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In January 2026, the crowd-sourced global database Numbeo released its Safety Index 2026 rankings, evaluating perceptions of safety and crime in 304 cities worldwide based on survey responses about personal security, violent and property crime, and confidence while walking alone during the day or night. Responses are statistically filtered, weighted, and scaled on a 0–100 score, with higher scores indicating higher perceived safety; scores are classified from Very Low (below 20) to Very High (above 80) to provide an overall safety assessment across global urban centres. Safest Cities of 2026: Global Top Five and India’s Best-Ranked Urban Centres According to the 2026 index, Qingdao in Shandong, China, topped the list as the safest city in the world with an outstanding score of 89.2, followed closely by Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates, UAE) with 88.9, Doha (Qatar) at 84.5, Sharjah (UAE) also at 84.5, and Dubai (UAE) at 83.9, highlighting strong performance by East Asian and Middle Eastern cities in the top tier of global safety. Within India, Mangaluru (Karnataka) emerged as the safest city nationally, securing 46th place globally with a safety score of 74.4, reflecting high perceived safety among residents and visitors. Following Mangaluru, Ahmedabad (Gujarat) ranked second in…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

India’s railway sector has entered a new phase with the introduction of the state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, a semi-high-speed sleeper train designed to transform long-distance overnight travel. As it begins operations, comparisons with the iconic Rajdhani Express have intensified, since Rajdhani has long served as India’s premier overnight connection between Delhi and major cities. The Vande Bharat Sleeper was introduced to provide a modern upgrade for passengers seeking faster, cleaner, and more comfortable travel, while Rajdhani trains were originally launched in 1969 to establish elite, fast intercity links across India. The new service made its debut on January 17, 2026, connecting Howrah and Kamakhya, marking a significant milestone for routes in eastern and north-eastern India. Vande Bharat Sleeper: The Modern Upgrade to Rajdhani Comfort and Speed In terms of speed, the Vande Bharat Sleeper operates at 120–130 km/h on most routes and touched 180 km/h during trial runs. Rajdhani trains can reach up to 140 km/h on select stretches but typically run slower, giving the Vande Bharat a noticeable travel-time advantage. Its coach composition reflects an emphasis on ergonomics and comfort, featuring eleven AC 3-tier, four AC 2-tier, and one First AC coach, collectively accommodating more than 800 passengers.…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

The Union Government has given its approval for a high-speed rail corridor in Kerala, marking a major shift in the state’s rail infrastructure plans. The decision ends years of debate over the long-pending SilverLine project and places the project on a fresh, more feasible trajectory. DMRC Entrusted With Planning and DPR Former Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) head and engineering expert E. Sreedharan, often referred to as “Metro Man,” will steer the initial phase of the project. The DMRC has been tasked with preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which Sreedharan has said will be ready within nine months. The report will outline alignment, design features, cost estimates and implementation strategy for the corridor. The decision followed detailed discussions between Sreedharan and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi, as well as consultations with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Kerala government has welcomed the move, considering it a key step toward addressing the state’s long-standing transport challenges. Replacing the SilverLine With a Modern Rail Vision The new high-speed rail link will replace the controversial SilverLine project, which faced criticism over land acquisition, environmental concerns and cost overruns. Sreedharan has emphasised that the new plan will differ fundamentally in…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Honda has entered a new stage in electric mobility by starting sales of its fixed-battery electric two-wheeler, the UC3, in Thailand and Vietnam, while not yet confirming an India launch. Honda UC3 Marks Brand’s New Era in Electric Mobility The UC3 is targeted at everyday commuters and is positioned as an electric substitute for 110cc petrol motorcycles, which are very popular in those markets. The UC3 is a personal electric commuter scooter designed mainly for daily city travel. Honda has confirmed that deliveries of the UC3 will begin in the spring season. Alongside the launch, Honda is expanding charging infrastructure in major cities across Thailand and Vietnam. A key highlight of the UC3 is its fixed-type battery, meaning the battery is not removable like in some other electric scooters. The UC3 uses a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, marking the first time Honda has used an LFP battery in an electric two-wheeler. LFP batteries are noted for improved durability, higher safety, and longer life cycles. The UC3 is powered by a wheel-side electric motor developed by Honda. The motor produces around 8 bhp, giving performance comparable to a typical 110cc petrol motorcycle. Honda UC3 Offers Up to 122 km Range…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Apple’s popular mid-range iPhone model, the iPhone 16e, has seen its price trimmed substantially during the Republic Day 2026 sale in India, making it one of the more attractive offers on Apple devices this season. The handset — powered by Apple’s A18 chip and positioned as a value-oriented option in the iPhone 16 lineup — originally retailed at around ₹59,900 for the base 128 GB model at launch. Under the Republic Day promotions, its price has now been slashed by approximately ₹11,500, with the effective price dropping significantly when combined with bank offers and dealer discounts. Republic Day Sale Deals and Offers The discount forms part of wider Republic Day and January sale promotions across online and retail channels. Buyers can typically find additional bank cashback offers and card discounts on top of the base price cut, further reducing the effective purchase cost. Depending on the retailer and payment method, many buyers are now able to pick up the iPhone 16e at prices well below its original launch tag. Bank promotions and instant discounts with select credit and debit cards can push the final amount even lower, making the handset one of the standout deals in the mid-range premium segment.…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

For years, institutional venture capital, with its large teams, multi-partner consensus, and standardised processes, has defined how early-stage capital gets…

Wishing you a happy Republic Day from everyone at Inc42! ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Budget 2026: Startup Tax Clarity? Indian startups are entering…

PhonePe is no longer just India’s UPI giant—it’s becoming a full-stack financial ecosystem. After a string of high-profile IPOs last…

Like traffic lights dissolving into open road, toll gates are preparing to disappear from the journey. Toll Plazas Without Stops A trial of the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) tolling system is set to begin soon at key toll plazas in Tamil Nadu, marking a significant shift in highway travel. The pilot will be conducted at Paranur plaza on the Chennai–Tiruchi National Highway and at Chennasamudram and Sriperumbudur (Nemili) plazas on the Chennai–Bengaluru National Highway. Under the MLFF system, toll plazas will be equipped with overhead gantries featuring RFID readers, radar scanners, audit surveillance cameras, and a combined FASTag–Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) setup. Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said the system is designed to allow vehicles to pass through toll points without stopping, cutting congestion and improving overall travel experience. With MLFF in place, the intended waiting time at toll plazas is zero. The scale of traffic at these locations underscores the need for such a system. The Paranur toll plaza handles approximately 46,500 vehicles daily, while Sriperumbudur records over 33,500 vehicles each day. Authorities believe that eliminating physical stoppages will significantly ease bottlenecks on these heavily used corridors. Technology, Timelines and Caution for Motorists The…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

When numbers fade or vanish, the eyes of the law blink in uncertainty. Defective Plates Stall Enforcement Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) are facing a growing challenge from defective and non-standard vehicle registration number plates, which often escape detection by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Over the last three years, BTP has booked more than 4.2 lakh cases related to defective plates: 1,50,861 cases in 2023, 1,57,665 in 2024, and 1,50,861 cases in 2025 until November. Senior traffic officers noted that faded, broken, or deliberately obscured plates, sometimes covered with tape or paper, allow violators to evade e-challans for overspeeding, signal violations, and other offences. “Defective number plates also delay investigations into hit-and-run cases and street crimes like robberies involving vehicles. Even when CCTV footage is available, unclear number plates slow down investigations,” said a senior officer. Delivery personnel usually comply with proper plates, but some tamper intentionally. “Wheelie offenders, in particular, often avoid displaying number plates altogether to escape police action,” the officer added. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-West) Anoop Shetty said that cases will also be filed at law-and-order police stations for intentional misuse of tampered plates. HSRP and Tech Innovations to the Rescue Experts say implementing High…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups