Fintech company BharatPe has expressed strong support for the government's new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for UPI merchant transactions, which introduces a 0.4% fee on transfers exceeding Rs 2,000. The company explicitly distanced itself from critical remarks made by its former co-founder Ashneer Grover, clarifying that his views do not represent BharatPe's stance. BharatPe CEO Nalin Negi highlighted that the framework aims to strengthen digital payment economics, protect consumers and small merchants, and expand adoption in underserved markets, with most transactions remaining unaffected.
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.
Fintech firm BharatPe has publicly supported the government's new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for UPI merchant transactions, which introduces a 0.4% fee on transfers over Rs 2,000. The company has also distanced itself from its former co-founder Ashneer Grover's strong criticism of these changes, stating his remarks are personal and do not reflect BharatPe's official position. BharatPe believes the new framework will strengthen digital payment economics while protecting consumers and small merchants.
Indian firm Bharat Forge and US defence major Pratt & Whitney Canada have announced a collaboration to support the development of India's high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle. This partnership involves integrating advanced turboprop engines into a DRDO-designed UAV, bolstering India's indigenous defence capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
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.
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that revised NCERT textbooks for classes 10 to 12 are being prepared in "mission mode," while textbooks for classes 1 to 9 under the new National Curriculum Framework have already been released. He emphasised NCERT's role in building a 'Viksit Bharat' and highlighted the need for curricula to evolve with AI advancements and the importance of India's young population as a global asset.
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.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) clarified that no notice was issued to Bharat Ratna awardee Prof C N R Rao regarding an electoral roll discrepancy. Instead, the Booth Level Officer recommended including his name despite a variation in how it was recorded over the years, ensuring his inclusion in the final electoral roll.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stated that a true Hindu believes in the unity of humanity and that all religious paths lead to the same goal, asserting that 'if any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu'.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government's plan to establish a high-powered committee to examine reforms for the banking sector, aligning it with the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) and India's next phase of growth.
This week's OTT releases feature a diverse range of films and series, including the spiritual sequel 'Cocktail 2' starring Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Kriti Sanon, Kangana Ranaut's 'Bharat Bhagya Vidhata' based on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and the RSS-themed drama 'Aakhri Sawwal'.
In a highly sensitive and time-bound mission, a live donor heart was successfully transported aboard a Vande Bharat train from Surat to Ahmedabad on Friday for transplantation at a prominent cardiac teaching hospital in Gujarat's commercial capital.
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has criticised Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's "smash the patriarchy" remark and his defence of actor Kriti Sanon's outfit in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement, sparking a wider debate on women's choices and cultural attire.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 80th Independence Day address, expressed strong confidence that India will achieve developed nation status by 2047, urging citizens to embrace big dreams and unwavering resolve to realise 'Viksit Bharat'. He highlighted India's economic transformation and significant growth in various sectors, including defence production, electronic manufacturing, and mobile phone production.
The Indian Special Olympics football team secured a bronze medal at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, marking their third consecutive podium finish. Special Olympics Bharat president Malika Nadda praised the team's resilience and determination, while coaches highlighted the challenges of adapting to artificial turf and expressed ambitions for future gold medals.
The Indian Special Olympics football team secured a bronze medal at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, marking their third consecutive podium finish. Special Olympics Bharat president Malika Nadda praised the team's resilience and determination, while coaches highlighted the challenges of adapting to artificial turf and expressed ambitions for future gold medals.
The 18th BRICS Summit got underway in New Delhi with leaders of partner countries gathering in the capital to discuss the changing global economic and geopolitical landscape.
A quarrel between two student groups during college union election campaigning in northwest Delhi's Bharat Nagar area resulted in two Satyawati College students being injured and two vehicles damaged. Police are investigating the incident, which reportedly involved firing and assault.
New Delhi was told it had given something up; in reality it had stopped talking about it, notes Dr Abhishek Puri.
Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Rohit Jain has stated that India cannot rely solely on bank balance sheets to fund the extensive investment required for its 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India) goal by 2047, emphasising the critical need for deeper corporate bond, foreign exchange, and derivatives markets.
New Delhi is gearing up to host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam on September 12-13, with extensive preparations underway across key venues, roads, hotels and security zones.
The Indian government has expanded its Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan by signing agreements with four spiritual organisations. These partnerships aim to enhance grassroots awareness, prevention, recovery, and social mobilisation efforts against substance abuse, leveraging the extensive reach of these groups.
Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal inaugurated the Khele Sanand Sports Utsav, an 18-day event aimed at promoting sports among 25,000 students across 105 villages in Sanand taluka, Gujarat. The initiative by Vijayi Bharat Foundation features various sports and age categories, with a focus on grassroots sports development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a gala dinner for BRICS Summit leaders and delegates at Bharat Mandapam. The menu featured a range of Indian delicacies, including starters like 'khandvi mille' and 'khumb galouti', main courses such as 'paneer lababdar' and 'gucchi marmik', and desserts like 'shahtoot phirni'. The dinner was accompanied by a cultural performance.
On Saturday, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders participated in a tree plantation on the lawns of Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Ravi Shastri lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a leading role in international diplomacy during the ongoing BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The Indian Air Force has launched 'Dronathon 2026' at the Pokhran range in Jaisalmer, a three-day event showcasing advancements in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-UAS technologies by domestic manufacturers. The initiative aims to bolster the IAF's capabilities in the unmanned domain, align with the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' objective, and assess indigenous technologies against operational requirements through live demonstrations. It also fosters interaction between the IAF, industry, and even students, promoting the development of scalable unmanned solutions.
India is set to launch Bharat Vecto, its first certification tool for assessing the fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions of medium and heavy commercial vehicles, by December, with a full launch targeted for the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in February 2027.
The National Security Guard has launched Operation BRICS Kavach to prepare for possible emergencies during the high-profile event.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded on Wednesday, driven by value buying in banking stocks and select heavyweight counters, with the Sensex climbing 332.63 points and the Nifty ending above 23,200.
Indian golfer Krishiv Tekchandani, known for his philanthropic efforts, has launched an ultra-luxury watch brand called 'XII NOON'. The venture aims to create exclusive timepieces of Bharat origin and will dedicate a portion of its earnings to support widows of Indian Army soldiers.
The BJP has announced a month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' campaign, starting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday, September 17, to commemorate his 25 years in public life. The initiative includes various programmes like 'Seva Diwas', 'Ashirwad Ka Diya', 'Seva Jyoti Kalash Yatra', youth yatras, and innovation challenges, all aimed at public participation and promoting the vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.
Two students from Satyawati College were injured and two SUVs damaged during an altercation in northwest Delhi's Bharat Nagar area, near the college, while campaigning for student union elections. Police are investigating the incident, which involved reports of assault and firing, and are examining potential links to college rivalries or personal disputes.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein paid rich tributes to engineers on National Engineers' Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of Sir M Visvesvaraya. They highlighted the crucial role of engineers in the state's development, infrastructure, and India's overall progress, acknowledging their contributions to nation-building and technological advancement.
Delhi Police has implemented a comprehensive multi-layered security system for the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi, deploying 15,000 personnel, 200 paramilitary companies, and over 500 CCTV cameras. The arrangements aim to ensure maximum security for visiting dignitaries while minimising public inconvenience, with extensive coordination across agencies and states, and robust measures at the main venue, Bharat Mandapam.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced India's ambition to lead the world in 6G mobile technology and become a designer of global technology standards. Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, Scindia highlighted India's shift from being a technology market to a technology maker, emphasizing progress in 5G rollout, affordable data, and digital infrastructure driving fintech growth, while also stressing the importance of digital security.
The Sports Ministry has initiated a fresh application process for a national Yogasana federation, setting a September 17 deadline. This follows a Delhi High Court ruling that quashed the recognition of Yogasana Bharat and mandated a new affiliation procedure. Eligible bodies must submit detailed applications, adhering to the National Sports Governance Act, which includes specific requirements for executive committee composition.
The Congress party criticised the all-vegetarian menu served at the BRICS Summit gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Rahul Gandhi highlighting that 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. The party accused the BJP government of imposing its dietary preferences and questioned why India's diverse culinary culture was not showcased.
Central Delhi has undergone a significant beautification drive, including extensive lighting, floral displays, and BRICS-themed signages, in preparation for the upcoming BRICS Leaders' Summit. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and other civic bodies have focused on sprucing up key routes, hotels, and the summit venue, Bharat Mandapam, to welcome delegates and visitors.
The RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has urged the government to reconsider imposing a merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, arguing that the costs do not warrant such a move. This comes after the government announced a 0.4 per cent fee on merchant transfers over Rs 2,000 from October 15, while assuring that person-to-person and small payments remain free. SJM co-convener Ashwani Mahajan highlighted that banks have not demanded MDR and that UPI has reduced their transaction costs.
