RAS question
In response to the IndiGo crisis of December 2025, the union government took which of the following measures?
Correct answer: (B) Placed temporary price caps on airfares.
In response to the December 2025 IndiGo disruption, the Union government imposed temporary caps on domestic airfares to curb steep fare increases during the crisis.
Explanation
The measure was a temporary fare cap, not a structural action against IndiGo. The Indian Express reported that the government acted after widespread IndiGo cancellations reduced seat availability and coincided with a sharp rise in ticket prices. The Ministry of Civil Aviation imposed maximum fare limits by route length, said the decision was taken in public interest, and kept the caps in force until fares stabilised or a further review was carried out. When other airlines raised prices during the disruption, the Centre used price regulation as a consumer-protection response. DGCA monitoring made it an enforcement-backed cap on affected routes, not merely an advisory.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Nationalising IndiGo would have meant government takeover of the airline, whereas the reported action was limited to temporary fare regulation during the disruption.
- (C) The government did not ban domestic flying; bookings could continue while fare caps applied on affected routes.
- (D) IndiGo's operating licence was not permanently revoked; the response targeted airfare spikes caused by cancellations and reduced seat availability.
Concept
This tests the Indian Economy theme of government intervention in markets during supply shocks. It recurs in RAS because aviation, transport pricing and consumer protection often become current-affairs examples of regulation under stress.