Apple is set to face a key hearing in India on January 27, 2026, over the calculation of potential antitrust fines linked to its App Store practices. The case, initiated by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in 2021, examines whether Apple abused its dominant position by requiring developers to use its proprietary payment system, with fees reportedly reaching up to 30%. The investigation stems from complaints by app developers, including Match Group, and Indian startups
The Indian government has announced a major relaxation in eligibility norms for deep-tech startups, removing the mandatory three-year existence requirement for recognition under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). The move was unveiled on January 4, 2026, during celebrations marking the 42nd Foundation Day of DSIR, under the Ministry of Science and Technology
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has approved an additional 22 proposals under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), marking a significant expansion of the country's push to expand electronics manufacturing. The newly cleared projects involve a projected investment of INR418/63 billion and an estimated production of INR2,581.52 billion, and are expected to generate 33,791 direct jobs
L&T Semiconductor Technologies is expected to outline a partner-led expansion into cellular IoT modules at CES, positioning India as a future manufacturing base and sourcing option in a market long dominated by imported solutions
In 2025, rising geopolitical tensions reshaped global technology and manufacturing, boosting Southeast Asia as a key hub for data centers, advanced manufacturing, and AI. The Johor-Singapore Economic Zone enhanced cross-border integration, strengthening Singapore's "Singapore+1" strategy, while Johor emerged as a major data center cluster amid sustainability concerns
Ola Electric Mobility said it has begun scaling up deliveries of its S1 Pro+ electric scooter powered by the 4680 Bharat Cell across several southern Indian states, according to a press release filed with stock exchanges on December 28, 2025
India's first wave of OSAT facilities is moving from capacity announcements to competitive positioning, with some domestic players now benchmarking themselves against established backend hubs rather than solely against local peers
South Korea's battery equipment industry has secured a series of large orders tied to India's rapidly expanding battery manufacturing investments, marking a long-awaited breakthrough after months of intense competition with Chinese suppliers, according to Ddaily, TheElect, and Nate
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers now hold nearly 30% of the Indian EV market, marking a significant shift amid New Delhi's consideration of easing investment restrictions. This development follows years of protective policies and high tariffs designed to shield domestic players such as Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra from foreign competition
Japanese firms like Rohm and AOI Electronics built partnerships with Indian partners. Foxconn is mimicking its strategy in China, setting up a factory city in India
Samsung Electronics is prioritizing artificial intelligence adoption, local manufacturing, and consumer financing in India, foregoing an initial public offering for its local business. The company aims to strengthen its footprint in one of its most important growth markets through internal expansion and strategic investments
AST SpaceMobile has launched its largest satellite, BlueBird 6, marking a key step toward providing 4G and 5G broadband directly to standard smartphones worldwide and accelerating the company's plans to build a global space-based cellular network, according to Bloomberg, Business Wire, and Investor's Business Daily
Rohm and Tata Electronics said they have entered into a strategic partnership to establish semiconductor manufacturing operations in India, targeting both domestic and overseas markets, as the two companies seek to expand their presence amid growing efforts to localize chip supply chains
Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, better known as Foxconn, is rapidly expanding its manufacturing footprint in India, hiring tens of thousands of workers at a new iPhone plant near Bengaluru and laying the groundwork for what sources familiar with the project describe as a factory-city model similar to those it previously built in China, according to the Economic Times
India and New Zealand said they have concluded negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA), marking one of India's fastest trade deals with a developed economy since talks were launched in March 2025, according to a statement issued by India's Ministry of Commerce
