Category: 3. Business

India has ordered all new smartphones to come pre-loaded with a non-removable, state-run cybersecurity app, sparking privacy concerns.

Under the order – passed last week but made public on Monday – smartphone makers have 90 days to ensure all new devices come with the government’s Sanchar Saathi app.

It says this is necessary to help citizens verify the authenticity of a handset and report the suspected misuse of telecom resources.

The move – which comes in one of the world’s largest phone markets, with more than 1.2 billion mobile users – has been criticised by cyber experts, who say it breaches citizens’ right to privacy.

Launched in January, the Sanchar Saathi app allows users to check a device’s IMEI, report lost or stolen phones and flag suspected fraud communications.

An IMEI – the International Mobile Equipment Identity – is a unique 15-digit code that identifies and authenticates a mobile device on cellular networks. The code is essentially the phone’s serial number.

In a statement, India’s Department of Telecommunications said that mobile handsets with duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers pose “serious endangerment” to telecom cyber security.

“India has big second-hand mobile device market. Cases have also been observed where stolen or blacklisted devices are being re-sold,” it said, adding that this makes the purchaser an “abetter in crime and causes financial loss to them”.

Under the new rules, the pre-installed app must be “readily visible and accessible” to users when they set up a device and its functionalities cannot be disabled or restricted.

Smartphone makers must also “make an endeavour” to provide the app through software updates for devices that are out of factories but haven’t been sold yet, the statement said.

All companies have been asked to give compliance reports on the order in 120 days.

The government says the move will bolster telecom cybersecurity. A Reuters report, citing official figures, says the app has helped recover more than 700,000 lost phones – including 50,000 in October alone.

But experts say the app’s broad permissions raise concerns about how much data it can collect, widening the scope for surveillance.

“In plain terms, this converts every smartphone sold in India into a vessel for state mandated software that the user cannot meaningfully refuse, control, or remove,” advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation said in a statement.

The design – making the app impossible to disable – would also weaken the safeguards that normally stop one app from accessing another’s data, the group said.

This, it adds, effectively turns the app into “a permanent, non-consensual point of access sitting inside the operating system of every Indian smartphone user.”

Technology analyst and writer Prasanto K Roy says the bigger concern is about how much access an app might eventually be allowed on the handset.

“We can’t see exactly what it’s doing, but we can see that it’s asking for a great deal of permissions – potential access to just about everything from flashlight to camera. This is itself worrying,” he told the BBC.

On Google’s Play Store, the app says it doesn’t collect or share any user data. The BBC has reached out to the department of telecommunications with questions about the app and the privacy concerns related to it.

Mr Roy adds that compliance will be difficult, since the order runs counter to the policies of most handset-makers, including Apple.

“Most companies prohibit installation of any government or third-party app before the sale of a smartphone,” he says.

While India’s smartphone market is dominated by Android, Apple’s iOS powered an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million smartphones in the country by mid-2025, according to Counterpoint Research.

“Apple has historically refused such requests from governments,” Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint, told Reuters.

Apple has not commented publicly, but Reuters reports it does not intend to comply and “will convey its concerns to Delhi.”

India is not the only country to have tightened rules on device verification.

In August, Russia ordered all phones and tablets sold in the country to come pre-installed with the state-backed MAX messenger app, sparking similar privacy and surveillance concerns.

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Introduction

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common gynaecological cancers and is challenging to detect at an early stage.¹ In recent years, the global incidence of ovarian cancer has increased annually, accompanied by a trend toward diagnosis at younger ages.² Within this global context, China accounts for 15.45% of ovarian cancer cases and 14.66% of related mortality.³ Current ovarian cancer treatments involve multimodal therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, with approximately 97% of patients requiring postoperative chemotherapy.^4,5 Although these treatments extend patient survival, the long-term treatment burden often causes negative emotions, such as anxiety and depression, which can harm mental health and quality of life.^6,7 Mental health includes the absence of mental illness and positive psychological functioning. The concept of flourishing has gained prominence in positive psychology, representing a state of optimal mental health characterised by positive emotions and robust psychological and social functioning.⁸ Interventions aimed at fostering flourishing improve the well-being and quality of life of patients with cancer.⁹ Recent research has focused primarily on patients with thyroid cancer, breast cancer, and head and neck cancer.^10–12 These studies demonstrate that flourishing significantly affects the psychological health of patients with cancer. Notably, while latent profile analysis has been applied to explore variations in flourishing levels in breast cancer populations,¹¹ the flourishing status of patients with ovarian cancer, particularly through the theoretical lens of Self-Determination Theory, remains unexamined. This represents a critical gap, as patients with ovarian cancer face substantially more severe clinical challenges than those with breast or thyroid cancer, including difficulty in detecting early symptoms, diagnosis at an advanced stage in approximately 75% of patients, and a lower 5-year survival rate, all of which may contribute to a uniquely elevated risk of psychological distress and distinct flourishing profiles.¹³ Our research addresses this gap by being the first to conduct a latent profile analysis of flourishing specifically among postoperative ovarian cancer patients, using Self-determination theory as the lens to interpret these clinically grounded profiles. A comprehensive assessment of the psychological well-being of patients with OCs should focus on reducing distress and encouraging positive states.¹⁴ Historically, the emphasis has been primarily on alleviating distress; our focus on flourishing aims to balance this view. Studying flourishing does not seek to replace the important task of reducing suffering but complements it by addressing a broader aspect of the human experience with cancer. This is particularly crucial in ovarian cancer, in which the chronic nature of the disease makes striving for positive functioning vital to long-term survival.

Self-determination theory (SDT) offers a comprehensive framework for examining psychological flourishing.¹⁵ It conceptualises human behavioural motivation along a continuum of autonomous choices, suggesting that motivation increases when three basic psychological needs are met: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.¹⁶ Furthermore, the expression of these three basic needs is influenced by sociocultural context. In Shanxi, factors such as family expectations and access to support services are likely to shape how patients experience autonomy, competence, and relatedness, thereby affecting their overall ability to thrive. To explore the heterogeneity of flourishing among patients with ovarian cancer, this study used latent profile analysis based on SDT. We explored the impact of three core needs, autonomy (measured by the Index of Autonomous Functioning), competence (assessed through learned helplessness), and relatedness (indicated by perceived social support), on the well-being of patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy. This approach aims to establish a scientific foundation for developing targeted clinical interventions that promote the flourishing of this vulnerable population.

Objects and Methods

Study Population

This cross-sectional study employed convenience sampling to recruit participants from the gynaecological oncology ward of a tertiary hospital in Shanxi Province between May 2024 and May 2025. The participants were patients with ovarian cancer who received postoperative chemotherapy. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age 18 years or older, (2) a confirmed diagnosis of ovarian cancer via pathology, (3) currently undergoing postoperative chemotherapy, (4) good communication skills, verbal expression, and literacy, and (5) willingness to provide informed consent. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) other malignancies, severe heart or kidney disease, or autoimmune conditions; (2) severe psychological or psychiatric disorders; and (3) cognitive impairment. The sample size was calculated using Kendall’s method, which recommends 5–10 times the number of independent variables.¹⁷ With 20 variables in this study, the initial target was 100–200 participants. Considering an expected dropout rate of 20%, the minimum sample size was planned to be 120–240.

Survey Tools

General Information Questionnaire

Based on a review of the literature, the research team created a two-part questionnaire. The first part collected general personal information, including age, current residence, family income per capita, marital status, and education level. The second part gathered information about the disease, such as the number of chemotherapy sessions, length of illness, number of comorbidities, and tumor stage.

Flourishing Scale (FS)

Developed by Diener et al¹⁸ in 2010 and translated into Chinese by Lai Qiaozhen,¹⁹ this scale comprises eight dimensions: meaning, self-acceptance, interpersonal relationships, helping others, commitment, self-efficacy, optimism about the future, and respect from others. Responses are recorded on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”, with total scores ranging from 8 to 56. Higher scores indicate greater levels of Flourishing. In this study, the scale demonstrated a Cronbach’s α coefficient of 0.846.

Learned Helplessness Scale (LHS)

Developed by Joy et al²⁰ and translated into Chinese by Yan Sisi et al,²¹ this 19-item scale assesses three dimensions: locus of causality (internal-external), stability (stable-unstable), and globality (general-specific). Responses are recorded on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = “strongly disagree” to 4 = “strongly agree”), yielding total scores ranging from 19 to 76. Higher scores indicate stronger learned helplessness. In this study, the scale demonstrated a Cronbach’s α coefficient of 0.858.

Index of Autonomous Functioning (IAF)

Developed by Weinstein et al²² and translated into Chinese by Wang Jiayu et al,²³ this 15-item instrument measures three dimensions: self-congruence, interest-taking, and susceptibility to control. Items use a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “completely untrue” to 5 = “completely true”), with the interest-taking subscale reverse-scored. Total scores range from 15 to 75, where higher scores reflect greater autonomy. Cronbach’s α was 0.891 in this study.

Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS)

The PSSS was compiled by Zimet et al²⁴ in 1987 and translated into Chinese by Jiang Qianjin.²⁵ It includes three dimensions: family support, friend support, and other support, with a total of 12 items. Scoring is based on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”, with scores ranging from 1 to 7, respectively. The total score ranges from 12 to 48 points, with higher scores indicating better perceived social support. In this study, the Cronbach’s α coefficient for this scale was 0.853.

Data Collection and Quality Control

The researchers explained the study purpose, questionnaire completion requirements, and confidentiality protocols to patients with OC undergoing postoperative chemotherapy and their family members before administering the questionnaire. After obtaining informed consent, researchers uniformly trained in the study procedures distributed paper questionnaires to the participants. A key part of our protocol was the immediate on-site verification of each completed questionnaire. Researchers addressed questions in real time during completion and conducted a thorough check for missing or unclear responses immediately after collection, requesting prompt supplementation from participants. This proactive approach successfully prevented missing data, resulting in a complete dataset for analysis.

Statistical Methods

This study used Mplus 8.3 software to perform latent profile analysis and evaluate the model fit of 1 to 5 profiles. Model fit was assessed using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), and adjusted Bayesian Information Criterion (aBIC), with smaller values indicating a better fit. Classification accuracy was measured with information entropy (Entropy), where values closer to 1 reflect higher accuracy. Differences in model fit were compared using the Lo-Mendell-Rubin likelihood ratio test (LMRT) and the Bootstrap likelihood ratio test (BLRT). If P < 0.05, it suggests that the k-category model is better than the k-1-category model. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0 software. For normally distributed quantitative data, the mean ± standard deviation was reported, and intergroup comparisons were conducted with one-way analysis of variance. Qualitative data were described using frequencies and proportions, with intergroup comparisons performed via the χ² test. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify factors influencing postoperative chemotherapy patients with ovarian cancer across different categories. All statistical analyses were considered statistically significant at P < 0.05.

Results

General Information on Patients Undergoing Postoperative Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer

A total of 260 questionnaires were distributed in this survey, and 237 were ultimately returned, resulting in an effective response rate of 91.15%. The general information on the 237 patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy for ovarian cancer is shown in Table 1.

Table 1 General Information on 237 Patients Who Underwent Postoperative Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer

Scale Scores for Postoperative Chemotherapy Patients

The mean scores for each scale were as follows: Flourishing Scale (FS): Total score = 28.86 ± 7.91. Learned Helplessness Scale (LHS): Total = 45.67 ± 8.73; Internal-External = 16.94 ± 3.78; Stable-Unstable = 19.00 ± 4.00; Global-Specific = 9.73 ± 2.31. Index of Autonomous Functioning (IAF): Total = 39.30 ± 10.11; Self-Congruence = 13.41 ± 4.08; Interest-Taking = 13.19 ± 4.09; Susceptibility to Control = 12.70 ± 4.18; Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS): Total = 44.83 ± 8.71; Family Support = 14.60 ± 3.74; Friend Support = 14.57 ± 4.01; Other Support = 15.65 ± 3.96.

Results of Latent Profile Analysis for Flourishing in Patients Undergoing Postoperative Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer

1. Models 1 to 5 of the latent profile analysis were sequentially fitted using the eight items of the Flourishing Scale as manifest variables. The results of model fitting are presented in Table 2. As the number of profiles increased, AIC, BIC, and aBIC values steadily decreased. The LMRT and BLRT tests for model 3 were significant (P < 0.05), indicating a good fit, while the LMRT values for models with more than three profiles were not significant (P > 0.05). Additionally, the entropy values for these models were lower than those for model 3. The final selection of Model 3 was based on a comprehensive evaluation that combined statistical data, clinical interpretability, and practical relevance. This choice was primarily influenced by two factors: First, Model 3 was chosen because it struck a better balance between statistical accuracy and clinical significance. It exhibited a superior fit to the data compared to the two-profile model, as shown by lower AIC, BIC, and aBIC scores. Importantly, this statistical advantage had clinical relevance: Model 3 successfully identified a distinct ‘Moderate flourishing ‘subgroup, a key target for prevention—something the two-profile model could not achieve. Second, although Models 4 and 5 had lower AIC and aBIC values, they did not demonstrate a significant improvement in model fit, as evidenced by non-significant LMRT results. These models yielded less clear and more fragmented subgroups, offering little meaningful insight or clinical value beyond Model 3. Therefore, Model 3 was selected for providing an optimal balance of statistical robustness, clarity, and practical utility. Furthermore, this model exhibited high classification accuracy, with entropy and average latent class probabilities for the most likely class exceeding 0.90, indicating highly reliable profile assignments. Based on the classification from the latent profile analysis, the scores of the three categories on each item of flourishing were plotted (see Figure 1). Category 1: A total of 90 cases (38.1%). The scores of patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy for ovarian cancer in category 1 were low, so it was named the “low flourishing group.” Category 2: A total of 80 cases (34.2%), whose scores fell between those of categories 1 and 3, so it was named the “moderate flourishing group.” Category 3: A total of 67 cases (27.7%) showed high Flourishing, so it was named the “high flourishing group.” It’s important to emphasize that this profile classification was not based on fixed cutoff points. Instead, using a model-driven, person-centered approach, latent profile analysis identifies subgroups directly from response patterns across all items, with probabilistic assignment offering an objective and data-driven result.
2. The scores for FS, LHS, IAF, and PSSS were reported. The total FS score averaged 28.86 ± 7.91 points. The total LHS score was 45.67 ± 8.73, including specific dimensions such as an internal-external score of 16.94 ± 3.78, a stable-unstable score of 19.00 ± 4.00, and a universal-specific score of 9.73 ± 2.31. The total IAF score was 39.30 ± 10.11, with sub-scores of 13.41 ± 4.08 for self-consistency, 13.19 ± 4.09 for contemplative interest, and 12.70 ± 4.18 for controllability. The total PSSS score was 44.83 ± 8.71. The scores for the subscales were as follows: 14.60 ± 3.74 for family support, 14.57 ± 4.01 for friend support, and 15.65 ± 3.96 for other support. Refer to Table 1 for general information on 237 patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Table 2 Potential Profile Analysis of Flourishing in 237 Patients Undergoing Postoperative Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer

Figure 1 Entry Equalization Score across Flourishing Scale Entries (S1–S8) in different flourishing groups. (1) low flourishing group (38.1%): Dotted line with square markers (2) moderately flourishing group (34.2%): Dotted line with triangle markers (3) high flourishing group (27.7%): Solid line with triangle markers.

Univariate Analysis of Latent Profile Categories

Univariate analysis revealed no statistically significant differences among the three latent profile groups of postoperative ovarian cancer chemotherapy patients in terms of age, residence, average monthly household income per capita, marital status, number of chemotherapy cycles, or tumor stage (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, significant differences between groups were observed in education level, body mass index (BMI), illness duration, and comorbidity burden (p < 0.05). Refer to Table 3.

Table 3 Univariate Analysis of General Information and Potential Profiles of Flourishing in 237 Patients Undergoing Postoperative Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer

Multivariate Analysis of the Potential Profiles of Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy After Ovarian Cancer Surgery

Using the three potential profiles of flourishing as the dependent variable and the high flourishing group as the reference, multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted with the variables that showed statistically significant differences in the univariate analysis as independent variables. Variable values: Learned Helplessness, Index of Autonomous Functioning, and Perceived Social Support were entered in their original forms; educational level was coded as follows: Junior high school or below = 1, high school/vocational high school = 2, college and above = 3; Body Mass Index (BMI): <18.5 kg/m² = 1, 24.0 > BMI ≥18.5 kg/m² = 2, ≥24.0 kg/m² = 3; Duration of illness: 3–6 months = 1, 7–12 months = 2, >12 months = 3; Number of comorbidities: ≥2 = 1, <2 = 2. Compared to the high flourishing group, patients undergoing chemotherapy after ovarian cancer surgery with higher Learned Helplessness Scale scores, shorter illness duration, and more comorbidities were more likely to be classified into the low flourishing group (P<0.05). Perceived Social Support Scale and Index of Autonomous Functioning scores were higher, increasing the likelihood of classification into the moderate and high-Flourishing groups (P<0.05), as shown in Table 4.

Table 4 Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis of Potential Categories of Flourishing in 237 Patients Undergoing Postoperative Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer

Discussion

This study clarified the variability in flourishing among patients with postoperative ovarian cancer undergoing chemotherapy and identified different psychological profiles and their predictive factors. The following discussion interprets these findings in light of existing research and examines their clinical implications for tailored psychosocial care.

Significant Heterogeneity Exists in Flourishing Levels Among Ovarian Cancer Patients Receiving Postoperative Chemotherapy

This study found lower flourishing scores (28.86 ± 7.91) than that reported in Ma Huili et al’s study on patients with thyroid cancer.⁸ Potential explanations are as follows: (1) Despite advances in treatment, the survival rates for ovarian cancer remain lower than those for other cancers. This disease trajectory creates heightened psychological stress and diminishes coping capacity in patients; (2) most patients are middle-aged and older women. Middle-aged patients often experience guilt and anxiety due to disrupted family caregiving roles,²⁶ while elderly patients face greater treatment side effects, develop negative treatment attitudes, and demonstrate poorer resource utilisation.²⁷ (3) High comorbidity burden and severe physical/mental impairment in our cohort increased the disease burden, further reducing flourishing levels.²⁸

Characteristics of Latent Flourishing Profiles

This study found medium-to-low levels of overall flourishing among postoperative patients with ovarian cancer, aligning with the work of Wang Ran et al¹⁰ and extending its relevance internationally through consistency with Cerezo et al’s research on breast cancer survivors in Spain.²⁹ Critically, these studies collectively show that patients with lower flourishing levels consistently demonstrate impaired psychosocial functioning. This recurring cross-cultural pattern highlights the urgent need to move beyond identifying these issues and to implement stratified, actionable psychosocial interventions as part of routine oncologic care. Our latent profile analysis provides a clear framework for this stratified care approach. Three distinct profiles were identified, each offering specific guidance for psychological screening and survivorship care planning.

(1) Low flourishing group (38.1%): This profile had significantly lower flourishing scores and was associated with a longer illness duration and a greater sense of loss of control. Elevated learned helplessness indicates challenges in managing chronic conditions, weak coping strategies, and reduced self-efficacy.³⁰ Clinical implications: This group should be prioritised for routine psychological screening. Their care should focus on an intensive, personalised survivorship plan that includes structured interventions to help them concentrate on controllable factors, establish realistic short-term goals, and regain confidence in disease management.³¹

(2) Moderately flourishing group (34.2%): Scores suggest partial adaptation to illness. Patients remain optimistic but experience residual “coping frustration” from ineffective strategies, which limits their flourishing. Clinical implications: This group is crucial for preventive screening during follow-up. Survivorship care plans should be proactive, offering timely psychoeducation and skill training at key moments, such as before chemotherapy or during the transition to survivorship, to help prevent adverse outcomes and improve adaptive coping strategies.

(3) High flourishing group (27.7%): Patients demonstrated significant autonomy, perception of disease control, proactive self-management, and resource use. Clinical implications: Screening this group helps preserve its strengths. Survivorship care plans should focus on maintenance, detailed disease information, effective therapeutic communication, and peer-led support to foster well-being. Additionally, several important predictive factors provided further insights into the identification of these profiles. First, patients who underwent chemotherapy after ovarian cancer surgery and scored higher on the Learned Helplessness Scale were more likely to fall into the low-flourishing group. Learned helplessness describes the negative emotional and behavioural responses that develop when individuals repeatedly face uncontrollable adverse events, such as ongoing setbacks, trauma, or inescapable stressors.³² Among ovarian cancer patients receiving postoperative chemotherapy, prolonged treatment often induces debilitating symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and pain. Chronic exposure to these unmodifiable stressors fosters helplessness, potentially triggering learned helplessness, which diminishes the flourishing of individuals.³³ Furthermore, most patients with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when the uncertainty of the disease leads to feelings of helplessness and diminishes psychological resilience. To address this, clinicians should systematically evaluate learned helplessness using validated tools to identify high-risk patients; implement specific interventions, such as prophylactic antiemetics prior to chemotherapy and evidence-based complementary therapies, such as acupressure for nausea; instruct patients on self-regulation techniques to improve their ability to cope with the disease; and help patients recall mastery experiences to strengthen their confidence in the treatment.³⁰ These strategies could collectively enhance patients’ flourishing levels. Additionally, among patients with ovarian cancer receiving postoperative chemotherapy, a shorter duration of illness was associated with classification into the low-flourishing group. This study found an inverse relationship between illness duration and flourishing, with patients diagnosed more recently being significantly more likely to fall into the low-flourishing group. This may indicate severe psychological distress during the diagnostic transition, as patients often struggle to accept their diagnoses and exhibit reduced psychological resilience. As the illness persists, patients typically undergo several adaptive stages: they gain a better understanding of their condition, their fear decreases as they perceive less uncontrollability, and they transition from passive resistance to active coping strategies.³⁴ To enhance psychological adaptation and facilitate flourishing, clinicians should implement a three-step approach: first, provide early psychoeducation through structured disease counselling at diagnosis to encourage acceptance of the illness; second, offer prompt psychological support to transform avoidance behaviours into active coping and help realign life goals; and finally, establish formal peer networks connecting newly diagnosed patients with long-term survivors. These coordinated interventions enhanced resilience and promoted higher levels of flourishing. Moreover, patients with ovarian cancer undergoing postoperative chemotherapy were more likely to be classified into the low-flourishing group if they had more comorbidities. This study indicated that patients with ovarian cancer and higher comorbidity burden tended to have significantly lower flourishing levels. This connection likely results from increased clinical complexity, which impacts the quality of life, worsens long-term treatment symptoms, and causes negative emotional states such as despair, fear, and anxiety, which together decrease flourishing.³⁵ Furthermore, complex medical information on multiple conditions can lead to cognitive overload, which may reduce treatment adherence and weaken self-efficacy. To reduce these effects, clinicians should (1) conduct multidisciplinary consultations to create personalised care plans and (2) offer targeted health education to bridge knowledge gaps and reduce psychological distress, thereby supporting patients’ flourishing trajectories. Protective factors were also identified. Patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy for ovarian cancer with higher Perceived Social Support Scale scores were more likely to be classified into the high flourishing group. This study shows that higher perceived social support is associated with increased levels of flourishing among patients with ovarian cancer undergoing postoperative chemotherapy, consistent with the findings of Ma Huili et al.⁷ Since most patients face late-stage diagnoses and treatment-related uncertainty, reduced confidence often leads to negative emotions that hinder well-being. Social support is a vital external resource that positively influences attitudes toward the disease and behaviour during treatment. Consequently, clinicians should prioritise assessing social support at baseline during initial hospitalisation, focus on patients with low support by engaging peer, partner, family, and friendship networks, and maintain higher-support patients through increased communication channels. Complementary strategies, such as peer exchange platforms, family caregiver training in collaborative disease management, and clinician-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy, may further improve flourishing trajectories.³⁶ Finally, patients with ovarian cancer receiving postoperative chemotherapy who scored higher on the autonomous functioning index were more likely to be in the high-flourishing group. This study showed that patients with ovarian cancer who underwent postoperative chemotherapy and had higher autonomous functioning were significantly more likely to belong to the high-flourishing group. This connection stems from a greater internal motivation to manage the disease; autonomous patients are proactive in seeking treatment resources, adjust more readily to illness-related lifestyles, and implement self-care measures early.³⁷ Clinicians should use autonomy-supportive strategies, such as collaborative decision-making and motivational interviewing, which specifically examine the alignment of patient values with treatment goals. These approaches help improve autonomous functioning and, consequently, increase flourishing levels.

Limitations

This study has some limitations. First, using a convenience sample from a single tertiary centre limits the extent to which the results can be applied to others. Second, the lack of data on clinical confounders, such as performance status and specific chemotherapy regimens, increases the risk of residual confounding. Future research should involve multicentre, long-term studies that include a broader range of potential confounders to confirm these findings.

Conclusion

Our results revealed notable variations in thriving levels among patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, highlighting the importance of personalised psychological support. To support clinical adoption, we suggest a brief assessment protocol during routine follow-ups, which can be measured using short-form psychometric scales (such as those for helplessness, autonomy, and social support), supplemented by data from medical records (including illness duration and comorbidities) and structured clinical interviews. The thresholds identified in our “moderate-to-low Flourishing” subgroup provide clear indicators for intervention. In practice, if a patient scores above any of these cut-offs (for example, Learned Helplessness >44.78 or Perceived Social Support <45.64), a targeted intervention should be implemented. This aligns with a stepped-care model in which, high helplessness scores suggest the need for strategies that promote active coping, whereas low social support indicates the benefits of joining support groups.^28,34 Furthermore, promoting flourishing may offer clinical benefits beyond psychological health. Improved flourishing can increase adherence to treatment by fostering self-efficacy and encouraging healthy coping strategies. Additionally, resilience associated with flourishing may support physical recovery by promoting health-focused behaviours and better stress management. Future research should aim to validate this operational protocol, develop structured nursing strategies, and explore how flourishing enhancements influence specific clinical outcomes, such as chemotherapy completion and physical recovery. Other studies should confirm this protocol and establish organised nursing procedures to improve patient well-being. The inclusion of biological markers, such as BRAF mutations, can also help create more personalised and holistic treatment plans.³⁸

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

The research involving human subjects was approved by Fenyang Hospital of Shanxi Province (Permit No. 2024026). Participants provided written informed consent to participate in the study. The study adheres to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent for Publication

All authors approved the final manuscript and the submission to this journal.

Acknowledgments

We want to thank Xiaoyu Xu and Xishu Bai for collecting the survey data, and we are grateful to all the participants for their participation in the present study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Funding

This study was supported by Lvliang Key R&D Projects (2024SHFZ17).

Disclosure

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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21. Sisi Y, Zhaoli Z, Ling T, et al. Chinese translation of the learned helplessness scale and its reliability and validity testing among cancer patients. Chongqing Med. 2023;52(23):3672–3675.

22. Weinstein NPAKR, Przybylski AK, Ryan RM. The index of autonomous functioning: development of a scale of human autonomy. J Res Personality. 2012;46(4):397–413. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2012.03.007

23. Jiayu W, Lei L, Hui C, et al. Chinese translation and reliability and validity testing of the index of autonomous functioning. Nursres. 2023;37(24):4413–4416.

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25. Jiang Q.Perceived social support scale. Chin J Behav Med. 2001;10(10):41–43.

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27. Wall JA, Lipking K, Smith HJ, Huh WK, Salter T, Liang MI. Moderate to severe distress in half of ovarian cancer patients undergoing treatment highlights a need for more proactive symptom and psychosocial management. Gynecol Oncol. 2022;166(3):503–507. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2022.06.016

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29. Cerezo MV, Soria-Reyes LM, Alarcón R, Blanca MJ. The flourishing scale: psychometric properties in breast cancer patients. Integr Cancer Ther. 2024;23:15347354241249935. doi:10.1177/15347354241249935

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“Families in need of help” will get supermarket food vouchers during the Christmas school holiday, a council said.

Peterborough City Council will send £30 vouchers to eligible families by text and email from 17 December.

The authority urged families who may be entitled but have not yet signed up for the initiative to do so as soon as possible.

Katy Cole, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I’m delighted that once again we will be providing this worthwhile scheme over the Christmas break.”

The vouchers will be sent automatically to eligible families, using school data and information held by the council.

The eligible families are those who receive:

• Income-based free school meals
• Early years pupil premium
• Funded childcare and education for two-year-olds

Cole said: “We remain fully committed to supporting families in need of help.

“As always, I would strongly urge anyone who is eligible for the scheme but has not already signed up to please consider doing so as soon as possible.

“The free school meals scheme not only helps families save around £450 a year per child, but also helps their child’s primary school receive much-needed additional funding.”

The vouchers, which must be claimed by 21:00 GMT on 18 December, could be used at up to 10 supermarkets.

They must also be activated by 18 January; otherwise, they become invalid.

Private equity giant Advent will weigh up offshore expansion opportunities for its newly acquired share registry, technology and fund services firm Automic, after locking down a local board led by Woolworths and Telstra director Maxine Brenner.

Advent’s head of Australia and New Zealand Beau Dixon said following the completion this week of the $725 million Automic acquisition, attention was turning to the firm’s growth options.

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Cambridge, MA, 1 December 2025 – MAK Technologies (MAK), a company of ST Engineering North America, will showcase its MAK ONE suite of simulation software and integrated training solutions at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) 2025.  Highlights include its advanced synthetic environment, new SAR simulation product, and AI-enhanced training applications showcasing its multi-domain capabilities through ground, naval and air demonstrations.

“MAK is proud to offer a simulation platform that’s both deeply trusted and continuously evolving,” said Bill Cole, CEO of MAK Technologies. “Our presence at I/ITSEC 2025 reflects our commitment to interoperability, innovation, and the enduring strength of the MAK ONE ecosystem.”

MAK ONE 2025 with Demonstrations for Multi-Domain Training and Simulation

MAK will showcase its latest MAK ONE 2025 release, featuring the Common Synthetic Environment platform and its capabilities, along with integrated product demonstrations that highlight its support for multi-domain training and simulation across diverse operational environments. This includes VR-Forces, VR-Vantage, VR-Engage, VR-Link, MAK RTI, and new SAR simulation product, RFView® for MAK ONE, alongside integrated ground, naval and air demonstrations. The demonstrations will feature high-fidelity MAK ONE plugins for electronic warfare training, including CogSim Technologies’ Tactical Data Link for VR-Force.

AI-Enhanced End-User Training Applications Powered by MAK ONE

MAK ONE will also exhibit training applications with AI capabilities, based on MAK ONE, to improve realism, usability and decision-making. These include:

• The FPV Drone Simulator, combining real FPV headsets and controllers with virtual quadcopters for immersive unmanned system training. 
• AI for Constructive Simulation, using natural language-driven scenario generation and intelligent agents for smarter, easier-to-use, constructive simulation.
• The AGIL® Counter-UAS Simulation System, developed by ST Engineering and using MAK ONE, which offers AI-assisted training for tactical decision-making and threat neutralization across C-UAS operations.
• VR-Forces Wargaming with ST Engineering’s Mission Analytics and Review System (MARS), enabling strategic VR-Forces scenario analysis through session recordings and real-time video analytics. 
• Cervus’ Forge platform, showcasing scalable simulation and analytics, accelerating experimentation and decision-making with real-time insights from complex VR-Forces scenarios, powered by the Hive analytics engine.
• MAK FIRES, delivering realistic, on-the-go Call for Fire training for forward observers and fire support teams.

Visit MAK at Booths 1221 and 1123 from December 1 to 4 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. MAK will also host a MAK ONE User Group on December 2, from 8:30AM–11:30 AM at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Salon 3/4. Open to all I/ITSEC attendees, this session will showcase presentations from MAK ONE users worldwide, highlighting how they are leveraging the platform for real-world projects. 

To learn more about the MAK ONE suite of simulation software or schedule a demonstration, click here. 

*****

media contacts: 
Morgan McElroy
Marketing Director
MAK Technologies
Email: mmcelroy@mak.com

Rula Malky
ST Engineering North America
Email: Rula.MALKY@stengg.us

Givaudan, the global leader in Fragrance & Beauty, today announced that it has successfully acquired Belle Aire Creations, a prominent US-based fragrance house known for its creative expertise and strong regional customer relationships. This milestone is aligned with Givaudan’s 2030 strategy to strengthen its presence with local and regional customers and expanding creative capabilities across North America. 

Since its founding in 1982, Belle Aire Creations has been fuelled by creativity, passion, and an unwavering drive for excellence. From its entrepreneurial beginnings to its current industry leadership, the company has remained a beacon of innovation and growth – always guided by the belief that true success is measured by customer satisfaction.

Gilles Andrier, CEO of Givaudan, said: “We are thrilled to officially welcome the employees of Belle Aire Creations to the Givaudan family. The company’s strong reach with local and regional customers, combined with our global creative expertise and innovation capabilities, will enable us to serve the dynamic North American market even more closely and effectively.” 
 
Maurizio Volpi, President Fragrance & Beauty at Givaudan, added: “This acquisition reinforces our commitment to offering tailored fragrance solutions that reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the US market. Together, we will create even greater value for our customers through agility, creativity, and shared passion for scent. I am also very happy to remind that, as part of this integration, Stacey David will keep the leadership of Belle Aire Creations, building on her outstanding track record and drive for growth that will be strongly beneficial to Givaudan.”

Stacey David, CEO of Belle Aire Creations, commented: “We are delighted to join Givaudan and collaborate in shaping the future of fragrance creation. This partnership will build on our entrepreneurial spirit and customer intimacy, giving us access to global resources while maintaining the unique relationships that define Belle Aire Creations.”

While the terms of the deal will not be disclosed, Belle Aire Creations’ business would have represented approximately CHF 65 million of incremental sales to Givaudan’s results in 2024 on a proforma basis. Givaudan plans to fund the transaction from existing resources.

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About Givaudan
Givaudan is a global leader in Fragrance & Beauty and Taste & Wellbeing. We celebrate the beauty of human experience by creating for happier, healthier lives with love for nature. Together with our customers we deliver food experiences, craft inspired fragrances and develop beauty and wellbeing solutions that make people look and feel good. In 2024, Givaudan employed over 16,900 people worldwide and achieved CHF 7.4 billion in sales with a free cash flow of 15.6%. With a heritage that stretches back over 250 years, we are committed to driving long-term, purpose-led growth by improving people’s health and happiness and increasing our positive impact on nature. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. Discover more at www.givaudan.com.

About Givaudan Fragrance & Beauty
Givaudan Fragrance & Beauty crafts inspired fragrances to perfume lives and memories, and develops innovative beauty and wellbeing solutions that make people look and feel good all over the world. Nature is both our responsibility and our most precious muse. We are just as committed to sustainability as we are to creating innovative products that satisfy consumer needs and anticipate their desires. With a collaborative approach that favours co-creation, we have built a diverse portfolio across personal care, fabric care, hygiene, home care, fine fragrances, and beauty, reflecting our multidisciplinary expertise. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. Learn more at www.givaudan.com/fragrance-beauty.

About Belle Aire Creations
Founded in 1982, Belle Aire Creations® is a premier full-service fragrance manufacturer at the forefront of the industry. Renowned for developing innovative and captivating fragrances, the company skilfully blends scientific precision with perfumery artistry and the compelling art of storytelling. Dedicated to delivering the latest innovations in perfumery and malodour technology, Belle Aire Creations® provides exceptional service and reliability, offering clear solutions to complex fragrance and ingredient challenges. https://belleairecreations.com.

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For further information please contact
Claudia Pedretti, Head of Investor and Media Relations
T +41 523 540 132
E claudia.pedretti@givaudan.com

Pauline Martin, Fragrance & Beauty Communications
E pauline.martin.pm1@givaudan.com

The latest data release from Chevron on its Gorgon carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, the world’s largest, showed the lowest amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) captured and stored for a year since it started in August 2019.

This matters as CCS has been promoted as a climate solution by the fossil fuel sector, which last year pumped a collective 37.8 billion tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere. This puts the world on a trajectory to reach a global average temperature rise of 2.6°C above pre-industrial levels, according to Climate Action Tracker.

According to the oil and gas sector, one way to avoid this is to adopt CCS, and government should be putting taxpayer funds into this “solution”. However, CCS has a chequered history and is beset by technical issues that its proponents, often engineers, say can be overcome. Yet Gorgon CCS shows no signs of improving; its performance has declined significantly since the first year of operation, as the chart below shows.

_{Source: Chevron. Gorgon Gas Development and Jansz Feed Gas Pipeline Five-year Environmental Performance Report 2020-2025. Page 112.}

To put Gorgon CCS’s underperformance into context, the 1.33 million tonnes (Mt) of CO₂ it captured in FY2024-25 represents 25% of the CO₂ removed (5.22MtCO₂) in that period from the Gorgon and associated gas fields that feed the Gorgon LNG plant on Barrow Island off Western Australia. This is a fraction of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by the gas produced at Gorgon. 

Chevron is not obliged to disclose the amount of CO₂ released into the atmosphere from its largest source of emissions: when the gas is combusted by its customers (or Scope 3 emissions). This makes up about 90% of the total emissions released by Gorgon CCS and its associated gas and LNG projects. However, in one of its Gorgon CCS planning documents, Chevron estimated that if all the gas from the project were consumed at gas-powered generation stations in the Asia-Pacific, emissions would amount to 50MtCO₂ a year. Based on the assumptions in that scenario, Gorgon CCS captured just 2.66% of the total emissions from extracting, processing and burning gas from the Gorgon fields.

So even if Gorgon were working at its design rate of capturing and storing 4MtCO₂ a year, it would still just amount to 8% of the total emissions from the associated projects. This is the case for any gas field promoting a CCS project, such as Woodside’s Browse gas project and Inpex’s Bonaparte CCS project. The latter is slated to host some of the CO₂ from Inpex’s Ichthys gas project in the Browse Basin in the Timor Sea.

Nonetheless, Gorgon CCS remains a bellwether for the CCS sector. Despite the relatively small amounts of CO₂ it captures, it still represents a significant proportion of the world’s dedicated CCS projects. The Global CCS Institute’s (GCCSI) annual report on the status of CCS around the world does not provide data on how much CO₂ is captured each year, only projects’ nameplate capacity. As is evident at Gorgon CCS, it stored only about one-third of its annual target capacity in FY2024-25. Trawling through the dedicated CCS projects in the GCCSI annual report, the total CO₂ stored by the world’s CCS projects is little more than 10MtCO₂ a year or 0.00026% of global fossil fuel emissions. (Note: CCS is distinct from CCUS projects; the U stands for the utilisation of captured CO₂ to squeeze more oil out of the ground, also known as enhanced oil recovery.)

However, you’re unlikely to find any mention of these facts in the oil and gas sector narrative, which promotes CCS as a solution to reduce the industry’s emissions and justify opening new gas reserves. 

Yet there are more economical ways to reduce global emissions. The costs of solar PV and storing electricity through grid-scale batteries have come down sharply in the nine years since Chevron started building Gorgon CCS. This year, renewables overtook coal for the first time in generating electricity whereas the costs of CCS and its technical challenges remain.
 

This commentary was originally published in RenewEconomy.

Salman Shahid travels frequently between Srinagar, the biggest city in Indian-administered Kashmir, and New Delhi. He runs Rise, a private coaching centre for students aspiring to join the Indian Institutes of Technology – the country’s premier engineering schools – in Srinagar, but his family is based in New Delhi.

Flying helps him save time. But increasingly, he just cannot afford it.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Shahid says, a one-way flight from Srinagar to New Delhi would cost him about 3,300 rupees ($37.20) on average. “Now, the same ticket is over 5,000 rupees ($56), and that, too, with very limited time options,” he points out.

This 50 percent surge in airfare has significantly affected his travel routine. “I don’t travel that frequently now,” he says. “Earlier, I would make at least four round-trips a month. Now, it’s come down to just two.”

He recalls once booking a ticket for just 1,700 rupees ($19) on Vistara, a domestic airliner, during a sale in 2019. “That kind of pricing now feels like a dream,” he says, adding that he struggles to understand how airfare has escalated so sharply in such a short period.

He is not alone.

According to a study published last November by Airports Council International (ACI), a global trade association representing more than 2,000 airports in more than 180 countries, India saw a 43 percent rise in domestic airfares in the first half of 2024, compared with 2019, the second-highest in the Asia Pacific and West Asia regions after Vietnam.

International fares also rose by 16 percent. India was third in this category. A study representing 617 airports in the Asia Pacific and West Asia regions, conducted by ACI in partnership with Flare Aviation Consulting, a management consulting boutique specialised in the aviation and airports sector, attributes this surge to high demand, limited competition on some routes, and a 38 percent spike in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs since 2019.

Prices rose from 68,050 rupees ($759) per kilolitre in cities like Delhi in January 2019 to 93,766 rupees ($1,046) per kilolitre in October 2025. Airlines are also recovering pandemic-era losses, further pushing fares up.

And even though there is no comprehensive study capturing fare trends in 2025, yet, experts say prices have continued to rise throughout the year.

“Despite the huge surge already, airfares aren’t coming down and are only going up,” said Vandana Singh, the chairperson of the Aviation Cargo Federation of Aviation Industry in India (FAII), a government-recognised body that promotes India’s aviation sector.

“The relentless increase in airfare does not reflect well on the accessibility of aviation in India,” Singh added, cautioning that the middle and economically weaker sections of society may soon find themselves excluded from the air travel landscape altogether.

‘Hollow catchphrase’

In October 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched what his government has called the UDAN scheme – “Udan” means “flight” in Hindi, but the acronym stands for Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (Let the Common Citizen Fly). The stated aim of the scheme was to dramatically expand India’s aviation infrastructure, and open up dozens of new routes to make air travel accessible to lower-income Indians and people in smaller towns and cities.

While flagging off the first flight under the scheme in April 2017, Modi said, “I want to see people who wear hawai chappals [flip-flops] flying in a hawai jahaaz [aeroplane].”

His comments effectively became a slogan for the campaign, touted as the government’s bid to make flying affordable and accessible for millions of people from small-town India, many of whom cannot even afford shoes.

But that slogan now carries a tinge of irony, Singh said.

“With fares escalating consistently over the past few years, this inspiring slogan now risks becoming a hollow catchphrase rather than a lived reality.”

Under the Modi government, India has indeed witnessed a rapid expansion in the number of cities and towns connected by air, with airports more than doubling from 74 in 2014, when Modi came to power, to 157 in 2024.

But the numbers mask a deeper crisis that afflicts Indian aviation, experts say. Because the number of flights and routes has gone up, the total volume of travellers in India has remained high, even if soaring prices mean that many individual passengers are reducing air travel.

The country is the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, and witnessed a 15 percent increase in air passengers, year-on-year, in the 2024 financial year, according to government figures.

Still, signs of turbulence are visible, even in the data. Domestic air traffic dipped to 12.6 million passengers in July 2025, compared with 13.1 million in June 2025. The numbers recovered in August to 13.2 million, but then dipped again in September (12.6 million), before rising in October to 14.3 million passengers.

Rohit Kumar, an aviation economist and a faculty member at Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University, said that while passenger numbers have not fallen, “the rise in fares has quietly pushed the lower and lower-middle classes out of the skies”. New airports, more routes, and upper-middle-class travellers, who value time over cost, are continuing to keep total passenger numbers up.

Kumar added that the remote working culture that many technology and service-driven industries in India have continued to embrace since the pandemic has allowed employees to travel more frequently than before. This has boosted occasional air travel among higher-income professionals, he said.

However, despite year-on-year growth, the sector remains deeply unequal. India’s aviation sector, Kumar cautioned, is being carried by a small, affluent section, while the vast majority – emerging flyers that the UDAN scheme was meant to serve – are increasingly being left behind.

Singh of the FAII was even more blunt.

“The very people the [Modi] slogan referred to, those who wear chappals, are now being priced out of the skies,” she said.

‘Monopolistic trends’

More routes are not the only factor allowing airlines to keep raising fares, even if they are pricing out many passengers. They are also helped by shrinking competition.

In recent years, several major airlines have shut down, while others have merged after acquisitions.

Go First, which once held more than 10 percent of India’s domestic and international market, with 52 aircraft, ceased operations in May 2023 after filing for bankruptcy. Jet Airways, with a 21 percent market share and 124 aircraft at its 2016 peak, halted operations in 2019.

SpiceJet teetered on the edge of insolvency, especially between 2022 and 2024, due to mounting debt, legal issues, and grounded aircraft. In July 2022, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulator, cut SpiceJet operations by 50 percent. The DGCA cited “poor internal safety oversight and inadequate maintenance actions”. SpiceJet also faced significant delays, with a reported on-time performance (OTP) of 54.8 percent in January 2025, making it the least punctual airline among major carriers at the time.

Defaults on lease payments also led to aircraft repossessions, shrinking SpiceJet’s fleet from 118 in 2019 to just 28 operational planes by January 2025.

“The back-to-back shutdown of airlines in India severely impacted air travel, paving the way for monopolistic trends,” said Singh. With fewer players in the skies, dominant airlines can dictate prices and raise them at their discretion, she added.

In another major shake-up, Air India, India’s only public sector airline, was officially privatised in January 2022, when the Tata Group took over full ownership.

Following this, Vistara, an airline already jointly owned by Tata and Singapore Airlines, was merged with Air India in November 2024. The merger raised concerns and faced strong opposition from critics, including trade unions and opposition parties, who feared that the consolidation of Air India, Vistara, and AirAsia India – another Tata Group subsidiary also merged with the other two – would lead to an aviation oligopoly, reducing competition and consumer choice in the Indian market.

Zuhaib Rashid, an economics and research associate at the Isaac Centre for Public Policy, New Delhi, said the merger handed over control of India’s skies to just two private players, posing a serious threat to competition.

The only other major aviation player in India today is Indigo, which has 61 percent market share. Together, IndiGo and Air India now control 91 percent of India’s airline market.

Rashid argued that, had the government retained a stake in Air India, it could have ensured fare regulation. “Fully privatising airlines has reduced government control over pricing, and has allowed private players to dominate in a country where air travel remains a luxury,” he added.

Their dominance of the market also allows Air India and Indigo to jack up prices dramatically  during peak travel seasons or emergencies, tour operators and experts say, citing two recent examples.

Sajad Ismail Sofi, a Srinagar-based air travel agent, pointed to the aftermath of the deadly April attack on tourists in Pahalgam, a popular resort town in Indian-administered Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed. As tourists in other parts of Kashmir scrambled to leave the region, one-way ticket prices from Srinagar to other parts of India skyrocketed from 5,000 rupees ($56) to nearly 12,000 rupees ($135).

After airlines faced major criticism and accusations of profiteering from a national crisis, prices came down.

Earlier in the year, Singh from the FAII recalled, one-way airfares from India’s financial capital, Mumbai, to the temple town of Prayagraj soared to 50,000 rupees ($564) – more expensive than flights to Paris – during the Mahakumbh Mela, one of Hinduism’s most sacred events in which devotees take dips in the Ganga river. The government eventually stepped in to pressure airlines to curb prices. However, Singh said that most pilgrims had already bought their tickets by then.

Al Jazeera has sought responses from Indigo and Air India to the criticism and allegations of using their market dominance to charge exorbitant rates. Neither airline has responded.

Higher taxes adding to the burden

Experts point out that airlines alone are not responsible for the rising fares. India’s high aviation taxes are a key factor too.

The country imposes the highest taxes on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in Asia, which account for 45 percent of air ticket prices. By mid-2024, jet fuel prices in cities like Delhi and Mumbai were nearly 60 percent higher than in global hubs like Dubai, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur, largely due to value-added taxes (VAT), central excise duties and additional cesses.

Passengers are also charged, as part of their tickets, a user development fee, ranging from 150 rupees ($1.7) to 400 rupees ($4.5) depending on the airport; a passenger service fee of about 150 rupees ($1.7); an aviation security fee of 200 rupees ($2.3) per passenger; a terminal fee of 100 rupees ($1.2); and a regional connectivity charge between 50 rupees ($0.6) and 100 rupees ($1.2) per passenger. Each of these amounts is small, but together, they add up. And they do not go to the airline, but to the airport or the government.

In June, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents more than 350 airlines globally, called for greater clarity in India’s taxation system, arguing that it was too complex.

Amjad Ali, a travel operator from New Delhi, said he had been in the air ticketing business since 2005, and had never witnessed a sharp rise in airfares until 2020. “Fares used to increase gradually, but since 2020, they have shot up rapidly,” he said.

Ali usually books tickets on routes like Delhi–Mumbai, Delhi–Patna, and Delhi–Purnea. Patna and Purnea are cities in the eastern Indian state of Bihar.

He said that new airports, such as Purnea, have brought in more passengers due to the introduction of new routes. Before the pandemic, a Mumbai–Delhi ticket, booked well in advance, used to cost about 3,800 rupees ($43), but now, it is hard to find one below 6,000 rupees ($68) for the same journey.

Meanwhile, airlines have also started cutting discounts they used to offer to some sections of flyers. Previously, Air India offered a 50 percent concession on the base fare for domestic student travel, but after privatisation, this was reduced to only 10 percent.

The result, Ali said, is a noticeable decline in student travellers. “We rarely see students flying these days,” he said.

Ultimately, Singh from the FAII said, the industry was shooting itself in the foot by making flying unaffordable for millions of Indians.

“If we want air travel to become truly accessible to a larger section of the population, particularly those with limited financial means, the government and aviation stakeholders must work towards reducing these taxes and surcharges,” she said.

Until then, a plane ride will remain a flight of fancy for most of India’s 1.4 billion people.