A Khap Panchayat in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat has rolled out strict rules banning smartphones for teenagers and banning half-pants for boys and girls, saying it will curb Western influence. It has also issued wedding guidelines that restrict guest lists and spending, and pushes village-centred ceremonies with invitations shared on WhatsApp.
Xiaomi has launched the Redmi A7 Pro and Redmi A7 in India, expanding its entry-level lineup with a clear push on practical features. The company positions both phones as dependable everyday options, emphasizing large displays and long-lasting battery life while avoiding a premium price tag. The A-series focus is on making “basic” feel more capable for daily use.
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India’s smartphone shipments fell 3% year-on-year in Q1 2026, landing at a six-year low as manufacturers grappled with cost pressures and consumers faced price hikes. Analysts warn the downturn could deepen in the coming quarters. Vivo continues to lead the market, while Google is the fastest-growing premium brand, gaining momentum from AI-backed features.
India’s video gaming industry is rapidly turning into a true “Bharat” phenomenon, powered by expanding IT infrastructure, mass smartphone adoption, and better high-speed connectivity. The shift is visible in where players live: non-metropolitan gamers rose from 57% in 2022 to 66% in 2023, signaling gaming’s mainstream leap beyond big cities.
IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker shows Vivo topping overall India smartphone shipments in the June-September stretch, but Apple dominated the premium and super-premium segments in the September quarter. Apple’s performance in high-priced tiers is cited as a key driver of market growth, even as Vivo remained the leading overall seller during the same period.
Apple’s new iPhone Air reportedly sold out in China within minutes of launch, signaling unusually strong demand in the world’s biggest smartphone market. The surge comes after CEO Tim Cook’s recent visit to promote the device, even as China and the US remain locked in geopolitical tensions that have complicated tech business for both sides.
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India’s electronics exports jumped about 24% in the last fiscal year, with smartphones driving nearly a 22% rise. The gains are linked to the government’s production-linked incentive push, while major markets included the US, UAE, and China. The results underline India’s fast-growing clout as a global manufacturing hub for electronics.
A McKinsey report says India has become a major smartphone supplier to the United States, covering about 40% of demand that China previously met. The shift highlights how supply chains are being redrawn, with Indian production playing an outsized role in meeting US handset needs. The development could reshape bargaining power for global mobile brands.
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