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Quarterly Newsletter Issue #15
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Dear Readers,
Greetings!
In this April-June 2026 edition of InnovTech@CUTS, we bring together a diverse set of research, policy engagement, and capacity-building initiatives addressing evolving challenges at the intersection of technology, geoeconomics, and regulation.
This quarter, our engagement centred on technology as an instrument of strategic competition and cooperation. At the third CUTS G-SAGE webinar, experts examined how digital ecosystems, connectivity governance, and competition in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and critical minerals are reshaping the global landscape. The discussion focussed on export controls, industrial policy, and supply chain resilience. A companion webinar on India-Australia defence industrial cooperation examined avenues for joint collaboration in undersea systems, cyber defence, and aerospace manufacturing, while highlighting the intellectual property frameworks essential for fostering sustained innovation in the Indo-Pacific.
On the capacity-building front, the CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC) concluded its six-week certificate course on AI and competition law, bringing together policymakers, regulators, jurists and practitioners to explore issues, such as algorithmic collusion, abuse of dominance, and emerging regulatory approaches to AI-driven markets.
Supported by The Asia Foundation and Google.org, CUTS strengthened MSME cybersecurity through 27 APAC Cybersecurity Fund workshops across five states, reaching 4,200+ participants.
Our outreach this quarter also included op-eds on the governance challenges of trans-humanism and the case for securing India's aluminium supply chain, alongside continued media engagement on emerging technology and geoeconomic issues.
We hope you find this edition insightful and welcome your feedback and engagement.
Amol Kulkarni
Director (Research)
CUTS International
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Harmonising Bike Taxi Regulations in India:
An Evidence-Based Assessment and Suggested Pathways for Reform
This Report examines a critical yet underexplored question in Indian urban transport: how bike taxis should be regulated and why the existing regulatory approach remains fragmented. While the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (MVA) provides a statutory basis for motorcycle-based passenger transport, and the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 (2025 MVA Guidelines) offer further guidance, transport is a Concurrent List subject, allowing States to frame their own regulatory frameworks. As the Guidelines remain recommendatory, regulation and enforcement vary across States, creating challenges for platforms, passengers, and gig workers.
The study analyses the statutory framework under the MVA and 2025 MVA Guidelines, regulatory approaches across Delhi, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, and international practices across Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. It draws on desk research and consultations with State Transport Departments, aggregators, and experts.
The Report identifies implementation challenges, including incumbent operator interests, vehicle-conversion requirements, and the absence of adaptable regulatory models. Drawing on international experience and recent policy developments, it recommends approaches covering licensing, vehicle conversion, safety, worker welfare, electrification, and revenue models. The Report advocates clear, evidence-based, and proportionate regulation that balances the interests of drivers, passengers, platforms, and the wider public.
Read the full report here
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CUTS Comments on the Draft Amendments to Information Technology Rules, 2021
Sohom Banerjee, February 2026
CUTS International appreciates the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for its continued efforts to strengthen India’s digital governance framework while balancing openness, safety, trust, and accountability in the online ecosystem. The Ministry’s consultative approach, reflected in the stakeholder engagement process, is commendable and consistent with global best practices in participatory policymaking.
The proposed amendments are timely, seeking to enhance clarity, improve enforceability, and strengthen oversight mechanisms amid the growing complexity of digital platforms and reliance on intermediary services. While platforms have made progress in promoting user safety, significant gaps remain in grievance redressal, particularly in responding swiftly and contextually to emerging harms. Harmful or dangerous speech can spread rapidly through influential accounts, amplifying its impact before corrective action is possible.
Strengthening grievance mechanisms to make them more responsive, transparent, and sensitive to India’s diverse socio-cultural context is therefore essential. MeitY’s efforts represent a constructive step towards greater accountability and protecting millions of digital Nagariks.
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Trans-humanism: The Silent Capture of the Human Mind
Pradeep S Mehta and Sohom Banerjee
Deccan Chronicle, July 11, 2026
India must secure its aluminium supply chain
Pradeep S Mehta and Sohom Banerjee
Hindustan Times, July 07, 2026
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Third CUTS G-SAGE Webinar
 CUTS International convened the third webinar of its Geoeconomic Monograph Series on July 07, 2026, bringing together diplomats, scholars, and policy experts from Chile, Ghana, Russia, Singapore, and India to examine evolving geoeconomic dynamics and their implications for global governance, strategic autonomy, technology, connectivity, and regional development. The discussion explored how states are increasingly using trade, infrastructure, technology, critical minerals, and digital ecosystems as instruments of national strategy amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry.
Ambassador Jorge Heine, Honorary Professor at the Institute of International Studies, University of Chile, and Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute traced the evolution from dependency theory and the Washington Consensus to the current era of strategic competition, emphasising that economic policy can no longer be viewed separately from geopolitical realities.
More information about the webinar can be viewed here |
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Advancing Australia-India Defence Industrial Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
The webinar entitled, ‘Advancing Australia-India Defence Industrial Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific’ held on May 05, 2026 was a follow up to the India-Australia Defence Industry Business Roundtable held in Sydney in October 2025. The roundtable was co-chaired at the ministerial level by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australia’s Assistant Minister for Defence, Peter Khalil. The discussion emphasised that the Indo-Pacific is undergoing structural transformation, with intensifying geopolitical competition, supply chain reconfiguration, and rapid technological change.
The webinar concluded with a shared recognition that India and Australia are not merely partners of convenience, but strategic collaborators with a critical role in shaping regional stability.
More information about the webinar can be viewed here
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Policy Dialogue on Strengthening Cybersecurity for MSMEs in India
 Cybersecurity emerged as a key theme of the Policy Dialogue on Strengthening Cybersecurity for MSMEs in India, held in Guwahati, Assam, on May 22, 2026, with participants highlighting the urgent need to strengthen the resilience of small businesses in an increasingly digital economy.
Discussions focused on the growing risks posed by digital payment fraud, phishing attacks, identity theft, data breaches, account takeovers, and emerging AI-enabled threats, which continue to challenge MSMEs as they expand their digital footprint. Speakers emphasised the importance of cyber awareness, digital literacy, and proactive cyber hygiene practices to safeguard business operations, protect consumer trust, and support sustainable growth.
The dialogue also explored opportunities to enhance cybersecurity through targeted capacity-building initiatives, stronger institutional support, improved incident-reporting mechanisms, and closer collaboration among government, industry, academia, and civil society. Participants underscored the need for practical, accessible, and sector-specific interventions to help MSMEs confidently and securely participate in India's digital transformation. |
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AI & Competition: Regulatory and Enforcement Perspectives
CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC) successfully organised the six-week online certificate course, "AI & Competition: Regulatory and Enforcement Perspectives," on April 03-May 09, 2026 bringing together policymakers, regulators, legal practitioners, academicians, researchers, industry professionals, and students from across jurisdictions. The programme aimed to deepen understanding of the evolving interface between artificial intelligence and competition law in the digital economy.
The course featured expert-led sessions by distinguished resource persons from organisations and institutions including UNCTAD, OECD, the Competition Commission of India, Axiom5 Law Chambers LLP, Sarvada Legal, and Ikigai Law. Discussions covered key issues such as AI and digital markets, algorithmic collusion, abuse of dominance, mergers, big data, privacy, consumer welfare, and emerging regulatory approaches.
Through interactive discussions, case studies, and comparative perspectives, participants enhanced their understanding of competition challenges arising from AI-driven markets. The programme reaffirmed CIRC’s commitment to capacity building and fostering informed policy discourse on competition law and digital regulation. Read full report here
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Workshops on Cybersecurity Capacity Building for MSMEs in India
 Supported by The Asia Foundation and Google.org under the APAC Cybersecurity Fund, the initiative focused on equipping MSMEs with practical tools and strategies to strengthen their digital resilience. Through 27 capacity-building workshops conducted across Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, the programme reached more than 4,200 participants, including entrepreneurs and business owners from diverse sectors, such as garment manufacturing, food processing, artisanal enterprises, agriculture, and food and stationery.
The workshops provided practical guidance on identifying phishing attempts, securing online payments, protecting sensitive business and customer data, and adopting simple, low-cost cybersecurity measures in day-to-day operations. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, participants gained a better understanding of emerging cyber threats and the importance of cyber hygiene in safeguarding their businesses.
The strong participation across states reflected the growing recognition among MSMEs that cybersecurity is a business imperative and highlighted their willingness to adopt safer digital practices in an increasingly digital economy.
More information about the project can be viewed here |
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