ChatGPT, Great Nicobar, Starbucks

Welcome to 1947—your sharp, no-nonsense guide to India’s most important news.

It’s April 7. Today: ChatGPT’s rise in India, the fallout from the Great Nicobar project, and why Starbucks is slowing down. Plus, job openings at Barclays, Leap, McKinsey and more in Who’s Hiring.

Policy, Governance & Regulation

> No Tariff Retaliation Against the US
India is unlikely to retaliate against President Trump’s 26% import tariff, as trade talks between the two countries progress. Officials say New Delhi is leveraging a clause in the US order that allows relief for partners making efforts to fix non-reciprocal trade terms. India has already made goodwill gestures—like slashing tariffs on high-end bikes and bourbon—to stay ahead of peers like China and Vietnam. (Reuters)

> Waqf Bill Becomes Law, Opposition Vows Supreme Court Challenge
President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, officially making it law. The bill, which expands government oversight and includes non-Muslims on boards managing Muslim religious endowments, has sparked strong opposition. Critics argue it infringes on minority rights and have pledged to challenge it in the Supreme Court. (India Today, Al Jazeera)

> India, UAE to Build Energy Hub in Sri Lanka, Countering China’s Influence
India and the UAE have agreed to jointly develop an energy hub in Sri Lanka, marking a strategic move as Colombo recovers from its 2022 financial crisis. The deal strengthens India’s regional presence and counters China’s growing influence, particularly after Sinopec signed a $3.2 billion deal to build an oil refinery in Hambantota. (Reuters)

Health & Environment

> The Hidden Costs of the ₹80,000 Crore Great Nicobar Project
The Centre’s ₹80,000 crore Great Nicobar project—featuring a transshipment port, international airport, and large township—has drawn sharp criticism for threatening the island’s fragile ecology and indigenous communities. The plan involves clearing 130 sq km of dense forest, home to over 10 million trees and endangered species like the Giant Leatherback turtle. Critics also warn of the marginalisation of local tribes, with the population set to surge from 8,500 to over 3,00,000 if fully executed. (The Telegraph)

> Delhi Plans to Ditch Petrol and Diesel Vehicles
Sources say the central government is holding high-level discussions to gradually phase out petrol and diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR. Proposed timelines suggest restricting new registrations of conventional fuel vehicles between 2030 and 2035, while cleaner alternatives like EVs, hybrids, and CNG vehicles will be prioritized. Delhi may stop registering non-clean-fuel buses by end-2025. (Economic Times)

Business

> Delhivery to Acquire Ecom Express in ₹1,407 Crore Deal
Delhivery will acquire rival Ecom Express for ₹1,407 crore in one of the logistics sector’s biggest consolidation moves. Once valued at over ₹7,000 crore, Ecom Express saw its valuation plunge nearly 80% after scrapping its IPO and struggling to expand beyond ecommerce clients. The all-cash deal marks a distress sale amid a tough market for logistics firms. (Economic Times)

> India Passes Bill to Protect Aircraft Lessors’ Rights
Parliament has passed the “Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects” Bill, making it easier for global lessors to repossess aircraft and engines when airlines default. The move aligns India’s laws with international aviation norms and follows a 2023 case where lessors were blocked from reclaiming aircraft from the bankrupt airline Go First due to Indian insolvency laws overriding global leasing agreements. (Reuters)

> Chinese Electronics Firms Eye India as Tariff Haven
Facing steep US tariffs—54% on Chinese goods—brands like Haier, Lenovo, and Hisense are exploring India as a manufacturing base to export to the US at lower duties. These firms are also hoping for regulatory easing from New Delhi, as diplomatic ties between India and China show signs of a reset. (Economic Times)

> Starbucks Slows India Expansion as Middle-Class Spending Dips
Starbucks has significantly slowed its India expansion, opening just 16 stores in the last quarter of 2024—well short of its 30-store target. The company, which aims to reach 1,000 outlets by 2028, currently operates 473 stores across 74 cities. Analysts cite stagnant wages, inflation, and fallout from a credit boom as factors dragging down middle-class consumer spending. (Financial Times)

Tech, Media & Telecom

> ChatGPT Use Surges in India, But Monetization Lags
Indian users have spent $8M on ChatGPT in-app subscriptions since 2023, according to SensorTower—just a fraction of the $330M spent by U.S. users. A key hurdle is the lack of local pricing: OpenAI’s cheapest plan costs $20/month (₹1,700+), steep for most Indian consumers. Meanwhile, Sam Altman’s anime cricketer avatar sparked speculation online, with fans split between delight and curiosity about its timing. (TechCrunch, BBC)

> Court Orders Wikimedia to Remove 'Defamatory' Content
The Delhi High Court has directed the Wikimedia Foundation to remove statements from a Wikipedia page that it deemed defamatory toward Indian news agency ANI. The ruling follows a defamation suit filed by ANI over descriptions labeling it a government “propaganda tool.” The court said the content tarnished ANI’s professional reputation and must be taken down. (Reuters)

Quick Hits

> Farmers in Kolhapur planned to protest the proposed Shaktipeeth Expressway by playing comedian Kunal Kamra’s parody song during Eknath Shinde’s visit.

> Tata Capital has pre-filed for an IPO that could raise up to $2 billion, potentially the biggest listing in India this year.

> PM Modi inaugurated the Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical-lift sea bridge, connecting Rameswaram to the mainland.

> Veteran actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, known for his patriotic films, passed away at the age of 87 after a prolonged illness.

> Agentic AI startup Composio raised $24 million Series A to simplify enterprise workflows through automation.

> The Taj Mahal was India’s top-earning ASI monument via ticket sales between FY20 and FY24, the government said.

Worth a Look

Inc42 has put together a handy chart of India’s unicorns by sector—featuring giants like Paytm and Meesho, alongside lesser-known names. A great one-pager to get a sense of the country’s startup landscape.

Who’s Hiring

> Barclays is hiring a Legal Counsel.

> Leap, a fintech and edtech startup, is hiring a Program Associate.

> McKinsey is hiring a Product Manager.

> Moneyview, a digital lending platform, is hiring a General Corporate & Product Advisory.

> ZocDoc is hiring a Product Operations Associate.

Social Spotlight

> A founder writes to Union minister Piyush Goel about the challenges of building a semiconductor startup in India.

> A shoddy clock tower made in Bihar Sharif for ₹40 lakh is drawing ire on X.

> A VC announced the G10 Fellowship, a four-month opportunity to work closely with some of India’s top deeptech companies.

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