An Indian School of Business professor highlights the lack of precise data on losses from free UPI transactions, arguing that the benefits, such as user data generation, are often overlooked in the debate over implementing a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR). A recent ISB survey suggests that charging MDR could lead street vendors to revert to cash, despite the government's allowance for MDR on transactions above Rs 2,000 and NPCI's deferral of its implementation.
New Zealand opener Tim Seifert discussed his team's performance in the T20I series against India, acknowledging that learning from past mistakes led to their win in the final match. However, he lamented that these crucial lessons came too late to secure the series victory, which India had already wrapped up. Seifert also praised the bowlers' efforts in the final game.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke met Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in Delhi, thanking her for supporting youth-led protests and extending solidarity with the INDIA bloc's upcoming rally against alleged "vote chori." CJP, however, stated it would maintain its independent identity and not formally join the Sunday protest.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav addressed an INDIA bloc rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, likening the venue to the "Haldighati of democracy" due to the massive public turnout. He asserted that the BJP, which came to power through Uttar Pradesh, would also be ousted from there, criticising their claims of an unshakeable political stance. Yadav accused the BJP of manipulating electoral rolls and predicted their defeat in upcoming elections, starting from UP.
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams have reached the finals of the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad. The men's team will face Sri Lanka after defeating Bangladesh, while the women's team will play Uganda following their victory over Sri Lanka. Both Indian teams displayed dominant performances in their respective semifinals, setting up exciting title clashes.
India captain Shreyas Iyer expressed satisfaction with his team's performance in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which India won 3-2. However, he emphasized the need for significant improvement in bowling and fielding, especially in unfamiliar overseas conditions. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner also reflected on the tight series, noting that small moments in the initial games could have altered the outcome.
India's batting line-up struggled, leading to a four-wicket defeat against Pakistan in a Group C match of the Hong Kong International Sixes. Despite Shashank Singh's quickfire 40, India posted 88 for five, which Pakistan chased down in just 3.5 overs, largely due to explosive hitting from Khawaja Nafay and Abbas Afridi.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has expressed strong support for a dedicated New Zealand T20 league, believing it would significantly benefit domestic players and enhance the sport's profile in the country. He also highlighted the importance of consistent bowling in ODIs to pressure Indian batters.
Apple has reported an all-time revenue high in India for the September quarter, alongside record performance in Mac and services revenue, and a September-quarter high in terms of iPhone upgraders, indicating strong business momentum in the country.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner reflected on his side's 3-2 T20I series defeat to India, highlighting missed opportunities in the first two matches that could have altered the series outcome. Despite the loss, Santner noted several positives, including strong batting performances and bowlers adapting well. He also praised Glenn Phillips' consistent batting and expressed confidence in the team's bowling depth.
Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen secured the women's and men's singles titles, respectively, at the Hylo Open Super 500 badminton tournament in Saarbrucken, Germany. Sindhu defeated Line Hjmark Kjrsfeldt in straight games for her second title of the season, while Sen overcame Jonatan Christie, completing a memorable double victory for India.
India has announced a 95-member athletics contingent for the inaugural BIMSTEC U23 Athletics Meet in Bhubaneswar from November 25 to 27. The team will be led by promising sprinter Neil Samraj, a double gold medallist and national record holder. Sprinter Abinaya Rajarajan is a key name in the women's section. Over 400 athletes from seven nations are expected to participate.
The INDIA bloc is set to hold a 'Chalo Dilli' march on November 1, culminating at Ramlila Maidan. The protest aims to highlight alleged "vote chori" and press for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over voter list irregularities. Rahul Gandhi has urged public participation, assuring them against police action.
Delhi Police have registered an FIR regarding alleged graffiti found on a police vehicle during the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, with videos of the incident going viral.
Police in Bahraich arrested three alleged drug peddlers in two separate operations, seizing 380 grams of smack valued at approximately Rs 1.85 crore. The arrests occurred near Fakharpur and the India-Nepal international border, with cases registered under the NDPS Act.
Five-time champions India maintained their perfect record in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, defeating South Korea 8-0 in their final round-robin match on Monday. This dominant victory secured India's top spot in the standings with 15 points, setting up a semifinal clash against South Korea on Wednesday in Mohali.
New Zealand opener Devon Conway has been ruled out of the first One-Day International against India after sustaining a head injury during a training session collision with fast bowler Matt Henry.
The INDIA bloc conducted a symbolic "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of operating under the influence of the Modi government and threatening voting rights. Led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, the event saw leaders demand Kumar's removal, the repeal of the 2023 law governing election commissioner appointments, and an end to the Special Intensive Revision exercise, alleging intentional deletion of around 14 crore voters.
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams continued their strong performance at the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The women's team defeated Uganda 41-18, led by Captain Nidhi Sharma, while the men's team secured a 37-23 victory over Malaysia, with Neeraj Narwal as the top scorer.
Vaishnavi Sharma's maiden five-wicket haul and unbeaten half-centuries from Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma powered India to an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the third ODI on Wednesday, completing a 3-0 series sweep.
Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh stated that the controversy over the national team's jersey colour change to saffron before the World Cup was unnecessary. He claimed that federation president Dilip Tirkey was aware of the decision, contradicting Tirkey's earlier denial. Bhola Nath asserted the change was based on player and team management preference and criticised the timing of the dispute.
India's top shooters are set to compete in the ISSF World Championship in Doha, aiming to overcome their recent Asian Games disappointment and secure crucial qualification spots for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The championship offers 36 quota places, making it a vital event for India's Olympic aspirations and a test for its high-performance coaching programme.
India's U15 football team concluded their FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival campaign with a 6-4 victory over Cuba. The Blue Colts finished 87th among 189 nations, securing five wins, four defeats, and one draw in the tournament.
Captain Dhruv Jurel's unbeaten 99 and Devdutt Padikkal's half-century gave India A the upperhand on Day 1 of the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday.
'If the temperature remains very high, which is likely to be the case because of El Nino, it may lead to a shortfall in wheat production.' 'If that happens, we will be in a very, very difficult situation as far as food security is concerned.'
India A has announced a 15-member squad for the ACC Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha, featuring Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Tilak Varma will captain the side, with Rajat Patidar as his deputy. The tournament runs from November 19 to 29, with India A placed in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal, and UAE.
The Data Security Council of India (DSCI) has released an India-focused AI liability guide to clarify accountability and responsibility for agentic AI systems. The guide aims to help enterprises understand how existing legal doctrines apply to autonomous, multi-vendor AI, addressing who bears consequences when AI agents act independently and issues arise. It is a live discussion paper intended to foster responsible AI adoption and is open for industry feedback.
India's bowling attack, featuring several inexperienced players, is a major concern ahead of the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, with key pacers rested for upcoming Test matches and the World Test Championship.
India defeated China 5-2 in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, securing their second consecutive win. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh and striker Sukhjeet Singh both scored a brace, with Jugraj Singh adding another goal. China managed to score two goals from penalty corners, but India maintained control throughout the match.
India has announced a 28-member U23 squad for the upcoming SAFF Championships in Dhaka, led by coach Naushad Moosa. The defending champions are sending a second-string team due to international friendlies for the main squad and ISL club reluctance to release players. India aims for its 10th title in the tournament, which runs from November 5 to 17.
India's eastern coastal states are bracing for Cyclone Murasu, the second severe cyclone within a week, leading to flight cancellations, deployment of disaster response teams, and the evacuation of thousands. The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapur in south Andhra Pradesh with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph.
The INDIA bloc is making extensive preparations for its November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. CPI(M) MP John Brittas claims 10 lakh people will attend, despite alleged attempts by authorities to prevent participants from reaching the capital. The rally will be preceded by a symbolic public impeachment of Kumar.
Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh highlighted patience and composure as crucial factors in their 4-1 victory against Japan in the Asian Champions Trophy. Despite a tough first half, India dominated the final quarter, scoring three goals. Coach Craig Fulton also praised the team's patience and Harmanpreet's world-class performance.
Manisha Bhanwala has made history by becoming India's first woman World Champion in wrestling, securing a gold medal in the women's 59kg final at the World Championships. She achieved a remarkable comeback, overcoming a six-point deficit against American Abigail Nette to win 8-6 on Friday. This triumph marks a significant milestone for Indian wrestling, following only legendary Sushil Kumar's feat in 2010.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the India-New Zealand Under-20 International Rugby Sevens Series in Nalanda district. The event, held from October 23 to 28 at the Rajgir Sports Complex, marks 100 years of bilateral sporting relations and aims to promote rugby in Bihar. Matches were played between the men's and women's teams, with the Indian women's team securing a victory.
Five-time champions India, fresh off a dominant win against Bangladesh, are set to face a youthful and unfamiliar Chinese side in their second Asian Champions Trophy round-robin match on Thursday. Coach Craig Fulton acknowledges the challenge of playing an unknown opponent, while veteran striker Mandeep Singh's hat-trick against Bangladesh signals his return to form.
India is sending a 35-member contingent, including 17 athletes, to the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, starting on Saturday. Former shot-putter Om Prakash Karhana will serve as the chef-de-mission. The team features promising young talents like table tennis player Syndrela Das and swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu, aiming to build on India's previous best performance of 13 medals in 2018.
Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala has advanced to the women's 59kg final at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana. She secured her spot with a dominant win by fall over Kazakhstan's Altyn Shagayeva, leading 10-0 before the pin. Manisha is now the third Indian to reach a gold medal bout at this edition, aiming to end India's wait for a world champion. She will compete against Pan American champion Abigail Elizabeth Nette in the final.
Arshdeep Singh delivered a stellar performance in the first ODI against New Zealand in Auckland, taking four wickets for 70 runs. This achievement places him alongside Javagal Srinath and Mohammed Shami as only the third Indian pacer to secure a four-wicket haul in New Zealand. He expressed satisfaction with the pitch conditions and his short-ball tactic, despite missing out on a five-wicket haul.
Waqar Younis picked Sachin Tendulkar over Inzamam-ul Haq, Virat Kohli over Babar Azam and Jasprit Bumrah over Shaheen Afridi.
