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India maintained that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and no denial by the Chinese side will ever change this reality.

AS China denied allegations that an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was harassed at Shanghai airport recently, and said that it does not recognise the state “illegally established by India”, India asserted Tuesday that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India and no amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have seen statements made by the Chinese MFA on the arbitrary detention of an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh who was in possession of a valid passport and transiting through Shanghai International Airport during onward travel to Japan."

"Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is self-evident. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality," he said.

"The issue of the detention has been taken up strongly with the Chinese side. Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions, which are in violation of several conventions governing international air travel. The actions by the Chinese authorities also violate their own regulations that allow visa free transit up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries," the MEA spokesperson said.

Earlier in the day, China had denied allegations of harassment of Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen who was travelling from London to Japan on November 21, saying the actions taken by the Chinese immigration officials were as per laws and regulations.

The Indian woman had claimed that her three-hour scheduled layover became a traumatising experience after immigration personnel declared her passport “invalid” only because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.

Asked to comment on the ordeal Thongdok was put through, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said the woman was not subjected to any compulsory measures, detainment or harassment as alleged by her. “On the individual case you mentioned, according to what we’ve learned, during the entire time, China’s border inspection authorities carried out check procedures in accordance with laws and regulations,” said Mao.

Mao said the law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive, that "the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected," no compulsory measures were taken on her, and there was no so-called "detaining" or "harassing".

"The airline provided her with resting facilities and meals," she said, denying Thongdok's charges.

Mao also justified the action taken against Thongdok, saying, “Let me point out that having border checks on people entering and exiting a country and carrying out law enforcement according to the specific situation of the entry or exit is the usual practice of border enforcement authorities of countries across the world.”

About India's demarche protesting the treatment meted out to Thongdok and New Delhi's firm assertion that Arunachal Pradesh is very much part of India, Mao reiterated China's claims over the area, which it calls Zangnan or South Tibet. "Zangnan is China's territory, and China does not recognise the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India," she said.

India lodged a strong demarche-a formal diplomatic protest-to China both in Beijing and in Delhi-on the very same day the incident took place, sources in Delhi said. India firmly conveyed to the Chinese side that Arunachal Pradesh is "indisputably" an Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports. The Indian Consulate in Shanghai also took up the matter locally and extended the fullest assistance to the stranded passenger, they said.

Tamil Nadu and Kerala signed an agreement on co-operation in several sectors including the blue economy, start-ups, tourism, and digital governance, among others. Official delegations from both States met in Chennai on Monday and deliberated on the possible areas of co-operation.

The teams were led by Tamil Nadu industries minister TRB Rajaa and his Kerala counterpart P Rajeeve. This meeting comes two weeks after they met in Delhi at the Udyog Samagam event held with the aim of promoting industrial growth.

"Delighted that Kerala & Tamil Nadu are building a model for inter-state cooperation that is collaborative, positive & focussed on results," said Rajaa in a post on X. He said it was only on November 11 that Rajeeve and he had discussed working together on industry and technology.

What was represented on Monday was real proposals with a clear way forward, said Rajaa. In his X post, Rajeeve added: What began as an informal Delhi conversation has graduated into a structured and forward-looking dialogue.

"Our recent meeting in Chennai, held in the presence of senior officials from both states, further reaffirmed the belief that true progress comes not from competition but from healthy, purposeful collaboration," Rajeev, who also holds the state law and coir portfolios, said. Both the ministers credited their respective chief ministers-MK Stalin and Pinarayi Vijayan-for nudging them towards a long-standing partnership. Stalin, Rajaa said, believed that cooperation between strong states would lead to an enduring partnership, while Rajeeve said the latest meeting reflected his CM's vision on partnering with other states to realize progress. 

Both the teams identified more than five important sectors, including PSUs, where they could collaborate and create new avenues for joint development. "Sectors like technology, startups, innovation, and advanced manufacturing offer enormous potential for shared growth. We will prepare a detailed master plan in due course, detailing the framework for cooperation. 

This partnership is the beginning of a shared journey that can strengthen industries, create new opportunities for entrepreneurs, and offer wider economic benefits across south India," the Kerala industries minister said. Rajeeve told ET that Kerala would host the next meeting in January and both the sides would form a team to take the initiative forward. At the Udyog Samagam in Delhi last month, Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said each state in the country has evolved best practices in one area or another which could be a model for the others, and that the country can speed up industrial advancement by learning from each other.

As toxic smog blankets northern India and major metros continue to clock AQI levels above 200 — often spiking into the hazardous 300–500 range — a new travel trend is rapidly rising: clean-air tourism. More travelers are escaping polluted cities in search of destinations where the air is fresh, cool, and comfortably breathable. If you’re planning a healthy, mindful getaway, these top five Indian cities with the best AQI right now offer the natural detox and pollution-free escape every traveler is craving.

Shillong, Meghalaya – India's Breezy, High-Altitude Haven

Nestling at an altitude of around 5,000 feet above sea level, Shillong has naturally filtered air because of the dense forests and very negligible industrial activities. Crisp climate, clear blue skies, refreshing atmosphere-the city is still that, even as pollution spirals out of control everywhere. The tourists can go boating at Umiam Lake or trek along holy trails in Mawphlang Forest, come upon gushing hotspots like Elephant Falls, or simply relax in Lady Hydari Park. And just a short drive further away, there's also Mawlynnong, the Cleanest Village in Asia.

Ooty, Tamil Nadu – The Queen of Hill Stations

Ooty continues to be one of the most consistent clean-air destinations in India, with an AQI of approximately 33. Nestled amidst Eucalyptus forests and within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the spot is postcard-perfect with its cool mountain winds. Key experiences include strolling through the Botanical Gardens, boating at Ooty or Pykara Lake, hiking up to Doddabetta Peak, and exploring wildlife at Mudumalai National Park.

Madurai, Tamil Nadu: Heritage City With Cleaner Skies

Presently recording an AQI of about 68, Madurai is a great deal cleaner compared with most metros. One of the world's oldest living cities, it promises a deep dive into culture for the traveller. The prominent highlights of this place are: the magnificent Meenakshi Amman Temple, Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal, the Gandhi Museum, and a hike up Samanar Hills. Quiet moments are best spent around the vast Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam tank.

Gangtok, Sikkim –

Himalayan Calm & Pristine Air With an AQI consistently at 30, Gangtok continues to be one of the cleanest capitals in India. Eco-friendly policies of the city and its altitude in the Himalayas ensure that the air is always fresh. One can travel to see the beauty of Tsomgo Lake, watch sunrise over Mount Kanchenjunga at Tashi Viewpoint, relax at Ban Jhakri Falls, or explore Khangchendzonga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Udupi, Karnataka –

Seaside Serenity With Clean Coastal Air All through the year, sea breezes sweep through Udupi, which stands well in comparison with major cities at an AQI of 95. From golden beaches like Malpe and Kaup to rainforest treks leading to Kudlu Theertha Falls and spiritual attractions such as Udupi Sri Krishna Matha, this region has a lot to offer. Basalt landscapes comprising St. Mary's Islands create a great coastal getaway.

Within the increasingly fast-moving digital world, a great and user-friendly travel website is among the most important features to help attract and retain customer interest. The good news for the entrepreneurs within the realm of travel agencies is that in 2025, the building of a professional website no longer has to be daunting or expensive, but rather simple and economical, thanks to AI website builders.

Among them is the AI Travel Agency Website Builder by 10Web. All you have to do is describe what your travel business offers, and this tool creates an absolutely customized website in an instant. It provides responsiveness on all devices, high SEO performance, built-in Google Cloud security, and fast loading.

Another great AI-driven builder, Wegic.ai, is specially made for tourism and travel websites. It creates customized designs and lets you easily administer and publish your website-whether you are a boutique tour operator or run a large travel agency. Besides, Wegic supports multiple languages so you can connect with travelers around the world.

Hostinger AI Website Builder unites smart content generation with perfectly integrated management of the booking system. Manage your payments, schedule, and customer reservations in one place, reach more multilingual audiences with improved SEO.

Platforms like CodeDesign.ai and Mixo.io impress with the travel-specific templates or fast microsites, either created in a few text prompts and perfect for the quick launch of new tours or seasonal campaigns.

Why choose AI website builders? They speed up site creation, cut costs compared to traditional development, and automatically optimize for search engines-all while you can deliver personalized and engaging experiences that reflect your brand and delight your customers.

It is now possible, considering these cutting-edge AI tools for travel businesses in 2025, that they craft memory journeys and leave the complicated designing and optimization to smart technologies at their websites. Need help choosing the right AI tool according to the size and goal of your travel business? I am here to guide you!

Outward remittances under the RBI's liberalised remittances scheme, or LRS, contracted 17.7 per cent year-on-year in August 2025 at $2.6 billion due to a decline in international travel and overseas education amidst visa restrictions by the United States.

The outward remittances under the scheme, according to RBI data released in the monthly bulletin, stood at $3.21 billion during August 2024.

In 2004, the LRS scheme was implemented which enabled all resident individuals to remit up to $250,000 per financial year for any permissible current or capital account transactions or a combination of both without any charges.

It came with a 25,000-dollar limit in its initial phase, which was revised with time.

The outflows towards international travel — the largest segment — declined 19.6 per cent y-o-y to $1.62 billion.

The outflow for overseas education was down 23.4 per cent Y-o-Y during the month to $319.17 million. This compares with $416.4 million in August 2024.

Remittances under medical treatment contracted 47.84 per cent YoY to $3.9 million, and the funds for maintenance of close relatives slipped 13.74 per cent to $272.05 million. Funds remitted under the ‘others’ segment fell almost 67 per cent to $6.7 million. Remittances under the ‘Gift’ category fell by almost 22.09 per cent to $190.43 million. In addition, remittances under deposits were down by 6.2 per cent to $42.75 million. On the other hand, purchase of immovable property was up 60.2 per cent at $36.02 million, while investment in equity or debt rose 21.45 per cent to $152.2 million. The decline in remittances under the scheme has widened in April-August of FY26, while the overall remittances fell by 6.5 per cent to $12.02 billion in the review period. This is amidst an across-the-board decline in remittances, barring investment purposes such as deposits, purchase of immovable property and investment in equity or debt.

This was the first-ever workshop in Mumbai by the SITE India Chapter, held at the Jio Convention Centre, Bandra Kurla Complex. The event had top professionals in the incentives, events, and hospitality sectors coming together. The interactive session discussed new ideas, innovative concepts, and strategies that are the way ahead in the realms of incentive travel as this industry gears up for 2026 and beyond.

Opening the event, Rohit Chopra, Secretary, SITE India, enlightened on the challenges in the ongoing geopolitical environment, where global sanctions, wars, unrest, taxation and growing intolerance are factors damaging travel, and incentive travel stakeholders need to diversify to their portfolio to stay relevant in the business.

Fiona DK Smith, Senior Manager India, Dubai Business Events spoke about the prospects of hosting incentive groups in Dubai amidst its various conference facilities, accommodation options, etc. Rakesh Sawant, Director, Global Sales – India, Minor Hotels spoke about the expansion of the hotel group across the globe and enumerated on the various brands from the hotel group.

Sabbas Joseph, Co-Founder/Director, Wizcraft, who is also associated with the Joint Working Group on Tourism, spoke about the Ministry of Tourism's efforts to make India a global venue for meetings and events, citing the hosting of G20 Summit and discussions on World Economic Forum to get business relations.

In fact, the workshop was a platform for effective networking among a select group of attendees. Supported by Dubai Business Events and Minor Hotels, the session marked an important milestone in SITE India's effort to engage regional markets and promote professionalization of incentive travel in the country.