The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed new restrictions on added sugars in food products intended for infants up to six months of age. The move aims to strengthen infant nutrition standards and ensure that products meet the nutritional needs of babies during their crucial early stages of growth and development.

The draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, was published in the Gazette of India on 16 October 2026. It proposes to prohibit the addition of sucrose and fructose to products intended for infants up to six months old.

Under the existing Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020, nutritional composition, quality and safety standards are prescribed for different categories of infant nutrition products intended for children from birth to 24 months of age. The current provisions identify lactose and glucose polymers as preferred carbohydrate sources, while allowing sucrose and/or fructose to be added when required as a carbohydrate source, subject to prescribed limits.

The proposed amendment seeks to introduce a specific restriction for products intended for younger infants. The draft provision states that "sucrose and fructose shall not be added in the products intended for infants up to the age of 6 months".

The proposal focuses on reducing unnecessary exposure to added sugars during early infancy, when proper nutrition plays an important role in brain development, immunity and physical growth. Early exposure to sweetened products may also influence taste preferences and eating habits as children grow.

The initiative aligns with wider public health efforts to encourage appropriate infant feeding practices and reduce dietary risk factors associated with childhood obesity and other health concerns. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life where feasible and recommends that children under two years of age should not consume foods or drinks containing added sugars.

Unlike a labelling change that asks parents to identify and avoid certain ingredients, the proposed restriction would set a limit on what manufacturers can add to products intended for infants in this age group. It aims to provide a clearer regulatory framework for age-appropriate infant nutrition while supporting healthy growth and development.

The draft notification has been published for public consultation. FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 60 days from the date on which copies of the Official Gazette containing the notification are made available to the public. The representations received within the prescribed period will be considered by FSSAI before the amendment is finalised. Until then, the proposal remains a draft regulation.

A meal purchased on a train comes with an expectation of basic safety. Yet, unlike a restaurant where customers can inspect the premises or choose an alternative nearby, railway passengers often have limited options once their journey begins. This makes food safety in railway catering not merely a service-quality issue, but a question of consumer protection and institutional accountability.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has now partnered with the Quality Council of India (QCI) to strengthen food safety and hygiene through independent third-party audits. Announced on October 15, 2026, the agreement introduces a technology-driven monitoring mechanism covering mobile catering units on trains and static catering facilities at railway stations.

Under the arrangement, QCI will conduct unannounced quarterly and half-yearly inspections. Auditors will assess food handling, storage, staff hygiene, medical fitness, pest control and compliance with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations. Digital records, including geo-tagging, time stamps and photographic evidence, are intended to improve transparency. Audit reports are expected within 24 hours, with corrective and preventive action tracking for vendors found deficient.

The initiative addresses an important need. However, introducing an independent inspection mechanism is only the first step. Its effectiveness will ultimately depend on what happens when a catering unit fails to meet the required standards.

An Audit Is Only as Strong as Its Enforcement

Food safety depends on consistent practices, not just compliance on inspection day. A kitchen may appear clean during an assessment, but maintaining the same standards across daily operations, staff shifts and changing passenger volumes is a different challenge.

Unannounced inspections can help identify shortcomings that scheduled visits might miss. Digital evidence can also make findings easier to document and track. But these measures alone cannot guarantee that identified problems are resolved.

What happens when an auditor discovers improper food storage, inadequate sanitation or poor handling practices? How quickly must the operator correct the problem? Will a follow-up inspection verify compliance? And what consequences will apply if the same violations recur?

These are central questions for the new framework. The reported arrangement includes corrective and preventive action tracking, but the practical impact will depend on how consistently these measures are enforced against catering operators.

Who Is Responsible When Standards Fall Short?

Accountability is particularly important in a system involving multiple catering units and contractors. Independent auditors can identify violations, but the responsibility for acting on those findings must remain clear.

IRCTC and the relevant authorities need an effective mechanism to ensure that audit findings translate into corrective action. Catering contractors, meanwhile, must be held responsible for maintaining hygiene and food safety throughout their operations.

Transparency could strengthen this process further. Making suitable compliance information accessible to passengers, alongside clear channels for reporting concerns, would help demonstrate whether the monitoring system is delivering results. Such measures would need to be established and implemented; their availability should not be assumed.

The Passenger Is the Real Measure of Success

For railway passengers, the value of this partnership will not be determined by the number of audits conducted or reports submitted. It will be measured by whether unsafe practices are identified, repeated violations are addressed and food handling standards improve over time.

IRCTC’s partnership with QCI is a constructive step towards stronger oversight of railway catering. But independent audits must lead to consistent compliance, meaningful consequences and verifiable improvements.

The real question is not whether railway food is being inspected. It is whether the system can ensure that food remains safe after the inspection is over.

Domestic airfares across India have surged during the Dussehra and Durga Puja travel period from October 16 to 20, 2026, with last-minute one-way tickets on several major routes costing significantly more than their usual off-peak rates. The increase is creating additional financial pressure for families travelling home, students, migrant workers and passengers who cannot book their journeys in advance.

Indicative fares for Friday, October 16, show sharp increases across several domestic routes. Chennai to Tiruchirappalli tickets were advertised at around ₹9,896, compared with an off-peak reference fare of ₹5,066, an increase of approximately 95%. Mumbai to Delhi fares reached ₹16,016 against a baseline of around ₹5,735–₹6,400, while Bengaluru to Ahmedabad tickets were priced between ₹12,201 and ₹13,240, compared with a reference fare of approximately ₹6,431.

Kolkata to Hyderabad fares also rose to around ₹10,801–₹11,536, against an off-peak reference of ₹7,231. These are indicative advertised fares and may change as seat availability and demand fluctuate.

The pressure extends beyond these routes. Reports have highlighted Chennai to Mumbai fares reaching ₹30,000 and Chennai to Hyderabad tickets costing as much as ₹27,000 for October 16. According to Cleartrip's PeekABoo tracker, the average one-way fare between Chennai and Kolkata was approximately ₹15,500 during October 11–20, nearly 96% higher than the off-peak average of ₹7,900.

Why Are Airfares Rising?

The festive calendar has concentrated travel demand into a short period. Durga Puja celebrations began around Maha Shashti on October 16, followed by Maha Navami on October 19 and Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, on October 20. The overlap of holidays, family reunions and leisure travel has increased demand on popular routes.

Airlines generally use demand-based pricing, meaning fares can rise as lower-priced seats sell out and departure dates approach. Higher aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs and fuel surcharges introduced by Indian carriers have added to the pressure. Passengers booking at short notice are particularly affected, especially when work commitments, leave approvals or financial constraints prevent early planning.

The Impact on Travellers and the Hospitality Sector

The rise in airfares is making festive travel more expensive for families and individuals who need to reach their hometowns. A short domestic journey, such as Chennai to Tiruchirappalli, can become a significant expense when ticket prices approach ₹10,000.

Students and migrant workers travelling between major cities and their hometowns face similar challenges. When fares rise sharply, many passengers turn to trains, buses or private vehicles, putting additional pressure on alternative transport services and road networks.

The impact also extends to tourism and hospitality. Higher transport costs can discourage discretionary trips, shorten holidays and reduce spending on hotels, restaurants, local transport and shopping. Destinations that depend on domestic visitors may feel the effects if travellers decide to postpone or cancel their plans.

Calls for Greater Fare Transparency

The sharp increases have renewed discussions about airfare regulation and consumer protection. The government has indicated that airfare rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, have been finalised and that publication is expected within two weeks, according to reports. However, the absence of an immediate fare cap means passengers continue to face market-driven prices during the current festive rush.

A balanced approach could help protect consumers without preventing airlines from responding to demand or managing operating costs. Publishing the pending rules would provide greater clarity, while a temporary festive-season monitoring system could help authorities identify unusually steep increases on high-demand routes.

Other possible measures include publishing route-level fare ranges, displaying total ticket prices and mandatory charges more clearly, and examining how far last-minute fares rise above recent average levels. Airlines and airports could also explore additional capacity on heavily booked routes wherever operational conditions permit.

Strengthening alternative transport options is equally important. Additional trains, more bus services and better coordination between state transport agencies could provide passengers with more affordable choices during major holiday periods. Any measures to protect essential travellers, including students, senior citizens, medical passengers and low-income workers, would need careful planning to ensure that support reaches those who need it most.

As festive travel demand continues to test affordability, the immediate priorities are clearer fare disclosures, effective monitoring and timely regulatory action. Over the longer term, stronger competition, adequate flight capacity and predictable consumer-protection rules could help create a more transparent and accessible domestic aviation market.