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In a landmark move for sustainable rail transport, Indian Railways has launched the country’s first LNG-diesel dual-fuel Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad. This development represents a major step toward reducing reliance on diesel, lowering emissions and cutting operating costs across rail services. What Is the Dual-Fuel DEMU? The newly operational train is a 1,400 HP DEMU whose driving power cars have been converted to run on a dual-fuel system — blending Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) with traditional diesel. Under this system, LNG replaces approximately 40 per cent of diesel consumption, offering a cleaner alternative without compromising performance or reliability. Two Driving Power Cars (DPCs) were retrofitted with LNG tanks and dual-fuel technology. These modified units successfully completed field trials covering over 2,000 kilometres, proving the feasibility and stability of the technology in regular passenger service. Railway officials report that the train has been operating smoothly without technical issues since being put into routine service. Environmental and Economic Benefits One of the primary motivations behind the LNG-diesel initiative is environmental sustainability. Using LNG significantly reduces harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) compared to diesel-only operation. This helps…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

India implemented a series of important changes on 1 February 2026 that will affect daily life, costs and administrative processes for citizens across the country. These updates cover toll payments, tobacco prices, fuel costs and more — many tied to broader fiscal and policy reforms introduced around Budget 2026. FASTag Rules Made Simpler The FASTag system, India’s electronic toll payment mechanism, has been simplified to reduce paperwork and delays. The Know Your Vehicle (KYV) verification requirement for new FASTag issues for private cars, jeeps and vans has been eliminated. Banks issuing FASTags will now complete all necessary vehicle checks before issuing the tag, and for existing FASTags KYV will only be required if there are complaints or misuse issues. This change is expected to make toll activation and travel smoother for millions of road users. Tobacco and Cigarette Prices Rise A key cost change from 1 February is that prices of cigarettes and other tobacco products have increased due to higher excise duties and health-related cesses imposed by the government. This covers items such as filtered and longer cigarettes, gutkha, jarda and pan masala with tobacco. The new charges are on top of the existing Goods and Services Tax (GST)…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Bharti Airtel has ended its Perplexity Pro subscription benefit, marking the conclusion of a digital perk it had offered to customers as part of its service bundles. The offer, which provided free access to advanced AI features typically worth around ₹17,000 per year, is no longer available to new or existing subscribers who hadn’t claimed it before the deadline. What the Perplexity Pro Offer Was When it launched in mid-2025, Airtel partnered with Perplexity AI to give its 360 million mobile, Wi-Fi and DTH users a complimentary one-year Perplexity Pro subscription. This plan included premium AI capabilities such as enhanced search, access to powerful language models, deep research and analysis tools — all delivered through the Perplexity platform. The promotion was positioned as a significant value addition for Airtel subscribers, helping differentiate its digital service offerings in a competitive telecom landscape. The benefit was redeemable through the Airtel Thanks app, and eligibility applied to both new and existing customers within the promotional window. Offer Ended as Originally Planned The Perplexity Pro benefit was always designed as a limited-time promotional offer. Airtel’s original terms stated that the free subscription could be claimed until January 16, 2026, after which it would no…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the H-1B visa registration window for fiscal year 2027 will open on March 4, 2026, and close on March 19, 2026, marking the start of the annual H-1B cap lottery season. Employers and petitioners seeking to sponsor foreign workers for the H-1B programme must submit electronic registrations through the USCIS portal during this period. Selected registrations will then be notified by March 31, 2026 What’s New This Year While the basic structure of the H-1B registration remains — with an 85,000 annual cap including 20,000 visas for graduates with US advanced degrees — the FY 2027 season introduces some of the most significant changes in years. One of the headline updates is a $100,000 surcharge that applies to certain H-1B petitions if the beneficiary is outside the United States or does not have a valid visa at the time of filing. This new fee is separate from the standard registration and filing fees and reflects policy measures aimed at deterring misuse of the H-1B system while generating additional revenue. Wage-Weighted Selection System In addition to the fee change, USCIS is implementing a wage-weighted selection process for the cap lottery,…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

In her Union Budget 2026-27 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled ambitious plans to expand India’s high-speed rail network by developing seven new corridors connecting key urban and economic centres. These corridors are described as “growth connectors” — designed to promote faster, environmentally sustainable inter-city travel and support long-term economic development. The corridors form a core part of the government’s broader infrastructure push, complementing other capital expenditure increases and transport investments announced in the budget. Markets reacted positively, with railway-related stocks gaining on expectations of increased investments and new opportunities for related industries. What Are the Seven High-Speed Corridors? The proposed high-speed rail (HSR) corridors will connect major cities across regions, reducing travel times and enhancing mobility. According to budget details, the seven corridors include: Mumbai–Pune – linking financial hubs in western India. Pune–Hyderabad – connecting Maharashtra with Telangana’s commercial centre. Hyderabad–Bengaluru – boosting links between tech and business hubs. Hyderabad–Chennai – enhancing connectivity to the southern port city. Chennai–Bengaluru – linking two major southern cities. Delhi–Varanasi – improving north-central corridor travel. Varanasi–Siliguri – expanding high-speed access to eastern and northeastern India. These routes are strategically chosen to stitch together key metropolitan, industrial and cultural centres, creating shorter travel times…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

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According to a letter sent to Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata, Pramit Jhaveri will resign as a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust...

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