The opposition has intensified its criticism of the government's decision to impose a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. Leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh allege the move is a result of US pressure, particularly from American card companies, and demand an immediate rollback, warning of increased costs for consumers.
IIT Guwahati researchers have developed SH²RFSSM, a model inspired by how biological neurons communicate.
The opposition has strongly criticised the government's decision to introduce a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15. They allege the move is a result of US pressure and will lead to increased commodity prices, calling it a "betrayal" of the common man. The government, however, clarifies that customers will not be charged, and the MDR applies only to merchants for larger transactions.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, ended marginally lower after recovering from sharp intraday losses, driven by cooling crude oil prices and buying interest in HDFC Bank and IT sector stocks.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director, Rahul Navin, has issued directives to intensify action against Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) frauds involving "large haircuts" and to address delays in police registering FIRs based on ED's requests. The agency also aims to fast-track high-profile trials under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and enhance internal coordination and efficiency.
Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 75 runs on Day 4 to level their two-Test series against West Indies 1-1, with captain Babar Azam sealing the victory with two sixes despite an injury scare.
Padma Shri awardee educationist Dinesh Singh advocates for teachers to embrace artificial intelligence, viewing it as a tool to elevate their role rather than a threat. Speaking at the 4th STTAR Global Education Conference, Singh urged educators to use AI to become "gurus." Other leaders, including Shishir Jaipuria, emphasised that the future of education lies in human-technology collaboration, with teachers remaining crucial for inspiring students.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has urged the 30-member Indian shooting contingent for the Asian Games to prioritise individual medals over team events. He also highlighted the need for significant improvements in coaching, advocating for more former international medallists in the system, and stressed the importance of better grassroots talent identification, drawing comparisons with China. Kumar also commented on the void left by coach Jaspal Rana's death and questioned recent selection policies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to India for the BRICS summit is a pivotal diplomatic event poised to significantly impact bilateral ties and global cooperation amidst ongoing international instability.
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is establishing an in-house foundry in Bastrop, Texas, to produce high-spec gas turbine blades and vanes. This strategic move aims to alleviate a critical supply chain bottleneck hindering power generation for AI data centres in the US and accelerate natural gas turbine availability by up to 18 months. The facility will also leverage synergies with aerospace component manufacturing.
Last Man In Tower is an unsettling portrait of a society that can turn against one another when greed dangles the promise of a better life, observes Sreeju Sudhakaran.
The Indian women's cricket team secured their eighth Women's Asia Cup title, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final, a triumph that has garnered widespread congratulations from top Indian leaders.
Former Pakistan defensive hockey player Muhammad Saqlain has revealed his battle with stage four B oral cancer, stating that his sports background provided him with the fighting spirit needed to overcome the dreaded disease. He underwent an eight-hour surgery and is now undergoing immunotherapy for a full recovery, having kept his health issues private until now.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a significant waiver of approximately Rs 48,000 crore in pending electricity dues for farmers, aiming to facilitate new agricultural power connections and support the state's agricultural sector.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is set to meet Hockey India League (HIL) franchise owners and federation officials to address the league's financial and administrative crisis. The HIL is struggling with unpaid player dues, rising costs, and franchise withdrawals, prompting the ministry to seek solutions for its survival, especially given its importance for Indian hockey development.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has appealed to Opposition leaders to stop politicising the death of her husband, Ajit Pawar. Her comments follow accusations from NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule regarding the lack of an FIR and the ruling faction's perceived inaction. Pawar stressed the immense grief of the family and affirmed faith in ongoing investigations.
Glenn Maxwell has named Virat Kohli the best-ever ODI batter, praising his exceptional timing, control and gap-finding ability while highlighting his remarkable record in successful run-chases.
The Supreme Court has rejected a High-Powered Committee's request for a six-month extension to submit its report on the definition and protection of the Aravalli Hills, directing the panel to submit it by November 30. The court warned of reconstituting the committee if it fails to meet the deadline and emphasised the need for issue-specific interim reports. This decision follows a previous controversy over the Aravalli definition and mining regulations.
Nagarmal Bajoria, a 97-year-old Bihar businessman known as "dharti pakad" for contesting nearly 300 elections, has passed away. A Partition refugee, Bajoria challenged prominent leaders including Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, aiming to raise public awareness about the electoral process rather than seeking power. His unique campaign style and unwavering spirit left a lasting impression.
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.
The Indian women's junior hockey team secured a dominant 5-1 victory over South Korea in the AHF Junior Asia Cup semifinal, propelled by a hat-trick from drag-flick specialist Supriya. This win propels the defending champions into the final, where they will face either China or Japan.
Hockey India is embroiled in a significant internal dispute between President Dilip Tirkey and Secretary Bhola Nath Singh, primarily over a controversial jersey colour change and the authority to call emergent meetings. An upcoming Executive Board meeting aims to address these differences, discuss the future of the Hockey India League (HIL) including its restructuring into a joint venture, finalise election dates, and deliberate on hosting Asian Champions Trophy events.
The Congress party has announced a significant organisational reshuffle, appointing new general secretaries and state in-charges. Sachin Pilot has been made in-charge of Punjab, and Randeep Singh Surjewala for Gujarat, ahead of crucial assembly elections. Other changes include new in-charges for Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, with some outgoing leaders being replaced.
Newly listed companies Vedanta Aluminium Metal, SBI Funds Management and Manipal Health Enterprises have entered the Rs 1 trillion mcap list since March 2026.
A Delhi court has ordered the framing of money laundering charges against former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav, and six others in the alleged IRCTC hotel scam. The court found strong suspicion of a manipulated tender for railway hotels and a quid pro quo involving land transfer at undervalued rates.
Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ritu Kumar share a friendship that goes far beyond clothes, making Bebo the perfect muse for the designer's latest couture collection.
Americans Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek secured double sprint gold at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, each winning the 100m and 200m titles and a $300,000 jackpot. Jefferson-Wooden's 200m time of 21.47 seconds made her the third fastest woman in history, while Bednarek, known as "Kung Fu Kenny," dominated the men's 200m. The event, designed for television, drew sellout crowds and featured other star athletes like Gianmarco Tamberi and Mondo Duplantis, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe noting its potential for future Olympic and World Championship elements.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that Pakistan will participate in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India, scheduled from October 27 to November 5. This participation aligns with the Indian government's policy allowing multi-lateral sporting engagements with Pakistan, despite a ban on bilateral series. The tournament will be held in Jalandhar and Mohali, featuring six nations including India and Pakistan, with a highly anticipated India-Pakistan match on November 1.
As younger generations grow up without personal memories of 9/11, the 25th anniversary serves as a powerful reminder of loss, resilience, bravery and America's enduring promise to never forget.
The successful hosting of the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi has provided a significant boost to the BJP, offering a timely opportunity to strengthen its narrative against the opposition ahead of crucial assembly elections next year. BJP sources highlight the BRICS grouping's strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and the consensus declaration as major diplomatic victories for the Modi government, countering criticisms of its foreign policy. The party plans to leverage these outcomes during its month-long Seva Sankalp campaign to connect with various sections of society.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed higher on Thursday, breaking a three-day losing streak, driven by late buying in financial heavyweights like HDFC Bank and Axis Bank, despite persistent geopolitical tensions and crude oil prices exceeding USD 100 per barrel.
A new IDC report reveals that artificial intelligence is prompting organisations worldwide to retrieve and utilise previously archived, "cold-tier" data for AI training, significantly increasing its perceived value and leading to longer data retention periods and a burgeoning market for datasets.
Sanju Samson smashed a quick 57 as India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
India may have a vast coastline and a strategic location, but it will become a true maritime nation only when its people understand, value and actively participate in the maritime ecosystem, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it has constituted a high-powered committee headed by the director general of health services (DGHS) to formulate a mechanism for conducting a comprehensive audit of the existing system of admission through the NEET-PG examination.
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.
Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary has secured at least a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games by advancing to the 51kg category semifinals. She defeated Northern Ireland's Caitlin Fryers 5-0, becoming the fifth Indian boxer to guarantee a medal at the Games.
Danish FA President Jesper Moller has renewed calls for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down, citing FIFA's refusal to answer 'critical questions' regarding its abandoned proposal to sell commercial stakes in tournaments.
The question for the next 20 years is not whether India can become a $5 trillion or $10 trillion economy. Those are attractive targets, but the real question is whether India can create enough productive jobs, educate its children properly, make its cities liveable, and give hundreds of millions of people a substantially better life, asserts Ramesh Menon.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to secure her place in the US Open final, expressing her desperation to regain control of her season and her strong desire to complete a 'three-peat' at the hardcourt major.
