The Times of India

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers addressed recent flight disruptions. He stated the airline failed customers for three days but stressed this should not overshadow 20 years of legacy. Operations stabilized within nine days. The DGCA imposed penalties following widespread cancellations and delays affecting over three lakh passengers. IndiGo carried 124 million passengers last year, operating over 2,200 flights daily.

The rupee hit a record low of 92.00 against the US dollar on Thursday morning due to sustained greenback demand and a cautious global market. Heightened geopolitical tensions and rising crude oil prices, exacerbated by US warnings to Iran, are pressuring emerging market currencies. Domestic equities also opened lower, reflecting investor caution.

The FTA demonstrates Indias willingness to move beyond its comfort zone by committing to deep market access, predictable rules, and modern trade disciplines, while still protecting sensitive sectors such as dairy and select agricultural products.

Dismissing a batch of appeals filed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and its concessionaire, a Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, along with Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice N.V. Anjaria, upheld the Kerala High Courts decision to suspend toll collection for four weeks on a congested stretch of National Highway between Ernakulam and Mannuthy.

Congress urged DMK to begin delayed seat-sharing talks for the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections during a meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Kanimozhi. While expressing respect, the DMK was encouraged to engage with the Congress committee, which has been awaiting discussions for two months. The Congress has reportedly proposed 41 seats, a demand the DMK is hesitant to meet.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmarks, opened in red on Thursday on weak global cues. While Nifty50 went below 25,300, BSE Sensex was down almost 300 points.

Commerce minister Piyush Goyal fiercely defended the India-EU free trade agreement, calling it a landmark win-win deal. He dismissed Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's criticisms as politically motivated and disconnected from economic realities, highlighting the pact's potential for growth and employment. Goyal emphasized proactive engagement on sensitive issues like CBAM and intellectual property.

Turkiye cannot leverage tariff concessions under the new India-EU free trade agreement for its exports to India. Officials clarified that the pact strictly applies to goods originating within the EU, meaning Turkish products, even if shipped via EU ports, do not qualify for preferential treatment.

Top stock market recommendations: According to Aakash K Hindocha, Deputy Vice President - WM Research, Nuvama Professional Clients Group, the top buy calls for today are: Coal India, Jindal Steel, and HCL Technologies. Heres his view on Nifty, Bank Nifty, and the top stock picks for January 29, 2026:

A patient advocacy group has urged the Indian government to publicly disclose the full text of the EU free trade agreement before signing. They caution that the pact's strong intellectual property provisions could compromise access to affordable medicines, impacting millions globally who rely on Indian generic production.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said that India still needs to address outstanding US concerns over its continued purchases of Russian crude if it hopes to obtain relief from US tariffs.

Bangladeshs foreign affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said that there was no reason for India to recall the family members of its diplomats from Dhaka. This comes after New Delhi cited precautionary safety concerns amid rising extremist activity ahead of the countrys general elections scheduled for February 2026.

The India-US trade deal aims to more than double two way trade from the current level of $191 billion to $500 billion by 2030. Initial discussions on the agreement were announced during Prime Minister Modis visit to Washington in February 2025.

Indian markets are buzzing as the S&P 500 crossed 7,000 for the first time, fueled by AI optimism and strong tech earnings. Investors are betting on future monetary easing, with Nvidia leading the charge. Gold prices also hit new highs, while overseas markets showed mixed performance.

Dust storms from western India are carrying airborne bacteria, including pathogens linked to respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal illnesses, to Himalayan hilltops. Researchers found these microbes mix with locally sourced pollutants, altering the high-altitude atmospheric microbiome and posing new health risks to vulnerable populations.

Pallavi Aiyar is the author of eight books, including Smoke and Mirrors, Punjabi Parmesan and Babies and Bylines. Her latest work is Travels in the Other Place: Pursuing the Self in Eight Acts.

Maharashtra is mourning Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's passing in a plane crash with three days of state mourning. Banks are not officially closed due to this.

A 2024 video has resurfaced in which Ajit Pawar shared his mid-air scare experience with Devendra Fadnavis and Uday Samant. In the resurfaced video, the three ministers were flying form Nagpur to Gadchiroli to attend the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a steel plant. Addressing the gathering after their arrival, Pawar narrated how the helicopter entered thick cloud cover, leaving no visibility outside.