Government Kicks Off ‘Modified UDAN’ Workshop, Sets Roadmap for Next Decade of Regional Flying
Supreme Court Fast-Tracks Government Appeal on Overseas Visa Outsourcing Tender
UK updates India travel advisory: mandatory Ebola self-declaration and new e-OCI rules
Latest News
India opens talks with Washington after U.S. tightens visa-stay rules for foreign students and visitors
The MEA says it has opened a dialogue with the U.S. after draft DHS regulations proposed fixed end-dates for student, exchange and media visas. The change could force hundreds of thousands of Indians to seek extensions mid-course, creating cost and risk for businesses, universities and travellers. Companies should begin contingency planning for tighter visa-validity windows.
Delhi High Court scraps outsourced visa-services tender; VFS operations in Australia and Singapore on hold
The Delhi High Court has cancelled India’s multi-country visa-services outsourcing tender, leading VFS Global to halt processing in Australia and likely Singapore, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. The MEA has appealed to the Supreme Court, but thousands of applications are already delayed, forcing businesses to rethink travel schedules and explore alternative visa channels.
Delhi High Court cancels outsourcing tender, disrupting Indian passport & visa services in Australia and Singapore
The Delhi High Court annulled India’s outsourcing contract for passport, visa and consular work in Australia, Singapore, the UAE and Kuwait on 17 July 2026, citing opaque bid evaluation. Services through VFS Global are already suspended in Australia and may halt elsewhere, delaying renewals and police-clearance certificates for Indians abroad and foreign travellers to India.
Technical Glitch Grounds Kozhikode–Muscat Flight, Stranding 144 Passengers for Seven Hours
A seven-hour mechanical delay on a Kozhikode–Muscat flight stranded 144 passengers on 17 July, triggering protests and forcing Salam Air to provide refreshments under DGCA guidelines. The episode underscores mounting schedule pressure on India–Gulf routes and the need for employers to build buffer time into crew rotations.
Air Suvidha 2.0 goes live: India activates compulsory digital health form for all arrivals
India re-launched its digital health declaration as Air Suvidha 2.0 on 17 July 2026. All passengers must upload the form within 24 hours of departure, or risk boarding refusal and secondary screening on arrival. The move gives authorities pre-arrival Ebola surveillance data and obliges companies to weave the new requirement into travel approval and data-privacy processes.
Delhi High Court Voids Passport-Visa Outsourcing Contracts, Orders Fresh Global Bids
The Delhi High Court has cancelled the government’s outsourcing contracts for passport and visa services in Australia, Singapore, the UAE and Kuwait, instructing officials to restart the tender with transparent criteria. Immediate service interruptions are already being felt, raising lead times for PCCs and visas and forcing some applicants to travel to India for paperwork. Corporations must brace for longer timelines until a fresh procurement is completed—or until the Supreme Court stays the judgment.
UK updates India travel advisory: e-OCI now accepted, Ebola screening and self-declaration forms introduced
The FCDO’s 17 July advisory confirms that India’s new e-OCI card is fully valid for entry while also introducing mandatory Ebola screening and an online Self-Declaration Form for all international passengers. UK travellers to India must now factor in additional health documentation, and firms should update mobility policies accordingly.
Indian High Commission in Singapore warns of proliferating fake visa websites, urges applicants to use official portal
The Indian High Commission in Singapore has issued a 17 July warning about bogus visa websites and reminds applicants that “indianvisaonline.gov.in” is the sole authorised portal. Companies risk financial loss and data breaches if employees use unverified sites.
UK Updates India Travel Advisory: Mandatory Ebola Self-Declaration and e-OCI Recognition
Britain’s latest travel advice for India introduces a compulsory online Ebola health form and explicitly accepts the new electronic OCI card as valid proof of lifelong visa status. Employers and travellers must incorporate the Air Suvidha 2.0 declaration into boarding procedures and ensure e-OCI details are linked to current passports.
Government rolls out digital “e-OCI” card, ending the need to carry the blue booklet
From 8 July new OCI approvals are issued only in digital form, and existing card-holders can now download an officially accepted e-OCI to a mobile wallet. The change, confirmed on 16 July, eliminates the need to carry the physical OCI booklet and supports India’s push toward contactless immigration, easing travel for millions in the Indian diaspora.
Navi Mumbai International Airport opens to the world with thrice-weekly Abu Dhabi service
Air India Express has inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport’s first international route, a thrice-weekly Abu Dhabi service, marking NMIA’s transition from domestic to global hub status. The new gateway eases congestion in Mumbai, offers companies in the satellite city a closer international option and signals further Gulf and ASEAN connectivity in the months ahead.