The post New Protocol: All Six Stanzas of Vande Mataram Mandatory Before National Anthem appeared first on The Edge Media.
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For the first time, the Ministry has defined a specific protocol for singing “Vande Mataram”. These rules apply to official programs such as the arrival of the President, the hoisting of the National Flag, and speeches by Governors.
In such instances, all six stanzas of the National Song, which have a total duration of three minutes and ten seconds, must be performed. This order was officially released on January 28.
The guidelines further state that the school day must begin with the singing of the National Song. The Ministry emphasized that whenever the National Song is played, everyone present is required to stand in an attentive posture to show respect. However, an exception is made for cinema or documentaries; if the National Song is played as part of a film or newsreel, the audience is not expected to stand.
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]]>The post Opposition Moves No-Confidence Motion Against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>The opposition has leveled serious allegations against the Speaker, primarily focusing on the suppression of the Leader of the Opposition’s voice during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address and the forced suspension of eight members. In response to these developments, sources indicate that Om Birla has decided on ethical grounds not to occupy the Speaker’s chair until the matter is resolved.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat has confirmed that proceedings will follow established rules. The notice was handed over to Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh by a delegation including Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi, Chief Whip K. Suresh, and MP Mohammad Javed, among others. While members from the Congress, SP, DMK, and RJD have signed the notice, notable absences include the signatures of Rahul Gandhi and members of the TMC.
Four Major Allegations by the Opposition:
* February 2: Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was allegedly prevented from completing his speech during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.
* February 3: Eight MPs were suspended for the remainder of the session, a move the opposition describes as punishment for exercising democratic rights.
* Nishikant Dubey Case: The notice mentions objectionable remarks made against former Prime Ministers without naming Nishikant Dubey.
* Misuse of Office: The opposition rejected the Speaker’s claim that Congress members intended to cause an “untoward incident” near the Prime Minister’s seat, calling such accusations a blatant misuse of a constitutional position.
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]]>The post India Dismisses Epstein Files Reference to PM Modi With Strong Rebuttal appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government had taken note of reports referring to an email from the so-called Epstein files that mentioned the prime minister and his visit to Israel. He clarified that while Prime Minister Modi did undertake an official visit to Israel in July 2017, any other suggestion or implication in the email was entirely without merit.
Jaiswal stated that apart from the factual reference to the official visit, the remaining content of the email was merely reckless conjecture by a convicted criminal and should be outrightly rejected. He underlined that such insinuations carry no credibility and should not be taken seriously.
The email in question is part of a large set of investigative documents released by the United States Justice Department on Friday. These materials were made public in compliance with an American law passed by the US Congress.
According to officials, the latest release includes nearly 3.5 million pages of documents along with around 2,000 videos related to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein. The Indian government has reiterated that any attempt to draw connections involving its leadership from such material is completely unfounded.
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]]>The post EU Suspends Trade Negotiations Following Threats from Trump appeared first on The Edge Media.
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This move marks a significant cooling of relations between the long-standing allies, as European leaders push back against what they perceive as aggressive American posturing regarding Brexit and transatlantic commerce.
In a separate development highlighted in the report, Indian Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw asserted that India is currently leading the global stage in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Speaking on India’s technological trajectory, Vaishnaw emphasized that the nation is no longer just a participant but a frontrunner in shaping the future of AI and digital infrastructure.
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]]>The post Luxury EV Penetration Slips As ICE Cars Gain Cost Advantage Under GST 2.0 appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>The trend is also being seen in the mass market, though the impact is sharper among luxury buyers considering entry segment vehicles.
Mercedes Benz India managing director and chief executive officer Santosh Iyer said EV penetration fell by two to three percentage points across both mass market and luxury segments during October and November 2025, primarily due to ICE vehicles delivering better ownership economics. He added that a change in the cost equation could again alter EV adoption trends.
Iyer explained that the major fluctuation has occurred in the entry luxury EV category, while demand for top end electric models has remained relatively stable. He noted that price sensitivity is lower in higher end luxury vehicles, which has helped EVs retain traction in that segment. For Mercedes Benz India, electric vehicles account for eight per cent of overall sales, but in models priced above Rs 1.5 crore, EV penetration rises to 20 per cent.
BMW Group India president and chief executive officer Hardeep Singh Brar said that while GST 2.0 has made the company’s ICE portfolio more attractive, demand for electric vehicles continues to grow strongly. He said customers are increasingly influenced by factors such as sustainability, lower running costs, and advanced technology, rather than pricing alone.
Brar added that BMW passed on the full benefit of GST 2.0 to customers, resulting in an average price reduction of 6.7 per cent across its ICE range. Buyers also benefited from special financing schemes under BMW Smart Finance. He said that between September and November, BMW’s ICE vehicle sales recorded double digit year on year growth, while sales of BMW and MINI electric models surged by more than 130 per cent over the same period.
According to Brar, electric vehicles now make up 21 per cent of BMW’s total sales in India, with the company aiming to increase this share to 30 per cent by 2030.
Audi India brand director Balbir Singh Dhillon offered a different perspective, saying the market is still adjusting to the GST 2.0 framework and its full impact will unfold over the next year. He said Audi’s electric portfolio has continued to perform steadily, reflecting increasing acceptance of luxury EVs among Indian consumers.
Dhillon noted that demand for the Audi e tron range has remained consistent, with current allocations sold out under the company’s global planning cycle. Looking ahead, he said Audi remains cautiously optimistic about a more balanced demand environment in 2026 as the market adapts to revised taxation, policy stability improves, and macroeconomic conditions become clearer.
Under the GST 2.0 regime implemented in September last year, petrol, LPG, and CNG vehicles with engine capacity below 1,200 cc and length not exceeding 4,000 mm, along with diesel vehicles up to 1,500 cc and 4,000 mm in length, were brought under the 18 per cent GST slab, down from 28 per cent plus cess. In contrast, vehicles exceeding 1,200 cc and longer than 4,000 mm were placed in the 40 per cent GST bracket, compared to the earlier structure of 28 per cent GST plus cess ranging between 15 and 22 per cent.
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]]>The post Intel Partners with Tata Group to Manufacture Semiconductors in India for Local Market appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>The agreement outlines the plans for both companies to explore the rapid scaling of tailored AI PC solutions, which are expected to cater to both consumer and enterprise markets in India. With India projected to be among the top five markets for semiconductors by 2030, the collaboration marks a significant step towards strengthening the country’s semiconductor ecosystem.
According to the official statement from Tata Group, Intel and Tata plan to explore semiconductor manufacturing and packaging at Tata Electronics’ upcoming facilities in Dholera, Gujarat, and Assam. These facilities will focus on Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) and advanced packaging for Intel products aimed at local markets.
Tata Group is in the process of establishing a chip manufacturing plant in Dholera and a semiconductor assembly and packaging plant in Assam, with a total investment of Rs 1.18 lakh crore.
Intel’s CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, expressed excitement over the collaboration, saying, “We see this as a tremendous opportunity to collaborate with Tata to rapidly scale in one of the world’s fastest-growing compute markets, driven by rising PC demand and the rapid adoption of AI across India.”
The partnership aims to leverage Intel’s AI compute reference designs and Tata Electronics’ advanced Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) capabilities. The collaboration will also benefit from Tata Group’s broad access to the Indian market, ensuring widespread availability of these next-gen semiconductor solutions.
Tata Sons Chairman, N Chandrasekaran, highlighted the significance of the alliance, stating, “We are excited to collaborate with Intel, and this strategic alliance will accelerate our efforts. Together, we will drive an expanded technology ecosystem and deliver leading semiconductor and system solutions, positioning us well to capture the large and growing AI opportunity.”
The collaboration is set to play a pivotal role in the future of India’s semiconductor and AI industries, further boosting the country’s standing in the global tech market.
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]]>The post Over 400 IndiGo Flights Cancelled as Operational Crisis Deepens Despite Regulatory Relief appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>At Bengaluru airport alone, 124 flights were scrapped, while Mumbai recorded 109 cancellations. Delhi saw 106 flights grounded, and Hyderabad reported 66 cancellations, creating widespread travel chaos at some of the country’s busiest aviation hubs.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, who addressed passengers through a one-way video message on Friday after days of silence, apologised for the inconvenience and said the airline expected fewer than 1,000 cancellations on Saturday, signalling a slight improvement but far from normal operations.
Regulatory Relief Sparks Safety Debate
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had granted IndiGo temporary relaxations to the revised Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms, which included rolling back the extended night-duty window (12 am–6 am) to the earlier 12 am–5 am, and raising the limit on night landings for pilots from two to six. The relief was intended to ease crew shortages and stabilise operations.
However, the move has drawn a sharp response from the Airlines’ Pilots Association (ALPA) India, which labelled the DGCA’s decision as “unsafe” and “selective.” The body warned that diluting fatigue-management standards “places millions of passengers at heightened risk” and undermines the scientific basis of the norms mandated by the Delhi High Court.
Following a meeting with pilot unions on December 5, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that implementation of the revised FDTL regulations would be put on hold. ALPA India criticised the decision, stating that suspending the norms contradicts court directives and delays critical fatigue protections for cockpit crew.
Long-Standing Opposition to New Duty-Time Rules
IndiGo was among the first airlines to resist the new FDTL guidelines introduced in early 2024, arguing that carriers needed more time to adapt due to increased crew requirements. Other domestic airlines, including Air India, initially pushed back as well, but the DGCA eventually rolled out the rules in phases after judicial intervention.
The first phase took effect in July, while the second—limiting pilots to two night landings per duty cycle—was enforced from November 1, contributing to manpower shortages and operational strain for several airlines.
As IndiGo grapples with stabilising its schedule, passengers across key metros continue to face long queues, last-minute changes, and widespread uncertainty—highlighting the broader challenges of balancing operational demands with aviation safety standards in India’s fast-growing aviation market.
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]]>The post IndiGo’s Operational Turmoil Pulls Down InterGlobe Aviation Shares appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>read also: Mass Flight Cancellations by IndiGo Trigger Chaos at Hyderabad Airport
The company’s stock price has shed more than 7% on the BSE during the last four trading sessions. On Friday, the share price slipped by 1.22% to close at Rs 5,371.30 after touching an intraday low of Rs 5,266. On the NSE, the stock ended the day 1.27% lower at Rs 5,367.50, extending its total four-day decline to over 7%.
Since December 1, InterGlobe Aviation’s market capitalisation has dropped by roughly Rs 16,190 crore, reducing its valuation to around Rs 2.07 lakh crore.
The wider aviation network in India remained disrupted for a fourth consecutive day on Friday as IndiGo, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of domestic air traffic, cancelled more than one thousand flights. All departures from New Delhi were halted at one point, leaving passengers without clear rebooking options and causing significant missed events and lost connections.
The turmoil was triggered by IndiGo’s inability to adequately prepare for new pilot duty-time norms. These rules increase the weekly rest requirement for pilots from 36 to 48 hours and restrict 9 times landings to 2 per week instead of 6. IndiGo acknowledged that the large-scale cancellations were the result of planning errors and misjudgment.
Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers stated on Friday that the airline expects operations to stabilise between December 10 and December 15.
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]]>The post Why Modi Keeps Targeting the Congress Despite Its Decline? appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>Modi’s fiercest verbal attacks have long been reserved for the Congress and especially for Rahul Gandhi, a pattern that began well before he became prime minister. What remains puzzling is? Why the Congress continues to be singled out, even after suffering repeated electoral blows?
During the Bihar election season and the vote count, two moments drew attention because the intensity of his criticism did not match the occasion. The first came last Friday, when counting trends placed the National Democratic Alliance firmly ahead while the Mahagathbandhan collapsed, with the Congress touching a new low in the state. The BJP headquarters in Delhi was set for celebration, yet Modi chose the moment to escalate his critique of the Congress leadership.
He declared that the Congress had transformed into what he called the Muslim League Maoist Congress. He accused its leaders of embracing negative politics and hinted at the possibility of another major internal split. The idea of Congress being influenced by urban Maoists had earlier been voiced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while the Muslim League reference had been made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Modi fused these accusations into a single sweeping charge.
After the 2014 Lok Sabha debacle, Sonia Gandhi had accepted that the party was widely seen as pro Muslim, suggesting that Hindu voters had distanced themselves. Modi’s new label combined two of the most damaging political portrayals in modern India and applied them to the Congress.
Modi’s second major attack in three days came during the Ramnath Goenka Lecture in New Delhi, an event meant to honour the founder of a publication known for its independent stance. While discussing his government’s achievements, Modi also outlined what he believes is the current electoral mantra. He urged all state governments, regardless of ideology, to focus on development, business friendliness, and investment climate, arguing that such priorities determine political futures
He then returned to the Congress with a sharper edge, claiming that while Maoist violence in the country was receding, it was gaining ground inside the Congress. He accused the party of nurturing Maoist ideology, supporting forces that reject the Constitution, and fostering urban Naxal sympathisers within major institutions. According to him, those who entered the party a decade ago had now turned it into a Muslim League Maoist Congress that had allegedly abandoned national interest and become a threat to national unity.
Within three days, Modi’s rhetoric toward the Congress shifted from branding to allegations of betrayal and jeopardising national cohesion. This raises unavoidable questions about evidence and why no legal action accompanies such serious claims. Yet the broader motive seems clearer. The sharpened criticism is part of a deliberate political strategy designed to shape public perception well ahead of 2029.
Modi himself hinted at this strategy in his victory address when he spoke of a potential major division within the Congress. Despite setbacks, the Congress remains the only party with a nationwide footprint capable of challenging him. Its performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections showed resilience, signalling that it is weakened but not defeated. Modi’s intensified narrative appears aimed at ensuring that by the next national election, the Congress becomes irrelevant.
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]]>The post India to Cut Russian Oil Imports After New US Sanctions appeared first on The Edge Media.
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Major Refiners to Follow Sanction Rules
Several Indian refiners responsible for more than half of the nation’s Russian crude imports are preparing to comply with the new sanctions targeting Moscow’s top oil exporters. These refineries process the crude into fuels such as petrol and diesel. Analysts believe this compliance will lead to a temporary fall in Russian oil arrivals starting December.
Decline Expected in December, Gradual Recovery by 2026
Maritime intelligence firm Kpler reported that Russian crude shipments to India will see a steep drop in December 2025. However, a slow recovery is expected in early 2026 as intermediaries and alternative trade routes develop. Reliance Industries Ltd, one of India’s largest importers with long-term contracts with Rosneft, plans to stop receiving Russian oil. Two state-run refiners have also confirmed suspension of imports.
Key Refiners Suspend Russian Crude Imports
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd and HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd—a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Mittal Energy—have both decided to halt future Russian oil purchases. Together with Reliance Industries, these companies made up over half of the 1.8 million barrels of Russian crude imported by India in the first half of 2025.
Some Imports to Continue Through Limited Channels
Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery, partially owned by Rosneft and already under European Union sanctions, is expected to continue processing Russian crude. According to Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst at Kpler, Russia was India’s largest oil supplier in October, followed by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Before the sanctions, Russian exports to India averaged between 1.6 and 1.8 million barrels per day.
Complex Trade Routes Ahead
After October 21, refiners began cutting imports to avoid risks related to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations. Experts predict that Russian oil will not vanish from India’s market but will move through more complex and indirect logistics systems in the future.
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