Following the deadly crash of Air India flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) met Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and urged urgent improvements. The aviation regulator directed the airline to enhance aircraft safety, enforce stricter maintenance protocols, and improve overall flight operations. The DGCA also asked Air India to ensure timely departures and manage passenger grievances better during delays. The Tata Group-owned airline was further told to improve crisis communication with flyers. These steps come amid growing scrutiny over Air India’s operational standards after 271 deaths in the crash of the London-bound Dreamliner. (PC: India Today)

Air India cancelled 7 international flights on Tuesday, including 6 operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners—the same model involved in the recent Ahmedabad crash that killed over 270 people. Technical glitches and aircraft unavailability were cited as reasons. Affected routes included Delhi-Dubai, Delhi-Vienna, and Ahmedabad-London. Following the June 12 crash of AI171, the airline intensified safety checks on Dreamliners, stressing its schedule. Air India offered hotel stays, refunds, and rescheduling to affected passengers. Another flight from San Francisco to Mumbai was delayed in Kolkata due to engine issues. DGCA has called an urgent meeting with Air India over recent incidents. (PC: AP)

A blast at a pharma factory in Bhilgaon, Nagpur, killed one person and injured six on Tuesday. The explosion happened around 11 am in a glass line reactor at Ankit Pulps and Boards Pvt Ltd. Police said the cause is still unknown. All injured people were taken to a hospital in Kamptee town. One person is in critical condition. The company makes microcrystalline cellulose, used in medicines and food. The factory was badly damaged in the blast. Officials are investigating the incident. More safety checks are expected at similar units following the explosion. (PC: PTI)

Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reviewed India’s petroleum supply amid escalating Israel–Iran tensions. He confirmed India is “well‑positioned” to meet its fuel requirements, crediting PM Modi’s diversified import strategy and proactive government planning. The minister met with officials from IOCL, HPCL and BPCL to reassess stock levels and confirm reserves. India now explores offshore prospects, with promising finds in the Andaman Sea potentially a “Guyana moment” enabled by opening 1 million km² of previously restricted sedimentary basins. Only 8 % of India’s total 3.5 million km² basin has been explored; current exploration targets about 42 billion tonnes of oil‑gas equivalent. Although offshore wells cost US $100 million each, state-owned ONGC has drilled historic numbers this year.

Punjab-based YouTuber and influencer Kanchan Kumari aka “Kamal Kaur Bhabhi” or “Queen” was found strangled inside a locked car on the Adesh Medical University campus in Bathinda. Her alleged killer, radical Sikh leader Amritpal Singh Mehron, fled to the UAE soon after the June 9 murder; two associates, Jaspreet and Nimratjit Singh, have been arrested. The motive appears rooted in moral policing targeting her bold content. On June 17, Giani Malkit Singh, head granthi of Akal Takht, justified the killing, claiming obscene content defames the Sikh religion, sparking widespread criticism. Meanwhile, other influencers, including Deepika Luthra, have received threats and sought police protection.

Air India’s first London-bound flight from Ahmedabad since the AI 171 crash, which killed 274 people last week, was cancelled on Tuesday due to a technical snag. The replacement aircraft, AI 159—a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner—was grounded minutes before takeoff. This marks the fourth technical issue involving Air India aircraft in the past 24 hours. Another London-Amritsar flight was also cancelled, and flights from San Francisco and Hong Kong faced similar setbacks. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the AI 171 crash, with experts suggesting dual engine failure as a possible cause. Air India has promised full refunds and accommodations. (PC: India Today)

India’s next population Census will be conducted in 2027, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced. For the first time, caste enumeration will be part of the exercise. The Census will be held in two phases—House Listing and Population Enumeration—with digital tools and self-enumeration options. The reference date is March 1, 2027, except for Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where it is October 1, 2026. Administrative boundaries are now frozen. The pre-test phase will assess mobile app usage. Over 34 lakh personnel will participate. The NPR update has not been confirmed. Amit Shah recently reviewed preparations. (PC: The Hindu)

An Air India flight (AI 9695) from Delhi to Ranchi returned mid-air due to a suspected technical issue on June 16. The aircraft took off from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 4:25 pm and was scheduled to land at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport at 6:20 pm. Air India Express confirmed the aircraft was cleared after inspection and resumed operations. This marks the second such incident in a day, following a similar glitch on AI315 from Hong Kong to Delhi. These incidents come amid intensified scrutiny after the fatal crash of AI-171, which killed over 270 passengers earlier this month. (PC: News18)

India could be on the verge of a massive offshore oil discovery in the Andaman Sea, potentially holding 184,440 crore litres of crude, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said. He compared the possibility to Guyana’s transformative ExxonMobil-led find, which reshaped that nation’s economy. Puri revealed exploratory activity is intensifying, with ONGC drilling 541 wells in FY24 — a 37-year high. The discovery could boost India’s $3.7 trillion economy and reduce its 85% oil import dependency. India’s push includes policy reforms, enhanced drilling, and strategic reserves. “We may find our own Guyana,” said Puri in The New Indian interview. (PC: MSN)

Police have recovered the machete used in the brutal murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya. Raja, 29, was killed on May 23, just days after arriving with wife Sonam. Investigations reveal Sonam plotted the murder with her lover, Raj Kushwaha, and three accomplices, who bought the weapon near Guwahati station. Raja’s body was found on June 2 in Sohra. Sonam was arrested in Uttar Pradesh and confessed. All five accused are in Meghalaya Police custody, with an SIT probing the case. Raja’s brother has now demanded a narco test on Sonam’s parents, alleging wider conspiracy. (PC: India Today)