Morning Brief: India’s Mobile Exports Hit Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore In 10 Months, Tejas Mk1A To Test-Fire Indigenous Astra Missile, Tesla May Enter Indian Market As Early As April, And More

Catch up on the day’s must-read stories with Swarajya's roundup of the morning's headlines.

India’s Mobile Exports Hit Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore In 10 Months

India’s mobile phone exports surpassed Rs 25,000 crore in January 2025, taking the total for FY 2024-25 beyond Rs 1,50,000 crore, a sharp rise from Rs 22,868 crore in FY 2020-21, according to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA). The surge is attributed to the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which has propelled mobile phone production from Rs 2,20,000 crore in FY 2023-24 to Rs 4,22,000 crore.

The production is projected to reach Rs 5,10,000 crore in FY 2024-25, a report in the BusinessLine says. Mobile phone exports are expected to grow by 40 per cent over the previous fiscal, surpassing Rs 1,80,000 crore from Rs 1,29,000 crore. Since the launch of the PLI scheme in FY 2020-21, exports have grown by over 680 per cent.

Tejas Mk1A To Test-Fire Astra BVRAAM

The Tejas Mk1A will test-fire the Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) within the next two weeks, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman C B Ananthakrishnan has said, according to Livefist. Astra Mk-1, already integrated with the Indian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-30MKI, is set to be fitted onto the Dassault Mirage 2000, HAL Tejas, and Mikoyan MiG-29. Limited series production of the missile began in 2017.

This comes just days after Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh delivered a scathing assessment of HAL, stating he has "no confidence" in the company. Speaking at Aero India 2025 earlier this month, he criticised HAL for failing to deliver a single Tejas Mk1A despite a promise of 11 jets—minus engines—by February 2025 and pointed out that the LCA Tejas Mk1A showcased at the event were not actually Mk1As.

Tesla May Enter Indian Market As Early As April

Tesla may enter the Indian market as early as April, with plans to import electric cars from its Berlin plant, CNBC TV18 has reported. The company is reportedly considering launching an EV under $25,000 in India, aligning with its global strategy to expand market share amid rising competition from Chinese car maker BYD. Tesla has finalised locations for company-owned showrooms in Delhi’s Aerocity and Mumbai’s BKC, the report says, adding that the company has also started hiring for roles in Mumbai.

The move follows Elon Musk’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi in the US earlier this month. India may further lower duties on electric cars due to potential reciprocal tariffs from the U.S. Despite a recent budget cut, the basic customs duty on imported EVs remains 70 per cent for cars under $40,000.

Other Developments

Interesting Findings In 'How India Spends' Report

A study by PwC and Perfios, analysing over 3 million tech-savvy consumers, found that Indians spend more than 33 per cent of their income on loan EMIs. Upper-mid-level earners have the highest share of loan repayments, while entry-level earners borrow more from informal sources like friends, family, or local lenders. The study highlights that higher-income groups take loans not just for necessities but also to fund luxury purchases, vacations, and vehicle upgrades. On average, Indian households allocate 39 per cent of their income to financial obligations (including EMIs), 32 per cent to essential expenses, and 29 per cent to discretionary spending. The largest share of discretionary spending is driven by lifestyle purchases and online gaming.

The Supreme Court granted bail to Christian Michel James in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland case, but he will remain in jail as his bail plea in the Enforcement Directorate case is still pending. Michel, a British national, was extradited from Dubai in December 2018 and has been in custody for six years while investigations continue. The bench, noting the slow progress, remarked that at this pace, the trial might take 25 more years to conclude. Despite the Centre’s request to delay the hearing, the court ruled that Michel would be released on bail under conditions set by the trial court. The CBI had accused Michel of using contacts within the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force to leak confidential information to AgustaWestland before finalising the helicopter deal.

US Agency Seeks India’s Help in Adani Probe

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sought help from Indian authorities in its probe against Adani Group founder Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, related to alleged securities fraud and a $265 million bribery scheme. Last year, prosecutors accused Gautam Adani of bribing Indian officials to secure electricity deals and misleading U.S. investors about the company’s anti-corruption efforts. In a New York court filing, the SEC stated it is working to serve its complaint to the Adanis and has approached India’s Ministry of Law and Justice for assistance. The Adani Group dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and plans to pursue legal options.

Trump Presses Ahead On Ukraine Peace Talks

The Trump administration has announced that it has agreed to further talks with Russia on ending the Ukraine war after an initial meeting in Saudi Arabia that did not include Kyiv. During the 4.5-hour meeting, Russia hardened its stance, refusing to accept NATO membership for Ukraine. Trump later said he was optimistic after the talks and might meet Putin before the month’s end, adding that Ukraine should have entered negotiations much earlier. The meeting in Riyadh was the first direct discussion between US and Russian officials on ending the war, but Ukraine insisted it would not accept any deal without its consent. European leaders criticised Trump’s approach, arguing that by ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine and acknowledging Russian control over 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory, his administration was making concessions to Moscow.

From The States

Ramzan Relief: BJP Protests Telangana’s Move, Silent On TDP’s Copy-Paste

The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, has announced that Muslim employees can leave work an hour early during Ramzan. This follows a similar move by Telangana’s Congress government, which was criticised by the BJP as "appeasement politics." Telangana’s order allowed Muslim employees, including teachers and contract workers, to leave at 4 pm from March 2 to March 31, prompting BJP MLA Raja Singh to accuse the government of ignoring Hindu festivals. In a twist, Andhra Pradesh, where BJP ally TDP is in power, has now issued a nearly identical order. The directive permits all Muslim employees, including contract workers and secretariat staff, to leave an hour early from March 2 to March 30 for religious observance.

Shinde, Fadnavis Deny Rift As ‘Parallel Govt’ Allegations

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde dismissed reports of a rift in the Mahayuti alliance, insisting there is "absolutely no cold war" with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. His statement follows opposition claims of a “parallel government” within the state, with Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut warning of escalating political chaos. The speculation arose after Shinde set up a medical aid cell at Mantralaya despite the existing Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Shinde clarified that the new cell would work alongside the Chief Minister’s War Room to improve service delivery, pointing out that Fadnavis had created a similar cell in 2023. Fadnavis also downplayed concerns, stating that such initiatives are meant to help people and should not be viewed as a conflict.

Suspense Over Delhi CM May Finally Lift Today

The suspense over Delhi’s next chief minister could end on today (19 February) as the BJP Legislature Party meets to elect its Leader of the House. The swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for February 20 at Ramlila Ground, will see the Chief Minister and Cabinet take oath in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries. The BJP secured a decisive victory in the February 5 polls, ending AAP’s decade-long rule with 48 out of 70 seats. Outgoing CM Atishi and former CM Arvind Kejriwal will be invited to the event, though some BJP state leaders may skip it due to budget sessions.

Follow along for more updates throughout the day.