iWorld
Chinese apps saw drop in usage post Galwan; ban sealed fate: BARC-Nielsen
NEW DELHI: India on 29 June banned 59 Chinese mobile applications amidst a border stand-off with its neighbouring country. The government cited national security for banning these apps and included popular apps like TikTok, SHAREiT, UC Browser and WeChat.
According to the latest BARC Nielsen report, the weekly usage of Chinese apps by those having such apps installed on their phones decreased by five per cent to 77 per cent in the week ended 20 June , which further dropped to 76 per cent.
The report said that the highest impact was among users in tier-I cities, and those aged between 15-24, adding that both the segments reported an 11 per cent drop in the percentage of users per week.
Those who were visiting the app, did so fewer times in a day, it said, pointing to a 10 per cent decline in the average number of sessions to 5.4 per day for the week ended 27 June from 7.4 in the week ended 20 June.
According to the data, males between the age of 15-24 led the reduction in the number of sessions as well, with an 18 per cent decline, while tier-II cities witnessed a 20 per cent decline.
During the lockdown, the percentage of users per week had touched a peak of 80 per cent for the week ended 13 June and the average number of sessions had touched nearly eight per day, the report further said.
Gaming
Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons launch India’s first official F1 sim racing championship
Nationwide competition creates pathway from virtual racing to pro motorsport
MUMBAI: Formula 1 has teamed up with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to launch India’s first officially sanctioned F1 sim racing competition, marking a new step in the country’s growing motorsport ecosystem.
The championship, titled F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, will offer a structured national platform for sim racers, with participants competing on the official F1 25 across multiple stages. The competition will begin with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, before culminating in a national final in Mumbai this November.
Open to players across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, registrations for the event will begin on 30 April via the Mumbai Falcons app. The format mirrors real-world racing, featuring official circuits, team liveries and competitive structures aligned with the global series.
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said the initiative arrives at a time when interest in the sport is surging in India, adding that a structured sim racing platform could help identify and nurture the next generation of talent.
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited managing director Ameet Gadhoke noted that the championship aligns with the team’s long-term goal of building a strong motorsport pipeline in the country and placing Indian talent on the global stage.
The launch also reflects broader momentum in esports, especially after its recognition under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. By bridging gaming and real-world racing, the initiative aims to offer aspiring drivers a credible entry point into professional motorsport.
With interest in Formula 1 steadily rising and conversations around its return to India gaining pace, the new championship could become a proving ground for future racing stars.
