New Delhi, Feb. 9 -- Three days. 2,500 cancelled flights. 300,000 stranded passengers. In December 2025, IndiGo's relentless pursuit of operational efficiency collapsed under new pilot rest rules it had a year to prepare for. India's largest airline had optimised for profit so aggressively, it forgot that rules apply to them too.

In today's debates, profit is often painted as the villain. Headlines decry "greedy corporations" or blame capitalism for widening inequality and environmental damage.

The assumption is that profit and social good are inherently in conflict. The real question isn't whether Indian businesses should pursue profit, of course they should. It's whether they can align profit with a purpose that benefits both society ...