The Supreme Court has refused to grant an interim stay on the imposition of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, which is set to take effect from October 15. The court has agreed to examine the challenge to this new fee and has issued notices to the Centre, RBI, and NPCI, seeking their responses within four weeks. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) argues that the levy lacks statutory safeguards, transparency, and public consultation, and could adversely affect merchants and consumers.
A resident of Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, filed an unusual complaint against Lord Indra, the Hindu god of rain, blaming him for incessant rainfall and its disruptive effects. The complaint, submitted through a public grievance portal, requested district authorities to use their "divine contacts" to control the downpour. The heavy rains have caused significant damage, including deaths, injuries, and property destruction across Hardoi and other parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi awarded shooter Elavenil Valarivan Rs 1.33 crore under the Khel Pratibha Puraskar Yojana for her two silver medals at the Asian Games 2026. The state government highlighted its commitment to nurturing sporting talent through various schemes and acknowledged the role of parents in athletes' success. Valarivan, an Arjuna Award recipient, has been associated with the Shaktidoot Scheme since 2017-18 and has represented India at multiple Olympics and won gold at the ISSF World Cup.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has approved the establishment of India's first dedicated Quantum and AI University campus in Amaravati by NIELIT. This significant project, funded by the MeitY, Government of India, will focus on advanced technologies like Quantum, AI, and Semiconductors, integrating education, research, and entrepreneurship.
Students at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara are facing abuse and harassment after the university released a video featuring them, allegedly without their consent, to dismiss claims of a student's rape. The students involved claim the video was cropped and they were not consulted before its release, leading to further distress amidst campus protests and highway blockage.
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution demanding the urgent restoration of full statehood, a move that saw the opposition BJP stage a walkout. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved the resolution, which also referenced previous calls for greater autonomy and special status. The BJP vehemently opposed the resolution, calling it an insult to the Constitution.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka has reiterated the outfit's demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, alleging the exclusion of 13 crore names from electoral rolls and questioning the BJP's defence of Kumar. The CJP plans a nationwide protest starting October 2, vowing not to back down until Kumar resigns, and has launched the 'Election Commission Thik Karo' campaign. Ranka also accused the CEC of fraudulently redrawing constituencies in Assam to benefit the ruling party.
The Supreme Court has stayed the Bombay High Court's order granting bail to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, who is accused of assaulting doctors at a Thane hospital. The apex court emphasised that the medical fraternity must not be attacked, directing Mhatre to surrender within three days.
Indian shooter Esha Singh secured a silver medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the Asian Games, overcoming pain, exhaustion, and five shoot-offs. Her remarkable resilience and fighting spirit were highlighted in a dramatic final, making it India's only individual shooting medal on the day. The article also details the disappointing performances of Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat, including a costly mishap for Sarnobat.
Esha Singh clinched a silver medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the Asian Games, overcoming immense pressure and a sleepless night with the help of her mother's advice. She displayed remarkable resilience in a gruelling final, fighting through fatigue and drawing on lessons from her past Olympic experience to secure her medal.
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to resolve the dispute between rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress regarding the party name and election symbol. The EC has been given three months to decide after the factions complete their pleadings within four weeks. This follows a plea by Mamata Banerjee against the EC's interim decision to freeze the party's name and symbol.
Actors Raghubir Yadav, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Zoya Hussain discuss their JioHotstar series 'Hunkkaar: The Roar', which addresses sexual assault and victim-shaming. They express hope that the show will encourage viewers to speak out against such crimes and awaken the collective conscience of society.
Indian shooter Rudrankksh Patil secured three medals at the Asian Games - an individual bronze and two team silvers - expressing satisfaction with his progress despite not yet reaching peak form. He views these medals as crucial motivation and proof of moving in the right direction, aiming for continued improvement. Fellow shooter Vidarsha K Vinod also celebrated two team silver medals in her Asian Games debut, setting her sights on gold at the upcoming World Championship.
'I was always open to those who wanted to teach me the intricacies of singing.' 'Naushad Saab would tell me which notes to stress during singing.' 'Anil Biswas would tell me where to breathe in and breathe out while singing and where to pause.'
'Manoj Kumarji had tears in his eyes after hearing my dad sing Mera Rang De Basanti Chola. He said, 'This is my voice for my desh bhakti songs".'
The annual MTV Video Music Awards saw major triumphs for global music icons Taylor Swift, Madonna, and K-Pop sensation BTS, with Swift making history as the most-awarded artist and Madonna earning the coveted Artist of the Year title.
The 15th annual Mijwan Fashion Show took place on September 26, 2026, at Taj Lands End in Mumbai, marking a milestone celebration of ethical luxury and heritage.
India's coastline is now officially measured at 11,098.81 km, significantly higher than the earlier figure of 7,516.6 km used since the 1970s.
The Supreme Court has agreed to list a review plea concerning its May 2025 verdict on the ownership of the Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru. The original verdict had ruled in favour of ISKCON Bangalore, but a subsequent split verdict by a review bench led to the matter being referred to the Chief Justice for further directions. The legal battle involves ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai over control of the temple and educational complex.
Bengaluru Customs officials arrested two passengers from Bangkok at Kempegowda International Airport for smuggling hydroponic ganja worth Rs 6.33 crore. This incident is part of a series of recent seizures, including more ganja and gold, highlighting ongoing efforts against contraband.
Indian discus thrower Seema Kaliramna achieved a personal best but narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth at the Asian Games. China dominated the event, securing gold and silver, while Thailand took bronze. Another Indian athlete, Sanya Yadav, placed eighth.
rediffGURU Dr Nagarajan JSK, a career counsellor with nearly 34 years of experience in teaching, research and career guidance, answers students' questions about engineering and dental admissions, counselling rounds, college preferences and admission prospects.
Indian shooter Esha Singh secured a silver medal in the women's 25m pistol final at the 2026 Asian Games. She revealed that technical interruptions during the tense shoot-off were a "blessing in disguise," helping her manage unexpected fatigue and hand tightness. Esha battled through multiple shoot-offs, eventually finishing second to China's Xiao Jiaruixian, and plans to celebrate her achievement with a meal with her coach.
Indian shooter Esha Singh secured a silver medal in the women's 25m pistol final at the Asian Games after a dramatic series of shoot-offs. Her father, Sachin Singh, expressed immense pride, calling it a 'double gold' due to the challenging circumstances and multiple shoot-offs his 21-year-old daughter overcame. He also highlighted disturbances during the match and thanked supporting organisations.
A 14-member rescue team has been deployed to search for 12 Nepalese workers and guides who went missing after an avalanche on Himlung Himal in Nepal's Manang district. The avalanche buried a tent at the base camp, where nine climbers and 13 support staff were sheltering. Two bodies have already been recovered, and challenging weather conditions are hindering the search efforts.
The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a plea challenging the Bombay High Court's order that acquitted 22 accused, including 21 police personnel, in the 2005 alleged fake encounter case of gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi, and aide Tulsiram Prajapati. The court noted the concern over 92 prosecution witnesses turning hostile and indicated it would review selected witness statements.
Police in Bengaluru have arrested Prashanth Rajan Babu, the alleged kingpin of an interstate counterfeit drug racket, at Kempegowda International Airport. Babu, who had been absconding in Azerbaijan, is accused of leading a network that manufactured and distributed fake medicines worth nearly Rs 5 crore.
Seven of them posted losses, led by Air India, with their combined net loss widening to Rs 31,823 crore in FY26 from Rs 17,553 crore a year earlier and Rs 1,555 crore in FY20.
Persistent rain has caused significant disruptions at the Asian Games, affecting tennis, surfing, and cricket, leading to India and Pakistan advancing to the T20 semi-finals due to higher rankings after their quarter-final matches were washed out.
The Indian 4x100m mixed relay team has successfully qualified for the final at the Asian Games, finishing second in their heat and third overall.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed chaotic scenes as BJP members protested a resolution seeking the urgent restoration of statehood. The BJP opposed the resolution, calling it an insult to the Constitution, and moved a motion for the Speaker's removal, leading to disruptions and mock proceedings in the House.
There are only bad and worse options before him, points out Aakar Patel.
Vithya Ramraj clinched a bronze medal in the women's 400m hurdles at the Asian Games, setting a new personal best of 54.75 seconds and breaking P T Usha's four-decade-old national record. This marks her second medal at the Games, following a silver in the mixed relay event.
Pakistan volleyball captain Murad Jehan expressed frustration over logistical mismanagement at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after his team was taken to the wrong venue, leaving them short on warm-up time and forcing players to change on the bus.
Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi shares his unique experience at the Asian Games, highlighting the distinct feeling of winning medals for India compared to trophies for the BCCI. He also discusses the team's accommodation and travel, and their desire to explore other sports.
A recent study indicates that dogs possess the ability to segment human speech into individual words, a skill previously thought to be unique to humans. This "consonant bias" in speech processing appears to develop through regular exposure to human language, suggesting that efficient speech processing is not solely dependent on complex human linguistic capabilities. The findings, published in Science, highlight how brain function can be reshaped by speech exposure even in evolutionarily distant species.
Double Olympic medalist shooter Manu Bhaker concluded her Asian Games campaign without a medal, leading her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, to heavily criticise the event's organisation, citing issues like travel distance, bus timings, and unsanitary conditions at the shooting range in Aichi-Nagoya.
Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha met the Indian men's cricket team in Nagoya, expressing her pride and wishing them well for their Asian Games campaign.
India's Asian Games gold medalists in kabaddi and shooting received a grand welcome at the IGI Airport.
Large office leases in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR are commanding premium rentals in key micro-locations, driven by a scarcity of quality Grade-A space and sustained occupier demand, according to real estate consultants.
