Passenger opens emergency exit on IndiGo flight, causes delay
Jodhpur: A passenger on an IndiGo flight from Jodhpur to Bengaluru opened the emergency exit just before take-off on Wednesday, causing a delay of about 20 minutes.
The flight, scheduled to depart at 10:10 am, had completed boarding when the incident occurred during the crew’s safety demonstration. The sudden opening of the emergency exit flap led to panic among passengers, prompting an immediate response from the crew.
The passenger, identified as Siraj Kidwai, an Axis Bank employee, was detained and handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for questioning. Kidwai reportedly claimed that he opened the flap accidentally.
IndiGo issued a statement confirming the incident, stating that the crew followed standard operating procedures, and the passenger was disembarked before the flight resumed operations.
Airport security and CISF officers are investigating the matter.
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Why was Indira Gandhi's 1973 budget called the 'Black Budget'?
New Delhi: The Union Budget for 2025 is set to be presented in Parliament on February 1 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. As the nation awaits the financial roadmap of the third term of Narendra Modi-led government, a look back at the 1973-74 budget reveals one of India's most financially challenging periods.
The 1973-74 budget, presented by then-Finance Minister Yashwantrao Chavan under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is often referred to as the ‘Black Budget’ due to its unprecedented fiscal deficit of ₹550 crore. This was a significant sum at the time, reflecting the severe economic strain India faced in the aftermath of the 1971 war with Pakistan.
The war had drained government resources, and a series of natural disasters, including drought, led to a sharp decline in agricultural production. This worsened the financial crisis, with declining revenues and rising expenditures. Presenting the budget, Chavan acknowledged the economic distress, stating that the drought had caused a major drop in food grain production, which contributed to the widening deficit.
In response, the government allocated ₹56 crore for the nationalisation of coal mines, insurance companies, and the Indian Copper Corporation. The move aimed to strengthen the energy sector and ensure state control over key industries. However, the large deficit forced the government to implement cost-cutting measures and financial discipline in subsequent years.
As the Modi 3.0 government prepares to unveil the 2025-26 budget, various sectors are putting forth their demands, including tax reliefs and economic stimulus measures. Social media is rife with memes attacking the Finance Minsiter for the tax policies and it's impact on the middle class. The government’s first estimates project a 7.3% GDP growth for 2023-24, shaping expectations for the upcoming budget.
