Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has taken a major leap into the future of transportation by launching fully autonomous robot taxis powered by Baidu Apollo Go, a self-driving ride-hailing platform. These robot-taxis — capable of operating on public roads without human safety drivers — represent one of the most significant deployments of autonomous ride-hailing technology outside China and showcase Dubai’s commitment to smart, innovative urban mobility. First-of-Its-Kind Permit and Operations The RTA granted Baidu Apollo Go a first-of-its-kind permit to operate fully driverless vehicles in Dubai, allowing commercial trials and services on designated public streets without a human in the driver’s seat. This regulatory milestone is the foundation for an early-2026 rollout of autonomous robotaxi services, moving the technology from pilot trials to real-world application. Supporting the initiative is an Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre, a specialised hub that manages infrastructure, real-time supervision, training, and safety monitoring for the autonomous fleet. The centre underscores Dubai’s readiness to integrate cutting-edge transport solutions within its broader smart city framework. Expanding Urban Coverage and Public Access Initial deployment plans involve rolling out robotaxi services across multiple strategic locations throughout the city, with vehicles available for app-based booking and 24/7 service. This…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Automaker Hyundai Motor India has expanded its popular i20 hatchback lineup with a new entry-level variant called the ERA for the 2026 model year. This addition is designed to make the i20 more accessible to buyers seeking the brand’s appeal and quality in a value-focused package, especially in the highly competitive premium hatchback segment. The new i20 ERA sits below the existing variants in pricing and features, offering essential comforts and modern design in a package tailored for first-time buyers and urban commuters. It arrives as part of Hyundai’s broader strategy to strengthen sales volumes and market appeal in a segment dominated by rivals like Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Honda Jazz. Pricing and Positioning The i20 ERA is positioned as the most affordable i20 variant in the Indian market, with prices estimated at around ₹6.50 lakh (ex-showroom). This competitive pricing aims to attract buyers who want the i20’s refined driving experience without premium-segment pricing. By introducing a value-oriented trim, Hyundai hopes to capture customers who might otherwise choose slightly lower-priced alternatives, expanding its reach across price-sensitive demographics while retaining the i20’s reputation for quality and feature richness. What the i20 ERA Offers While the ERA is the base variant, it…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Global IT giant Cognizant has unveiled an employee bonus programme that will pay 100 per cent of the annual bonus for 2025, signalling confidence in its recent business performance and a concerted effort to recognise employee contributions. The payout, tied to the company’s performance metrics and profitability, comes after Cognizant delivered robust revenue growth and improved financial results, enabling a generous share of profits to flow back to its workforce. According to internal communications and company sources, the bonus applies to eligible employees — typically those who have completed the performance cycle and met defined performance benchmarks. Such bonuses are an important part of compensation in the IT services sector, where talent retention and morale are key competitive factors. Why the Bonus Matters A 100 per cent bonus means that employees will receive an amount equivalent to their annual bonus target, often calculated as a percentage of basic salary. This is considered substantial in the IT industry, where bonuses are typically linked to individual performance, utilisation rates, project delivery success and overall company profitability. The decision to award a full bonus reflects Cognizant’s strong business momentum, particularly in its key markets such as North America and Europe, where demand for…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

India’s flagship digital payments system, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), has achieved another milestone in FY 2025–26, recording an outstanding ₹230 lakh crore in transaction value through December 2025 — equivalent to about $2.56 trillion. This landmark reflects both broad consumer uptake and deepening integration of digital payments across business and everyday life. UPI’s performance highlights India’s rapid shift toward a cashless economy and underlines the platform’s role as a cornerstone of digital finance infrastructure. Its seamless, instant, and interoperable nature continues to attract users and merchants nationwide. Drivers of the Record Growth Several factors contributed to UPI’s record transaction value: 1. Widening Adoption Across DemographicsUPI usage has grown steadily not just in urban centres but also in smaller towns and rural areas. Simplicity, low cost and widespread awareness have made UPI a preferred choice for peer-to-peer transfers, bill payments and merchant transactions across socio-economic groups. 2. Merchant Integration and Digital CommerceRetailers, service providers and online merchants increasingly accept UPI payments, boosting both P2M (person-to-merchant) volumes and transaction values. UPI’s integration with QR codes, e-commerce platforms and payment links has expanded everyday utility beyond simple person-to-person transfers. 3. Expanded Use Cases and InnovationNew features — including UPI Autopay, recurring payments,…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

The idea of a high-speed rail corridor linking Bengaluru and Pune is gaining traction as central and state leaders push for its prioritisation. Although not part of the seven high-speed routes announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, discussions between senior officials — including Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw — have given the proposal a fresh boost in momentum. Strategic Connectivity Between Major Hubs The envisioned corridor aims to bridge two of India’s most important economic and technology hubs: Bengaluru, known as the country’s Silicon Valley, and Pune, a key centre for IT, manufacturing and education. Proponents argue that faster rail connectivity between these cities could transform travel, bolster business collaboration, and attract investment across both regions. Beyond the endpoints, the project is expected to benefit districts in north and central Karnataka, such as Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Haveri, Davanagere, Chitradurga and Tumakuru. Improved rail links could make it easier for residents to access job markets, educational institutions and commercial opportunities in both Bengaluru and Pune. Advocacy From State Leaders Karnataka’s political leadership has actively supported the proposal, emphasising that it deserves priority alongside the corridors already announced in the national budget. MB Patil, Karnataka’s Minister for Large and…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Anthropic Rattles Markets Anthropic’s launch of Cowork plugins on February 4 sent markets into a tizzy. The AI release sparked a global tech sell-off, dragging down SaaS giants and India’s IT bellwethers alike. So, what did Anthropic launch and why did it spook the markets? The SaaSpocalypse: On February 4, the AI major rolled out 11 plugins for Claude Cowork, positioning it as an AI assistant that moves beyond chat to autonomously execute multi-step workplace tasks directly on a user’s computer. Markets read the launch as a structural inflexion point, which triggered the stock dumping.  IT Stocks Caught In Fire: While the first shockwave hit US and European software giants like Salesforce, Adobe, SAP and ServiceNow, the sell-off quickly shrouded Indian IT stocks. While the Nifty IT index plunged to its worst single-day fall in six years of 6%, giants Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCLTech and Tech Mahindra also slid between 5-8%. Market watchers claimed that tools like Claude Cowork could directly hit India’s labour-intensive service delivery model.  An Overreaction? A section of market voices feels that the sell-off was more about sentiment rather than fundamentals, arguing that near-term positioning should hinge on client stickiness, balance sheets, and deal wins over…  ​Read MoreInc42 Media

Hello,Quarterly report cards are in for Big Tech and startups alike.Beauty ecommerce platform Nykaa kept on its upward trajectory with its quarterly after-tax profit more than doubling to Rs 67.7 crore year-on-year, driven by strong growth in its beauty business and growing traction for its fashion arm.In fact, the company’s largest vertical—its beauty and personal care retail business—saw its best-ever GMV performance, a growth of Rs 4,302 crore, up 27% from last year.Edtech firm PhysicsWallah, too, saw growth in both its top and bottom lines of about 33% year-on-year, driven by an expanding paid user base and strong operating margins.Meanwhile, Google parent Alphabet closed 2025 on what it termed a “tremendous quarter”, with its fiscal revenue surging past $400 billion for the first time, and the company doubling its capital investment in 2026 to drive its AI advancements.It’s a remarkable turnaround from last year, when the company was thought to be lagging behind rivals in the AI space, such as Microsoft and OpenAI.Speaking of OpenAI, the ChatGPT maker just made it easier for organisations to deploy ‘AI coworkers’ across different processes.The company’s new product, called Frontier, allows organisations to build and manage AI tools and simplifies the process of rolling…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

India’s digital lending market is growing rapidly, projected to reach $2.45 billion by 2030 from $486.6 million in 2024, according to Grand View Research. However, loan recovery rates haven’t kept up with disbursement growth.The collections infrastructure remains fragmented, with thousands of independent agencies using manual processes and limited technology. These methods often don’t align with the service expectations of today’s digital borrowers.In 2019, Ananth Shroff was travelling abroad when he missed a credit card payment. Unable to reach him on his usual number, the bank contacted his family and threatened legal action. “How can they treat me like this when I paid on time every month? I missed one payment, and this was the situation,” he recalls. The experience cost the bank a customer and planted the seed for DPDzero.Shroff (CEO) and Ranjith B.R. (CTO) saw an opportunity to build a unified platform where lenders could integrate their systems, send borrower data, and receive recoveries without managing multiple collection agencies. “If lenders had a platform that they could simply integrate, push data, and money comes back in return, maybe that’s how to get India to scale,” Shroff says.In 2022, they launched DPDzero to digitise loan collections, with Shroff as CEO…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

IT secretary S Krishnan yesterday reportedly said that the government plans to examine the Economic Survey’s suggestion for age-based access for social media and other digital platforms. As per news agency PTI, Krishnan said that the Centre will examine all the opinions and take a call on the matter.  “You have seen what the Economic Survey has to say. A number of views are being expressed. We will examine all the views and take a call,” Krishnan reportedly said while responding to a question on whether the Centre is considering an Australian-like ban to block children from accessing social media platforms.  This comes after the Economic Survey last week urged the Union government to consider gatekeeping social media, while also cutting down online teaching to avoid digital addiction. The Survey, tabled in Parliament, had said online platforms should be made responsible for enforcing age verification, and simpler devices should be promoted for children to access educational content with safeguards to address the rising problem of digital addiction.  “Policies on age-based access limits may be considered, as younger users are more vulnerable to compulsive use and harmful content. Platforms should be made responsible for enforcing age verification and age-appropriate defaults, particularly…  ​Read MoreInc42 Media

D2C fragrance brand EM5 has secured an undisclosed investment from Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav. The startup has also onboarded Kumar as a partner in the company.  In a statement, EM5 said that the partnership is “rooted in strong audience alignment and shared sensibilities”.  “EM5 is a young, homegrown brand that’s genuinely committed to changing the fragrance game in India, and I’ve always loved how scent becomes a part of your everyday identity… As an investor and partner, I’m excited to be part of a journey that’s building something authentic, digital-first, and rooted in India,” said Yadav.  Founded in 2022 by Shashank Chourey, EM5 is a D2C brand that sells a range of products such as perfumes, roll-ons, foot sprays, scented candles and beard balms. The startup sells its products via its own website, online marketplaces and quick commerce platforms.  EM5 also featured on the 2025 edition of Inc42’s FAST42 list.  The D2C brand clocked a revenue of INR 7.08 Cr in the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24), up 4X from INR 1.43 Cr in the year-ago fiscal.  The bootstrapped startup last year told Inc42 that it was working to establish a stronger presence in select retail and experiential spaces to improve…  ​Read MoreInc42 Media