📱 Apple Ignores Trump’s Plea, Doubles Down on India Investment
Former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Apple to stop manufacturing iPhones in India and instead build them in the U.S. However, Apple has chosen to move forward with its $1.5 billion India investment, strengthening its supply chain in Asia and reducing dependence on China. The company cited cost-effective labor and faster scaling as primary reasons.
Trump’s statement, although not directly hostile toward India, raised concerns about a potential India-U.S. trade war. However, tensions eased after he acknowledged that India offered a zero-tariff trade deal for specific product categories—though India’s Ministry of External Affairs has neither confirmed nor denied it.
🇮🇳 India Approves 6th Semiconductor Plant in Jewar
The Indian government has approved a new ₹376 crore semiconductor plant in Jewar, a joint venture between SCL and Foxconn. The facility will begin producing display driver chips by 2027, supplying to the mobile, laptop, automotive, and PC markets.
🧠 AI Threatens India’s Outsourcing Industry
The rise of AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini 1.5 is causing a shift in global outsourcing trends. Tasks previously requiring multiple employees can now be completed by one person using AI, reducing the need to outsource to countries like India. Indian IT companies that thrived on cost-based efficiency are now facing pressure to innovate or risk obsolescence.
📊 Market Optimism Amid Trade Clarity
Indian stock markets rallied with Nifty crossing 25,000, driven by easing U.S.-India trade tensions. Almost all major indices surged except IndusInd Bank, which showed a minor decline.
📦 ZEPTO Launches ZeptoAtom, Monetizes User Data
Consumer search platform ZPTO launched a new subscription-based analytics product called ZeptoAtom. It monetizes user search data to provide insights to F&B businesses, creating a secondary revenue model. Unlike Zomato, which offers such data for free, ZPTO will charge for access.
🍦 Ice Cream Brand BANNED Raises $10 Million
Frozen dessert startup BANNED raised the first $10 million in a $20 million funding round. The company targets ₹500 crore revenue in FY25, up from ₹32.38 crore last year. Despite past losses of over ₹20 crore, it is betting big on rapid expansion.
🛍️ One India Family Mart Raises $12M to Expand in Tier-3 Cities
Retail chain One India Family Mart raised $12 million in Series B funding to expand across Tier-3 and Tier-4 cities. The brand currently operates 65 stores in 10 states and plans to strengthen its warehousing in Gurugram.
💼 Quikr Turns Profitable After 14 Years
Classifieds platform Quikr posted its first-ever profit despite a 12% revenue dip. It reported ₹22 crore from referralsand ₹17 crore from ads, showcasing sustainable business despite reduced ad spending.
✈️ MakeMyTrip Sees 83% Profit Drop Due to One-Time Gains
MakeMyTrip’s Q4 profit fell 83% YoY due to the absence of one-time tax credits and convertible note gains seen in the previous period. Despite the profit dip, revenue grew 21% YoY but dropped 8% QoQ, likely due to seasonal travel declines.
Additionally, MakeMyTrip saw a 250% cancellation rate on bookings to Azerbaijan and Turkey amid rising diplomatic tensions and public boycotts.
🔒 Army Data Breach Accusation by EasemyTrip Founder
Nishant Pitti, founder of EasemyTrip, accused a rival travel company of using sensitive Indian Army data for targeted discounts, allegedly linked to Chinese backers. This raises concerns about data privacy and national security.
💰 Reliance Raises $2.9 Billion Loan
Reliance Industries secured a $2.9 billion loan, the largest in recent months, to expand into manufacturing and clean energy. This aligns with their aggressive investment plans across diversified sectors.
📺 YouTube Tests Mid-Video Peak-Time Ads
YouTube is testing new ad formats in the U.S., where ads will play at peak engagement points in videos. This is seen as a move to push more users towards YouTube Premium, but may backfire due to growing ad fatigue.
🧠 Amazon Lays Off 100 from Alexa, Ring, and Device Teams
Amazon is laying off 100 employees from its Alexa and device teams, including Ring and Eero, due to AI-driven efficiency improvements. The restructuring reflects a wider trend of companies automating roles previously managed by human workers.
