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IndiGo is experiencing significant flight delays and cancellations, impacting nearly two out of three domestic passengers. This disruption stems from a critical crew shortage following the implementation of new flight duty time limitations. The airline, known for its punctuality, has seen its on-time performance plummet, causing widespread inconvenience during the peak travel season.

Silver price today: Silver prices surged to a new high of Rs 1,84,727 per kilogram on Wednesday, driven by a weakening rupee and strong international market trends. Gold futures also climbed significantly, with both precious metals benefiting from expectations of a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut next week.

India's rupee hit a historic low of 90.30 against the US dollar, yet the government remains unconcerned. Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran stated the depreciation hasn't impacted inflation or exports, expressing optimism for a recovery next year. Factors like FII outflows and dollar demand are influencing the currency's slide.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra labelled Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's Nehru-Babri Masjid remark a 'distraction' from pressing public issues. Singh alleged Nehru wanted government funds for the mosque, contrasting it with Sardar Patel's opposition and secularism. Rahul Gandhi declined comment. Singh's statement precedes the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary.

The Supreme Court allowed a pregnant woman and her child to enter India on humanitarian grounds after their deportation to Bangladesh. The court directed the West Bengal government to provide care and medical support, including delivery, for the woman. This decision follows the Centre's challenge to a Calcutta High Court order that deemed the deportation illegal.

Bengaluru's C-CAMP has launched a dedicated Centre of Excellence for climate action, a significant step into climate biotechnology. Partnering with Ashraya Hastha Trust, the initiative will champion biological solutions for reducing emissions and sequestering carbon. Karnataka's health minister inaugurated the centre, emphasizing the critical links between climate, health, and livelihoods, and pledging state support for practical, science-led climate responses.

Investors should focus on businesses that consistently grow sales and profits over the long term. Avoid stocks based on tips or short-term hype. Look for understandable businesses with steady growth, good profitability, reasonable debt, and positive cash flow. Strong promoter behavior and governance are crucial. Quality of the business comes before price.

Russian President Putin's India visit is crucial for trade dynamics amidst US pressure. India's energy security is now heavily reliant on discounted Russian crude, reshaping its procurement patterns. The visit aims to manage dependence in a fractured world, focusing on securing fuel, weapons, and payments.

Gold prices are soaring domestically and internationally, driven by a weakening rupee and anticipation of US monetary easing. Local rates jumped significantly as the rupee hit an all-time low. Globally, gold and silver futures firmed up, with investors betting on a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut next week, boosting confidence in the precious metal.

Nomura forecasts a potential 13% upside for the Nifty in 2026, projecting it to reach 29,300. This optimism stems from improving domestic and global conditions, including calmer geopolitics and stable macros. The brokerage also identified its top stock picks, anticipating a cyclical recovery in economic and corporate earnings growth.

Raipur is gearing up for a grand Sahitya Utsav from January 23-25, coinciding with Chhattisgarh's silver jubilee. Over a hundred literary figures will converge for this event, designed to boost the state's literary profile and encourage reading.

Flight operations faced significant disruptions Wednesday morning as check-in systems at multiple airports simultaneously failed. Airlines, including IndiGo and Air India Express, resorted to manual procedures, leading to flight delays. Passengers were informed of a global Microsoft Windows service outage impacting airport IT systems.

The Indian rupee has fallen below Rs 90 to the US dollar for the first time, signaling a shift in economic perception and impacting households. This depreciation, driven by trade tensions, investor exodus, and an RBI policy shift, makes imports costlier and affects education and travel expenses for citizens.

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury responded to a potential privilege motion for bringing a dog to Parliament with a bark, questioning the outrage over the animal while other pressing issues are ignored. She asserted there's no rule against bringing pets and vowed to continue caring for animals, suggesting the eal dogs are in Parliament.

Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, believed the mind shapes experience, enabling inner strength amidst chaos. His quote from Meditations emphasizes that distress stems from our judgment of external events, not the events themselves. This Stoic wisdom offers liberation by placing control within us, allowing us to choose our internal response to any circumstance.

Asian markets saw mixed trading, mirroring Wall Street's gains but tempered by anticipation of key US economic data and the Federal Reserve's upcoming meeting. Investors await crucial inflation and jobs figures, with a December rate cut widely expected. Strong US Black Friday sales offered some market cheer, while Bitcoin rebounded after a recent dip.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar showcased unity after a second breakfast meeting, declaring they would govern together. This display follows a directive from the Congress high command to project solidarity ahead of the Belagavi legislature session, aiming to quell internal power tussle.

Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak shared an AI-generated video portraying PM Narendra Modi as a chaiwala at an international summit, referencing his past. The BJP reacted furiously, accusing the Congress of mocking a kaamdar prime minister from a backward community and his humble origins.

Jamiat president Mehmood Madani stated it's unrealistic to expect mainstream parties to exclusively champion Muslim causes, criticizing the Congress for struggling to address its own issues. He also clarified his remarks on 'jihad', asserting it's a pious word being deliberately misused to malign Islam.

Meesho's IPO opens Wednesday, aiming for Rs 5,421 crore with a strong grey market premium, driven by positive analyst views. The e-commerce platform, backed by SoftBank, secured significant anchor investor interest, oversubscribing by nearly 30 times. Funds will fuel cloud infrastructure, marketing, and acquisitions, positioning Meesho for a December 10 debut.

The Indian rupee has hit a new low of 90.05 against the US dollar, extending its downward trend. This depreciation is attributed to speculators and importers, with market experts citing the strong dollar and delays in the India-US trade deal as key factors.

Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are poised for a positive month, despite expected volatility, according to market experts. Silver has surged due to global shortages and strong rate cut expectations, outperforming gold. Central bank demand for gold remains robust, while upcoming US economic data and Fed decisions will be key for market direction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Dr. Rajendra Prasad on his 141st birth anniversary, highlighting his pivotal role in India's freedom struggle and as the nation's first President. Modi emphasized Prasad's dignity, dedication, and clarity of purpose, noting his legacy continues to inspire generations.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened flat in trade on Wednesday on weak global cues. While Nifty50 was above 26,000, BSE Sensex was near 85,100.

The RBI's monetary policy committee is meeting to review growth and inflation data, with GDP expanding robustly while inflation cools to a multi-year low. Experts are divided on whether this presents an opportunity for a rate cut, with some believing it offers room to prioritize growth, while others anticipate the repo rate will remain unchanged.

Leading financial institutions are bullish on select Indian stocks. HSBC recommends Dr Reddy's Labs for its semaglutide prospects, while Goldman Sachs sees strong growth for Titan's jewellery and other ventures. Bernstein is optimistic about Trent's recovery, and CLSA highlights Power Grid Corp's strategic entry into battery storage. ITC faces potential tax uncertainty.

Stock market recommendations: Mehul Kothari of Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers recommends Kotak Bank, Hindustan Unilever, and Samvardhana Motherson International as top stock picks.

The Supreme Court upheld SEBI's Rs 30 lakh fine on Reliance Industries for delayed disclosure of the Jio-Facebook deal. Justices Kant and Bagchi emphasized that listed companies must clarify speculative media reports to prevent market manipulation. The court stressed that larger entities bear greater responsibility for adhering to disclosure norms, dismissing RIL's appeal.

Ahead of President Putin's visit, Russia assured India that any sanctions on its oil trade would cause only minor, temporary disruptions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that both nations are committed to maintaining trade volumes and making bilateral ties immune to third-country pressure. Russia aims for $100 billion trade with India by 2030, addressing New Delhi's trade deficit concerns.

Between 2022 and 2024, hospitals in Delhi reported more than 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illnesses, resulting in a wave of hospital admissions. The Health Ministry attributes this alarming rise to increased air pollution, designating it a significant 'triggering factor.

The Supreme Court has issued a warning to the Association for Democratic Reforms for making unsupported allegations regarding the Election Commission's methods in validating voter lists. During the proceedings against the legality of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the court encouraged a focus on legal frameworks rather than political posturing or speculative assertions about BLO suicides.