Perplexity’s year-long bet on free access in India is starting to show its return. The AI search company’s in-app revenue in the country rose roughly 60% in the months after its giveaway with telecom operator Airtel closed to new users, according to estimates from app intelligence firm Sensor Tower, even as its download numbers collapsed. The offer itself is documented on the record. In July 2025, Airtel announced it would give a 12-month Perplexity Pro subscription, priced at ₹17,000 (about…