@SURINDER KUMAR THAKUR

  The fertilisers and agri-inputs sector operates in one of the most unpredictable environments in the economy. Weather-driven volatility, policy announcements, energy price fluctuations, supply chain bottlenecks, and shifting farmer preferences can turn a stable business landscape into a high-turbulence zone overnight. In this sector, effective leadership is not defined by how organisations perform in normal times, but by how well they navigate uncertainty. The ability to manage chaos, build trust, and maintain continuity becomes a strategic differentiator. This article captures the most critical leadership insights from the fertilisers and agri-inputs ecosystem—insights that matter not just to this industry, but to any sector where volatility is the norm. 1. Crisis Begins at the Farm Gate: Leaders Must Stay Closest to the Ground In the fertilisers and agri-inputs business, the first signals of a crisis never come from boardrooms, dashboards, or Management Information System...

In December 2025, IndiGo—India’s largest airline with nearly 60% domestic market share—experienced an unprecedented operational collapse that crippled domestic aviation for several days. Thousands of passengers were stranded, hundreds of flights were cancelled daily, on-time performance fell to single digits, and refund liabilities ran into hundreds of crores. It exposed a deep governance lapse at the board and independent director levels, despite the presence of eminent members. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revised FDTL norms in early 2024, with full compliance phased in by November 1, 2025. These stricter rules—mandating longer weekly rest periods, limiting night landings, and extending the definition of night duty—significantly increased the required pilot workforce. Yet, the airline failed to align its manpower planning, rostering, and operational buffers to the new requirements.  Government officials publicly stated that IndiGo “did not take necessary ac...