International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani are scheduled to visit the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games athletes' village on September 20. This visit follows the opening ceremony and will include a tour of the Garden Pier section and interaction with athletes. The Games feature a unique accommodation setup, utilising a cruise liner, temporary villas, and hotels instead of a traditional village. Various logistical and ceremonial details, including team welcome ceremonies and other official meetings, were also discussed.
Krutrim, India's first AI unicorn, has successfully repositioned itself as a focused domestic AI Cloud Services provider, reporting its first annual net profit in FY26.
Rohit Rajpal, India's Davis Cup captain, has hinted at stepping down from his role despite his contract running until 2026, stating that "every good thing comes to an end." He expressed readiness to ensure a smooth transition for his successor and believes a new captain could offer fresh perspectives. Rajpal also outlined his vision for Indian tennis, which includes a player-centric approach and a bid for the AITA presidency, aiming to develop talent and bring major international tournaments back to India.
Bajaj Finance reported a strong Q1 FY27 performance with 24 per cent year-on-year AUM growth and a 28 per cent rise in consolidated profit after tax, driven by significant increases in consumer financing, gold loans, and commercial vehicle loans, alongside a strategic focus on digital transformation and AI.
While the iPhone Duo grabbed the spotlight at Apple's September event, the biggest takeaway is how the company's hardware, software and AI are becoming more closely connected across its entire lineup.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde concluded a two-day visit to the UK, focusing on attracting foreign direct investment and promoting the state's economic potential. His engagements included receiving leadership awards, meeting with sports figures like Virat Kohli to discuss Olympic aspirations, and appealing to British investors to bring technology and capital to Maharashtra, leveraging the India-UK FTA.
India's Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has announced the formation of a 10-member Task Force, chaired by Niti Aayog's Yugal Kishore Joshi, to assess the feasibility and challenges of reviving Formula 1 in the country. The committee aims to develop a roadmap for India to host a Grand Prix by 2028, focusing on sustainable growth, policy interventions, and addressing past issues like taxation. The Adani group, owners of the Buddh International Circuit, will also be involved.
A senior Microsoft executive says India is uniquely positioned to lead the next phase of global AI deployment, driven by a massive developer base, rapid enterprise adoption, and robust digital public infrastructure.
The Finance Ministry has refuted allegations that US pressure influenced the decision to levy a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI payments. The ministry clarified that the NPCI guidelines prioritise RuPay credit cards on UPI to promote domestic alternatives and ensure a self-sustaining revenue model for smaller domestic companies, countering claims of favouring foreign payment providers.
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.
Professor Philip Maini, an Indian-origin academic at the University of Oxford, is pioneering the application of mathematical biology to understand and develop new cancer therapies. His work focuses on creating models that predict treatment outcomes and developing adaptive therapy strategies to combat drug resistance in tumours, offering a novel approach to improving patient care.
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani predicts that large corporations in India will lose jobs due to automation and AI, while millions of small businesses will drive future employment growth. He advocates for deregulation, simplified business interfaces, and digital platforms to support small entrepreneurs and a gig economy workforce.
The Congress party has strongly refuted government claims that its MPs on the Parliament Standing Committee on Finance supported a fee on high-value UPI payments. Congress leaders, including Gaurav Gogoi and Manish Tewari, stated that the "UPI tax" proposal was not specifically discussed by the committee, accusing the Modi government of diverting attention from public backlash and appeasing US companies. The government, however, cited the committee's report which pressed for a tiered Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework.
India is making a significant push to establish itself as a global semiconductor manufacturing hub, driven by strategic investments and policy support. The upcoming SEMICON India 2026 event will showcase the country's advancements and ambitions in this critical industry, which underpins virtually all modern electronic devices and has faced global supply chain vulnerabilities.
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.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated that the central bank consistently views fintechs as 'valuable partners' in shaping India's future financial system, crediting the sector with expanding financial inclusion, enhancing customer experience, and streamlining credit delivery, particularly for MSMEs.
Researchers have successfully recreated in a laboratory setting how high-energy cosmic rays interact with Earth's atmospheric gases. Using CERN's Large Hadron Collider, an international team simulated collisions between cosmic particles, similar to those from supernovae, and oxygen beams. This unprecedented experiment provides a clearer understanding of interstellar particles and phenomena like the Northern Lights, improving upon previous computer simulations.
Researchers at Birla Institute of Technology-Mesra have developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) system that translates brain signals into real-time wheelchair navigation commands using a hybrid quantum-enhanced deep learning model.
Adani Group Director Jeet Adani and Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal highlighted the importance of infrastructure, energy, and connectivity in shaping India's AI ecosystem, emphasising Visakhapatnam's potential as a major digital gateway.
N Chandrasekaran's exit marks a major shift for TCS, leaving its leadership to navigate AI disruption without the group chairman's deep expertise.
A new study reveals that AI chatbots often provide inaccurate and incomplete medical information, raising concerns about their use in healthcare communication.
A Meerut model has filed a complaint alleging a man exploited her physically and financially for nearly a decade on the promise of marriage, later pressuring her for religious conversion. Police have initiated an investigation into the matter, which also includes allegations of financial fraud and forced abortions.
Indian IT services firms are expected to report a soft Q1 FY27 performance due to a challenging macro environment, the impact of AI, and geopolitical uncertainties, leading to reduced discretionary spending and slower decision-making cycles, according to Motilal Oswal Financial Services.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that the Supreme Court views technology as an aid to human reasoning, not a replacement, and emphasised developing "Swadeshi Jurisprudence" tailored to India's unique conditions. He highlighted efforts to create an indigenous AI ecosystem for the judiciary and stressed that AI cannot substitute human judgment, empathy, or ethical discernment.
Professor Deepak Dhar of the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Dirac Medal for his significant contributions to statistical mechanics and complex systems. He shares the honour with three other scientists for their pioneering work extending statistical mechanics into diverse fields like AI and theoretical neuroscience.
World Bank President Ajay Banga has advocated for the deployment of 'Small AI' locally deployed artificial intelligence running on inexpensive hardware to address daily problems faced by farmers and rural communities in emerging markets.
As NSRCEL enters its next phase, the incubator plans to focus on AI, deep technology and global partnerships as it looks to expand its reach.
A report indicates that mid-tier banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) entities in India are highly exposed to cyberattacks due to aggressive digitisation coupled with insufficient cybersecurity investments.
Former model and actor Twisha Sharma, who died in Bhopal due to alleged dowry harassment, was cremated after a second postmortem. Her family accuses her in-laws of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide, while the in-laws claim she suffered from drug addiction.
Coforge believes that the rapid adoption of AI is disrupting the traditional labour model but also creating new high-margin opportunities in the IT services industry.
Infosys on Tuesday announced a strategic collaboration with American artificial intelligence company Anthropic to develop and deploy advanced enterprise AI solutions for companies across telecommunications, financial services, manufacturing, and software development.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT,M) have developed a novel "morphing skin" concept for aircraft wings, inspired by bird flight. This adaptive external skin dynamically reshapes in real time to prevent aerodynamic stalls, enhance lift, reduce drag, and significantly improve aircraft safety and fuel efficiency. The technology holds promise for commercial aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and defence applications.
Employers are increasingly prioritising professionals with four to 10 years of experience.
'It seems unlikely that organisations will be a bunch of individuals who work on their own and there are no teams anymore, because that is not sustainable.'
The merged InsuranceDekho-RenewBuy entity aims to significantly expand its distribution network across India, offering insurance, mutual funds, and loans, with a strong focus on 'Bharat' (rural India), according to CEO Ankit Agarwal.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has dismissed concerns about organisational chaos at the Asian Games, attributing criticisms to attempts to "politicise" the event. Despite widespread issues like accommodation scarcity, lengthy check-ins, and athlete complaints, OCA officials insist challenges are normal and are being handled effectively. They also addressed a diplomatic complaint from South Korea regarding a historical figure at a welcome ceremony and defended cost-saving measures like container-style accommodation.
Tax experts clarify that merchants will pay 18% GST on Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. However, registered merchants can claim Input Tax Credit (ITC), mitigating the tax burden. This move is expected to generate significant GST revenue for the exchequer while funding payment infrastructure.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal highlighted the critical need for India to diversify its services exports beyond the dominant IT/ITeS and professional services sectors. Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, he emphasised the vast potential in the global financial services market, where India currently holds a small share, and stressed how fintech solutions, like UPI, can drive growth, reduce remittance costs, and support MSME trade finance, ultimately leading to sustainable economic expansion.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced significant opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within India's rapidly expanding aviation sector. With Indian airlines ordering over 1,600 aircraft and the aerospace market projected to double by 2035, there's a massive scope for Indian suppliers to integrate into global aerospace supply chains, moving beyond assembly to design and manufacturing.
Cactus Technology Solutions Private Limited has been empanelled by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) to provide AI and machine learning expertise for government-led digital initiatives.
