'Treating stock brokers as merchants for MDR is fundamentally misplaced.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Indian shooter Esha Singh and Kurash athlete Pincky Balhara for their impressive medal-winning performances at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan.
Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary lost her pre-quarterfinal bout in the women's 51kg category at the Asian Games to Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova. Separately, Sumit was forced to concede his men's 70kg pre-quarterfinal due to a knee injury, despite leading.
The popular Tum Hi Ho Bandhu from the original Cocktail gets a contemporary makeover as Bandhu 2.0 for the sequel.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has proposed a phased reduction in the expenses of management (EoM) limits for insurers, aiming to lower the overall cost of insurance and enhance returns for policyholders. The proposals also include a new framework for commissions, stricter measures against mis-selling, and mandatory cost audits.
England cricket experienced a turbulent home summer marked by Ben Stokes's unexpected retirement, the sacking of Test coach Brendon McCullum, and several off-field disciplinary incidents. Despite these challenges, the team achieved mixed results in various formats. They are now preparing for a demanding winter schedule, with Stephen Fleming taking over as the new Test coach, aiming for a more measured approach.
India's private sector capital expenditure is projected to reach approximately 3.2 trillion in the financial year 2026-27, up from 2.6 trillion in FY26, according to a Reserve Bank of India bulletin report, indicating sustained confidence despite global uncertainties.
West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer has stressed the need for the middle order to show greater responsibility and regain consistency, especially as the team prepares for the ODI World Cup Qualifier. He acknowledged positives from the recent loss to India, including a strong opening partnership, and highlighted the potential of young batter Jewel Andrew.
India's last-minute change in the 10m air pistol mixed team pairing ended with gold as Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won the title on Friday.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced volatile trading, influenced by elevated crude oil prices, high US bond yields, and selling pressure in IT stocks, despite an early rebound.
India experienced a day of mixed results at the Asian Games, securing a gold medal in shooting through Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet, and a silver in men's 10,000m with Gulveer Singh. However, a major setback occurred with the unexpected early exit of top badminton men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The nation also added several bronze medals in pole vault, shot put, table tennis, and assured more in squash, pushing its total medal count to 23.
Sanju Samson has been appointed Brand Ambassador of Jan Kaushal Kendra, Moti Nagar, with Delhi CM Rekha Gupta highlighting his connection with the capital and role inspiring youth.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary and Sumit faced early exits at the Asian Games. Sakshi lost her pre-quarterfinal bout to Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova, while Sumit was forced to concede his match due to a knee injury. Another Indian boxer, Parveen, is scheduled to compete later.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has criticised the newly introduced fees on UPI payments, stating they will lead to increased inflation for the common man. He dismissed government claims that customers would not be burdened, arguing that merchants would pass on the costs. Hooda demanded the immediate withdrawal of these fees, highlighting that the government's move contradicts its 'Digital India' initiative.
India U-19 defeated Australia U-19 by 103 runs in the second Youth ODI, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Yashbardhan Chauhan scored 122 and VK Vineeth added 87, helping India post 341/7. Australia were bowled out for 238, with Chigurupati Venkata taking three wickets.
Shares of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) climbed nearly 1 per cent on their trading debut, reaching a market valuation of Rs 4,53,123 crore, following a significantly oversubscribed initial public offering.
Hansi Flick has become the first Barcelona manager to win the club's opening seven competitive matches of a season after a dominant 7-2 victory over Racing Santander.
Apple has officially launched its Apple Pay service in India, initially partnering with Axis Bank for Visa and Mastercard credit card users. The service allows secure, cashless transactions via iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch using NFC technology, without requiring PINs or OTPs. This move is set to intensify competition in India's digital payments market, currently dominated by UPI and local players, with Apple planning to onboard more banks and expand merchant networks.
Indian squash players Joshna Chinappa, Velavan Senthilkumar, Anahat Singh, and Abhay Singh have secured at least three medals at the Asian Games by advancing to the semifinals in mixed doubles and singles events. Joshna Chinappa, playing in her record seventh Asian Games, and Senthilkumar dominated their mixed doubles quarterfinal. Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh also delivered strong performances in their respective singles quarterfinals, with Anahat aiming for an Olympic berth.
Leeds United climbed to third in the Premier League with a 4-1 victory over Newcastle, while Inter Milan staged a comeback to beat Udinese 5-3, maintaining their perfect Serie A start alongside AS Roma, who won 2-0 at Torino. In LaLiga, Betis continued their strong run with a win over Villarreal.
India's national soft tennis federation is pushing for the sport's inclusion in the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, following a historic Asian Games medal. Special Advisor Harshang Khodadhara highlighted India's strong global ranking and its position as the leading Commonwealth nation in soft tennis, expressing confidence in winning gold medals if included.
A report by Scholars at Risk, 'Free to Think 2026', states that academic freedom in India is "severely restricted" due to increasing government influence over higher education, university governance, and curbs on student expression. India is listed among six countries in this category, with its Academic Freedom Index score sharply declining. The report cites instances of faculty dismissals, event cancellations, and pressure on student protests, highlighting the alleged use of the UGC as a vehicle for state influence.
Indian shooters Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh secured a gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Games in Nagoya, bouncing back from individual disappointments. They dominated the final, finishing significantly ahead of South Korea.
Indian Wushu athlete Roshibina Devi secured a silver medal at the Asian Games in the women's 60kg sanda category, overcoming a pre-tournament selection controversy. This marks her third Asian Games medal, adding to her previous bronze and silver.
India's women's badminton team, led by PV Sindhu, secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. This win propels them into a challenging quarterfinal match against hosts Japan, a team boasting several top-ranked players.
Defending champions India began their Asian Games campaign with a resounding 13-1 victory over Indonesia in their opening Pool A match. Striker Dilpreet Singh was the star, netting four goals, while Shilanand Lakra and Sukhjeet Singh each scored a brace, showcasing India's dominant performance.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed higher on Thursday, breaking a three-day losing streak, driven by late buying in financial heavyweights like HDFC Bank and Axis Bank, despite persistent geopolitical tensions and crude oil prices exceeding USD 100 per barrel.
The central government has introduced a 0.4 per cent fee on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, prompting traders' associations to advocate for cash payments to avoid additional costs on digital payments. This move ends the zero-Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) regime, with traders expressing concerns about operating on tight margins and the potential for increased charges.
Merchants will be subject to an 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000, but can mitigate this burden by claiming input tax credit (ITC), according to tax experts.
Arsenal's 16-year-old Max Dowman scored twice in a 4-2 League Cup victory over Ipswich Town, continuing their perfect season start. Liverpool also advanced to the fourth round, beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at Anfield. Other Premier League teams Fulham and Brentford also secured wins, while third-tier Peterborough progressed via a penalty shootout.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, rallied in early trade, driven by positive global market trends and easing crude oil prices, despite the US Federal Reserve's hawkish stance tempering overall sentiment. Track Sensex, Nifty on September 18.
The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has voiced concerns that the government's new 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 could reverse the progress of digital payment adoption among small retailers. This fee, effective October 15, places the burden on merchants operating on thin margins, potentially pushing them back to cash transactions and undermining the government's formalisation agenda, especially ahead of the festive season.
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 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, are organising a mass protest march in Mumbai on October 4 against the Election Commission. They accuse the EC of acting as a "branch of the ruling party" and allege "gross deception" of voters, calling for broader political and public participation.
Bjorn Fortuin's four-wicket haul sparked Namibia's collapse before Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen powered South Africa's chase, sealing a commanding nine-wicket win and 3-0 ODI series sweep.
The Nifty 50 experienced significant volatility during its closing auction session, leading to losses for both long and short retail options traders due to thin liquidity and rapid price swings, particularly in private-sector banks.
Australia have strengthened their ODI squad for South Africa with returns for Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, while Jack Edwards could debut amid Cameron Green's shoulder concern.
Indian shooters Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet secured a gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Games, demonstrating a strong comeback after individual disappointments. Additionally, the men's 50m rifle 3 positions team, comprising Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil, and Niraj Kumar, earned a silver medal, with Tomar and Niraj also qualifying for individual finals.
The Congress party has criticised the government's new 0.4% charge on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, terming it a "Modi tax". Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, allege that this move will ultimately burden consumers through price hikes and accuse the government of succumbing to American pressure to dilute India's zero-MDR policy. The government states the charge will support banks and fintechs.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% transaction fee on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments exceeding Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15, marking the end of nearly six years of free service. Person-to-person transfers and small-value transactions below Rs 2,000 remain free. The new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is capped at Rs 300 for transactions above Rs 75,000, with differentiated rates for essential sectors and investments, and safeguards to prevent costs from being passed to consumers.
