Ahmedabad Desi news — 2026-10-08
Ahmedabad and Gujarat this week are moving on multiple fronts — from a significant achievement in tourism to institutional upheaval in the courts and ambition in aviation education.
Gujarat Ranks Fifth in India for Foreign Tourist Visits in 2025
Gujarat has achieved a commendable fifth-place national ranking for foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, reflecting the success of sustained tourism promotion initiatives and the growing appeal of the state's cultural, heritage, and pilgrimage destinations to international visitors. Ahmedabad, a UNESCO World Heritage City since 2017, continues to be the primary gateway for foreign tourists visiting Gujarat, drawing visitors to its heritage precinct, the Sabarmati Ashram, and the Calico Museum of Textiles. Beyond Ahmedabad, destinations such as the Rann of Kutch's white salt desert and the Rann Utsav festival, the Gir National Park and its Asiatic lion population, the Somnath temple, and Dwarkadhish temple attract a blend of cultural tourists, wildlife enthusiasts, and religious pilgrims. The achievement comes as the state government intensifies its investment in hospitality infrastructure, heritage conservation, and marketing through domestic and international campaigns that position Gujarat as a premium travel destination distinct from India's crowded mainstream tourism corridors. [2]
Lawyers Stage Revolt in Ahmedabad Courts, Sack Bar Presidents
In an unusual display of institutional upheaval, lawyers in Ahmedabad's courts staged a revolt against their own bar association leadership, removing bar presidents in a wave of no-confidence actions linked to allegations of backroom dealings and governance failures within the legal fraternity. The incident reflects simmering tensions within professional organisations that manage the interests of thousands of advocates across Gujarat's commercial capital. Ahmedabad's courts handle a large volume of commercial litigation driven by the city's industrial base, and the functioning of bar associations has significant practical implications for case management and legal services. The revolt, while internal to the legal community, attracted public attention as a sign of the demand for accountability even within traditionally hierarchical professional bodies. Observers noted that such internal democratic action within bar councils, while rare, can lead to meaningful reforms in the governance of legal professional associations. [3]
Gujarat PG Medical Counselling Expected Only After Diwali
The postgraduate medical admissions counselling process in Gujarat is unlikely to proceed until after the Diwali festival period, according to reports, extending the wait for medical graduates seeking to secure PG seats in the state's government medical colleges. The delay reflects the complex coordination required between the National Medical Commission, the state's medical education directorate, and counselling authorities, as well as the traditionally slower pace of administrative processes during the major festival season. For aspiring medical specialists who have cleared entrance examinations and are awaiting seat allocation, the deferral extends a period of uncertainty that many find stressful given the competitive nature of PG medical admissions in Gujarat's sought-after specialties. The Gujarat state government has been working to streamline its medical education counselling processes and the Diwali delay is expected to be addressed with accelerated proceedings once the festive period concludes. [4]
Gujarat to Double Flying Training Organisations as Pilot Demand Soars
Gujarat is set to double the number of Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) operating within the state as rising demand for commercial pilots across India's rapidly expanding aviation sector creates an urgent need for more training capacity. The aviation boom, driven by the entry of new carriers and the fleet expansion plans of established airlines, has created a significant gap between the supply of trained commercial pilots and the industry's requirements. Gujarat, with its multiple airfields, good weather conditions for flying training, and established aerospace education institutions, is well-positioned to become a major hub for pilot training in India. The expansion of FTOs will provide new career pathways for young Gujarati aviation aspirants while contributing to the broader national goal of building domestic pilot training capacity to reduce dependence on overseas licensing programmes that many aspiring Indian pilots have traditionally had to pursue at significantly higher cost. [6]
Sources: [2] The Times of India · [3] GujaratSamachar English · [4] The Times of India · [6] The Times of India