Note that this is limited to Apple's direct sales business model (aka selling phones through its own stores). Apple are free to sell through other retailers lik

Note that this is limited to Apple's direct sales business model (aka selling phones through its own stores). Apple are free to sell through other retailers like LG, Xiaomi, and several other retailers do. But they like to have total and absolute control over all aspects of their products. Unfortunately, in this case, they have come across someone else who likes to exercise pretty strong control over aspects of the economy itself. I think the best thing for Apple to do would be to sell their products through a partnership with Reliance or another company that has a lot of stores in India. It's not like they don't partner with carriers and such in the US.