By Erick So the Indian Government first introduced the Sanchar Saathi app in January 2025, but the app was in the news this week. That’s because the Indian Government first made it mandatory for new phones to be sold with the app pre-installed. Then a few days later, the Government withdrew this mandate because they said there has been a rapid increase in ‘voluntary downloads’, making this mandate no longer required.
In its official statement, the government noted that about 1.4 crore users had already downloaded the app and were actively reporting around 2,000 fraud incidents per day, with a 10x jump in downloads in just one day.
Sure, that’s really why they withdrew the mandate.
The app is meant to offer services that enhance privacy and security. In reality, if you want to enhance privacy security (I was a privacy consultant for five years, trust me), you don’t need to install another app. Simple measures like locking your phone, requiring biometrics, using 2FA where applicable, NOT clicking on unknown links and not entertaining unknown callers go a long way. And if your phone gets stolen, use Find My (iOS or Android equivalent) to track your phone.
Anyway, here’s the other important news from this week in Tech India:
Perfect — here’s your roundup now redesigned to read like a friendly weekend newsletter, with smooth transitions and light commentary that keeps readers engaged throughout.
This week in Indian tech: another mix of progress, expansion, and some classic startup drama. Let’s dive into what grabbed headlines over the past few days.
- India rolls out public WiFi under PM WANI: The government just launched its new public WiFi network, PM WANI (which stands for Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface), aimed at bringing cheap and easy internet access across the country. You’ll soon be able to (hopefully) hop on local WiFi hotspots without needing mobile data — a small but powerful step toward digital inclusion.
- Myntra goes global: One of India’s biggest fashion platforms (one of the ‘OG’ platforms that’s been around) is packing its bags for international markets. Myntra is expanding to Malaysia, the UAE, and Australia, targeting both the Indian diaspora and local shoppers abroad. It’s the company’s boldest global move yet.
- Meesho’s IPO shines bright: Over in the stock market, Meesho’s IPO turned out to be a big hit. Investors rushed in, reflecting strong faith in the social commerce giant’s business model and small-seller ecosystem. It’s already being called one of the most successful listings in India’s startup scene this year. It was subscribed some 3x times – I think I know what this means but I’m not willing to explain it. Anyway.
- Zepto inches toward IPO — but hits a speed bump: Not to be outdone, Zepto also made headlines as it gears up for its own IPO. However, the company was fined ₹7 lakh for using “dark patterns” on its app — which are basically deceptive design tricks that mislead users into making unintended choices. The main issues included “drip pricing,” where extra fees like handling charges were hidden until the final checkout, and “basket sneaking,” where services such as Zepto Pass were auto-selected without clear user consent. These practices caused customers to pay more than the price initially shown and violated India’s guidelines against unfair digital trade practices. a reminder that transparency in the quick-commerce business is under tight scrutiny.
- VinFast expands in Chennai: On the EV front, Vietnamese automaker VinFast is moving fast. The company announced an expansion of its Chennai plant to begin local two-wheeler production. That’s a smart play to tap into India’s growing demand for electric scooters and bikes. Btw, right now the best-selling electric two-wheeler in India is currently the TVS iQube, followed closely by the Bajaj Chetak and Ather Rizta. TVS Motors has consistently led the market with strong monthly sales, but Bajaj Chetak has recently regained the top spot in some months, showing how competitive the segment is. The Ather Rizta is also performing well and is among the top choices for buyers due to its features and reliability.
- Telcos to show KYC on calls: Tired of spam calls? Relief might finally be on the way. The Indian government is now requiring telecom operators to display KYC (Know Your Customer) details of callers. If implemented smoothly, this could make it much easier to spot real calls from fake ones.
- PhonePe’s Pincode app changes direction: PhonePe’s Pincode app is taking a sharp turn — no more consumer deliveries. The company is pivoting to focus on B2B operations, working directly with partner stores and small businesses instead. A smart shift in strategy as India’s local commerce space heats up.
- Cloudflare’s outage rattles trading apps: Markets saw some unexpected downtime this week when a Cloudflare outage disrupted popular trading platforms like Groww and Zerodha. Users faced login issues during market hours — but things bounced back quickly after engineers restored the systems. Kinda shows you how fragile the internet sometimes is.
- UPI takes another global leap: NPCI continues its mission to make UPI global, with Cambodia becoming the latest country to join the network. This expansion strengthens India’s growing influence in digital payments across Asia.
- TCS and OpenAI in quiet talks: And finally, a big one — TCS is reportedly in talks with OpenAI to help build AI infrastructure in India. If this partnership materializes, it could signal the start of a major new phase for India’s AI industry, bringing homegrown talent and global innovation together.
- Dream11 tries to change image: to become a “sports entertainment platform”. The company says it will now operate as a sports entertainment platform and aims to become a second screen for viewers watching live matches. He said the platform will allow users to watch games along with creators, and that the new app will be available on the App Store and Play Store within the next 24 hours.
You’ve heard of electric cars, electric bikes, but have you heard of electric tractors? Moonrider is a Bengaluru-based electric tractor startup building high-power, fully electric tractors designed to match diesel tractors on price while dramatically cutting operating costs and emissions. How cool is the concept, and how cool is the name?! Well Moonrider was in the news because it raised some funding.
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