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India has agreed on a quota-based duty concession for apples from the United States as part of the interim India-US trade agreement, but the government has taken steps to ensure that domestic farmers remain protected. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told a business conclave that imports won’t undercut local producers because a minimum import price has been set for US apples, ensuring they arrive in India at no less than Rs 75–80 per kilogram — a level meant to prevent cheaper foreign fruit from flooding the domestic market while enabling controlled trade between the two economies. What the Minimum Import Price Means for Apple Imports Under the proposed interim trade pact between India and the United States, India has agreed to offer duty relief on certain products, including apples, but with strong safeguards in place: A minimum import price (MIP) for apples has been fixed to prevent extremely low-priced imports from undercutting Indian growers. Import duties remain significant, and only limited quotas will be allowed under the concession framework. This effectively means that apples imported from the US will not be allowed to enter the Indian market below the set price threshold, giving domestic growers room to compete. According to the…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

The Bengaluru Metro (Namma Metro) fare revision has been paused indefinitely after political disagreement between the ruling coalition partners in Karnataka. Plans to raise metro ticket prices were shelved as the Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharatiya Janata Party clashed over the proposal, creating uncertainty for commuters and the city’s transport authority. The debate has triggered public concern about future fare increases, commuter costs and the overall financial health of the metro network. What Was Proposed: Planned Metro Fare Increase Transport authorities had proposed an increase in Namma Metro fares to help address rising operational costs and narrow the widening revenue gap. The revised fare structure sought to adjust tickets across distance slabs, potentially affecting daily commuters, occasional riders and long-distance travellers. Official sources indicated that the plan was aimed at ensuring the metro’s financial sustainability while balancing affordability for passengers, especially in a city with high reliance on public transport. Political Standoff: JD(S) vs BJP Over Fare Revision The fare hike proposal became politically contentious, with coalition partners unable to agree on the timing, quantum and public messaging of the increase. The Janata Dal (Secular) reportedly opposed the revision, citing commuter hardship and inflationary pressures on the public, while the…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Air travellers in India may face higher domestic flight ticket prices from April 2026 as airlines adjust to ongoing operational and financial pressures triggered by disruptions at one of the country’s largest carriers. Industry experts warn that the market could see a noticeable uptick in airfare once peak summer travel season begins, affecting both leisure and business flyers. The possible price rise comes amid wider supply challenges, increased fuel costs, and capacity adjustments by airlines responding to fluctuating demand and pilot shortages. Why Airfare May Go Up: Market Factors Explained Several key industry dynamics are contributing to the expected increase in ticket prices: 1. Operational Disruptions at Major Airlines A major airline disruption has reduced available seat capacity in the domestic market, tightening the balance between demand and supply. When fewer seats are available on popular routes, airlines may increase prices to manage bookings and cover higher operating costs. 2. Fuel and Operating Cost Pressures Jet fuel accounts for a significant portion of airline expenses, and sustained or volatile fuel prices can put pressure on profitability. To maintain financial stability, carriers often pass part of these costs onto consumers through higher fares. 3. Capacity Adjustments and Pilot Availability India’s aviation…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

India is actively exploring the idea of using building rooftops as landing pads for air taxis in a bid to tackle worsening urban traffic congestion. The proposal focuses on enabling electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) to operate from rooftops of offices, hospitals, commercial towers and residential complexes, instead of relying on expensive, land-intensive ground infrastructure. The concept is part of India’s broader Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) vision, which aims to introduce air taxis as a fast, sustainable mode of urban transport in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. How Rooftop Vertiports Can Transform Urban Mobility Using rooftops as vertiports could significantly reduce travel time across dense urban corridors. Instead of spending hours in road traffic, commuters could cover the same distance in minutes by air. Urban planners believe rooftops offer: Ready-to-use infrastructure in congested cities Faster deployment compared to building new landing facilities Better integration with existing commercial and residential hubs This approach also opens up new revenue streams for real estate owners while improving last-mile connectivity. Proposed Air Taxi Routes in India One of the early ideas under discussion is a pilot air taxi corridor connecting major business districts with airports. For example, routes linking…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

The Karnataka High Court has ordered the payment of legal costs against Wipro after finding that the company unnecessarily prolonged a legal battle with a former employee. The bench said Wipro’s conduct resulted in avoidable litigation and instructed the IT major to pay expenses incurred by the ex-staffer in pursuing justice. Background: The Dispute Between Wipro and Ex-Employee The case originated from a dispute between Wipro and a former employee — identified in court records as an engineer — over issues arising at the end of the individual’s employment. Legal proceedings were initiated after the employee claimed termination or unjust treatment linked to service conditions, leading to a prolonged battle in the Karnataka High Court for relief and compensation. The company contested claims and repeatedly took legal positions that extended the duration of the case. High Court’s Verdict: Costs Imposed In its order, the Karnataka High Court observed that Wipro’s legal strategy unnecessarily stretched litigation, compelling the ex-employee to incur multiple rounds of legal expenses and court appearances over an extended period. To temper this conduct and discourage such protracted disputes, the court directed Wipro to pay ₹50,000 in costs to the former employee. The sum is intended to partly…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

The Punjab government has placed two senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers under suspension for alleged delays in procuring smartphones meant for anganwadi workers under the Poshan Abhiyan programme. The action highlights growing administrative concern over delays, cost escalation and procedural lapses in implementing key welfare initiatives. Who Was Suspended and Why Two officers — Kamal Kishor Yadav (Administrative Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion and Information Technology) and Jaspreet Singh (Managing Director, Punjab Infotech) — were suspended with immediate effect by the state government. They will be attached to the state headquarters in Chandigarh and will receive only subsistence allowance during the suspension period under Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. The suspension is linked to a six-year delay in procuring 28,515 smartphones for anganwadi workers — devices meant to help track nearly 12 lakh beneficiaries under the Central government’s Poshan 2.0 nutrition initiative. The procurement, intended to be funded jointly by the Centre and the state, saw cost escalation from initial estimates of around ₹34 crore to about ₹60 crore due to specification changes and delays. Backstory: Procurement Hurdles and Cost Escalation The issue dates back to when funds were released for…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Gurugram police have arrested Dhruv Dutt Sharma, the founder, CEO and managing director of the 32nd Avenue commercial real estate project, in connection with a major property fraud estimated at around ₹500 crore. Sharma was taken into custody by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and produced before a magistrate, who remanded him to six days of police custody as investigations continue. The arrest stems from allegations that Sharma sold the same commercial floor — a unit measuring approximately 3,000 sq ft in the high-profile 32nd Avenue complex in Gurugram — to more than 25 different buyers, causing extensive financial losses to investors. Police say multiple investors were lured with promises of assured rentals and buyback options, but ownership documents were never handed over, triggering complaints and legal action. Details of the Alleged Fraud According to the first information report (FIR), a complaint was filed in January by Tram Ventures Private Limited against 32 Milestone Vistas Private Limited — previously known as Apra Motels — alleging that Sharma and his associates entered into a sale agreement for the commercial unit in 2021 for ₹2.5 crore, but failed to provide the necessary conveyance documents. As the matter unfolded, investigators discovered that between…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

India’s Neocloud Boom AI is writing the new era of cloud computing. A new class of neocloud players is emerging…

Ecommerce enablement company Velocity said it has earmarked Rs 100 crore to scale its logistics arm, Velocity Shipping, as it looks to expand its presence in the shipping aggregation market and invest in AI-driven tools across the logistics chain.Velocity Shipping — formerly known as Shipfast — will receive the investment over the next two years, funded through internal accruals and revenue from the company’s core businesses, Velocity said in a statement.Launched in 2025, the shipping platform has onboarded more than 900 brands, around 60% of which are existing Velocity partners. The company said the logistics vertical now contributes roughly 40% of overall revenue and recorded about 70% month-on-month growth in order volumes. In December 2025, the platform processed over one million shipments, according to the company.Velocity plans to deploy the capital toward hiring, product development and AI-led interventions designed to address delivery verification, returns management and billing reconciliation. The company said it intends to double its shipping team and has hired senior executives with prior experience at logistics firms including NimbusPost, Pickrr, Delhivery and Shiprocket. It is targeting a fivefold increase in monthly shipping volumes in calendar year 2026.“We started Velocity by solving one of the biggest bottlenecks for digital-first…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

Non-profit organisations in India, and around the globe, have traditionally stayed away from digital transformation. However, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now changing the game. Tech-for-good startup Digital For Nonprofits (D4NP) is one such startup that is building GenAI solutions (among other things) to help non-profits in India become more technologically savvy.New Delhi-based D4NP’s story started a decade ago. As digital marketing was taking off in India in 2008, Abhinav Chetan was part of Google LLC’s Delhi office, working at the forefront of the country’s growing internet economy. In his 12-year stint at the company until 2020, Chetan got many opportunities to get involved in projects outside of his primary responsibilities—some of which involved working with non-profit organisations. In 2012, he took a 40-day break to train as a yoga teacher at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Kerala. After he returned, he wanted to do something for the organisation. “They knew yoga. They gave me the gift of practice. I knew digital marketing. So in 2014, I helped them get a Google ad grant. Now they use other technological tools too. That showed me that a 60-year-old ashram with no understanding of the digital space and outreach could suddenly access a lot of ad…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed