CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has strongly criticised the newly introduced Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI transactions, labelling it a "UPI tax" and demanding its immediate rollback. He drew parallels with demonetisation, arguing that the new framework would negatively impact small shopkeepers, MSMEs, and ordinary citizens by increasing prices.
Potential external candidates include Anup Bagchi, Rajiv Sabharwal and CSB Bank's Pralay Mondal.
'The market is currently neither cheap enough to be exciting about nor expensive enough to worry about.'
The RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has urged the government to reconsider imposing a merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, arguing that the costs do not warrant such a move. This comes after the government announced a 0.4 per cent fee on merchant transfers over Rs 2,000 from October 15, while assuring that person-to-person and small payments remain free. SJM co-convener Ashwani Mahajan highlighted that banks have not demanded MDR and that UPI has reduced their transaction costs.
India batter Mayank Agarwal has signed with Durham for the final four matches of the County Championship's Division Two, aiming to help the team secure promotion to Division One.
Organisers of the Asian Games in Nagoya are actively addressing complaints regarding athlete accommodation, including issues with bed sizes in container huts and cabin sizes on the newly docked cruise ship, Costa Serena, which will house 4,000 participants.
Newly listed companies Vedanta Aluminium Metal, SBI Funds Management and Manipal Health Enterprises have entered the Rs 1 trillion mcap list since March 2026.
Saransh Jain, the 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, made his India Test debut against Sri Lanka, replacing the injured Kuldeep Yadav, a testament to his consistent domestic performances.
American tennis player Emma Navarro defeated Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-2 to reach the US Open quarter-finals.
Indian benchmark equity indices extended their losing streak for a fourth consecutive day, with the Sensex tumbling 417 points due to rising crude oil prices and a significant sell-off in IT stocks, impacting overall investor sentiment.
The combined market valuation of five of India's top-10 most valued firms eroded by Rs 1 lakh crore last week, with IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) experiencing the largest decline amidst a bearish trend in domestic equities.
PAYD suits infrequent drivers who can estimate annual mileage.
US President Donald Trump is expected to sign the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 later on Friday (local time). A White House official confirmed the development to ANI without revealing further details.
The marquee series against India starting late October has set the cash registers ringing at New Zealand Cricket headquarters as the parent body confirmed sale of more than 50,000 tickets since going on sale just over two weeks ago.
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.
'The changes in its leadership team will help address the scepticism that has engulfed the bank over the recent period.'
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.
Opposition MPs have voiced strong criticism against the government's new fee on UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000 to merchants, calling it "anti-people" and expressing widespread "outrage". The issue was raised in a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting, where concerns were also flagged regarding the methodology of GDP growth calculation and the government's stance on Virtual Digital Assets.
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.
Left parties have strongly condemned the government's decision to impose charges on UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000, with CPI General Secretary D Raja alleging the move was made under "US pressure" to favour foreign payment companies. Both CPI and All India Forward Bloc demand the withdrawal of this "anti-people decision," arguing it burdens consumers and merchants while undermining UPI's role as a public digital infrastructure. They highlight concerns that the charges weaken India's digital sovereignty and serve commercial interests of foreign corporations like Visa and Mastercard.
South African opener Jordan Hermann smashed an unbeaten 150 runs off just 126 balls on his One Day International (ODI) debut against Namibia, equalling the world record for the highest score by a batter on ODI debut.
Erling Haaland stunned fans by replacing his trademark flowing blonde locks with a buzz cut, sparking playful reactions from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pep Guardiola before Manchester City's opener.
Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, and RJD, have strongly criticised the government's decision to impose a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000 made to merchants. They allege the move is a result of "American imperialism" and will lead to increased commodity prices, while the government maintains the charge is on merchants and not consumers, with person-to-person transactions remaining free.
Market experts have largely supported Sebi's proposed changes to the expiry-day trading framework, including delinking derivatives settlement prices from cash-market closing prices and discontinuing live indicative index values during the Closing Auction Session (CAS), believing these will address volatility and manipulation.
The opposition has strongly criticised the government's decision to introduce a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15. They allege the move is a result of US pressure and will lead to increased commodity prices, calling it a "betrayal" of the common man. The government, however, clarifies that customers will not be charged, and the MDR applies only to merchants for larger transactions.
The Congress party has accused the Indian government of imposing new charges on UPI transactions due to pressure from the United States, specifically to benefit American card companies. The opposition party demanded the withdrawal of the decision, calling it "anti-national" and alleging it fills the coffers of US firms while burdening Indian citizens. The government, however, clarified that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges apply only to commercial transactions above Rs 2,000 and are not levied on consumers, a stance supported by the BJP which accused Congress of spreading "fake news".
Local tennis sensation Shreeniti Chowdhury secured both the girls' singles and doubles titles at the KSLTA World Tennis Junior J30 Bengaluru. The 15-year-old defeated Aahida Singh in the singles final and partnered Riddhi Shinde for the doubles win. In the boys' category, Fazal Ali Meer won the singles, while Chukka Lakshya Vardhan and Parthiv Nallagundla took the doubles title.
English Premier League clubs set an unprecedented spending record of US$ 4.7 billion in the summer transfer window, significantly outspending other major European leagues.
India concluded its campaign at the World Archery Para Series Stage III with an impressive tally of 15 medals, including four gold, three silver, and eight bronze, finishing second in the overall medal standings. The event served as a crucial preparatory test for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games.
Urban Indian millennials are caught in an algorithmically amplified consumption spiral where social media normalises spending patterns that systematically undermine retirement security.
India's markets regulator, Sebi, has reintroduced rules allowing companies to repurchase their own shares through stock exchanges in the open market, effective August 1, 2026. The new framework caps the execution period at 66 working days and aims to enhance flexibility and efficiency for capital allocation.
Digital money is gradually starting to behave like software. It's no longer inert -- sitting passively in accounts. In the not-so-distant future, your money could become 'smart' and 'active,' understanding your preferences, paying your bills automatically, optimising your returns, and managing your risks -- all without you having to manage the details.
Former New Zealand pacer Trent Boult has identified KL Rahul as India's primary batter for the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand, praising his batting style and anticipating challenging cold conditions for the late October-November tour.
East Zone were crowned Duleep Trophy champions after the final against South Zone ended in a draw in Chennai, with their first-innings lead proving decisive.
Dewald "AB Baby" Brevis equalled JP Duminy's 71 sixes in just 35 T20Is, starred with 226 series runs, won Player of the Series, and helped South Africa clinch the title.
Defending champions India secured their spot in the Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament semifinals with a dominant 15-0 victory over Chinese Taipei. Skipper Anmol Ikka was the star of the match, scoring an incredible six goals, all from penalty corners, as India topped Pool A.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's incredible IPL 2026 campaign ended with another historic achievement as the 15-year-old became the youngest player ever to win the Orange Cap.
Nasscom said while the visa programme has been used by companies to address the skill gap in the US by bringing in foreign employees, the number of H-1B employees from Indian companies have come down substantially over the last decade.
Joe Root's unbeaten 62 guided England to a dominant eight-wicket victory in the third Test against Pakistan, securing a 3-0 series whitewash despite early batting jitters. This marks England's first series win in 19 months.
The OCA has asked India and other national Olympic bodies not to seek late additions to their Asian Games contingents as Japan struggles to accommodate more than 15,000 participants.
