The Editorial Page: For Putin, a political win; for India, a stable partner 10 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025 Journalism of Courage NEW DELHI, LATE CITY, 24 PAGES ₹7.00 (₹8 RAIPUR, ₹15 SRINAGAR) l www.indianexpress.com DA I LY F R O M : A H M E DA B A D , C H A N D I GA R H , D E L H I , J A I P U R , kO L k ATA , L U C k N O W , M U M B A I , N AG P U R , PAT N A , P U N E , VA D O DA R A Happening today 16 PACTS SIGNED DURING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT’S STATE VISIT lGERMAN CHANCELLOR, Modi, Putin chart roadmap: Labour mobility, n-energy, trade & defence TRACK THIS AND MORE ON www.INDIANExPRESS.COM Our relationship has stood the test of time: PM; we work closely, says Putin Friedrich Merz arrives in Israel, the first visit by a major EU head of government since the ICC issued an arrest warrant for PM Benjamin Netanyahu last year. Reporatecut 25bpto5.25%; ‘rareGoldilocks period’,says RBIGovernor Hitesh Vyas Mumbai, December 5 BUOYED BY stronger-than-expected economic momentum and a steady cooling in inflation,theReserveBankofIndia’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Friday unanimously cut the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.25 per cent, a move that is likely to bring downlendinganddepositrates across the banking system. The reduction — the first aftertwoconsecutivepauses— signals a calibrated shift towards supporting growth at a time when the rupee has depreciated and breached the 90-mark against the dollar. The central bank said the combination of robust GDP numbersandabenigninflation trajectory created the policy space to pivot toward accommodation. The growth engine »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Shubhajit Roy New Delhi, December 5 DEEPENING THEIR ties as the worldwatchedIndiarolloutthe red carpet for visiting Russian PresidentVladimirPutin,Delhi and Moscow Friday signed a labour mobility pact, agreed on a programmefordevelopingstrategicareasofeconomiccooperation until 2030, announced a 30-day free tourist visa for Russian nationals and pledged to work towards early conclusion of a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Business as Usual By EP UNNY More than 1,000 flights cancelled, DGCA gives IndiGo relief from new night rules for pilots »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 After ‘not the era of war’, PM frames Ukraine: India not neutral, on side of peace Shubhajit Roy New Delhi, December 5 WITH THE war in Ukraine grindingon,amideffortsbythe US and its European allies to bring it to an end, and all eyes on his meetings with the visiting Russian President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Vladimir Putin Friday that “Indiaisnotneutral,Indiaison the side of peace” and “we support all efforts towards peace”. Putin, on his part, did not give away much about their discussion on the war. He said he had the opportunity to speak in “detail on the situation in Ukraine” and on the talks initiated by the US towards a “possible peaceful settlement of this crisis”. »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 One-time exemption until Feb 10, no dilution in new norms, says Govt Sukalp Sharma New Delhi, December 5 President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. RENUkA PURI FULL COVERAGE PAGE 7 AMID MASSIVE disruptions being faced by IndiGo, with over 1,000 flight cancellations onFridayalone,theDirectorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted the airline a temporary one-time exemptionfromafewchangesrelated to night operations for pilots in thenewFlightDutyTimeLimitation (FDTL) norms — and otherrelaxationstoaugmentits pilot strength. The temporary rollback, which will be in place until February 10, is for the carrier’s Airbus A320 fleet. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 rELAtEd rEportS p 4, 6, 9