Pioneer in short
DGCA fines Air India INR 1 crore
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a INR1 crore fine on Air India for operating an Airbus A320 neo on at least eight routes last year without the mandatory Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC). The regulator described the violation as “serious” and attributed the lapse to top-level management. The flights took place on November 24 and 25, covering cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. The ARC is issued annually to validate an aircraft’s compliance with safety standards and maintenance records. Air India had the delegated authority to issue the certificate but failed to ensure compliance. In a statement, the airline said the incident, voluntarily reported on November 26, 2025, had been addressed, and all gaps were rectified. Air India reaffirmed its commitment to operational integrity and passenger safety. The DGCA’s order highlights regulatory vigilance over airworthiness and underscores that lapses, even when “self-reported, carry significant penalties.
Jharkhand: Six killed in tusker attack
At least six people, including four members of a family, were trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag district early Friday, officials said. The herd entered Gondwar village in Churchu block on Thursday night. Hazaribag East Divisional Forest Officer Vikas Kumar Ujjwal said villagers had been alerted through public address systems, but six people were killed as they fled their homes. A child was seriously injured and admitted to Sadar Hospital in Hazaribag. The elephants had been roaming Bokaro, Ramgarh and Hazaribag districts for days, and had earlier caused casualties in Bokaro. Officials have begun the process of providing INR4 lakh compensation to each victim’s family and released INR 25,000 for funeral expenses.
Bangladesh backs reform charter
A referendum on a sweeping 84-point reform package recorded 60.26 per cent voter turnout in Bangladesh, with a decisive majority backing the proposals, the Election Commission (EC) announced Friday. Held alongside Thursday’s 13th parliamentary elections, the referendum sought public approval for the July National Charter 2025, unveiled on October 17 by interim Government chief Muhammad Yunus after consultations with political parties and the National Consensus Commission. According to EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, 48,074,429 votes were cast in favour and 22,565,627 against. Voting took place in 299 of 300 constituencies; polling in one seat was suspended following a candidate’s death. The Charter proposes major constitutional changes.
