This Week in Explainers: Why India has put brakes on ‘10-minute’ deliveries

India has pushed quick-commerce companies to take back their “10-minute” delivery service claims. Blinkit, Walmart’s Flipkart, Swiggy and Zepto have since dropped the promise of ultra-fast deliveries.

The unrest in Iran has left Kashmiri parents worried about their children studying in the country. They are now urging the Indian government to bring their kin back.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ally Shiv Sena had much to cheer as the Maharashtra municipal corporation election results came out. All eyes were on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) results, in which the ruling Mahayuti alliance has registered a historic win.

Here’s all this and more in our weekly wrap from India.

1. Amid myriad concerns of delivery partners, the Indian government has asked quick commerce companies to stop using the “10-minute” branding. Blinkit first removed its 10-minute delivery promise across platforms, while other companies like Swiggy and Zepto followed suit.

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The change came after Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met representatives of the quick commerce platforms, asking them to prioritise the safety of gig workers. Delivery partners had staged nationwide strikes on New Year’s Eve 2025 and Christmas Day, calling for a ban on 10-minute deliveries. But why are super-fast deliveries so controversial? We explain.

2. The BJP has won big in the Maharashtra municipal corporation elections. The saffron party emerged as the single-largest party in 19 of the 29 municipal corporations that went to polls in the state.

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The BJP and its ally Shiv Sena together crossed the halfway mark in the BMC polls. The BMC is India’s richest civic body, with a budget that surpasses even that of some Indian states. As the saffron party is set to take control of Mumbai’s civic body, we take a look at why the historic victory matters. Read our report here.

3. Parents in India, particularly in Kashmir, are worried about their children’s safety in Iran, which is rocked by a brutal crackdown on anti-regime protesters. Thousands of Indian students go to the West Asian country for higher education, with most pursuing medicine.

As Iran has imposed a communication blockade, it has become difficult for families in India to contact their kin. There is also a threat of the US striking Iran over its crackdown on protests. Parents in Kashmir are now urging the Indian government to evacuate their kids from the West Asian country. But why do so many Kashmiri students pursue higher education in the Islamic Republic? We explain.

4. While relations between India and China are slowly improving, they are yet to become completely normal. Now, China has laid claim to the Shaksgam Valley, which is part of the Hunza-Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).

The strategically significant territory is located at a high altitude near China’s Xinjiang province. The Shaksgam Valley sits at the trijunction of India, Pakistan and China, which makes it more appealing to Beijing. However, New Delhi will not be happy with China making claims to the territory. Read more here.

5. The strained ties between India and the US appear to be thawing. United States President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian goods and constant jabs aimed at New Delhi had derailed the relationship, with the two sides failing to reach a trade deal.

However, the trade talks seem to be advancing, with recent developments indicating progress. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s close ally, Sergio Gor, has joined as the United States ambassador to India. Does this mean the impasse between the two countries is finally ending? We explain here.

Namaste! Today marks my first day at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. I am honored to join this dedicated team and eager to get to work advancing President Donald Trump’s priorities and deepening the U.S.-India partnership. I couldn’t be more optimistic about the days ahead for… pic.twitter.com/GEoa9iIm99

— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) January 12, 2026

6. A civil rights lawsuit in the US over palak paneer has won two Indian doctoral students at the University of Colorado Boulder Rs 1.66 crore in settlement. It all started when Aditya Prakash was reheating his palak paneer lunch in a microwave provided for students on campus. A staff member then approached him and complained about the “pungent” smell of the food, telling him not to use the microwave.

The dispute escalated, leading to him and another Indian student, Urmi Bhattacheryya, facing discrimination. They decided to pursue legal action after being denied Master’s degrees, awarded to the PhD students en route to the doctoral, by the varsity. Here’s their story.

7. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval created buzz this week as his remarks about avoiding the use of mobile phones or the internet went viral. He revealed that he mostly uses these forms of communication for personal reasons, but not for official work.

His comments made at the opening ceremony of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) surprised many, especially the youth. How does Doval communicate then? Read our story to find out.

This is all we have for you this week. If you like our analyses, you can bookmark this page.