Apple Expands in India: Sixth Retail Store to Open in Mumbai’s Borivali on Feb 26

Apple is set to open its sixth official retail store in India at Borivali, Mumbai, on February 26, 2026.

Key Details

•  Location: Oberoi Sky City Mall, Borivali East, Mumbai
• Opening Time: 1:00 PM IST
•  Size: Around 12,600 sq. ft., with dedicated storage and parking facilities
• Design: Features Apple’s peacock-inspired visual identity
• Experience: Hands-on product demos, Apple Specialists, Geniuses, and free “Today at Apple” sessions
• Expansion Context: Second store in Mumbai after Apple BKC

Apple’s Retail Footprint in India (as of Feb 2026)

City	Store Name	Year Opened
New Delhi	Apple Saket	2023
Noida	Apple Noida	2025
Bengaluru	Apple Hebbal	2025
Pune	Apple Koregaon Park	2025
Mumbai	Apple BKC	2023
Mumbai	Apple Borivali	2026

Apple’s India Supply Chain Powers 3.5 Lakh Employment Opportunities

Apple’s expansion in India has generated around 3.5 lakh jobs, including 1.2 lakh direct jobs. These roles span manufacturing, logistics, and allied services, supported by Apple’s partnerships with 45 suppliers such as Foxconn, Tata Electronics, Aequs, Jabil, Microplastics, ATL, and over 20 Indian MSMEs. This figure excludes the workforce at Apple’s five iPhone factories in India.

• Diversification Strategy: Apple is reducing reliance on China by strengthening its India base.
• Make in India Alignment: The move supports India’s push for domestic manufacturing.
• Upskilling Opportunities: Workers gain exposure to global technology standards, enhancing India’s tech talent pool.
• Economic Impact: Beyond job creation, this strengthens India’s position in global electronics manufacturing.

Apple has built a strong supplier network of 45 firms, ranging from global giants like Foxconn, Tata Electronics, Aequs, Jabil, Microplastics, and ATL to more than 20 Indian MSMEs. This figure does not even account for the workforce employed at Apple’s five iPhone factories in the country, which further adds to the scale of employment.

The initiative is part of Apple’s broader strategy to diversify production away from China and establish India as a long-term hub for manufacturing and exports. It aligns closely with the Indian government’s “Make in India” program, strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities and boosting the nation’s electronics ecosystem. Beyond sheer job creation, Apple’s presence is helping to upskill workers by exposing them to global technology standards, thereby enhancing India’s talent pool.

Economically, the impact extends beyond employment. Apple’s growing footprint is expected to increase India’s electronics exports, attract more foreign investment, and solidify the country’s position in global supply chains. This expansion underscores how multinational corporations can simultaneously achieve strategic diversification while contributing to local economic development.

India Approves Its First Underwater Road–Rail Tunnel Project, Worth $2 Bn

The Union Cabinet has approved a landmark ₹18,662 crore project to build India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam.

What Assam’s Brahmaputra project represents is India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel, and one of only a handful globally.

Assam’s Chief Minister described it as the world’s second underwater road-rail tunnel, after the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link between Germany and Denmark, which is longer and still under construction. So, while it’s not the longest, it is among the most ambitious and unique — especially because it combines both road and rail under a major river in a seismic zone.

Project Details

• Length & Design: 15.79 km twin-tube tunnel, part of a 33.7 km greenfield corridor connecting Gohpur (NH-15) to Numaligarh (NH-715).
• Depth: Tunnel will sit about 32 meters below the riverbed.
• Capacity: Two road lanes in each direction, plus provision for a railway line.

Impact

• Travel Time: Reduces current 240 km detour (~6 hours) to just 34 km, cutting travel time to about 20 minutes.
• Economic Boost: Expected to generate 80 lakh person-days of employment and enhance freight, tourism, and security near the Indo-Tibet border.
• Strategic Importance: Strengthens connectivity in the Northeast, supports the Act East Policy, and adds Assam’s fourth rail crossing over the Brahmaputra.

Political & Regional Significance

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed it as a historic milestone, thanking PM Narendra Modi and Minister Nitin Gadkari for advancing regional connectivity.

C‑DOT Teams Up with Synergy Quantum to Safeguard Defence, Telecom, and Banking from Quantum Threats

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), India’s premier telecom R&D body under the Department of Telecommunications, has signed an agreement with Synergy Quantum India Private Limited to jointly develop a quantum vulnerability detection tool.

Key Highlights of the Partnership

• Scope: It targets sectors like defence, telecom, and banking, where future quantum computing capabilities could break existing encryption methods.
• Functionality: The automated system will scan cryptographic mechanisms, flag vulnerabilities, and distinguish between quantum-safe and quantum-vulnerable algorithms.
• Strategic Importance: This initiative is part of India’s broader push to strengthen cybersecurity preparedness against emerging quantum threats, ensuring resilience in national digital infrastructure.
• Outcome: The tool is expected to become a foundational capability for organizations preparing for next-generation cryptographic security.

Why It Matters

Quantum computers, once mature, could render today’s widely used encryption (like RSA and ECC) obsolete. By proactively identifying vulnerable algorithms, India is positioning itself to transition toward quantum-safe cryptography before such threats materialize.

Here’s a deeper look at the quantum vulnerability detection tool being developed by C-DOT and Synergy Quantum, along with a global analogy to similar initiatives:

About the Tool

• Automated Detection: Scans devices, networks, and infrastructure to identify cryptographic algorithms in use.
• Classification: Distinguishes between quantum‑safe and quantum‑vulnerable algorithms (e.g., RSA, ECC).
• Reporting: Flags vulnerabilities and provides actionable insights for migration to post‑quantum cryptography (PQC).
• Target Sectors: Defence, telecom, and banking — areas most at risk if quantum computers break classical encryption.
• Strategic Role: Serves as a foundational capability for India’s cybersecurity ecosystem, enabling proactive transition before quantum threats materialize.

Global Analogies

India’s move mirrors efforts in other regions where governments and companies are preparing for the post‑quantum era:

Region / Organization	Initiative	Focus
United States (NIST)	Post‑Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project	Developing global standards for quantum‑resistant algorithms.
European Union (PQCrypto, ETSI)	Quantum‑Safe Cryptography Working Groups	Researching migration strategies for telecom and finance sectors.
China	National Quantum Communication Network	Building secure quantum key distribution (QKD) infrastructure.
UK (Quantinuum, Cambridge Quantum)	Quantum cybersecurity solutions	Commercial tools for quantum‑safe encryption and migration.
Japan (NTT, Toshiba)	Quantum key distribution trials	Integrating QKD into telecom networks.

Strategic Implication

India’s tool is unique in its automated vulnerability detection approach, complementing global PQC standardization efforts. While the US and EU focus on algorithm development and standards, India is emphasizing practical detection and migration

About Synergy Quantum

Synergy Quantum is relatively a new company, which was established in December 2022, registered in New Delhi, India. The company's private limited company, classified under research and experimental development. Synergy Quantum specializes in quantum communication and cybersecurity solutions, with emphasis on post-quantum cryptography.

Notably, the founder of Synergy Quantum India Private Limited is Jay Oberai, who also serves as the company’s CEO. He has been prominently featured in discussions on India’s quantum sovereignty and cybersecurity, including recognition by the Forbes Technology Council for his role in advancing quantum‑safe solutions.

Oberoi, a Harvard University graduate, has been seed investor in Cambridge Quantum Computing (CQC), which later merged into Quantinuum (valued at over $10 billion). This positioned him at the forefront of quantum technology investment globally.

Jai Oberoi actively advises governments and institutions in the UK, Switzerland, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia on quantum strategy and digital infrastructure planning.

15 Giants Forge Trusted Tech Alliance to Shape Secure Digital Future

The Trusted Tech Alliance (TTA) has just been launched by 15 of the world’s biggest technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, Jio Platforms, AWS, Nokia, Ericsson, SAP, Anthropic, Cohere, NTT, Cassava Technologies, Hanwha, Nscale, Rapidus, and Saab. The announcement was made at the Munich Security Conference on February 13, 2026.

Purpose of the Alliance

• Cross-border collaboration: Designed to unite tech firms from Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.
• Trusted technology stack: Focus areas include AI, cloud infrastructure, connectivity, semiconductors, and software.
• Shared principles: Members commit to transparency, security, and data protection, regardless of their country of origin.
• Global trust-building: The alliance aims to counter fragmentation in the tech industry and ensure that innovation benefits are passed on globally.

Why It Matters

• Geopolitical context: Launched at a major security conference, signaling its role in addressing global concerns about digital sovereignty and secure supply chains.
• Industry impact: By pooling resources and influence, these companies can set standards for responsible AI, secure cloud services, and ethical data use.
• Strategic positioning: It’s also a move to strengthen resilience against cyber threats and reduce dependency on single-nation tech ecosystems.

Quick Snapshot of Members

Region	Companies
US	Google, Microsoft, AWS, Anthropic, Cohere
Europe	SAP, Ericsson, Nokia, Saab
Asia	Jio Platforms, NTT, Hanwha, Rapidus
Africa	Cassava Technologies
Global startups	Nscale

This alliance could become a benchmark for global tech governance, much like how financial institutions rely on Basel standards.