India

Hindu Business Line | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

Indian space-tech start-ups are increasingly securing international customers, marking a shift from a domestic-focused ecosystem to one driven by global demand. Enhanced credibility through ISRO, improved cost competitiveness, and established flight heritage are helping these companies expand into markets such as the US, Europe, Japan, Singapore, and Australia. Manastu Space now earns about 40% of its revenue from overseas, targeting government defence orders via direct and potential OEM partnerships.

Dhruva Space, although currently dependent mostly on the domestic market, anticipates rapid international growth, with customers in France, Austria, Australia, and the Middle East. Its exports, including space-grade solar panels and ground station services, may rise to 40% of its order backlog in the near future. These export opportunities not only boost sales but also diversify risk and improve the quality of order books. Investors note that firms serving both domestic and international clients, such as Pixxel, enjoy higher valuation premiums due to market and technical risk reduction.

Digantara Industries is gaining international recognition as a credible global supplier, especially in defence and intelligence sectors requiring sovereign technologies. The company is expanding its global footprint with a US presence and plans for a European entity by 2026 to support both classified and commercial programs, while maintaining core engineering in India. PierSight is experiencing growing overseas demand driven by its unique SAR+AIS-based ocean surveillance solutions, with the fastest growth in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The firm expects exports to surpass domestic revenue as global demand for persistent maritime monitoring increases.

Trilegal | English | AcademicThink | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedLegal Exposure

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) directed three liquor vendor associations in Maharashtra to cease cartelisation activities including price fixing, control over market entry, and collectively setting retail terms. Despite finding evidence of cartel conduct, CCI refrained from monetary penalties due to mitigating factors such as first-time offence and limited financial capacity.

CCI dismissed a complaint against Google Play Store by Liberty Infospace, ruling that Google’s conduct in terminating developer accounts was justifiable to protect platform integrity and did not constitute abuse of dominance. The decision underscored the need to assess dominant position abuse in market context rather than in isolation.

In a significant enforcement action, the CCI imposed the maximum penalty based on the global turnover of six companies involved in bid rigging in solid waste management tenders for Pune Municipal Corporation. This marked the first use of the 2024 Penalty Guidelines allowing penalty calculation on global turnover when relevant turnover is infeasible. The CCI rejected mitigating factors due to the severity of the collusive conduct.

The National Competition Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) largely upheld CCI’s finding that Meta and WhatsApp abused dominance by imposing unfair data-sharing terms in WhatsApp’s 2021 policy update. It upheld a penalty of INR 213.14 crore (~USD 23.6 million) but set aside a five-year ban on data sharing for advertising purposes, allowing other user consent remedies instead. Meta and WhatsApp have appealed to the Supreme Court.

NCLAT ruled that the CCI lacks jurisdiction over patent-related disputes, affirming its dismissal of a complaint against Vifor International regarding licensing and pricing of a patented pharmaceutical ingredient. The CCI has challenged this decision in the Supreme Court.

The Kerala High Court affirmed the CCI’s jurisdiction to adjudicate abuse of dominance claims in regulated sectors such as broadcasting. The court held that the Competition Act and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act operate concurrently, with CCI’s jurisdiction applicable for competition issues distinct from sectoral regulatory matters.

Express Tribune | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

The Ministry of Water Resources informed Pakistan's National Assembly that India unilaterally suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in April 2025 following a militant attack in held Kashmir. This suspension has led to a significant reduction in water flow in the Chenab River, threatening approximately 1.45 million acres of agricultural land under the Upper Chenab Canal and an additional 3.19 million acres under the Chenab Canal. The lowered water availability is expected to severely impact agriculture and livelihoods dependent on these river systems.

India has not responded to concerns raised by Pakistan and United Nations experts regarding this suspension, despite a December 16, 2026 deadline set by the UN for India to explain its actions. A UN report released in December 2025 warned that any disruption of the treaty might severely affect millions of people in Pakistan who rely on the Indus River system for drinking water, agriculture, and food security.

Hydrological data from December 2025 revealed an extraordinary reduction in the Chenab River flow, with measurements dropping well below historical minimums. Satellite imagery showed significant changes in reservoir surface area at Baglihar during this period, indicating alterations in water storage or flow. Pakistan formally sought explanations from India over this unusual water reduction, highlighting growing tensions over water-sharing and resource management under the treaty.