the inductions of Neville and former Titan MD Bhaskar Bhat were approved by SDTT but failed to secure approval at SRTT. SDTT, together with SRTT, controls India’s largest conglomerate, the Tata Group.At the Nov 11, 2025 SDTT meeting, Khambata proposed Neville’s appointment, while Noel proposed Bhat, as TOI reported in its Nov 12 edition. Neither name was on the formal board agenda. All trustees of SDTT approved the appointments (Srinivasan did not attend the meeting as his term had expired). Later, at SRTT’s meeting on the same day, both proposals were put off for consideration at a later date.Srinivasan, who participated in the SRTT meeting, reportedly expressed reservations, stating that these proposals were not on the agenda and that such matters should not be raised under “any other items for discussion.” While items not listed on the agenda can be introduced with the chairman’s permission, Srinivasan suggested they be considered at the next board meeting, according to a person familiar with the discussion.This time, Neville’s appointment was formally listed on the SRTT agenda but the meeting was cancelled. Bhat’s name did not appear on Saturday’s agenda. Neville participated at the SDTT meeting on Saturday, marking his first formal role at the flagship foundation.

Pakistan closed 2025 with signs of economic stabilisation, but the public remains divided on whether the recovery has translated into broad-based prosperity, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMA).

The survey, which captures the views of citizens, professionals, students and business stakeholders, presents a mixed but cautiously hopeful picture for 2026, with governance, jobs and long-term reforms emerging as decisive factors for sustained growth.

The survey indicates that 54.3% of respondents acknowledged an improvement in the economy during 2025, pointing to easing inflation, higher remittances and a relatively more stable external position. These developments helped pull the country out of an immediate crisis phase. However, the recovery was uneven, as 45.7% described the year as turbulent, marked by highs and lows. Weak performance in agriculture and persistent fiscal pressures limited the benefits of stabilisation for a large segment of the population. Only 10.3% reported that 2025 turned out much better than expected, while 12.1% believed the economy showed steady performance, underscoring that consistent and inclusive growth remains elusive.

Looking ahead, public sentiment for 2026 reflects cautious optimism rather than strong confidence. The survey shows that 56.9% of respondents expect the economy to improve, while 43.1% believe it will remain stable. Within this group, 29.3% described the outlook as promising and 25% expect economic growth, largely driven by hopes of recovery in industry, exports and domestic demand. Yet only 2.6% view the economy as strong, highlighting that deep-rooted structural weaknesses, low investment levels and productivity challenges continue to weigh on long-term prospects.

The survey also reveals that economic performance alone is n`ot the public’s biggest concern for 2026. Political instability tops the list of anxieties, cited by 33.6% of respondents, reflecting fears that policy uncertainty and leadership conflicts could derail fragile gains. Youth unemployment follows closely at 29.3%, signalling the urgency of translating macroeconomic stability into job creation for a rapidly growing workforce. High inflation, though easing, still worries 26.7% of respondents, while extreme weather and climate-related risks were considered a relatively distant concern by 10.3%.

Respondents sent a strong message on what Pakistan must stop doing to secure sustainable progress. According to the survey, 31% called for ending the repetition of failed policies and short-term fixes that have historically failed to deliver lasting growth. Political conflict was identified by 28.4% as a major obstacle that creates uncertainty and weakens investor confidence. Another 26.7% emphasised reducing reliance on foreign loans, urging a shift towards self-reliance through higher domestic revenues and stronger exports. Neglect of public services such as health and education was also flagged as an issue that must be addressed to improve social and economic outcomes.

In terms of priorities for 2026, the public overwhelmingly placed people before physical projects. A striking 84% of respondents stressed that job creation and human development should take precedence over large infrastructure initiatives. Within this, 45.7% demanded urgent action on employment generation, while 37.9% highlighted education and skills development as critical to tackling youth unemployment and building a competitive workforce. Infrastructure and healthcare were still considered important, but respondents viewed them as secondary to creating widespread opportunity and improving human capital.

On the external front, the survey highlights a pragmatic approach to international partnerships. China emerged as the most important partner for 2026, cited by 44.8% of respondents for its role in investment, infrastructure development and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related projects. Neighbouring countries followed at 26.7%, reflecting the importance of regional peace and trade. Gulf countries were identified by 18.1% for their contribution through jobs and remittances, while 10.3% pointed to the United States for technology and education links. Overall, respondents emphasised that foreign relations should be driven by tangible economic benefits rather than symbolic alliances.

The survey also reflects a growing sense of individual responsibility in shaping economic outcomes. More than half of respondents, 56.9%, said they plan to learn new digital skills in 2026 to adapt to a technology-driven economy. Another 25% expressed intentions to start a business or project, highlighting entrepreneurial ambition, while mentoring and volunteering were seen as secondary priorities.

According to ICMA, the findings underline a clear public mandate: governance reform, job creation and efficient public services matter more to citizens than headline projects. With 62.9% calling for efficient delivery of public services, the message for policymakers is that 2026 will be judged not just by economic indicators, but by whether stability translates into better daily lives for ordinary Pakistanis.