Handpicked updates about India’s business and the business of India
Today, we honour the life and legacy of Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actress who passed away day before yesterday, at the age of 79. From iconic roles in Annie Hall and The Godfather, to being a fashion trailblazer, she captivated audiences wherever she went. RIP legend, the afterlife just gained an iconic performer.
Now, let’s get into the Dispatch! 🚀
Today’s reading time is 6 mins.
Business & Industry
India’s Aviation Sector: Struggles With Lift Off
Image credits: Financial Express
Booming Market, Emerging Strains: India’s aviation market, valued at USD 14.47 billion in 2024 and projected to reach USD 40.81 billion by 2033, has seen rapid growth fueled by rising incomes, increased domestic and international travel, and expanding regional connectivity. Budget airlines, government support, and infrastructure development have further bolstered the sector. Yet beneath this optimistic outlook, systemic weaknesses are emerging, signaling that the industry is struggling to keep pace with its ambitions.
Training Lapses And Regulatory Gaps: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently fined IndiGo Airlines ₹40 lakh for conducting pilot training on non-approved simulators at critical airports, including Calicut, Leh, and Kathmandu. Around 1,700 pilots received training on Full Flight Simulators (FFS) not certified for these Category C airports, which demand specialized training due to challenging terrain and weather. DGCA inspections revealed 20 such simulators across facilities in Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Greater Noida, Gurugram, and Hyderabad. Despite warnings and show-cause notices, compliance remained inadequate, exposing regulatory enforcement gaps and raising questions about pilot preparedness.
Technical Failures And Safety Concerns: Between 2020 and 2025, 65 in-flight engine shutdowns and 11 Mayday distress calls were reported, illustrating persistent technical and operational challenges. Causes ranged from fuel contamination and turbine malfunctions to blocked filters and electronic failures. Most emergencies were managed successfully by pilots using the remaining operational engine, yet the frequency of these incidents indicates systemic weaknesses. Experts note that such failures indicate lapses in maintenance and regulatory oversight, even as pilots demonstrate commendable skill in handling emergencies.
The Human Factor: Pilots face intense pressure from long duty hours, fatigue, and regulatory fines, compounded by a shortage of trained personnel. Those who remain manage exhausting rosters with minimal support, exposing cracks in training pipelines, simulator availability, and adherence to Flight Duty Time Limits. New pilots often remain grounded, while experienced captains leave for better-paying international opportunities. Crew exhaustion directly affects operational safety, leaving the sector vulnerable despite technological advancements.
Profit Over Safety: With IndiGo and Air India controlling over 70% of the market, competition is shrinking, regional connectivity suffers, and price-collusion risks grow. Ageing fleets, costly dry leases, and maintenance compromises, sometimes forcing engineers to sign off on unfixed defects, suggest that cost-cutting often supersedes safety priorities.
Infrastructure And Policy Bottlenecks: Metro airports are overcrowded, UDAN regional schemes remain patchy, and many routes are financially unviable. Privatization has sidelined state agencies in airport management, while high aviation turbine fuel taxes and inter-state price disparities strain smaller carriers. The result has been insolvencies, mergers, and market consolidation, further limiting competition.
Final Cut: India’s aviation boom masks turbulence beneath the surface. Rapid growth, coupled with technical failures, Mayday incidents, regulatory gaps, pilot shortages, and infrastructure constraints, raises urgent concerns about passenger safety. Without urgent reforms in oversight, training, and infrastructure, the sector risks being weighed down by ambition and fractured oversight.
Legal & Governance
Personality Rights: Celebrities’ New Legal Shield
Image credits: NDTV
Celebrities Fight Back: In recent weeks, a spate of high-profile cases in the Delhi High Court - led by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and followed by Abhishek Bachchan, Karan Johar, and Kumar Sanu - has spotlighted the growing importance of personality rights in India. Celebrities increasingly face misuse of their names, images, voices, and likenesses on merchandise, dubious websites, and AI-generated content. The harm is not just commercial but also reputational and personal.
What Are Personality Rights? Personality or publicity rights allow individuals - especially public figures - to control the commercial use of their identity. Unlike copyrights or trademarks, which protect creative works or brands, these rights safeguard the person themselves, giving them authority over how their image, voice, or persona is exploited. With AI and digital content booming, courts are being asked to define and enforce these protections more frequently.
Legal Framework In India: India lacks a dedicated statute for personality rights. Instead, courts have built protection on two pillars: the constitutional right to privacy and the tort of ‘passing off.’ This evolving framework adapts to each case, especially in response to technological developments like deepfakes and digital impersonations. Courts consider both commercial and reputational damage. Unauthorized use of a celebrity’s likeness to make money constitutes commercial harm. Reputational harm, often seen with deepfakes or fake endorsements, misleads the public and erodes trust. Experts describe misuse as a “brand-identity crisis,” where a carefully built persona loses its unique value.
Business India: Dhanda Hai Yeh!
Image credits: ET
Trade Gap Widens Amid Gold Imports Surge: India’s merchandise trade deficit is set to rise to $28 billion in September 2025, up from $26.5 billion in August, largely due to a near doubling of gold imports during the festive and wedding season. Record-high gold prices have not dampened demand. Delays in the US-India trade deal, affecting a key export market, also weigh on exports. The deficit may stay high due to continued gold, energy, and electronics imports, though US trade negotiations could improve future export prospects.
Super.money, Juspay Join Forces For D2C Push: Flipkart’s fintech arm, Super.money, has partnered with Juspay to launch a direct-to-consumer (D2C) checkout service. This move aims to establish Super.money's identity beyond Flipkart, targeting $100 million in annual revenue by 2026. The collaboration comes at a time when Juspay faces pressure from major players like PhonePe and Razorpay, who are encouraging merchants to adopt direct integrations instead of third-party orchestration platforms.
Norway Commits $100B to India Under TEPA: Norway is promoting investments in India under the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with EFTA nations. Norwegian Trade Minister Jan Christian Vestre pledged $100 billion over 15 years to generate one million jobs, targeting renewable energy, life sciences, engineering, and digital sectors. A dedicated India-EFTA Desk will facilitate joint ventures and investments, while mutual recognition of professional qualifications aims to boost skilled workforce mobility between the regions.
Cement Firms Set For Strong Q2: Indian cement companies are expected to post strong Q2 FY26 earnings, supported by higher volumes and improved pricing. While monsoon season and reduced GST rates may temper quarterly performance, year-on-year growth remains robust. Analysts foresee a recovery in H2 FY26 driven by infrastructure demand and a low base effect. JK Cement stands out as a preferred pick due to operational efficiency and strategic positioning.
India’s Beer Industry Pushes For Can Import Relief: Facing a shortage of 500 ml aluminium cans (that account for 20% of beer sales), the Brewers Association of India has urged the government to relax Quality Control Order norms. Domestic production limits and strict BIS certification rules risk a ₹1,300 crore revenue loss. BAI seeks an extension for certification and temporary import approvals to ease supply pressures.
Modi Launches Schemes To Boost Farm Self-Reliance: Prime Minister Modi unveiled two major agricultural initiatives totaling ₹35,440 crore: the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (₹24,000 crore) to improve productivity, irrigation, and credit in 100 districts, and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (₹11,440 crore) to increase pulse production and strengthen the value chain. Both schemes start from the upcoming rabi season and will run until 2030-31.
NITI Aayog Projects 4 Million AI-Driven Jobs by 2030: NITI Aayog estimates that artificial intelligence could generate around 4 million jobs in India by 2030, spanning both direct and indirect employment. Key sectors expected to benefit include healthcare, education, agriculture, and IT services, with roles in AI development, maintenance, and oversight. Experts caution that while AI will create opportunities, reskilling and upskilling of the workforce are critical to ensure readiness for these emerging roles.
World 🌏
Pakistan-Afghanistan Flareup, What’s The Bone Of Contention?
Image credits: Al Jazeera
Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions Escalate: Fresh clashes erupted along the Durand Line late Saturday night, as Afghan forces launched retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military posts following airstrikes in Kabul earlier in the week. Dozens of soldiers were reportedly killed in heavy exchanges, marking a sharp escalation in border tensions. Stretching over 2,640 km, the Durand Line separates Pakistan and Afghanistan, dividing Pashtun and Baloch communities. While Pakistan recognizes it as its western frontier, Afghanistan has never accepted it as an international boundary, citing colonial-era imposition.
Claims And Counterclaims: Afghanistan’s Taliban government claimed its forces conducted “successful retaliatory operations,” seizing Pakistani weapons and targeting posts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Islamabad, however, described the attacks as “unprovoked,” alleging civilian targeting and blaming Afghan territory for harboring Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. Pakistan also accused India of using Afghan soil to orchestrate attacks.
Recent Escalation: The clashes follow repeated TTP attacks, including a deadly strike in Orakzai district killing 11 Pakistani military personnel. Pakistan responded by seizing 19 Afghan posts and conducting artillery strikes. Border crossings, including Torkham and Chaman, were closed, disrupting trade and movement. Former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad warned that airstrikes on Kabul could trigger broader conflict, while Qatar called for restraint, dialogue, and diplomacy to prevent regional instability.
DuniyaDIARY 🌏📒
Image credits: Financial Times
Warner Bros. Rejects Paramount's Takeover Bid: Warner Bros. Discovery has declined Paramount Global's initial takeover offer, considering the proposed $20 per share valuation insufficient. Paramount, led by David Ellison, is now exploring options to increase its bid or seek financial partners to pressure Warner Bros. into a deal before its planned business split.
Trump's Tariff Escalation Triggers Major Market Rout: President Donald Trump's recent announcement of a 100% tariff on Chinese goods, in addition to existing tariffs, has sent shockwaves through global markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted by 878 points (1.9%), the S&P 500 dropped 2.7%, and the Nasdaq fell 3.5%, collectively erasing over $2 trillion in market value. Bitcoin plummeted 8.4% to $104,782, initiating a $19 billion market wipeout.
Trump, Zelenskyy Talk As Russian Strikes Intensify: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy spoke with U.S. President Trump as Russian missile and drone attacks intensified, causing widespread blackouts, especially in Kyiv. Zelenskyy urged enhanced air defense and stricter sanctions on Russia. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering supplying U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, enhancing Kyiv’s ability to strike deep into Russian territory. Russia has warned it will respond by strengthening air defenses. NATO allies are divided, and the move could significantly affect U.S.-Russia relations and the broader conflict dynamics.
Japan Declares Nationwide Flu Outbreak: Japan has declared a nationwide flu outbreak after cases surged unexpectedly early, leading to over 4,000 hospitalizations by October 3. This marks a significant increase from the previous week, with 28 of 47 prefectures reporting rising cases.
Macron Reappoints Lecornu As French PM: French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed former Prime Minister Jean-Luc Lecornu to lead the government, aiming to address ongoing economic challenges and domestic unrest. Lecornu, who previously served from 2022 to 2024, returns at a time when France faces significant economic pressures and public dissatisfaction.
Microsoft Secures 100K Nvidia Chips In $33B AI Deal: Microsoft has secured over 100,000 Nvidia GB300 chips through a $33 billion deal with neocloud providers, including a $19.4 billion agreement with Nebius. The chips will boost Microsoft’s AI capabilities, especially for large language models and AI assistants.
Aur Batao 📰
Modi Invited To Gaza Peace Summit In Egypt: US President Donald Trump and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13.
ED Arrests Reliance Power CFO In Fraud Case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Reliance Power CFO Ashok Pal in a ₹68.2 crore money laundering case linked to a fake bank guarantee submitted to the Solar Energy Corporation of India by its subsidiary, Reliance NU BESS. The company claims it was a victim of fraud and forgery, while Pal has resigned to assist with the investigation.
Smriti Mandhana Sets Historic Record: Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana became the first-ever player to score 1,000 runs in a single calendar year in Women’s ODIs, achieving the milestone with a six against Australia in the World Cup. She also became the fastest Indian woman to reach 5,000 ODI runs, surpassing Stafanie Taylor’s record.
