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Top 20 world’s strongest militaries – personnel, aircraft, tanks and more; Here’s where India stands

From uncrewed moon landings and lunar sample returns to human spaceflight, India’s expanding space program is set to strengthen its position in the global <keyword id="20114940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-race" source="keywords">space race</keyword>. Under ISRO Chairman S. Somanath’s leadership, India’s space exploration vision includes high-stakes projects like Chandrayaan-4, Chandrayaan-5 and the human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan, positioning the nation as a significant player in space exploration. <h2>Chandrayaan-4: India’s first <keyword id="23227406" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lunar-sample-return" source="keywords">lunar sample return</keyword> mission </h2>Chandrayaan-4, scheduled for 2028, is one of India’s most anticipated upcoming missions. This mission aims to collect approximately 3 kilograms (about 6.6 pounds) of lunar samples from a water-ice-rich area near the moon’s south pole. Water ice in the lunar south pole is a prized resource, as it holds the potential to support life support systems and rocket fuel production, making it essential for long-term lunar exploration. Though the United States and Russia completed similar missions decades ago, Somanath highlighted that achieving this feat today is still both complex and costly. India, however, is determined to carry out this mission efficiently, with a budget of 21 billion rupees (roughly $250 million USD). Chandrayaan-4’s mission plan is highly intricate, relying on five spacecraft modules that will require two launches from ISRO’s powerful LVM-3 rocket. This setup includes modules for the lander, sample-collecting vehicle, transfer module, and a reentry module parked in lunar orbit to safely deliver the collected samples back to Earth. To practise in-orbit docking — a critical component of this mission — ISRO is set to launch a $14 million docking experiment (SPADEX) later this year or in early 2025, marking an essential step toward ensuring the mission's success. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111455720" title="ISRO&amp;#39;s Chandrayaan-3 moon mission continues to uncover lunar treasures at Shiv Shakti point" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>A step beyond with Chandrayaan-5</h2>Following Chandrayaan-4, ISRO plans to launch Chandrayaan-5 in collaboration with the Japanese space agency, JAXA. The joint mission aims to leverage strengths of both space agencies, with ISRO developing the lander and JAXA providing the rover. Shortly after Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover had landed near the Moon’s South Pole, Japan’s Smart Lander had landed upside down near the lunar equator. While theC-3’s rover failed to awaken after the lunar night, JAXA’s rover did survive the lunar night and even snapped pictures of the lunar surface after that! This mission, also known as the Lunar Polar Exploration Project (LUPEX), will carry a 770-pound rover contributed by Japan, a significant upgrade from the 60-pound Pragyan rover deployed on Chandrayaan-3. Chandrayaan-5 will further strengthen India’s presence on the moon, targeting the resource-rich south pole, an area of growing international interest. The mission will come after Chandrayaan-4, but S Somnath has confirmed that the plan for the mission is ready already! <h2>Gaganyaan: India’s first human spaceflight </h2>Perhaps the most exciting of India’s upcoming space projects is Gaganyaan, a mission set to take India’s first astronauts to low Earth orbit by 2026. Originally scheduled for 2025, the timeline was extended to prioritise astronaut safety amid recent setbacks in the industry. Recognising the significance of this mission, the Indian government allocated an additional Rs 111 billion to Gaganyaan, bringing the program closer to launch. ISRO’s cautious approach includes a series of uncrewed test flights to evaluate critical systems. An uncrewed test flight, G1, is scheduled for December and will carry a humanoid robot named Vyomitra to test reentry, parachute deployment, and splashdown capabilities. Following G1, three more uncrewed missions will complete this rigorous testing phase. The mission’s crew, including Indian Air Force test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, has been undergoing intensive training both in India and abroad, including a stint with Axiom Space at the International Space Station (ISS), where Shukla is training under former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. Meanwhile, ISRO’s ambitious roadmap also includes future goals to land astronauts on the moon by 2040 and potentially establish a moon base before 2050. With these projects, India is set to establish itself as a formidable force in space exploration. As Somanath expressed in a recent lecture in New Delhi, the next few years will be dedicated to designing, developing and executing these complex missions, marking a new chapter in India’s journey toward the stars. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="108891587" title="European Space Agency Director praises ISRO, calls India&amp;#39;s accomplishments in space &amp;quot;astonishing&amp;quot;" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

ISRO’s ambitious lineup of missions include Chandrayaan-4, Chandrayaan-5 and Gaganyaan — likely within the end of this decade!

<ul><li><keyword id="20940216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Synology" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Synology" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Synology">Synology</keyword> launched several new products at the Synology Solution Exhibition 2024.</li><li>The company has registered double-digit growth in India in the last three years.</li><li>We speak to the company’s <keyword id="22416016" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="joanne-weng" source="keywords">Joanne Weng</keyword> to learn more about the company and its plans in India.</li></ul> Taiwanese <keyword id="20653112" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="storage-solutions" source="keywords">storage solutions</keyword> provider Synology<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/synology-introduces-new-products-aimed-at-data-protection-and-scalability/articleshow/110711086.cms"> introduced</a> several new products aimed at offering <keyword id="20285436" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-management" source="keywords">data management</keyword> and protection needs of business organisations at the Synology Solution Exhibition 2024 held in Taiwan. The company announced products such as ActiveProtect, the new GS Series and surveillance solutions at the event. The company also offers Network-attached storage (NAS) devices. Business Insider India spoke with Joanne Weng, Director of International Business, Synology during the event about the company’s operations in India and its future plans. To start, can you tell us about Synology's mission and its recent focus on the Indian market? Synology's mission has always been to simplify IT management, making it accessible for everyone from tech-savvy users to those with minimal technical expertise. Recently, we've been focusing on expanding our presence in India, recognising the country's immense potential as a key market for our solutions. Can you share some insights into Synology's performance in India? Our performance in India has been impressive, with consistent double-digit growth over the past three years. The Indian market is among the top five for Synology in the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting the growing demand for reliable and scalable data storage solutions. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for our products has remained strong, highlighting their relevance in supporting business continuity. How has Synology built its local presence and support in India? We recognise the importance of being present in the market. We've invested in building a dedicated team to look after the Indian market, working closely with local partners to provide on-ground support and consultation. Our strategy of selling through channels ensures that customers can get the help they need from partners familiar with their specific requirements. How does Synology ensure ease of management for its users? Our solutions are designed for easy setup and management, ensuring minimal hassle for users. We focus on user-friendly interfaces and pre-configured settings, making our products accessible for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well as large enterprises. This approach helps streamline IT management, allowing users to focus on their core business activities. What steps does Synology take to set itself apart in terms of flexibility and scalability? One of our core strengths is the flexibility and scalability of our solutions. As businesses grow, their data storage needs evolve, and Synology offers scalable solutions that can adapt to these increasing demands. This makes us an ideal choice for enterprises experiencing rapid growth, especially with emerging technologies like AI that require robust data management capabilities. Security is a major concern for businesses today. How does Synology address this? Security is a top priority for us. Our solutions come with end-to-end encryption and other advanced security features to protect data. We have a dedicated PSIRT Team that collaborates with global security organisations and ethical hackers to ensure our products remain secure against evolving threats. Additionally, to strengthen our backup solutions, the upcoming ActiveProtect appliances will include features like air-gapping and isolating backup copies in a secure environment to protect against ransomware attacks. How does Synology maintain a customer-centric approach? Customer feedback is extremely valuable to us and drives our continuous improvement efforts. We work with organizations like Gartner for peer reviews to ensure we are meeting customer expectations and delivering high satisfaction levels. This customer-centric approach is a cornerstone of our strategy, ensuring that our products and services evolve in line with user needs. What can we expect from Synology in the future, especially in the Indian market? Looking ahead, we plan to continue focusing on the Indian market, leveraging our robust product portfolio to meet the growing demands of enterprises. Our upcoming products are set to offer even greater scalability and performance, catering to businesses with extensive data management needs. We're excited about the future and are committed to supporting the evolving needs of businesses in India. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/the-biggest-ipos-in-indias-history-lic-to-paytm-companies-that-have-raised-the-most-funds/articleshow/111690863.cms">The biggest IPOs in India’s history – LIC to Paytm, companies that have raised the most funds</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/its-raining-discounts-maruti-suzuki-hyundai-tata-motors-and-others-offer-discounts-on-cars-as-sales-slowdown/articleshow/111688501.cms">It’s raining discounts – Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors and others offer discounts on cars as sales slowdown</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/jio-vs-airtel-vs-vi-prepaid-plans-comparison-plan-benefits-and-price-comparison-after-tariff-hike/articleshow/111512587.cms">Jio vs Airtel vs Vi recharge plans comparison – plan benefits and price comparison after tariff hike</a>

Synology bets big on the Indian market amid strong growth, growing demand

Four years after the unveiling of its consumer electronics brand globally, IT and technology solutions giant <keyword id="20658763" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Acer-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Acer Group" meta.hostid="268" meta.entityid="Acer Group">Acer Group</keyword> has finally announced the entry of <keyword id="20725958" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Acerpure" source="keywords">Acerpure</keyword> in India. "It took time because India is an important market and required special strategy," said Andrew Hou, President of Pan-Asia Pacific Operations at <keyword id="20240684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Acer" source="keywords">Acer</keyword> Group. He was speaking at the launch of the flagship product of its consumer electronics brand - a 65-inch television that promises an immersive viewing experience - in Bengaluru. Acer India's President and Managing Director <keyword id="21727286" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="harish-kohli" source="keywords">Harish Kohli</keyword> said the strategy involved creating a manufacturing ecosystem in India. "Through our collaboration with Indian company <keyword id="20252424" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dixon-Technologies" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Dixon Technologies" meta.hostid="268" meta.entityid="Dixon Technologies">Dixon Technologies</keyword>, we are poised to usher in a wave of locally manufactured products. This partnership embodies our shared vision of fostering economic growth and technological advancement within the nation,"Kohli said. While partnerships with local companies are an India-specific strategy, globally the brand builds on its existing strengths - customer-centric innovations, service access and fostering sustainability, President of Acerpure Inc Stanley Kao said. At the launch, Dixon Technologies Co-founder and Executive Chairman <keyword id="20420375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sunil-vachani" source="keywords">Sunil Vachani</keyword> and Acer India President and MD Kohli signed the partnership deal. Vachani said Dixon Technologies's goal is to manufacture premium consumer products for both domestic and international markets. Apart from televisions, globally a diverse range of consumer electronics products, including 'air-circulator' fans, water purifiers, hand-held vacuum cleaners, robotic vacuum cleaners, hair dryer and styler, are already available in the market. "The range of products are well received in Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines," said Hou. While Hou said the likely competitors of Acerpure are Dyson and Korean water purifier brand Coway, globally known for their high-end gadgets, Acerpure India Director Vasudeva G said that in India the brand is building on its existing reputation of being affordable even while offering cutting-edge solutions. "For instance, our 'air circulator' fans are AI enabled and can adjust its speed according to the drop or increase in air temperatures," Vasudeva said. The fan starts from Rs 7,490 in India. "Acerpure represents more than just a product launch, it signifies the dawn of a new era in home appliances and consumer electronics with a key focus on 'Make in India'," said Hou. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/motorola-edge-50-fusion-vs-oneplus-nord-ce-4-price-specs-and-features-compared/slidelist/110197390.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/motorola-edge-50-fusion-vs-oneplus-nord-ce-4-price-specs-and-features-compared/slidelist/110197390.cms" target="_blank">Motorola Edge 50 Fusion vs OnePlus Nord CE 4 – price, specs and features compared</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/woman-loses-54-lakh-in-work-from-home-scam-heres-what-it-is-and-how-to-protect-yourself/articleshow/110166963.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/woman-loses-54-lakh-in-work-from-home-scam-heres-what-it-is-and-how-to-protect-yourself/articleshow/110166963.cms" target="_blank">Woman loses ₹54 lakh in work-from-home scam! Here's what it is and how to protect yourself</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/iqoo-z9x-5g-with-120hz-display-6000mah-launched-starting-at-12999/slidelist/110176453.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/iqoo-z9x-5g-with-120hz-display-6000mah-launched-starting-at-12999/slidelist/110176453.cms" target="_blank">iQOO Z9x 5G with 120Hz display, 6000mAh launched starting at ₹12,999</a>

Acer launches its consumer electronics brand Acerpure in India

New Delhi, Jan 30 () Entities can bid for national carrier Air India on the basis of the financial strength of their affiliates, a proposition that could attract more bidders.
 In its second attempt in as many years to divest loss-making Air India, the government came out with the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) on Monday.
 The government has proposed selling 100 per cent stake in Air India along with budget airline Air India Express and the national carrier's 50 per cent stake in AISATS, an equal joint venture with Singapore Airlines.
 As per the PIM, a bidder may also "qualify on the basis of net worth of its affiliate, provided such IB (Interested Bidder) itself has a positive net worth...," subject to certain conditions.
 This means that an entity can bid based on the financial strength of its parent, according to a source involved in the disinvestment process.
 Such a provision could also help in attracting more bidders.
 In case an IB is taking the benefit of financial strength of its affiliate, then the net worth of only the affiliate would be used for the purposes of evaluation of financial capability of the IB, as per the PIM.
 To make the disinvestment more attractive, the government has eased the bidding norms. Prospective bidders now need to have a minimum of Rs 3,500 crore net worth.
 In 2018, when the government tried to divest Air India, the net worth criteria was fixed at Rs 5,000 crore.
 Meanwhile, the source said that complete foreign ownership of the national carrier would not be possible.
 Under the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms, the Substantial Ownership and Effective Control (SOEC) framework and provisions in the bilateral agreements, it would not be practical for Air India to have 100 per cent foreign ownership, the source said.
 Through the automatic route, a foreign investor or an airline can have up to 49 per cent stake in an Indian carrier. The limit can be 100 per cent under approval route but would not be applicable for overseas airlines.
 In the case of Air India, only 49 per cent FDI is allowed through the approval route, the source said.
 As per the SOEC framework, which is followed in the airline industry globally, a carrier that flies overseas from a particular country should be substantially owned by that country's government or its nationals.
 In the case of Air India, the government has signed bilateral flying rights agreements with more than 100 countries. As per these pacts, flying rights would be given to carriers that are substantially owned by the Indian government or Indian nationals, the source said.
 According to the source, in case the substantial ownership of the carrier is to be changed, then all these pacts would have to be renegotiated. In such a situation, the countries concerned might also ask for increased bilateral flying rights, the source added.
 Bilateral flying rights refers to an agreement between two countries that allows each other's airlines to operate services with a specific number of seats.
 Among others, the government would withdraw its guarantee extended to loans taken by Air India.
 "Government of India (GOI) may prescribe additional conditions (including but not limited to replacement of all GOI guarantee or other GOI support extended on behalf of the companies) in the Request for Proposal (RFP)," the PIM said.
 Qualified Interested Bidders (QIBs) would be required to demonstrate availability of funds for the proposed transaction "including but not limited to appropriate expression of support from financial institution(s)... confirming ability of the IB to discharge all its obligations defined under RFP and definitive documents related to the proposed transaction," it noted.
 The successful bidder would have to take over only debt worth Rs 23,286.5 crore while the liabilities would be decided depending on current assets at the time of closing of the transaction. Air India is in the red for long. RAM ABM

Air India sale: Entities can bid based on affiliates' financial strength

Crisis-hit <keyword id="19987725" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="spicejet" source="keywords">SpiceJet</keyword> plans to hand out pink slips to at least 1,000 employees in the coming days as the airline works to significantly reduce costs and streamline operations of its depleted aircraft fleet, officials said on Monday. Faced with financial woes, legal battles and other headwinds, the no-frills carrier might ask more staff to leave as there is excess manpower now compared to the number of planes in service. A final decision on the quantum of layoffs is expected this week, one of the officials in the know said. When contacted, a SpiceJet spokesperson said the airline has initiated several measures, including manpower rationalisation, for achieving profitable growth but did not provide any numbers. The airline has around 9,000 employees and is now looking at reducing the strength by 10-15 per cent, the official said, adding that layoffs are necessary to reduce the overall costs and annual savings could be up to Rs 100 crore. A reduction of 15 per cent would mean around 1,350 people will lose their jobs. The second official in the know said that layoffs are expected across departments and the final list is being prepared. People from the management and consultancy are working on chalking out the contours of letting staff leave, and all the departments have been asked to give their inputs, the official added. There was no official comment from SpiceJet on the proposed job cuts. The second official explained that the airline has stopped operations on certain RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) routes and at those stations, there is excess manpower, especially staff with lower salaries. Relocating such people will be a challenge, the official noted. Currently, SpiceJet has a fleet of little over 30 aircraft apart from 10 planes that are on wet lease. "As part of our turnaround and cost-cutting strategy, following the recent fund infusion, SpiceJet has initiated several measures, including manpower rationalisation, aimed at achieving profitable growth and positioning ourselves to capitalise on the opportunities in the Indian aviation industry. "Through this initiative alone, we anticipate an annual saving of up to Rs 100 crore," the airline spokesperson said in a statement. During a meeting with the airline's senior officials last month, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director <keyword id="19916067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ajay-singh" source="keywords">Ajay Singh</keyword> emphasised the importance of judicious spending and that he will personally oversee all major expenditures. The carrier will prioritise fleet upgrades, enhance on-time performance and cost-cutting measures will be implemented to streamline operations, according to an internal note last month. SpiceJet, which has undergone multiple ownership changes since inception and is currently helmed by Ajay Singh, is in the process of raising funds from various investors. On January 26, the carrier announced that it has received Rs 744 crore as the first tranche of the total Rs 2,250 crore proposed to be raised through the issuance of securities on a preferential basis. There were reports that there has been a delay in raising the requisite funds. The airline has also availed funds worth around Rs 1,000 crore under the government's Emergency <keyword id="20097541" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-line-guarantee-scheme" source="keywords">Credit Line Guarantee Scheme</keyword> (ECLGS) and Singh has committed to infuse Rs 500 crore. In recent times, SpiceJet also witnessed lessors taking legal recourse to take back their leased aircraft due to non-payment of dues. <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> is one of the world's fastest growing civil aviation markets and the domestic air traffic is on an upward trajectory. However, SpiceJet has been struggling for sometime now. In 2023, the carrier flew 83.90 lakh passengers and had a domestic market share of 5.5 per cent. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/wd-black-sn850x-ssd-review/articleshow/107557627.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/wd-black-sn850x-ssd-review/articleshow/107557627.cms" target="_blank">WD Black SN850X SSD review – a reliable gaming SSD</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-open-review/articleshow/106961567.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-open-review/articleshow/106961567.cms" target="_blank">OnePlus Open review – Feature-packed foldable in a premium design</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/vivo-x100-review-top-end-camera-centric-smartphone-with-sleek-design/articleshow/106539033.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/vivo-x100-review-top-end-camera-centric-smartphone-with-sleek-design/articleshow/106539033.cms" target="_blank">Vivo X100 review – Top-end camera centric smartphone with sleek design</a>

Crisis-hit SpiceJet plans to hand out pink slips to at least 1,000 employees

New Delhi, <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="Orion">India</keyword> on Thursday accorded an initial approval to defence acquisition projects worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore that included procurement of 97 <keyword id="6376012" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tejas" source="Orion">Tejas</keyword> light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand combat helicopters, in a major move to significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the armed forces. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the projects, at a time India is locked in a bitter military standoff with China at a number of friction points in eastern Ladakh for over three years. The defence ministry said 98 per cent of the total procurement worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore will be sourced from the domestic industries and that the move will give a substantial boost to the Indian defence industry in achieving the goal of 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defence industry. The DAC also approved a proposal of the Indian Air Force to upgrade its Su-30 fighter fleet by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (<keyword id="68124" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="HAL" source="Orion">HAL</keyword>). The DAC further accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) or initial approval for procurement of two types of anti-tank munitions namely area denial munition (ADM) type-2 and type-3. The top body on procurement of military hardware also cleared acquisition and integration of automatic target tracker (ATT) and digital basaltic computer (DBC) for T-90 tanks besides approving another proposal to buy medium range anti-ship missiles (MRAShM) for the Indian Navy. The MRAShM is a lightweight surface-to-surface missile which will be a primary offensive weapon onboard various Indian naval ships. "The DAC accorded AoNs for procurement of Light Combat Helicopter for Indian Air Force and Indian Army and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A for IAF from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category," the ministry said. Though it did not mention the specific numbers, official sources said 97 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (Mark 1A) are being procured for the IAF and 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) are being procured for the Army and the Air Force. In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. With the additional fleet, the number of indigenously-developed Tejas aircraft being procured by the IAF would go up to 180. "The AoNs have also been accorded by the DAC for upgradation of Su-30 MKI aircraft indigenously from HAL. "While procurement of these equipment will provide enormous strength to the IAF, acquisition from domestic defence industries will take the indigenous capability to a new height," the ministry said in a statement. "It will also reduce dependability on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) substantially," it added.

India approves defence acquisition projects worth Rs 2.23 lakh cr

India vs China defense budget and equipment comparison

<ul><li><keyword id="2573" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword>’s total employee strength stands at 17,984, out of which 9617 are permanent employees. Over 36% of the permanent employees will be retiring in the next 5 years.</li><li>The Government of India issued a new expression of interest for 100% sale of the troubled state-owned airline.</li><li>There are reports of interest from HIndujas and Tatas in bidding for the airline.</li></ul>The government wants to ensure that Air India is sold this time around, as it has also cut down the debt that the new owner will take onto the books. But there remains yet another hurdle that has been keeping the state-owned airline from being sold - its employees and their unions. According to a release from the <keyword id="149609" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Civil-Aviation">Ministry of Civil Aviation</keyword>, the airline has 17,984 employees, out of which 9,617 are permanent. Over 36% of the permanent employees will be retiring in the next 5 years - that is almost 3,000 of them. “The trade union representatives are said to have discussed with the management all the issues concerning their employment such as service-contracts, job-security, gratuity, pension and voluntary retirement scheme after the company goes into private hands,” a source told PTI after <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/air-india-panel-discusses-privatisation-related-issues-of-employees/articleshow/73672621.cms">a panel </a>of Air India management and trade unions met in Delhi recently. These employees could now seek what other troubled state-owned companies like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tata-motors-is-the-third-biggie-after-bsnl-and-mtnl-to-dole-out-voluntary-retirement-package/articleshow/72270927.cms">BSNL</a> and MTNL received. Voluntary retirement scheme for Air India - before or after the sale? The Indian government had retired over 92,700 employees via VRS for the employees of the debt-laden <keyword id="30351" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BSNL">BSNL</keyword> and MTNL– the telecom giants that it’s trying to merge and revive. However, with Air India’s sale and privatization in mind, VRS could be a risky move as it is uncertain about the liability of the settlements. But it will also offer an opportunity for the government or the bidder to cut down on the number of Air India’s employees. 
 
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 And, there are other issues that have to be cleared by the buyer as well. As per the bid document, 3% of equity shares of Air India are to be offered to the permanent employees of Air India as stock options. However, employees’ dues of about ₹1383.7 crore will be cleared by the government, before the transaction closes. The Government of India’s new expression of interest for 100% sale of the troubled state-owned airline, has already taken a large chunk of the liability onto itself. As per the revised EoI, the bidding party will have to bear ₹23,286 crore of the total ₹60,000 crore debt of Air India. And the deadline for bidders is set on March 17. The net worth for eligible bidders too has been relaxed to ₹3,500 crore from ₹5,000 crore. Tatas and Hindujas show interest in Air India An IANS report quoted a private airline senior executive to say that the deal is sweeter than expected. And it seems to have had its effect. According to recent reports, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/vistara-may-explore-opportunities-to-bid-for-air-india/articleshow/73683872.cms">Tata</a>s who run Vistara along with Singapore airlines, might bid for Air india. In an <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/will-ask-my-team-to-look-at-bidding-for-ai-tata-group-chief/articleshow/71883484.cms">interview with TOI</a> in November, Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran said that he will get his team to look into the matter. “Ideally it should be a Vistara decision, not a Tata Sons decision. I’m not going to run a third airline (in addition to Vistara and AirAsia) unless we merge. There are issues. I will never say yes or no. I don’t know,” he told TOI. Interestingly, Air India was run by the Tata Group before the Indian government acquired a 49% stake in the airline in 1948. The Hinduja Group has also reportedly expressed its interest in bidding for the airline. See Also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indian-government-sweetens-air-india-sale-by-slicing-its-debt-burden-by-more-than-half/articleshow/73653131.cms">Indian government sweetens Air India sale by slicing its debt burden by more than half</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/air-india-flights-sale-may-not-include-its-debt/articleshow/71177898.cms">Indian government is looking to sell Air India but may keep its debt</a>

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