India News

Chinese investors in Indian unicorns: India sitting on data trap

While the government did see the threat from the Chinese apps, it does not see any from investors from China accessing data of Indian consumers from their Indian partners.

Published

5 years ago

September 19, 2020

By Sambhav Sharma

With the ban on some 220 Chinese apps, India may have protected its sovereignty and integrity from prying Chinese eyes. But authorities, however, don’t seem to have a clue in protecting the country’s data from Chinese investors, who continue to invest in Indian apps and unicorns and gain access to data of users, who are predominantly Indian citizens. Besides the agreements between the investors and the apps are not in public forums for analysts to study it.

While the government did see the threat from the Chinese apps, it does not see any from investors from China accessing data of Indian consumers from their Indian partners. It is high time the government answer this question: Should the government continue to allow Chinese investors in Indian unicorns without adequate norms for protecting Indian users’ data?

During 2016-19, Chinese investments in Indian start-ups have grown 12 times. An India Today report listed the Alibaba Group’s strategic investments in Indian unicorns, starting from Big Basket ($250 million), Paytm.com ($400 million), Paytm Mall ($150 million), Zomato ($200 million) to Snapdeal ($700 million). Tencent, the other Chinese company, has invested in Indian firms like Byju’s ($50 million), Flipkart ($300 million), Hike Messenger ($150 million), Ola ($500 million) and Swiggy ($500 million). The investment from China seems to have fallen in 2020 following changes in the foreign direct investment rules that made prior government approval mandatory for investments from countries that share a land border with India. The Alibaba Group is among those hit by the new norms and is unlikely to sign fresh deals to fund Indian companies.

A recent Indian Express report said a Shenzen-based tech company with links to the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party is monitoring 10,000 individuals and organisations including key decision-makers like the Prime Minister, Chief of Defence Staff among others.

Given the ban on apps because they were a threat to security, the government is yet to formulate full-fledged data security norms. Cyberlaw expert Pavan Duggal, who spoke to APN, said, “Chinese apps like Tiktok, Shareit were a great threat to Indian data because these apps, compared to other apps, were asking for a lot of permissions. They were generating and collecting a lot of personal data of users and sending them to servers in China which could be analysed using artificial intelligence and machine learning.”

“Any and every server anywhere is vulnerable to a potential data breach. But servers in China are highly vulnerable as China has a national cybersecurity law from 2017 and under this law, any information to servers, systems located within China could be automatically accessed or shared with the Chinese government. Hence, data on Chinese servers is not at all safe,”
-Duggal

“On the other hand, India does not have any law on data protection. The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 is pending for consideration of the joint parliamentary committee. As far as data is concerned, India is a leaking ecosystem,” he said.

Economist Akash Jindal said India needs to curb Chinese investment because it’s a threat to national security. When asked about the economic impact of curbing Chinese FDI, he said if we are able to market ourselves well, we would be in a position to solicit the same FDI from other countries.

On the security implications of a potential data breach in apps/companies associated with Chinese investors, defence expert PK Sehgal said not only does India need to ban apps linked to China, but “we also need to ban companies like Tencent, Alibaba who are stealing our data”. The moment India does it, other countries will follow, he said.

Talking about modern warfare, he said predictability plays an important role in warfare and data can help to predict the enemy, hence, security implications of a data breach are manifold. Data help to carry out psycho-analysis of important personalities and how leaders are going to react in a certain situation, he said. Sehgal emphasised on the need to take cyber warfare more seriously.

“India needs to secure data as the Chinese are in a position to create chaos and mayhem in India. Through the use of artificial intelligence, China can refine data and can impact India’s financial sector, railways, power grid. Before a single bullet is fired, there may be chaos and mayhem in India,” he added.

He emphasised on the use of information, misinformation, disinformation, propaganda as the tools of modern war. Last year, an Army jawan was honey-trapped via social media and ended up sharing confidential information with Pakistani agencies. When asked about the laws/guidelines for defence personnel using apps, Sehgal added the Defence Ministry has very clear instructions that defence personnel are not supposed to have these apps, but it is tough to monitor each jawan. Jawans are the most vulnerable for a potential honey trap, Sehgal said.

Given this situation, India needs to come up with a clear and cogent policy to deal with data localisation and specific guidelines so that the data has to be dedicatedly protected, otherwise Chinese investors could impact Indian security, sovereignty and integrity.

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India News

GRAP stage-III measures enforced across Delhi as air quality worsens

Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated further, prompting authorities to enforce GRAP stage-III measures across the NCR amid rising AQI levels.

Published

6 hours ago

January 16, 2026

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Delhi’s air quality has continued to deteriorate, prompting authorities to enforce Stage-III measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region with immediate effect.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital showed a worsening trend over the past 24 hours. The AQI stood at 343 on January 15 at 4 pm and rose further to 354 by 4 pm on Thursday, raising concerns that pollution levels could soon enter the ‘Severe’ category.

Weather agencies have forecast unfavourable atmospheric conditions in the coming days, including low wind speeds, a stable atmosphere and poor dispersion of pollutants. Officials said these conditions could push Delhi’s average AQI beyond 400, which falls under the ‘Severe’ air quality bracket.

Stage-III restrictions come into force across NCR

In view of the rising pollution levels and the forecast of further deterioration, the CAQM sub-committee on GRAP decided to invoke all measures under Stage-III. These measures correspond to ‘Severe’ air quality levels and have been implemented as a precautionary step to prevent further decline.

The Stage-III actions will be enforced in addition to the restrictions already in place under Stages I and II of GRAP, which remain operational across the NCR. Officials said the combined measures aim to tighten controls on pollution sources, enhance monitoring and ensure stricter enforcement to curb emissions.

CAQM has directed pollution control boards and concerned agencies in the NCR to intensify preventive and regulatory steps. Authorities have been asked to ensure strict compliance with GRAP norms and take prompt action against violations.

Officials said air quality levels will be closely monitored, and further decisions will be taken based on real-time data and evolving weather conditions. Citizens have been urged to cooperate with advisories and follow measures aimed at reducing pollution levels.

India News

PM Modi to visit Bengal and Assam, launch Vande Bharat sleeper train and key projects

PM Modi will visit West Bengal and Assam on January 17 and 18 to launch India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train and inaugurate major infrastructure projects.

Published

7 hours ago

January 16, 2026

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal and Assam on January 17 and 18, where he will flag off India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train and inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone for a series of infrastructure and development projects across the two poll-bound states.

Vande Bharat sleeper train to be flagged off from Malda

On Saturday, the prime minister will visit Malda in West Bengal around 12.45 pm and flag off the country’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train connecting Howrah with Guwahati (Kamakhya) from the Malda town railway station.

Later in the day, around 1.45 pm, he will address a public programme in Malda where he will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple rail and road projects worth more than Rs 3,250 crore.

Development projects in Hooghly district

On January 18, around 3 pm, the prime minister will visit Singur in Hooghly district, where he will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and flag off various development projects worth around Rs 830 crore.

During the visit, Modi will also virtually flag off four new Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting New Jalpaiguri with Nagercoil and Tiruchirappalli, and Alipurduar with Bengaluru and Mumbai (Panvel). These services are aimed at improving affordable long-distance rail connectivity and strengthening inter-state economic and social linkages.

New train services and highway projects in north Bengal

The prime minister will flag off two new train services with LHB coaches — Radhikapur–SMVT Bengaluru Express and Balurghat–SMVT Bengaluru Express — providing direct connectivity from north Bengal to major IT and employment hubs.

He will also lay the foundation stone for the rehabilitation and four-laning of the Dhupguri–Falakata section of National Highway-31D, a project expected to significantly improve road connectivity and the movement of goods and passengers in the region.

Additionally, Modi will lay the foundation stone of four major railway projects in West Bengal, including a new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, next-generation freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, upgradation of the Siliguri loco shed and modernisation of Vande Bharat train maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district.

He will also dedicate the electrification of the New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat rail sections, enabling cleaner and more energy-efficient train operations.

Cultural programme and Kaziranga corridor in Assam

On January 17, around 6 pm, the prime minister will attend the Bodo cultural programme “Bagurumba Dwhou 2026” at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. More than 10,000 artists from across Assam are expected to perform the traditional Bagurumba dance in a single synchronised presentation.

On January 18, around 11 am, Modi will perform the bhoomi pujan for the Kaziranga elevated corridor project, valued at over Rs 6,950 crore, at Kaliabor in Nagaon district. The 86-km project includes a 35-km elevated wildlife corridor passing through Kaziranga National Park, along with bypasses and highway widening works aimed at improving connectivity while protecting biodiversity.

During the Assam programme, the prime minister will also flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains — Guwahati (Kamakhya)–Rohtak and Dibrugarh–Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) — strengthening rail connectivity between the northeast and northern India.

India News

NDA’s track record strikes chord as PM Modi hails Maharashtra civic polls win

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Maharashtra voters after the BJP-led NDA registered a historic victory in the BMC elections, ending decades of Shiv Sena dominance.

Published

7 hours ago

January 16, 2026

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday thanked the people of Maharashtra after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance registered a landmark victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, marking the first time the party has emerged on top in the country’s richest civic body.

In a post on X, the prime minister said the people of the state had endorsed the NDA’s agenda of governance and development. He said the results of municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra showed that the alliance’s bond with voters had further strengthened.

According to PM Modi, the NDA’s track record and vision for development had “struck a chord” with the electorate. He described the verdict as a mandate to accelerate progress while celebrating Maharashtra’s cultural legacy.

BJP-Shiv Sena alliance dominates BMC

As counting continued, trends showed the BJP leading in 90 of the 227 wards in Mumbai, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena was ahead in 28 wards. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, which contested separately, was leading in only three wards.

On the opposition side, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena were ahead in 57 and nine wards respectively. The Congress, which contested in alliance with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, was leading in 15 wards, while others were ahead in eight.

The outcome effectively ends the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s decades-long control over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which had been the party’s main power centre since its formation.

In the seat distribution, the BJP contested 137 wards and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena 90. The Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP fielded candidates in 94 wards. On the opposition side, Shiv Sena (UBT) contested 163 seats, the MNS 52, the Congress 143, and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi 46.

Urban verdict weakens Pawar influence

The results in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad also sent a strong political message, indicating that the Pawar brand no longer guarantees success in key urban centres. Despite tactical coordination between the two NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, voters did not consolidate behind them.

In the Pune Municipal Corporation, the BJP emerged with a clear upper hand, either winning or leading in a significant number of wards. The NCP factions failed to convert their traditional influence into broader citywide support.

Thackeray retains Marathi Manoos connect but loses power base

Uddhav Thackeray appears to have retained a section of the Marathi Manoos vote in Mumbai, even as the Shinde-led Shiv Sena made inroads. While the Shiv Sena (UBT) managed a respectable showing in its traditional strongholds, the loss of control over the BMC is seen as a major setback.

Control of the civic body had long been central to the party’s political identity and a key factor in its alliances.

Devendra Fadnavis emerges as key strategist

Much of the credit for the BJP’s sweeping civic success is being attributed to Devendra Fadnavis. Under his leadership, the Mahayuti alliance has carried forward its assembly election momentum into municipal politics.

The results are being seen as reinforcing Fadnavis’s political standing, demonstrating that even combined opposition forces could not halt the BJP’s rise. The verdict has also challenged the long-held claim of the Thackeray family over Marathi votes in Mumbai.