Shimla Police have seized assets worth Rs 4.13 crore from 19 drug traffickers and their associates, believed to be acquired through illegal drug trade. The action followed an arrest in August 2026, leading to a detailed financial investigation under the NDPS Act. This seizure is part of a larger effort in 2026, where assets worth Rs 12.52 crore have been confiscated in 15 NDPS cases.
Can't afford the new iPhone 18 Pro in that very tempting burgundy shade? We're facing the same tragedy. But before you start taking out a personal loan for a phone, may we suggest a more financially sensible alternative? Wear the colour instead.
The CBI has registered a case against Arunachal Pradesh environmental activist and lawyer Bhanu Tatak for allegedly receiving Rs 20.94 lakh in foreign funds without mandatory FCRA registration or prior permission. The agency claims these funds were used to organise and sustain protests against two hydropower projects in the state. A preliminary enquiry indicated Tatak received foreign contributions directly into her personal account and did not file income tax returns declaring these funds.
The CBI has registered a case against Reliance Capital Limited (RCAP), its former chairman Anil Ambani, and others for an alleged Rs 2,684.57-crore fraud involving investments made by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Anil Ambani has denied any wrongdoing. The LIC alleges criminal conspiracy, misrepresentation, and fraudulent diversion of funds.
Shapoorji Pallonji Mistry's statement will be watched closely against the backdrop of the listing battle as well as the Tata leadership contest, with veto votes being cast over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as chairman of Tata Sons for a third term.
Andhra Pradesh and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have signed an MoU to establish the PNB Quantum Finance Hub at Amaravati Quantum Valley. This initiative aims to foster innovation and adopt next-generation technologies like AI and Quantum Computing in the banking sector, focusing on cybersecurity, fraud detection, and customer experience.
The Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group, the second-largest shareholder in Tata Sons, has publicly endorsed a listing of the Tata Group's holding company, aligning with the board's push for greater transparency and public accountability despite opposition from the Tata Trusts.
A special court in Ayodhya has rejected the bail applications of three more individuals accused in the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple, following similar rejections for three others. The case involves embezzlement of cash and valuables, leading to eight arrests and a state-level SIT investigation.
A joint report by Dell Technologies and Zinnov reveals that despite high ambition, nearly 70% of India's Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are stuck at the pilot stage for AI adoption. Foundational gaps in data, infrastructure, and governance are identified as key bottlenecks preventing the scaling of AI initiatives into enterprise-wide production. The report highlights the need for significant reskilling of the workforce and robust foundations for industrialising AI responsibly.
The National Stock Exchange of India's (NSE) mega Rs 22,569-crore initial public offering (IPO) was subscribed 43 per cent on its first day of bidding, making it India's second-largest public issue after Hyundai Motor India's Rs 27,870-crore IPO in 2024.
It is because dealing with a regulatory system that is largely headed by retired IAS officers then becomes relatively easy, points out A K Bhattacharya.
The Finance Ministry has clarified that the decision to impose a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 was made independently, refuting claims of foreign influence. The ministry stated the policy aims to build a self-sustaining digital payments ecosystem, with MDR funding infrastructure and supporting small merchants.
Shares of major private lenders, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, experienced a sharp selloff after their June-quarter results indicated persistent pressure on net interest margins (NIMs), despite healthy credit growth. This decline overshadowed gains in ICICI Bank and Punjab National Bank (PNB), which reported resilient or stronger-than-expected earnings.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to extend tokenisation to various financial asset classes, building on its successful trials with certificates of deposit (CDs). This move aims to enhance the efficiency of issuance, trading, and settlement of financial assets, leveraging blockchain technology and wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) for atomic settlements.
The National Stock Exchange of India's (NSE) mega Rs 22,569-crore initial public offering (IPO) opened for subscription, receiving 9 per cent bids on its first day, with strong participation from anchor investors.
United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Iranian airlines could be effectively shut out of international travel from Wednesday, September 23, as Washington threatens secondary sanctions against foreign companies that continue providing services to Iran's carriers.
Punjab Police have successfully dismantled three significant drug and illegal arms supply networks in Amritsar, leading to the arrest of eight individuals. The operations resulted in the recovery of over 9.5 kg of heroin, 5.4 kg of opium, and a pistol. Investigations suggest links to foreign-based smugglers using drones for consignments, with further probes underway to uncover the full extent of the trafficking network.
'Treating stock brokers as merchants for MDR is fundamentally misplaced.'
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced new features for India's digital payment ecosystem, including UPI tap-to-pay for PIN-less transactions up to 5,000 and multi-currency capabilities for forex on Bharat Connect, supporting Euro, British Pound, and other major currencies.
A six-year-old boy from Kushinagar, Alfaz Sheikh, has donated his entire year's savings from a piggy bank to help victims of devastating floods in neighbouring Nepal. Moved by images of the destruction, he personally handed over his savings to the District Magistrate, inspiring officials with his profound humanitarian gesture.
Zoho has launched Zia Chat, a unified AI interface designed to streamline business operations across various functions by providing a single conversational platform for information, lead generation, and data analysis. Concurrently, the company has expanded into vertical SaaS with seven new industry-specific applications for sectors like retail, automotive, healthcare, and education, reinforcing its position as a homegrown alternative to global tech giants.
Experts laud the decision to impose a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move, along with a dedicated fund for small merchants, is seen as crucial for creating a sustainable digital payments ecosystem, incentivising expansion in rural areas, and funding innovation while keeping most transactions free for users.
Homegrown software company Zoho has launched Zia Chat, a unified AI interface designed to streamline business operations across various functions. Alongside this, Zoho announced its entry into vertical SaaS with seven industry-specific applications for sectors like retail, automotive, healthcare, and education, reinforcing its position as a 'Swadeshi' alternative to global tech giants.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, saw a significant rebound in early trade, with the Sensex jumping 726 points and the Nifty climbing over 200 points, primarily driven by strong performances in IT stocks, HDFC Bank, and renewed foreign fund inflows. Track Sensex, Nifty on July 29.
India's wholesale price-based inflation (WPI) increased to 9.92 per cent in August, up from 9.78 per cent in July, primarily due to rising prices across food, manufactured items, and fuel and power sectors.
India has significantly increased its diplomatic engagements with Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
HDFC Bank's board is actively discussing the appointment of its new managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) as incumbent Sashidhar Jagdishan's three-year term concludes in October, with the Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee (GNRC) expected to finalise the process soon.
The Indian rupee experienced its sharpest single-day decline in eight weeks, settling at 94.83 per dollar, primarily due to escalating crude oil prices and persistent risk-off sentiment driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and limited foreign inflows.
India's markets regulator Sebi has launched 'Demat 2.0', a pilot project for tokenisation of corporate bonds, enabling atomic settlement through integration with RBI's wholesale CBDC. This new market infrastructure uses Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to make bond issuance, trading, and settlement faster and more efficient. India is the first country to issue corporate bonds natively on a distributed ledger with central bank digital currency settlement. Additionally, RBI Governor announced new UPI innovations: 'Tap & Pay' for faster POS transactions and MyUPI, an AI-powered customer support solution.
The Nifty 50 experienced significant volatility during its closing auction session, leading to losses for both long and short retail options traders due to thin liquidity and rapid price swings, particularly in private-sector banks.
The BJP has accused the Congress of spreading "fake news" regarding UPI transaction charges, asserting that the government has clarified that consumers will not be levied merchant discount rate (MDR) charges. This comes after the Congress criticised a government notification, alleging it paves the way for imposing fees on UPI transactions. The BJP has strongly refuted these claims, highlighting that most UPI transactions remain free and the government provides incentives to maintain a charge-free ecosystem for users.
SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey stated that the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has not submitted any proposal seeking approval to trade on its own platform after getting listed, and such trading is currently not permitted. He also confirmed that SEBI would examine concerns raised by brokers and asset management companies regarding the new UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework.
Sumit Nagal, India's top singles player, believes sheer desire will be crucial in the Davis Cup qualifier against Korea, especially on the slow Seoul courts.
RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu has dismissed concerns that the new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI payments above Rs 2,000 will increase cash transactions. He also clarified the 'cash paradox' of rising digital payments alongside cash in circulation, explaining cash's dual role. Murmu further detailed the RBI's extensive regulatory changes aimed at reducing compliance burdens and emphasised that accountability for AI-driven decisions in finance will remain with institutional boards.
'The issue appears to be less about Chandrasekaran personally and more about the direction Tata Sons should take.'
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.
Institutional portion subscribed 12.68 times; retail crosses quota.
Bandhan Bank has launched a new digital Provident Fund (PF) payment service, integrated with EPFO, allowing business customers to make statutory PF payments via the bank's internet banking platform. This service aims to streamline payments, optimise cash flows, and ensure timely compliance for businesses.
The Congress party has criticised the Modi government over a notification regarding UPI transactions, alleging it paves the way for imposing fees, especially on transactions above Rs 2,000. Rahul Gandhi claimed the government is surrendering to American pressure, while Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the potential burden on common citizens amidst inflation. The government's notification prohibits charges on UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 but remains silent on higher amounts, sparking fears of a "Digital Payments Tax."
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) against Sheeba Inayat, a Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer. The charges include amassing assets disproportionate to her known income and alleged malpractices in the distribution of Public Distribution System (PDS) foodgrains, leading to a wrongful loss of over Rs 2.61 crore.
