Cancer Vaccine, Qatar, Uber Rickshaws

Welcome to 1947, where we deliver clear, unbiased news so you can cut through the noise and form your own conclusions.

Today is February 19. We’re covering a cancer vaccine for women, Qatar’s investment plans for India, Uber’s new model for rickshaws, and more.

Policy & Governance

Qatar Bets Big on India

Qatar has committed to investing $10 billion in India across infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, food security, logistics, and hospitality. The sovereign wealth fund will also open an office in India, marking a significant step in its engagement with the country.

While no specific timeline for the investments was disclosed, both nations have set an ambitious goal of doubling annual trade to $28 billion within five years. They are also exploring a free trade agreement (FTA) to further boost economic cooperation. This move follows Qatar’s recent $1 billion stake in Reliance Retail.

Business

US Wants Indian Authorities’ Help in Adani Case

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has requested assistance from Indian authorities in its investigation into Adani Group founder Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani over alleged securities fraud and a $265 million bribery scheme. According to a court filing, the SEC is seeking help from India’s Union Ministry of Law and Justice to serve its complaint to the Adanis. The regulator told a New York district court that efforts to serve the complaint are ongoing.

Tesla Accelerates in India

Tesla has begun hiring in India, posting openings for 13 positions across customer service and back-end roles, following Elon Musk’s recent meeting with PM Modi. Sources say the EV giant has also finalized locations for two showrooms in Mumbai and New Delhi. This comes after India slashed import duties on high-end EVs from 110% to 70%, a key factor that had previously deterred Tesla.

Tech, Media & Telecom 

Uber Rickshaws Take a Hard Turn

Uber has rolled out a zero-commission model for auto drivers in India, replacing its traditional cut-per-ride with a fixed subscription fee—a move that mirrors rival Rapido’s approach. Under this model, Uber will only connect users with nearby drivers, suggesting a fare, but leaving the final price to be negotiated between the driver and the passenger. The company will also cede control over ride execution and quality, effectively acting as a matchmaking platform rather than a full-service aggregator.

Vikatan Website Blocked Over Modi-Trump Cartoon

Sources say the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) ordered the blocking of Tamil magazine Vikatan’s website after it published a cartoon depicting PM Modi in chains next to U.S. President Donald Trump. The move came without prior notice to Vikatan, leaving the site inaccessible since February 15 and raising free speech concerns.

Apple-India Ties Deepen as China Views with Suspicion

The relationship between Apple and India is getting stronger. Foxconn is manufacturing Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro in India, marking a significant shift in Apple’s supply chain. While India currently produces about 15% of iPhones, analysts expect this to rise to 25% by 2027. Meanwhile, China is reportedly restricting the movement of Chinese technicians and equipment into India, complicating operations for Apple’s suppliers.

PhonePe Makes Payments Smoother

PhonePe has introduced a device tokenisation feature for credit and debit cards, allowing users to tokenize their cards on the app for secure transactions across multiple services. This eliminates the need to store card details on merchant platforms or enter CVV repeatedly, enhancing both security and transaction success rates. The feature aims to reduce fraud risks and checkout drop-offs.

Health

Cancer Vaccine Coming Soon

India's cancer vaccine for women, targeting breast, oral, and cervical cancers, will be available in the next five to six months, according to Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav. The vaccine will be administered to girls aged 9-16, while women above 30 will undergo screenings at hospitals. Additionally, daycare cancer centers will be established to facilitate early detection and treatment. Research on the vaccine is nearly complete, with trials currently underway.

Maha Kumbh Water Contaminated with High Levels of Faecal Bacteria

The Central Pollution Control Board has found alarming levels of faecal bacteria in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers during the ongoing Maha Kumbh. Water quality readings revealed that on January 13, Deeha Ghat in the Ganga recorded 33,000 MPN/100 ml of faecal coliform, while the Yamuna’s Old Naini Bridge showed the same level on January 14. The safe limit for bathing is 2,500 MPN/100 ml. The findings were submitted to the National Green Tribunal in an ongoing case.

Quick Hits

• Ranveer Allahabadia Protected from Arrest – In an interim order, the Supreme Court granted Ranveer Allahabadia protection from arrest and barred him from airing shows until further notice.

• Bengaluru Braces for Scorching Summer – Bengaluru is set to experience a hotter summer than Delhi, according to the IMD. On February 17, Bengaluru recorded 35.9°C, while Delhi remained cooler at 27°C.

• RBI Launches 'RBIDATA' App – The RBI has introduced the RBIDATA mobile app, offering access to over 11,000 economic and financial data series with interactive charts.

• Spyne Raises $16 Million – Spyne, which offers an AI-powered visual merchandising platform for the car dealers, raised $16 million in a Series A round led by Vertex Ventures.

• Licious Plans IPO – A source says online meat and seafood retailer Licious plans to go public by 2026, aiming for a $2 billion valuation.

• Zomato Debuts Nugget – Zomato introduced Nugget, a no-code AI platform for automating customer support for businesses globally.

• Jio Unveils JioTele OS for Smart TVs – Reliance Jio has launched JioTele OS, a new operating system for smart TVs, set to be available from February 21.

Worth a Look

Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath created a series of slides on India’s eating habits. It notes India’s food service market is worth ₹4-5 lakh crore, protein deficiency is a problem across the country, and the healthy snacks market is growing in the country.

Reader Feedback

Shout-out to Aditi for giving us solid feedback on yesterday’s issue! We’ve tried making the newsletter more interesting by adding a Quick Hits section and modifying the style of headline. Let us know what you think about it!

Thanks for reading.

See you tomorrow.