The government is introducing a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant payments above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move ends the zero-MDR regime, aiming to fund UPI infrastructure and sustainability, as the previous government subsidy was insufficient to cover operational costs. Payments between individuals and most everyday merchant transactions will remain free.
The Central Reserve Police Force has suspended a senior DIG-rank officer for sharing content allegedly "against" the government during the recent passage of the Central Armed Police Force bill, which the cadre officers of these forces had called discriminatory.
The Bharatiya Janata Party received nearly Rs 1,473 crore at its central headquarters alone during the last five state assembly elections, more than seven times the Rs 207 crore in net receipts reported by the Congress across its central and state units, according to expenditure statements filed with the Election Commission.
Nearly 15 months after the marriage of local businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, who was killed during his honeymoon in Meghalaya, the wedding caterer on Tuesday approached the police in Indore to seek their help in the recovery of alleged outstanding payment of Rs 2.82 lakh, an official said.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is set to meet to discuss the political situation in India, focusing on strategies to pressure the government regarding student issues, alleged embezzlement at the Ram temple, and upcoming Assembly elections. The meeting will also address the women's reservation bill.
Aryna Sabalenka overcame Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in a pulsating three-set thriller, saving her title defence and reaching a sixth consecutive US Open semi-final after a tense tiebreak.
The challenge for India lies in navigating complex landscape to its best advantage. The BRICS Summit will test its navigation skills, asserts former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
Greco Roman wrestler Deepak has failed a dope test, leading to his withdrawal from the Asian Games contingent. This marks the third doping case for Indian wrestling ahead of the continental event, further reducing India's representation. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) found clomifene in his sample, a prohibited substance. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) decided to withdraw him to avoid potential penalties from the world governing body.
Several vital parliamentary committees, including those dealing with ethics, rules, and financial matters, are yet to be formally reconstituted. This delay affects the functioning of the Lok Sabha and the oversight of government operations.
Less than two months after ending the TMC's 15-year rule in the state, the BJP government is expected to table one of its most ambitious and politically sensitive promises, setting the stage for what could become the first major ideological confrontation of the post-election period.
The Rajya Sabha has passed The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026, which aims to replace a British-era law and allow digital and virtual records to be admissible as evidence in courts. This legislation aligns with contemporary digital banking practices and extends a uniform evidential framework to various financial entities, including NBFCs and fintech companies. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the bill's role in strengthening public confidence and safeguarding customer privacy. The bill's passage, however, saw an Opposition walkout over unrelated issues.
Do not share OTPs, PINs, authentication codes, card numbers, card verification values (CVVs), KYC details, security answers, Internet-banking passwords or Aadhaar-based authentication credentials through SMS, e-mail or phone calls.
The US senate last week passed a bill that would allow Washington to impose tariffs on major buyers of Russian energy.
A food tampering racket in Navi Mumbai, involving the alteration of expiry dates on popular brands like Maggi and Lay's, has been busted by the Maharashtra FDA and Navi Mumbai Police Crime Branch, leading to the seizure of products worth over Rs 75 lakh.
Congress-ruled states, including Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana, are preparing to challenge the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, in the Supreme Court. They allege the new law undermines states' rights by restricting their powers to levy taxes on mineral resources, a claim the Centre denies, stating it aims for uniform mineral rates.
Alexander Zverev, the German top seed, narrowly defeated Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in a gruelling five-set match, continuing his pursuit of a second Grand Slam title after winning the French Open in June.
'It requires new skilling, new ways of working, and new structures. That's the reality.'
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday said that hearings of applications for citizenship under the CAA will soon be over, and so far the state has issued certificates to 23,000 people out of 2.30 lakh applicants.
Enjoy Alia-Sharvari's fighter fervour, back to back Bobby Deol and tons more on OTT this week.
It's not about how much you earn -- it's about how you borrow and repay.
India's top men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, fought hard to defeat Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, securing their spot in the China Masters Super 750 semifinals. This victory continues their strong performance following recent successes. Meanwhile, veteran Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth's journey in the men's singles quarter-finals concluded after a straight-games loss to Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu.
'In the current environment, India is effectively paying a premium for supply security and diversification.'
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticised the Centre's new mandate requiring the full rendition of the National Song, Vande Mataram, alongside the National Anthem at official functions. Tharoor argues that the extended duration could lead to a decrease in respect rather than an increase, citing practical considerations for audiences. The amendment bill, which grants Vande Mataram equal statutory penal protection as the National Anthem, recently received presidential assent.
Fintech giant PhonePe has launched 'PhonePe UPI 123Pay', a new service enabling UPI transactions for feature phone users without requiring an internet connection. This initiative aims to bring digital payment capabilities to over 200 million feature phone users, promoting financial inclusion across India.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on digital transactions applies to merchants, not customers, and aims to support banks and fintech in infrastructure investment. She countered Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's claims, stating that a committee will decide on MDR only after Parliament passes the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, a process currently stalled by parliamentary disruptions.
Growing up, I was spoiled in the best way possible. My mum is one of those magical cooks who can turn the simplest ingredients into a feast. Every meal at home was delicious, so there was never a reason for me to learn.
Making UPI payments fee-based for some transactions could enhance mental reservations against digital payments -- which have largely been overcome -- once more. Do we want to regress?, asks R Jagannthan.
Relentless protests by Opposition parties forced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha for the day after the passage of the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill without a debate on Wednesday, with the government accusing them of coming to the House to disrupt proceedings and not for discussion.
India's Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded with significantly low productivity, marked by frequent disruptions and protests from the Opposition, primarily the Congress, leading to minimal debate on key legislation.
Home Minister Amit Shah has offered to hold a comprehensive debate in Parliament on student protests and other pressing issues, but Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has swiftly rejected the proposal, demanding accountability for actions against students.
List all unavoidable expenses such as rent, groceries, transportation, education and medical bills.
The Lok Sabha secretariat has requested a response from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding two privilege complaints filed by BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Sanjay Jaiswal. The complaints stem from Gandhi's remarks against Home Minister Amit Shah during a debate on the anti-paper leak bill, which the BJP MPs deemed "unparliamentary" and a breach of privilege. Gandhi has until August 28 to submit his explanation to the Privileges Committee.
The Assam Assembly has passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, aiming to establish a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships, irrespective of religion. This makes Assam the third state in India to pass such a bill, following Uttarakhand and Gujarat.
India's Mayank Chakraborty and Pratitee Bordoloi secured gold medals in the Open and Girls categories, respectively, at the Asian Junior Classical Chess Championship, leading the host nation to a memorable double victory and a total of four medals.
Uttar Pradesh assembly Speaker Satish Mahana has found himself at the centre of a controversy after he was seen walking away while the national anthem was played at an event in Unnao, drawing flak from the opposition. Mahana, however, claimed that the anthem was not played where he was given the guard of honour.
Four individuals, including a student, were injured when a sound box system collapsed during the pre-release event for actor Yash's film 'Toxic' at Malla Reddy University in Hyderabad. The incident occurred after attendees climbed the structure, leading to a police case against the event organisers and university management.
The Congress and BJP are engaged in a political spat over the implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill and its proposed link to delimitation, with Rahul Gandhi urging unconditional implementation of the 2023 law and Kiren Rijiju highlighting the constitutional requirement for delimitation based on post-2026 census figures.
A US Congress-constituted advisory body on religious freedom, the USCIRF, has urged the Trump administration to revoke the visa issued to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, citing concerns over alleged violent attacks against religious minorities by RSS subgroups.
A new book, "The River That Remembers: Microbial Intelligence of Nature" by Padma Shri awardee Ajai Kumar Sonkar, claims that the Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj is a unique viral-bacterial laboratory. It suggests that the sacred dips taken by devotees lead to an intense microbial exchange, accelerating phage evolution, especially during events like Kumbh Mela, as diverse human microbiota interact with the river's existing microbiome.
President Donald Trump has advocated for stricter electoral laws in the US, praising India's election system and its requirement for photo identification. He highlighted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's questioning of the lack of voter ID in American polls and used India's high voter turnout with minimal postal ballots as an example. Trump is pushing for the SAVE America Act, which would mandate proof of citizenship and nationwide voter ID, though the bill faces division in Congress.
