India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has amended its Unified Licence Agreement, allowing caller identification to include the subscriber's registered name from November 1, 2026, a move aimed at enhancing transparency and potentially curbing spam calls.
Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani urged BRICS nations to collaborate on building institutional capacity and advocating for fair standards in international telecom and ICT bodies. He highlighted India's willingness to share its modular, open-source digital public infrastructure frameworks like Aadhaar and DigiLocker, emphasising their role in sustainable development and economic growth across the Global South.
Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal stated that his satcom venture, Eutelsat OneWeb, is 'significantly ahead' of Elon Musk's Starlink in the Indian satcom queue, having applied for a licence five years ago, and expressed a desire to receive regulatory approval before Starlink.
The Centre has announced a major bureaucratic reshuffle, appointing Prakash Rajpurohit as Deputy Election Commissioner and approving appointments for 27 civil servants at joint secretary and equivalent levels across various ministries and departments.
Elon Musk has renewed his criticism of Mukesh Ambani regarding Starlink's entry into India, accusing Ambani's supporters of hypocrisy for simultaneously claiming Starlink can't compete with low prices and that it poses a strong competitive threat. Musk argues that competition would benefit Indian consumers and that Starlink would adjust pricing if too expensive. He also shared reports alleging Reliance-funded political donations. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated India does not permit monopolies and that multiple players, including Starlink, have received satcom licences.
Elon Musk has escalated his criticism of Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani, sharing media reports that alleged Reliance-funded firms helped boost BJP campaigns on social media and made large political donations. This comes amidst a persistent delay in the launch of Starlink satellite broadband services in India, with Musk accusing Ambani of protecting a monopoly. The Indian government maintains its telecom framework is fair and non-discriminatory, while Reliance has not publicly responded to Musk's allegations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged for a global framework to combat cross-border cyber frauds and deepfakes, highlighting the need for governments, tech companies, telecom operators, and financial institutions to collaborate. Speaking at the India Mobile Congress 2026, Modi stressed that technology thrives on trust and that India is ready to share its expertise in tackling cyber threats. He also noted the rapid expansion of 5G and the success of digital governance initiatives like Direct Benefit Transfer.
India's government has implemented stringent new regulations under the Telecommunications Act 2023, mandating that all communication infrastructure providers, including those utilising cloud-based networks, must store telecommunication data exclusively within the country, a move expected to significantly impact domestic data centre demand.
Elon Musk questioned if Mukesh Ambani is India's "real boss" amidst Starlink's licensing issues, drawing a cryptic response from Rahul Gandhi. The Indian government clarified that security assessments are pending for all satcom licensees, not just Starlink, and the delay is due to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed that Rs 860-Rs 880 crore generated from an alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh during the previous Congress regime was delivered to the Pradesh Congress Committee office in Raipur. The agency filed a supplementary chargesheet against former PCC treasurer Ramgopal Agrawal and provisionally attached his properties worth Rs 9.06 crore. The ED alleges a liquor syndicate controlled the state excise department, generating over Rs 2,883 crore in illegal proceeds.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced a new authorisation regime, replacing multiple licences with a single permission for principal telecom services, aiming to simplify compliance and accommodate evolving technologies. This move is expected to ease business operations, enhance fraud prevention with AI, and expand connectivity, especially through satellite networks.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has instructed telecom operators to refuse new mobile connections to individuals who already possess nine or more SIM cards, effective from August 24, 2026.
A report by IIT-Bombay professors recommends reducing the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions from 0.40 per cent to 0.08 per cent. It suggests that banks should fund the UPI ecosystem using their net interest margins from CASA deposits, rather than relying on MDR. The report also addresses transaction costs, credit card MDR, and ATM withdrawal allowances, aiming to ensure UPI's long-term sustainability and public trust by proposing remuneration only from large merchants.
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.
The Finance Ministry has clarified that the 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, effective October 15, is not expected to increase cash transactions or cause inflation. The ministry also dismissed allegations of US pressure influencing the decision, asserting that the policy aims to promote RuPay credit cards within the UPI ecosystem, and a monitoring mechanism will ensure the MDR burden is not passed on to consumers.
UIDAI Chairman Neelkanth Mishra announced the extensive deployment of Artificial Intelligence to detect and counter fraud in Aadhaar, describing it as a "cat-and-mouse game." He highlighted the dramatic increase in daily Aadhaar authentications and the launch of the Aadhaar Face Authentication SDK and Sandbox to enhance security and ease of integration for ecosystem partners.
The Congress party has criticised the government's new 0.4% charge on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, terming it a "Modi tax". Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, allege that this move will ultimately burden consumers through price hikes and accuse the government of succumbing to American pressure to dilute India's zero-MDR policy. The government states the charge will support banks and fintechs.
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 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) stated that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) "is distributed only amongst the UPI ecosystem, to further invest into infrastructure resilience, innovation, cybersecurity (protecting the UPI infrastructure with banks and non-banks) and customer service."
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.
Flash floods in Tibet's Gyirong County, near the China-Nepal border, have resulted in five deaths and 558 missing individuals, including 260 foreign nationals. The disaster also caused significant casualties in Nepal and disrupted infrastructure. Rescue operations are underway, and concerns are rising over a newly formed barrier lake that poses a risk of further flooding.
The Delhi government is set to introduce a comprehensive drone policy aimed at creating over 1,000 jobs and regulating drone operations. The policy will focus on establishing research clusters, flight testing facilities, and providing subsidies, while also addressing drone usage for government purposes like traffic management and surveillance, considering the city's extensive 'no drone zones'.
Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has uncovered a Rs 1.5 crore WhatsApp fraud, leading to the arrest of two key SIM and OTP suppliers in West Bengal. The investigation revealed a sophisticated international cybercrime network spanning China, Pakistan, India, and Hong Kong, operating a "boss scam" and utilizing a "Cybercrime as a Service" model. Police recovered a significant portion of the defrauded amount and secured thousands of devices.
Bharti Airtel is strategically shifting its focus towards data centres, cloud services, and financial services as key drivers for its next phase of growth, leveraging significant past investments in digital infrastructure, as outlined by Chairman Sunil Mittal in the company's Annual Report for 2025-26.
Airtel, which upgraded all postpaid customers to priority plans, argued that the service did not throttle or degrade the experience for its prepaid customers, forming the majority of its 368 million customers in the country.
India's exports of printed circuit boards (PCBs) to China dramatically increased over 40-fold to $1.5 billion in FY26, indicating a significant shift where China is increasingly importing simpler electronic assemblies from India as it focuses on higher-value manufacturing domestically.
Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the cell broadcast alert system, developed indigenously, to warn citizens about emergencies and natural disasters in their area. The system is now operational across all states and union territories.
Hyderabad Police have apprehended 66 individuals linked to a nationwide 'ghost' SIM card network, connected to 76 cybercrime cases involving over Rs 101 crore.
Police in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, have dismantled an illegal telephone exchange allegedly used for revenue loss and an online fake loan racket, arresting three individuals and seizing a large quantity of equipment.
The Indian government has extended the deadline for implementing SIM-binding rules for mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to December 31, following requests from the industry. The Department of Telecom has also relaxed the mandatory six-hour log-out rule for web versions of these apps.
Dr B R Ambedkar's legacy has been honoured repeatedly through India's postal history, with stamps capturing his role as the architect of the Constitution and a champion of social justice.
Gujarat Police have achieved the third position among major states in India for recovering stolen mobile phones, returning 53,564 devices to their rightful owners in the 2025-26 financial year. The Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system, implemented by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), enables the blocking and recovery of lost or stolen mobile devices across telecom networks nationwide.
The telecom department is not contemplating providing any relief to Vodafone Idea with regard to adjusted gross revenue, Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said on Monday. "We have recently converted a lot of their debt into equity.
The Delhi government is developing a drone policy focused on creating research clusters, establishing testing facilities, enabling drone use in traffic management, and providing subsidies to support the drone ecosystem.
'On national security issues, there can be no compromise.'
The Budget allocation includes the construction of new lines and the purchase of locomotives, wagons, and coaches, among other works.
Assam police have arrested five individuals for their alleged involvement in an interstate cyber crime syndicate, focusing on SIM card fraud and identity theft.
India has launched its first integrated phygital service centre in Umri village, Madhya Pradesh, aiming to provide online services and boost rural development through digital connectivity and various essential services.
App-based communication services providers and Indian telcos are at loggerheads over the SIM-binding directions issued by the department of telecom, which are to be complied with by the end of February 2026.
The US wants India to recognise internationally accredited labs, harmonise labelling requirements and the validity period of test reports and certification with global practices, and eliminate retesting requirements.
