Indian Missions in UAE Launch New Portal for Chip-Embedded E-Passports
Digital ‘E-Arrival Card’ Now Mandatory for OCI Holders and Foreign Visitors to India
Air India Express Debuts Direct Bengaluru–Kuwait and Bengaluru–Riyadh Services
Latest News
Pakistan Issues NOTAM Restricting Airspace Amid Indian Military Drills
Pakistan will close key flight corridors for three hours on 28–29 October due to Indian air-defence drills, forcing Indian and foreign airlines to take longer routes. The detours will raise costs and cause schedule disruptions on Europe- and Gulf-bound flights.
Indian Railways Runs 62 Special Trains via Agra for Chhath Puja Exodus
North Central Railway is operating 62 special trains from Agra to multiple Bihar cities between 27–31 October to manage the massive Chhath Puja rush. The additional capacity should ease pressure on regular services and give employers a cost-effective way to move workers during the holiday peak.
46 Additional Trains from Lucknow to Help Workers Return After Chhath
Lucknow division will run 46 special ‘reverse’ trains from 28 October, giving migrant workers timely options to return to Delhi, Mumbai and other metros after Chhath Puja. The move aims to curb the productivity lull that businesses face each year.
Chandigarh Airport’s Winter Schedule Adds Kullu, Leh and North Goa Links—No New International Flights
Chandigarh’s updated winter schedule, released 27 October, introduces flights to Kullu, Leh and North Goa but postpones additional international services until runway works finish. The new links support tourism and industry in the Himalayan and Konkan regions.
Ten More Countries Grant Visa-Free or VOA Entry to Indians in 2025
A new industry survey confirms that ten additional countries—including Thailand, Mauritius and Serbia—now offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to Indian citizens, widening leisure and short-term business travel options. Employers should update travel policies to reflect varying stay limits and insurance rules.
Delhi’s Revamped Terminal 2 Opens, Re-shaping India’s Airport Immigration Flows
Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 2 reopened on 26 October 2025 with self-service immigration, DigiYatra e-gates and reallocated domestic flights. The move eases congestion at India’s busiest hub, shortens connections for business travellers and supports the rollout of the national e-Arrival Card.
Philippines Opens Visa-Free Entry and Direct Delhi–Manila Flights for Indians
Effective 26 October 2025, Indian passport holders can enter the Philippines visa-free for 14–30 days, and Air India has launched direct Delhi–Manila flights. The combination slashes travel friction, opens new leisure and business corridors, and exemplifies Southeast Asia’s push to attract high-spending Indian visitors.
India–China Direct Flights Resume After Five-Year Suspension
IndiGo’s 6E1703 became the first India–China commercial flight in five years on 26 October 2025, reopening a vital corridor for trade, students and business travellers. Additional routes are planned, signalling cautious normalisation of bilateral relations and cutting transit times by several hours.
U.S. Diversity-Visa Lottery 2026 Excludes India Yet Again
The U.S. Diversity-Visa (Green Card) lottery for fiscal 2026, detailed on 26 October 2025, once again bars Indian nationals because of their high existing immigration numbers. Corporates must rely on employment-based visas and alternative jurisdictions for outbound talent planning.