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DGCA Grants Record 1,628 Commercial Pilot Licences in 2024, Government Says

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India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, issued a record 1,628 Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs) in 2024—the highest annual total ever—according to the government. The civil aviation ministry said the milestone reflects a sharp expansion of pilot training and certification capacity in the country. In a statement, the ministry noted that CPL issuances have grown more than 2.5 times over the past eight years. Year-wise data shows a steady climb despite pandemic disruptions: 640 licences in 2018, 744 in 2019, 578 in 2020, 862 in 2021, 1,165 in 2022, 1,622 in 2023, and 1,347 in 2024. Offering a broader snapshot of developments in 2024, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said it has been closely tracking airfare trends through real-time monitoring and ongoing coordination with airlines and online travel platforms. During the operational disruptions faced by IndiGo in December, the ministry said it exercised regulatory powers to curb opportunistic pricing. Airlines were directed to strictly comply with fare caps across affected routes, a measure that remains in place until conditions fully normalise. The directive aimed to enforce pricing discipline, prevent passenger exploitation, and ensure that travellers with urgent needs—including senior citizens, students and patients—were not burdened by excessive fares during the disruption, the ministry added. Source: PTI

DGCA Grants Record 1,628 Commercial Pilot Licences in 2024, Government Says Read More »

India Emerges as Cornerstone of UK’s £40-Billion Global Education Push

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India has been identified as a priority market in the United Kingdom’s newly unveiled International Education Strategy, which sets out an ambition to grow Britain’s education exports to £40 billion a year by 2030. The strategy signals a clear shift in focus—from chasing international student numbers within the UK to expanding the global footprint of British education overseas. Under the plan, the UK government has constituted a new Education Sector Action Group that will work alongside the International Education Champion, higher education institutions, colleges and schools. The group’s mandate is to ease regulatory and trade barriers and help UK education providers scale up their presence in fast-growing international markets. At the same time, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced stricter compliance norms for institutions recruiting overseas students. These include tighter checks to ensure that those arriving in the UK are genuine students, along with the possibility of recruitment caps or even licence withdrawals for universities that fail to meet the new standards. Officials stressed that the revised approach removes numerical targets for international students in the UK and instead prioritises exporting UK education through overseas campuses, partnerships and transnational programmes. India features prominently among the UK’s focus countries, alongside Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. Emerging economies such as Brazil, Mexico and Pakistan have also been added to the strategy to widen the reach of British education globally. The International Education Champion, Professor Sir Steve Smith, will continue efforts to deepen academic and skills partnerships across these regions. UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the overseas expansion of British universities and colleges would help institutions diversify income streams, build long-term global partnerships and extend access to UK-quality education without students needing to travel abroad, while still supporting economic growth at home. The policy document highlights the University of Southampton’s Gurugram campus—the first foreign university campus established in India under the country’s revised UGC regulations—as a landmark development. It also references the joint announcement by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer in October 2025 regarding plans for nine additional UK university campuses in India. UK Trade Minister Chris Bryant described education exports as one of Britain’s strongest global success stories, driven by digital delivery, artificial intelligence and a growing focus on future-ready skills. Beyond commercial objectives, the strategy also underscores education’s role in enhancing the UK’s global influence, noting that British universities count more than 50 serving world leaders among their alumni. Government estimates suggest international students already contribute economic benefits worth around £560 per UK citizen. The strategy aims to build on this by working closely with the UK’s diplomatic network and the British Council to strengthen education systems worldwide. Officials reiterated that international student recruitment would continue to operate within the UK’s migration and visa framework, with firm enforcement to safeguard the integrity of the Graduate Route post-study work visa. Source: PTI

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Q3 Results: New Labour Codes Dent IT Majors’ Profits by ₹5,400 Crore

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India’s leading IT services firms reported a sharp one-time earnings impact in the December quarter as the implementation of the new labour codes forced changes in employee benefit provisioning. Collectively, the country’s top six IT companies—TCS, Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and LTIMindtree—absorbed a cumulative hit of around ₹5,400 crore, significantly weighing on their Q3 FY26 profit numbers. The new labour framework, which consolidates 29 existing laws, has altered the way companies account for benefits such as gratuity and leave encashment, resulting in substantial upfront provisions. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT exporter, faced the biggest impact. The company reported a statutory charge of ₹2,128 crore, leading to a 13.9% fall in net profit to ₹10,657 crore. CFO Samir Seksaria explained that the provision included roughly ₹1,800 crore towards gratuity and ₹300 crore for leave encashment. He also cautioned that the new codes are expected to reduce margins by 10–15 basis points on an ongoing basis. Infosys reported an exceptional one-time charge of ₹1,289 crore, which pushed its net profit down 2.2% year-on-year to ₹6,654 crore. CEO Salil Parekh said the labour codes would have a continuing annual margin impact of about 15 basis points. HCLTech recorded a one-off provision of ₹956 crore, dragging net profit down 11.2% to ₹4,076 crore. The company noted that, excluding this impact, profits would have registered growth. Wipro’s net profit declined 7% to ₹3,119 crore, affected by a ₹302.8 crore labour code-related charge along with restructuring costs. Tech Mahindra was the only major IT player to post profit growth during the quarter, with net profit rising 14% to ₹1,122 crore on improved margins. However, it too set aside around $30 million (approximately ₹272 crore) for compliance with the new wage codes. CFO Rohit Anand warned of a quarterly margin impact of about 20 basis points. LTIMindtree accounted for a one-time cost of ₹590 crore in Q3 due to the labour code implementation, adding to the sector-wide earnings pressure. Despite the near-term impact on profitability, IT leaders struck an optimistic note on business fundamentals, citing strong deal pipelines and accelerating demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Infosys posted an 8.9% rise in revenue to ₹45,479 crore in Q3 FY26 and raised its full-year revenue growth guidance to 3–3.5% in constant currency terms. The company reported large deal wins worth $4.8 billion during the quarter, with over half coming from new clients. Parekh highlighted strong momentum in AI adoption across customers, particularly in financial services, energy and utilities. Wipro’s revenue grew 5.5% year-on-year to ₹23,555.8 crore, supported by vendor consolidation and AI-led modernisation deals. CEO and MD Srini Pallia said enterprises globally are increasingly treating AI as a board-level priority, positioning the company well for future growth. Tech Mahindra secured new deals worth $1.096 billion in Q3, with CEO Mohit Joshi describing the demand environment as strong across regions and industry verticals. TCS reported a 4.86% increase in revenue to ₹67,087 crore. CEO K Krithivasan said AI and data-led services were key growth drivers, while COO Aarthi Subramanian noted that AI revenues rose 17% quarter-on-quarter to an annualised run rate of $1.8 billion. HCLTech posted a 13.3% rise in revenue to ₹33,872 crore, driven by a sharp sequential increase in advanced AI revenues and solid growth in engineering and R&D services. The company recorded $3 billion in net new bookings, up 43.5% year-on-year. CEO C Vijayakumar emphasised the firm’s focus on AI-powered offerings such as robotics, AI factories, custom silicon and large-scale digital transformation programmes. Hiring trends during the quarter were mixed. TCS reported a net reduction of over 11,000 employees, while Infosys and Wipro added 5,043 and 6,529 staff respectively. HCLTech indicated a strategic shift towards hiring “elite engineers,” offering significantly higher compensation to attract top AI talent. Source: PTI

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Spotify India Posts Profit in FY25 as Subscriptions Drive Turnaround

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Spotify’s India business returned to profitability in FY25, reporting a net profit of ₹75 crore, a sharp reversal from a net loss of ₹143 crore in the previous fiscal year. The turnaround was driven by strong revenue growth, led by a surge in paid subscriptions, along with a significant cut in advertising and marketing expenses, according to regulatory filings. Spotify India LLP recorded a 48% year-on-year increase in revenue from operations to ₹514 crore in FY25, up from ₹348 crore in FY24. Including other income, total revenue climbed 50% to ₹527 crore from ₹351 crore in the previous year. Subscription revenue emerged as the key growth engine, jumping 89% to ₹317 crore, as the music streaming industry increasingly nudged users towards paid plans by limiting free-tier consumption. In India, Spotify currently offers three subscription options: Lite at ₹139 per month, Standard priced at ₹99 per month for the first three months and ₹199 per month thereafter, and Platinum at ₹299 per month. Advertising revenue also showed healthy growth, rising 38.5% to ₹187 crore during the year. Spotify is estimated to have a user base of around 70–80 million in India. The company did not respond to queries seeking comment on the results. The Indian entity operates as a limited liability partnership, with Spotify AB holding a 99.99% stake and Spotify Ltd owning the remaining 0.01%. Improved profitability was further aided by strict cost management. Total expenditure fell to ₹451 crore in FY25 from ₹494 crore a year earlier. Advertising and marketing expenses declined sharply to ₹243 crore from ₹387 crore, delivering substantial savings. However, personnel costs rose to ₹100 crore from ₹85 crore due to higher hiring and compensation, while other expenses increased to ₹100 crore from ₹13 crore, partially offsetting the reduction in marketing spends. On the balance sheet front, total assets increased to ₹896 crore as of March 31, 2025, compared with ₹851 crore a year earlier. Cash and cash equivalents also rose to ₹634 crore from ₹599 crore, reflecting a stronger liquidity position. Despite the return to profitability, Spotify India continued to carry accumulated losses. Reserves and surplus remained negative at ₹1,221 crore at the end of FY25, though this improved from ₹1,312 crore in FY24. As per Spotify Technology SA’s global annual report, the India unit had net operating loss carry-forwards of €117 million as of December 2024. These losses can be offset against future taxable profits, subject to applicable laws and regulations. Source: Economic Times

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IIT Delhi Introduces Executive Programme in Healthcare Entrepreneurship and Management

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The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has rolled out a new executive programme focused on healthcare entrepreneurship and management, aimed at nurturing professionals who can drive innovation in India’s rapidly evolving healthcare sector. The programme will be conducted under IIT Delhi’s Continuing Education Programme (CEP), a statutory body authorised to run certificate courses and award credentials. According to IIT Delhi, the initiative is designed to equip participants with the skills and mindset required to navigate and shape the future of healthcare innovation. Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree, while prior professional experience or exposure to projects in related domains will be considered an added advantage. The five-month programme will be delivered through live online classes held on weekends, complemented by dedicated hours for project work. The institute noted that India’s healthcare ecosystem is witnessing transformative changes, driven by the rise of digital health solutions, medical devices, artificial intelligence–enabled diagnostics, wearable technologies and a stronger focus on patient-centric care. However, persistent challenges such as fragmented service delivery, regulatory hurdles, limited commercialisation avenues and the demand for cross-disciplinary leadership continue to affect the sector. Against this backdrop, the executive programme aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the entire healthcare innovation lifecycle. Through interactive online sessions and guided projects, participants will learn how to identify healthcare challenges and translate them into viable, market-ready solutions using design thinking, prototyping, testing and sound commercial strategies. The programme will be anchored by IIT Delhi’s Centre for Biomedical Engineering and supported by clinical expertise from specialists at AIIMS Delhi. Faculty members including Dr Arnab Chanda and Dr Biswarup Mukherjee will lead the sessions, integrating engineering, clinical practice, management and entrepreneurship to foster practical and scalable healthcare innovations. A major feature of the course is its strong emphasis on project-based learning. Participants will work on real-world healthcare problems, developing deployable prototypes with the help of structured mentoring, peer collaboration and continuous expert feedback. On successful completion, learners will receive an e-certificate from CEP, IIT Delhi, and gain access to a network of IIT Delhi faculty, AIIMS clinicians and industry professionals, enhancing both learning outcomes and professional opportunities. Source: Indian Express

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NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Retires After 27 Years of Distinguished Service

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Veteran NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has officially retired from the US space agency, bringing to a close an extraordinary 27-year career in human spaceflight. Her retirement, which took effect on the 27th of last month, was confirmed by NASA in an announcement issued today. In a statement, NASA highlighted Williams’ exceptional achievements, noting that she flew on three missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and spent a cumulative 608 days in space—the second-highest total for any NASA astronaut. She also carried out nine spacewalks, logging more than 62 hours outside the station, a record for the most spacewalking time by a woman. Among her many firsts, Williams also became the first astronaut to run a marathon while in orbit. Williams, who is of Indian origin, made her space debut in 2006 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. She later went on to command the ISS during Expedition 33. Her final mission took place during 2024–2025, when she flew aboard Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX Crew-9, serving as commander of Expedition 72. Beyond her time in orbit, Williams played a key role in several ground-based assignments at NASA. Her contributions included astronaut training, mission operations in Russia, and preparing crews for upcoming lunar exploration missions. A former US Navy captain, she has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours across helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Commending her legacy, NASA described Sunita Williams as a pioneer in space exploration whose leadership, dedication and achievements have inspired generations and significantly advanced scientific discovery and human spaceflight. Source: newsonair

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JioHotstar Revises Super & Premium Subscription Prices, Introduces Monthly Plans

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JioHotstar has announced a revision in its subscription pricing, increasing rates for its Super and Premium tiers while rolling out monthly plans across all categories. The new pricing framework will come into effect from January 28, 2026. Under the updated structure, quarterly and annual plans for Super and Premium users will cost more, reflecting changing viewing habits. According to the platform, a growing number of users are shifting towards connected TVs and multi-device viewing, leading to a sharp rise in large-screen consumption over the past year. While Mobile plan users will see no change in their quarterly and annual prices, higher-tier subscribers will pay more for longer-term packs. The Premium annual plan has been increased from ₹1,499 to ₹2,199, and the Super annual plan has gone up from ₹899 to ₹1,099. Quarterly prices for both tiers have also been revised upward. At the same time, JioHotstar has introduced monthly entry-level plans, starting at ₹79 for Mobile users, aimed at first-time and short-term viewers seeking flexibility. Additionally, Hollywood content will now be included for new Super and Premium subscribers, while Mobile users can access international titles through a paid add-on. Existing subscribers will continue at their current rates as long as auto-renewal remains enabled. JioHotstar currently boasts over one billion downloads on Google Play and reaches more than 450 million monthly active users across India. Commenting on the change, Sushant Sreeram, Head – SVOD Business & CMO, JioStar, said the revised pricing aligns with evolving audience preferences. He noted that the update is designed to offer greater choice and flexibility, while supporting continued investment in premium content, live sports, and a high-quality streaming experience at scale. Source: Economic Times

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Wipro Cuts FY26 Fresher Hiring Outlook After Soft Q3 Performance

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Wipro has scaled back its fresher recruitment plans for the ongoing financial year FY26, now expecting to hire 7,500–8,000 graduates, compared to its earlier guidance of 10,000–12,000. The revision follows a subdued performance in the third quarter, during which the IT major onboarded only around 400 freshers. Addressing analysts during the company’s Q3 earnings call, Saurabh Govil, Chief Human Resources Officer at Wipro, said campus hiring remained slow in the quarter, prompting the company to reassess its annual intake target. Despite the moderation, Wipro’s cumulative fresher hiring for the year so far has crossed 5,000. While overall volume hiring has eased, the company is sharpening its focus on AI and deep-tech talent. Wipro has partnered with universities to set up nearly 50 Centres of Excellence, where it co-develops specialised curricula in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data analytics, and recruits students trained through these programmes. The company is also offering premiums for candidates with relevant client-facing experience and investing heavily in upskilling existing employees through certifications. During the October–December quarter, Wipro added 6,529 employees, taking its total workforce to 2,42,021. The headcount increase was largely due to the integration of the Harman DTS acquisition and the rebadging of staff from a major deal signed in the previous fiscal year. On compensation, Wipro said decisions on salary hikes are still under consideration. Financially, the company reported a 7% year-on-year drop in consolidated net profit to ₹3,119 crore in Q3 FY26, impacted by one-time restructuring costs and the implementation of labour codes. Revenue from operations, however, grew 5.5% to ₹23,555.8 crore, up from ₹22,318.8 crore in the same quarter last year. Source: PTI  

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Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Warns Against Ethylene Glycol–Adulterated Cough Syrup

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The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Drugs Control has issued a public alert cautioning citizens against the purchase, sale, or use of a specific batch of Almont-Kid Syrup after laboratory tests confirmed contamination with ethylene glycol, a highly toxic chemical. In the interest of public safety, the directorate has banned Almont-Kid Syrup (Levocetrizine Dihydrochloride and Montelukast Sodium Syrup), Batch No. AL-24002, manufactured in January 2025 and expiring in December 2026. The product is manufactured by Tridus Remedies, Vaishali, Bihar. Authorities have warned that consumption of this adulterated syrup poses serious health risks. Ethylene glycol is a poisonous substance that can lead to severe complications such as acute kidney failure and even death if ingested. Following the alert, all retailers, distributors, hospitals, and pharmacies across Tamil Nadu have been instructed to immediately withdraw the affected batch from circulation and report any instances of supply or sale. Consumers have been advised to verify batch details before use and strictly avoid consuming the identified product. Anyone in possession of the syrup is urged to hand it over to authorities for safe disposal. Healthcare professionals have also been asked to remain vigilant and watch for symptoms of ethylene glycol poisoning in patients who may have consumed the syrup. Any adverse reactions or suspected cases should be reported promptly to the Directorate of Drugs Control. To curb further distribution, intensified inspections and surveillance are being carried out at medical stores and healthcare facilities across the State. For assistance or to report concerns, consumers can contact the directorate via WhatsApp at 94458 65400. Source: The Hindu

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UP Board to Make Vocational Education Mandatory for Classes 9 and 11 from 2026

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The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) has announced that vocational education will become a compulsory part of the curriculum for students of Classes 9 and 11 starting from the academic year 2026. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the link between school education and employability by introducing skill-based, job-oriented learning at an early stage. UP Board Secretary Bhagwati Singh said that subject committees have approved and submitted curricula for various vocational trades, including information technology and allied sectors, electronics, apparel, and beauty and wellness. These employment-focused courses were developed through multiple rounds of deliberations by subject experts, under the guidance of Additional Secretary Satyendra Kumar Singh and Skand Shukla. The approved curricula emphasize practical training, current technological requirements, and industry expectations to enhance students’ employability. By integrating hands-on and competency-based learning, the move aligns with the objectives of the National Education Policy and aims to promote skill development, self-reliance, and vocational proficiency among students. Singh added that work is underway to develop curricula for additional vocational trades. The Central Institute of Vocational Education, Bhopal, supported the course design process, with contributions from experts including Sanjeev Kumar Arya, Virendra Nath Shukla, Dr Aditi Goswami, Dr Dilip Singh, and Dr Avinash Pandey. Source: Indian Express

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