The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) next week that seeks the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and challenges the alleged unilateral decision-making within the Election Commission without the approval of two other Election Commissioners.
The proposed arrangement would involve sub-assembly kits produced at Lockheed Martin's facility in Troy, Alabama, and guidance electronics units manufactured at Raytheon's facility in Tucson, Arizona, being shipped to India for final assembly and integration.
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.
Senior executives from Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, appeared before India's child rights body, NCPCR, for questioning regarding alleged advertisements promoting child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM) on its platforms. This follows a BBC report and a stern notice from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to Meta over the issue.
The Finance Ministry has refuted allegations that US pressure influenced the decision to levy a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI payments. It clarified that NPCI guidelines prioritise RuPay credit cards on UPI to foster a domestic payment ecosystem and that the MDR introduction aims to create a sustainable revenue model for smaller domestic companies, thereby protecting India's sovereignty in digital payments.
Indian track and field athletes, including Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary, are using a specialised 'smart track' at SAI NCOE Bengaluru to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming Asian Games.
GMR Aero Technic (GAT) and StandardAero have signed an agreement to establish an authorised service centre in India for on-wing engine support in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This partnership aims to combine StandardAero's engine aftermarket expertise with GMR Aero Technic's MRO capabilities, offering a comprehensive range of specialised engine maintenance services to minimise aircraft downtime and enhance operational efficiency for airlines and operators in the region.
Mahindra has launched the Thar OG, an upgraded version of its popular SUV, built on a new M Glyde 4G platform with advanced features like Frequency Dependent Damping and Electric Power Steering, while retaining an accessible starting price of 10.32 Lakh.
Indian shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Chauhan's quest for an individual medal at the Asian Games was hampered by a malfunctioning match button during the 50m rifle 3-position final. The technical glitch disrupted his concentration and cost him crucial points in the prone series, leading to a fifth-place finish despite being a strong medal contender.
Two IIT Gandhinagar students have developed "TrustGate," an AI-based cybersecurity system designed to protect critical infrastructure like water treatment plants and power grids. The system uniquely combines network traffic and physical sensor data to detect sophisticated cyber attacks, identify affected equipment, and provide real-time alerts to operators, earning them an international award.
'When the House adjourned, they were not yet getting 360. They were short of that, maybe by six or seven or ten.' 'So they wanted to break more parties and get their support, and they were engaged in that.'
The Supreme Court has noted that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged embezzlement at the Ram temple in Ayodhya identified 105 instances of unauthorised currency removal from the counting room. While no discrepancies were found in valuable articles like silver bricks, eight accused have been identified, and a chargesheet is expected soon. The investigation involved examining CCTV footage, financial records, and witness statements.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, saw early gains driven by strong buying in IT stocks like HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, TCS, and Infosys, alongside a significant boost from HDFC Bank.
A new report, the Digital Credit and Inclusion Index (DCII) 2026, reveals that Tier-2 cities are spearheading digital credit adoption in India. The study, a collaboration between Pahle India Foundation and Amazon Pay, highlights that salaried women are borrowing more than men and that digital credit is primarily used for consumption, with limited productive use.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, traded marginally higher in early trade despite the US Federal Reserve's recent rate hike and indications of further tightening, with the National Stock Exchange's much-anticipated Rs 22,569-crore IPO also opening for subscription.
India's Election Commission's centralised voter database systems, ERONET and ECINet, are under scrutiny following concerns raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi regarding the centralisation of electoral rolls and control available to state election officials. The article explains how these systems work and why they are currently in the news.
'Tax recovery will continue through attachment and sale of assets and other recovery mechanisms, but personal arrest will no longer form part of the prescribed recovery process.'
India has launched the ~62,500 crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) to incentivise domestic production and strengthen Indian mobile phone brands, offering production-linked incentives and additional benefits for local component sourcing.
'Details of accounts such as the name, email id associated with the account, the IP address will now be shared with law enforcement agencies, which will help track down offenders faster.'
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed nearly flat on Thursday, influenced by the US Federal Reserve's interest rate hike and indications of further monetary tightening. Despite some intraday gains, caution prevailed, with foreign institutional investors continuing to offload equities. Meanwhile, the National Stock Exchange of India's (NSE) mega initial public offering opened for subscription, garnering 39 per cent subscription on its first day.
Tata Sons has the balance sheet to support them, for now.
The Hyderabad AI factory is being designed to run some of the world's largest and most sophisticated AI models, including trillion-parameter models and next-generation agentic AI applications.
Indian companies, including NBFCs, filed proposals to raise $7.696 billion through external commercial borrowings (ECBs) and foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) in July 2026, a significant increase from $6.09 billion in June.
Comparing the two states is comparing an apple to an orange. I ate apples for years. Then I felt I needed some citrus, and I moved to oranges. That doesn't make the apple a lesser fruit, reflects Binu Alex.
The Indian Air Force has launched 'Dronathon 2026' at the Pokhran range in Jaisalmer, a three-day event showcasing advancements in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-UAS technologies by domestic manufacturers. The initiative aims to bolster the IAF's capabilities in the unmanned domain, align with the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' objective, and assess indigenous technologies against operational requirements through live demonstrations. It also fosters interaction between the IAF, industry, and even students, promoting the development of scalable unmanned solutions.
'Election Commissioners are Constitutional authorities and they are not supposed to go to the Cabinet secretary. They are not supposed to write letters. And if they are aggrieved, they should straight go to the President of India.'
Suchika Tariyal secured India's first-ever medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games, winning a bronze in the women's traditional 60kg event. Despite a fiercely contested bout that ended in a draw, she lost the semifinal to Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo due to a lesser weight rule. Tariyal expressed disappointment with the decision but was proud of her historic achievement for the country.
The BJP has strongly objected to alleged derogatory remarks made by Congress leader Pawan Khera against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. A BJP delegation in Shimla submitted a written complaint to the police, demanding the registration of an FIR against Khera for using objectionable language, which they claim crosses the limits of political decency.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, experienced a significant downturn, with Sensex tanking 778 points and Nifty closing at a five-month low, driven by surging crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and fears of further interest rate hikes by major central banks.
A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Centre's decision to impose a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant transactions exceeding Rs 2,000. The plea argues that the levy was introduced without adequate statutory safeguards, transparency, or public consultation, and questions its constitutional validity and potential adverse effects on merchants and consumers.
The Indian government has mandated that banks and payment providers cannot levy charges on UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 or on payments made via RuPay debit cards. This directive follows an amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, aiming to sustain and expand the digital payments ecosystem.
'The way the government behaves, sometimes I ask myself: Are not Tamils Sri Lankans too? Why do you discriminate so much?'
rediffGURU Nagarajan JSK, a career counsellor with over 30 years of experience, addressed readers' queries and offered practical advice on how to make the right decision.
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.
Delhi Police have prepared a 1,500-page chargesheet in the Mehrauli murder case of a 10-year-old girl, revealing that the accused cab driver, Bashu Kumar Singh, left his driving licence at the crime scene. This crucial piece of evidence, along with CCTV footage, forensic analysis, and pictorial reconstruction, helped investigators establish the sequence of events leading to his arrest and the recovery of the victim's body. The chargesheet details the abduction, sexual assault, and murder, highlighting the scientific approach taken by the police.
Pakistan's government is exploring measures, including potential smart lockdowns and austerity, to reduce petroleum consumption. This comes after recent fuel price hikes driven by rising global oil prices and West Asia tensions, which have also raised concerns about oil supply disruptions. The government is also implementing a fuel relief scheme and faces public pressure over the price increases.
Meta has agreed to report child safety-related matters, including child sexual abuse cases, to appropriate law enforcement agencies in India, government sources confirmed, emphasising that online safety for children is a "non-negotiable" fundamental principle for social media platforms operating in the country.
The BJP has narrowly defeated the Congress in the Rajasthan urban local body elections by less than one percentage point. Independent candidates secured a significant share of votes, and NOTA outperformed several smaller parties. Prime Minister Modi lauded the BJP's performance, attributing it to public support for good governance.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, traded flat in early deals due to elevated crude oil prices exceeding USD 100 per barrel and persistent geopolitical tensions, which subdued investor risk appetite.
A high-level committee, including representatives from banks and payment associations, is set to decide on Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000 to merchants. While person-to-person and person-to-merchant transactions up to Rs 2,000 remain free, the move follows a recent amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, sparking debate and clarification from the Finance Minister that only certain high-value merchant transactions might incur charges.
