Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has called for an independent review of the National Rifle Association of India's (NRAI) coaching appointments, citing concerns about transparency, eligibility criteria, and potential conflicts of interest. The NRAI, however, asserts that appointments are merit-based and views Kumar's concerns as 'sour grapes' after his own non-selection.
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.
West Bengal has launched an Emerging Quantum and Semiconductor Technologies (EQST) section at CSIR-CGCRI to attract investments and position the state as a hub for next-generation technology. Minister Kalyan Chakraborti highlighted India's need to invest in these crucial sectors and outlined the state's plans to collaborate with institutions and leverage budget initiatives to foster research and start-ups.
India needs to move beyond ease and cost of doing business and focus on the "speed of doing business" as the next leg of reforms to sustain economic growth and private investment, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President R Mukundan said.
Legendary Indian hockey player Harbinder Singh reminisces about India's historic first Asian Games gold medal in 1966, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan. He shares insights into the team's motivation, the challenging final match played with 10 men, and the evolution of hockey over the decades, including concerns about declining domestic spectator interest and India's prospects for future Asian Games.
The Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that adults, including those in non-heterosexual relationships, should be allowed to nominate partners for medical decision-making in cases of incapacity. This submission comes in response to a petition seeking recognition of same-sex partners as medical representatives, with the government stating this approach aligns with existing legal and ethical frameworks, respecting patient autonomy and ensuring continuity of care.
A proposed Rs 1,200 crore Secretariat-Assembly complex in Pattinapakkam, Chennai, has ignited significant opposition from local fishing communities and various political parties. Residents fear displacement, loss of livelihood, and environmental damage, citing ancestral rights and broken promises. Political leaders across the spectrum are urging Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to reconsider the site, highlighting concerns about ecological impact, traffic, and financial priorities.
IIT-Kanpur has developed an AI-powered "Family Score" system to identify households needing welfare support using existing government data. This system, demonstrated in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh government, aims to provide a faster and more cost-effective alternative to traditional surveys for assessing socio-economic conditions and ensuring targeted welfare delivery.
The Supreme Court has directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to issue a no-objection certificate and relieving order to international water sports coach Bilquis Mir, enabling her to join the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing Team as chief coach for the Asian Games. This ruling came after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti criticised the bureaucratic hurdles faced by Mir, highlighting systemic issues within the administration.
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.
India's government is working to resolve tax and regulatory hurdles to bring Formula One back to the Buddh International Circuit on the outskirts of New Delhi in 2028, more than a decade after the race was dropped.
'IN-SPACe like an octopus is stretching its tentacles everywhere and choking ISRO.'
The Supreme Court has refused to quash proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act against former NSE MD and CEO Chitra Ramkrishna, stating that the trial court will determine whether she can be considered a 'public servant' under the Act.
Nepal's Hindu groups have sought an all-party discussion on restoring Hindu-nation status within three months.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's impromptu rendition of Kishore Kumar's classic 'Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat' has captivated audiences online, with a video of his performance garnering over a million views and widespread appreciation.
India's UPI International payment system is now playing a crucial role in humanitarian efforts, enabling seamless disaster relief donations from Indian users to Nepal's Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund, showcasing its growing global acceptance and utility beyond tourism. UPI IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Unsplash Key Points UPI International, initially for Indian tourists, is now facilitating disaster relief donations to Nepal's Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund. The embassy of Nepal in India is actively encouraging Indian users to utilise their UPI apps for these contributions. This marks a significant shift, expanding UPI's cross-border use case beyond tourism to include inbound collection for foreign governments. The move positions UPI International alongside global payment giants like Alipay+ and UnionPay for international aid. Donors need to activate the UPI International feature on their apps to transact, with amounts converted from INR to NPR.
The Finance Ministry has dismissed allegations of US pressure influencing the 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI transactions. It clarified that NPCI guidelines prioritise RuPay credit cards on UPI and do not favour international cards. The ministry also asserted that the MDR, applicable to person-to-merchant transactions above Rs 2,000, is unlikely to increase cash transactions or cause inflation, with measures in place to prevent burdening consumers.
The government is questioning the visiting Meta team on whether the company is adhering to the law of the land, following summons to the social media giant over temporary restriction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post recently, sources said on Thursday.
Harikesh Patel, a former member of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), has been arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for allegedly obtaining a second passport using forged documents. Patel had previously surrendered his original passport in connection with an ED money laundering case. He reportedly used the fraudulently obtained passport for international travel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, the classical Tamil work by poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, ahead of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal has surrendered before a Goa court to begin serving his 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in a 2013 sexual assault case. This follows a Supreme Court directive and his conviction by the Bombay High Court, which overturned his earlier acquittal. Tejpal's appeal against his conviction is slated for a Supreme Court hearing in September 2026.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against seven foreign nationals, including a US citizen and six Ukrainians, for illegal entry and alleged terror conspiracy with ethnic armed groups, though the stringent UAPA anti-terror law was not invoked at this stage.
Banking services, particularly at public sector banks across India, were impacted by a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) to demand the immediate implementation of a five-day workweek and resolution of pending wage-related issues.
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, Mamata Banerjee's party's candidate for the Rejinagar by-election, initially announced his withdrawal from the contest due to harassment of workers and symbol unfamiliarity, but retracted his statement within hours after intervention from the party's top leadership and Mamata Banerjee herself, confirming he will now contest the October 6 poll.
AI4Bharat at IIT Madras and Josh Talks AI have launched 'Voice of India', a multimodal AI evaluation platform designed to assess AI systems against Indian conditions, languages, accents, and dialects. This platform aims to provide scientifically rigorous, India-specific evaluations, covering areas like Voice AI, large language models, document processing, safety, cultural appropriateness, and Indian legal reasoning, to build trust and enable informed deployment decisions.
An Indian firm, Bharat Forge, and US defence major Pratt & Whitney Canada have announced a collaboration to develop India's high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This partnership will focus on integrating advanced turboprop engines into the DRDO-designed HALE UAV, bolstering India's indigenous defence capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The collaboration aims to enhance India's strategic self-reliance in surveillance and reconnaissance technology.
Some decades are worth remembering exactly as they were, unfiltered, because that's the only way the people who survived them get to be seen at all, points out Binu Alex.
'If crude remains above $100 per barrel, with restricted retail-price increases, OMCs could face negative petrol and diesel marketing margins, higher LPG under-recoveries, higher crude-landing, freight and insurance costs, working capital and debt accumulation and inventory losses if crude subsequently corrects sharply.'
Pakistan has formally requested the Asian Hockey Federation to move its Asian Champions Trophy matches from India to a neutral venue, citing a "sensitive bilateral situation" and security concerns. The tournament is scheduled for October 27 to November 5 in Mohali and Jalandhar. This request follows earlier claims of Pakistan's participation and past withdrawals from events in India.
'Our biggest opportunity lies with the younger age-group teams.' 'If you look at the senior national team, our chances are about 50-50.' 'The gap becomes smaller as you move down the age groups.' 'At the Under-20 level, it's closer to 60-40.' 'By the Under-17 level, it's around 80-20. That's where I feel we have our best chance.'
India has rescued three more nationals, including a child, from Nepal's flood-hit Trishuli Bazaar, bringing the total evacuees to 169, while 275 Indians remain missing. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that 1,907 Indians safely crossed into Nepal from China and India continues to provide extensive relief materials and expert teams to assist Nepal in its recovery efforts following the devastating flash floods.
India is actively integrating payment system harmonisation into its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, especially with countries hosting a large Indian diaspora. This strategy aims to leverage India's growing fintech ecosystem, facilitate cross-border financial services, and position India as a global hub for financial services exports, particularly through platforms like GIFT City.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is poised for a significant overhaul under chairman Mohsin Naqvi, with anticipated changes to the national selection committee and the release of key personnel like Aqib Javed and Wahab Riaz. This comes amidst a losing streak and internal turmoil, prompting radical measures to improve the team's performance and administrative efficiency.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule to eliminate the 60-day grace period for H-1B visa holders and other nonimmigrants after job loss, a move expected to significantly impact Indian technology workers.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale stated that opposing reservation is unconstitutional and that the policy would be given up if casteism is eliminated. He highlighted the historical context of reservations for SC/ST and OBCs, and the Modi government's EWS quota. Athawale also criticised the opposition, praised government achievements, and discussed various welfare schemes and infrastructure projects in Chhattisgarh.
The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office has issued notices to over 33 lakh voters, including former deputy prime minister LK Advani, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar, over discrepancies in their electoral roll details. These notices are part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, primarily due to details not matching with the 2002 SIR. Despite concerns raised by some politicians, officials assure that no names will be deleted without due verification and an opportunity for voters to respond.
India's semiconductor sector has garnered USD 1.4 billion in total equity funding across 281 companies, with a substantial USD 701 million raised since 2025 alone, according to Tracxn data.
Specialised range taking shape in Andhra Pradesh, while West Bengal clears way for DRDO's new testing facility.
A stake sale by Tata Trusts will help it to have a larger corpus that could be used to balance the unequal dividends that flow from Tata Sons on an ongoing basis.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) flagged the proposed screening of an uncertified documentary on jailed activist Umar Khalid at IIIT-Hyderabad, citing violations of the Cinematograph Act. IIIT-Hyderabad subsequently distanced itself from the event, stating no recognised student bodies had organised it. The screening, titled "Prisoner No. 626710 is Present," was reportedly cancelled by students, following a similar postponement at NLSIU Bengaluru due to opposition.
