India in 2 Minutes for the Week of May 1

Airlines warn of flight cuts as war drives up fuel costs

India’s major airlines have warned they may suspend flights unless the government lowers aviation turbine fuel prices.

The Federation of Indian Airlines, representing IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet, said the industry was under severe stress due to soaring fuel costs linked to the war. Airlines have sought Covid-era fuel price caps and tax relief.

Veteran politician Dinesh Trivedi named envoy to Bangladesh

India has appointed veteran politician Dinesh Trivedi as its next High Commissioner to Bangladesh, signalling efforts to reset ties after recent strains.

Mr Trivedi, a former railway and health minister, is a rare non-diplomat appointee.

His posting comes as New Delhi seeks to rebuild trust with Dhaka amid growing Chinese influence in the region.

BJP gains in Rajya Sabha after AAP MPs defect

The Bharatiya Janata Party has strengthened its position in the Rajya Sabha after seven Aam Aadmi Party lawmakers defected to the party.

The defectors include former cricketer Harbhajan Singh and prominent leader Raghav Chadha.

The move leaves AAP with just three seats in the Upper House, while the BJP now has 113 members, easing the ruling alliance’s legislative challenges.

Power demand hits record

India’s electricity demand touched a record 256 gigawatts on April 25 as severe heatwaves drove up use of air-conditioners and cooling appliances.

Solar and coal capacity helped meet daytime demand, but evening shortages remain a concern as solar generation drops and gas supplies are affected by the Middle East war.

47 Maoists surrender in Telangana

Police in Telangana said 47 Maoist rebels surrendered on April 25, nearly a month after India declared itself free of the Naxalite insurgency.

Authorities said most remaining key underground leaders had been “neutralised”.

The Maoist rebellion, which began in 1967, claimed more than 12,000 lives before being weakened in recent years.

Three killed in Manipur clashes

Three people were killed in fresh gun battles between rival ethnic groups in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, police said on April 24.

The state has witnessed recurring violence between Meitei and Kuki communities for nearly three years, leaving more than 250 dead.

Security has been strengthened in the area to prevent further escalation.

Anant Ambani offers home for Colombia hippos

Billionaire Anant Ambani has offered to relocate 80 hippos descended from animals introduced by drug lord Pablo Escobar in Colombia.

He requested the Colombian government not to kill the animals and proposed moving them to Vantara, his wildlife rescue centre in Gujarat, which already houses elephants, tigers, lions, leopards and crocodiles.

Five injured after Swiss flight aborts take-off

A Swiss International flight from Delhi to Zurich aborted take-off early on April 26 after an engine issue. The airline said four passengers and one crew member were injured during a precautionary evacuation.

The Airbus A330 was carrying 228 passengers, four infants and 13 crew members. A task force has been set up to investigate.

Modi opens Ganga Expressway

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 594km Ganga Expressway on April 29, linking Meerut to Prayagraj across 12 Uttar Pradesh districts.

Built at about Rs36,230 crore (S$4.89 billion), the six-lane access-controlled corridor is expected to cut travel time, boost logistics, improve agricultural marketing and support industrial development across the state.

Dawood aide deported to India

Salim Dola, a key aide of gangster Dawood Ibrahim and alleged drug kingpin, was deported to India on April 28 after being detained in Istanbul.

He was brought to Delhi by special aircraft and taken into custody for questioning.

Authorities say his network ran narcotics operations worth thousands of crores annually, dealing a major blow to D-Company.

Sonam Raghuvanshi gets bail

A Shillong court granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, citing procedural lapses in her arrest and delays in trial.

She is accused of conspiring to kill her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in 2025. The charges remain, and she must cooperate with the trial.

Aadhaar not proof of birth date

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has clarified that the Aadhaar card can be used as proof of identity, but not as valid proof of date of birth.

In case of any dispute over the date of birth, the Aadhaar holder must provide separate supporting documents.

The clarification follows court rulings and notes that the Aadhaar Act does not recognise it as birth proof.

Bombay High Court tells 90-year-old to wait

The Bombay High Court has deferred a 90-year-old woman’s defamation case to a date after 2046, calling it a “battle of egos” that clogged the judicial system.

The case, filed in 2017, sought Rs20 crore (S$3.22 million) compensation over alleged harassment during a housing society meeting. The court said urgent matters deserved priority.

US returns 657 stolen artefacts to India

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in the United States has returned 657 antiquities worth nearly US$14 million (S$17.9) to India after investigations into global trafficking networks.

District Attorney Alvin L Bragg Jr said the artefacts were linked to traffickers including Subhash Kapoor and Nancy Wiener, highlighting the large-scale plunder of India’s cultural heritage, reported India Today.

Wedding DJ noise blamed for chicken deaths

Police in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have registered a case after 140 chickens reportedly died during a wedding procession on April 25.

Poultry farm owner Sabir Ali from Dariyapur village alleged loud DJ music caused panic among the birds.

Authorities have booked the DJ operator Kavi Yadav and launched an investigation to determine if excessive noise levels triggered the deaths.