Air India has been a joke for over 35 years. And i do agree that they don't give a damn because the Indian taxpayer is footing the bill. The whole scenario is to be able to fill their pockets, and those of the foreign carriers like Emirates, Qatar, SIA, Etihad at the expense of the country and other Indian carriers.
Unable to set up a half decent airline, they hold on to the routes professing to start operations in a month or two, or codeshare giving away revenue to others. All the time hiding behind their flag carrier status.
The only way out is for them to follow the path of Pan Am and others, or totally revamp themselves from top to bottom.
But, the play of the day is, " if i can't do it, why should others."