As new rotors take shape on the horizon, India’s defence ambitions rise like a helicopter lifting steadily into sovereign skies. A New Rotor for Self-Reliance Adani Defence & Aerospace on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with Italian aerospace major Leonardo to build a helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India, aimed at meeting the expanding needs of the Indian armed forces and strengthening domestic defence production. The partnership will focus on Leonardo’s AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters, with an emphasis on phased indigenisation, advanced maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and end-to-end pilot training, the companies said in a joint statement. The MoU was signed in the presence of defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and director general (acquisition) A Anbarasu, underlining the government’s intent to accelerate self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The collaboration seeks to align industrial capability with the armed forces’ long-term requirements for light utility, medium-lift and maritime multi-role helicopters, at a time when demand for rotary-wing platforms is expected to surge. “By fusing Leonardo’s world-class helicopter design and engineering prowess with Adani’s defence and aerospace expertise, the initiative advances the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, strengthens national defence readiness, with the potential to be extended to civil aviation applications and international…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Like a crowded bazaar finally learning to breathe, Malleswaram’s streets are preparing for a more orderly rhythm. Parking Gets a Price Tag Bengaluru’s Malleswaram, one of the city’s most vibrant shopping districts and a long-time victim of roadside parking chaos, is set for a significant change. To tackle chronic congestion, the West Zone of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) plans to roll out a pay-and-park system across seven busy commercial roads. Once implemented, cars, scooters and bikes will no longer park for free, with structured hourly fees and daily passes replacing the current free-for-all. The civic body has floated a tender to introduce paid parking facilities on Sampige Road, 18th Road, 15th Road, 11th Road, 8th Road, 4th Road and 2nd Main Road. These streets see intense footfall and vehicular movement, particularly during peak shopping hours, when poorly regulated parking often leads to severe traffic bottlenecks. Officials believe that regulated parking will help restore smoother traffic flow and reduce unnecessary delays. Under the proposed system, cars will be charged Rs. 30 per hour, while two-wheelers will pay Rs. 15 per hour. In addition to hourly charges, GBA plans to offer daily parking passes aimed at frequent visitors, local traders and…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Like a glowing apple rolling steadily across new ground, Apple’s India journey continues to gather momentum. Hyderabad Next on Apple’s Retail Map Apple appears poised to expand its physical retail footprint in India, with Hyderabad emerging as the likely next destination for a new Apple Store. While the company has not formally announced the launch, strong signals are already in place. Apple has begun hiring for three key retail roles—store leader, senior manager and manager—through its official website, with all positions based in Hyderabad. The recruitment drive has fuelled speculation that the company is preparing to open its seventh store in the country. Apple entered India’s brick-and-mortar retail space in 2023, opening two flagship stores in quick succession—Apple BKC in Mumbai and Apple Saket in New Delhi. The momentum continued in 2025 with three more outlets: Apple Koregaon Park in Pune, Apple Hebbal in Bengaluru, and Apple Noida in the Delhi-NCR region. With five stores currently operational, Apple is clearly accelerating its retail strategy. Only recently, Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed that a sixth store—Apple’s second in Mumbai—is on the way, though without a specific timeline. If the Hyderabad store materialises as expected, it will mark the company’s seventh retail…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

The Reserve Bank of India has confirmed that 98.42% of ₹2,000 currency notes have been returned to the banking system as of January 31, 2026. Only ₹5,609 crore worth of ₹2,000 notes are still held by the public. The RBI reiterated that ₹2,000 notes remain legal tender. While the denomination is no longer issued or printed, the notes can still be used for transactions or deposited with the RBI under existing guidelines. The latest figures underline that the withdrawal exercise has been largely completed, with only a small fraction of the notes still in circulation. What the Current Status Means for the Public Although regular bank branches stopped accepting ₹2,000 notes after the deadline in October 2023, the RBI continues to provide options for those still holding the denomination. People can: Deposit ₹2,000 notes at designated RBI Issue Offices Exchange limited amounts as per RBI norms Send notes via India Post to RBI offices for credit into bank accounts The RBI has not announced any deadline for these facilities so far, reinforcing that the focus is on orderly withdrawal rather than invalidation. Why the RBI Withdrew the ₹2,000 Note The RBI announced the withdrawal of the ₹2,000 denomination on May…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Shamshabad — already famed as the home of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport — is poised for another transformative infrastructure role: becoming India’s primary bullet train hub, connecting Hyderabad by high-speed rail to multiple major metros across the country. This strategic development announced by the South Central Railway (SCR) and outlined in recent railway planning documents marks a new chapter in India’s high-speed rail expansion. Three-Way High-Speed Rail Terminal According to SCR officials, a three-way high-speed rail terminal is planned at Shamshabad, which will connect Hyderabad to: Bengaluru Chennai Pune (with onward links toward Mumbai) This puts Hyderabad in a unique position — the only city in India that could have bullet train connectivity to four major economic centres, making Shamshabad one of the most important nodes in the emerging national high-speed rail grid. Why Shamshabad Was Chosen Shamshabad’s selection isn’t accidental. The area already has excellent connectivity and strategic advantages: Proximity to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, allowing seamless air-to-rail transitions. Relatively available land for building high-speed rail terminals and related infrastructure. Strong highway and logistics links via the Outer Ring Road and other expressways. Rail planners see Shamshabad as an ideal location to build dedicated high-speed rail facilities —…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

India is planning an ambitious high-speed rail corridor between Chennai and Bengaluru that could reduce the travel time between the two major South Indian cities to approximately 1 hour 13 minutes, a dramatic improvement over current rail and road journeys that take several hours. This project is a flagship part of a broader national infrastructure push outlined in the Union Budget 2026–27, aimed at transforming inter-city travel across the country. The High-Speed Rail Corridor: Route and Speed The proposed corridor spans about 306 kilometres and will be developed by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). Trains on this route are expected to run at maximum speeds up to 350 km/h, with average operational speeds around 250 km/h — enabling the rapid 73-minute journey once the system is operational. To minimise disruption and optimise alignment, a final alignment survey has already been completed. The chosen route connects key urban hubs and emerging centres across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, providing efficient inter-state connectivity. Underground Sections and Urban Integration A unique feature of this high-speed project is the inclusion of underground sections and stations in Bengaluru. Two underground stations are planned — at Byappanahalli and Whitefield — to seamlessly…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups