Why ask the question when the ans in chiseled in the pages of this thread and for Goodness sake you already knew the answer.
Would an Indian airline hire Ab-Initio kids from HK?
"still have no idea how many pilots they need or when they need them. "
Don't worry they do know.
People can't seem to absorb the fact that the non-HKID stream is dead-in-the water. Meanwhile cadets are even coming from the HYAA, so correct don't hold your breath.