A new report indicates India has become the world's fifth most digitalised economy and ranks fourth globally in AI performance, driven by increasing AI adoption and a strong digital infrastructure.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is actively working on plans to expand Aadhaar's reach globally, particularly to benefit non-resident Indians (NRIs) and overseas citizens of India (OCIs). This initiative aims to enhance interoperability, attract investment, and streamline digital identification processes, with new guidelines for merchants and products like Aadhaar Lite also in development.
Petrol pump dealers seek exemption from the proposed 5 UPI charge on fuel purchases above 2,000, citing pressure on their margins.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Union ministries of electronics and information technology and law and justice regarding a plea for safeguards for minors on social media. The NGO 'Just Rights for Children Alliance' filed the plea, arguing that social media platforms should not enter into contracts with children under 18, citing their statutory incapacity to contract and the risks of online harm.
HCL Group, a USD 14.8 billion conglomerate, has announced a new partnership with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). This collaboration aims to leverage technology and innovation to strengthen India's professional golf ecosystem, broaden the sport's reach, and enhance experiences for players, fans, and partners.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has criticised the BJP government's proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on high-value UPI transactions, calling it a "chungi" (tax) on digital payments. He alleged the move was an attempt to extract money from people's transactions, contradicting the government's goal of a trillion-dollar economy. The new UPI framework will impose a 0.4% MDR on person-to-merchant transactions above Rs 2,000 from October 15, with certain sectors having a flat Rs 5 MDR.
A member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines & Steel, Sasmit Patra, highlighted the transformative potential of AI and digital technologies in making India's mining and metals sector more productive, transparent, and globally competitive. He emphasised their role in enhancing efficiency, safety, sustainability, and community engagement.
The Mumbai-Delhi air route, the country's largest and most lucrative, is witnessing an intense battle for supremacy between IndiGo and the Air India group, with Akasa Air emerging as a significant third player, according to recent data.
Adani Group Director Jeet Adani and Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal highlighted the importance of infrastructure, energy, and connectivity in shaping India's AI ecosystem, emphasising Visakhapatnam's potential as a major digital gateway.
The merged InsuranceDekho-RenewBuy entity aims to significantly expand its distribution network across India, offering insurance, mutual funds, and loans, with a strong focus on 'Bharat' (rural India), according to CEO Ankit Agarwal.
BRICS leaders, in their New Delhi Declaration 2026, have called for wider access to Artificial Intelligence resources and stronger international cooperation to ensure the technology is safe, secure, inclusive, and reliable. The declaration outlines a broad technology agenda covering AI, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure, telecom, quantum technologies, and advanced manufacturing, committing to implement the grouping's statement on 'Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence'.
Parliament was informed that UPI has onboarded 55.49 crore users by June 2026, with transactions reaching 24,162 crore in volume and Rs 314 lakh crore in value in FY 2025-26. The platform, operated by NPCI, is expanding internationally through NIPL, facilitating cross-border payments and assisting other nations in building similar systems. Significant efforts are also underway by the Government, RBI, and NPCI to enhance the security and transparency of UPI transactions, including risk-based limits, security frameworks, and public awareness campaigns against cyber-crime.
The central government has introduced a 0.4 per cent fee on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, prompting traders' associations to advocate for cash payments to avoid additional costs on digital payments. This move ends the zero-Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) regime, with traders expressing concerns about operating on tight margins and the potential for increased charges.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon India's youth to dream big, assuring them of government support and resources, including a Rs 1 lakh crore Innovation Fund, to bolster the country's burgeoning startup ecosystem and drive its journey towards becoming a developed nation.
Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani stressed the need for India to develop population-scale tokenisation infrastructure capable of handling billions of transactions, rather than merely focusing on issuing tokens. He highlighted the importance of interoperability, liquidity, and high volumes for tokenisation to expand across various asset classes and use cases.
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.
BJD chief Naveen Patnaik has voiced concerns over the Centre's decision to introduce Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 from October 15, urging protection for small traders and common people. This move has sparked a political debate, with the BJP defending the charges as beneficial for digital infrastructure and largely not impacting consumers, while the Congress and traders' associations criticise it as an additional burden.
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.
TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti has called for robust safeguards, human oversight, and intervention capabilities as Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into telecom networks. While acknowledging AI's potential to transform network management and threat detection, Lahoti stressed the need for responsible AI deployment, risk assessments, and clear accountability to ensure consumer trust and prevent misuse, especially in combating online fraud.
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.
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.
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.
The Haldwani forest division has launched India's first AI-based forest acoustic surveillance system. This innovative technology uses AI, acoustic sensors, and long-range wireless communication to detect illegal logging, poaching, and other suspicious activities in real-time, even in remote areas. Powered by solar energy, the system provides continuous monitoring, significantly enhancing forest protection, wildlife conservation, and biodiversity monitoring efforts.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Kyiv, reiterating India's readiness to assist in ending the Ukraine-Russia war. He emphasised that solutions would not emerge from the battlefield and highlighted Prime Minister Modi's call for an end to the conflict. Discussions also covered humanitarian aid, the impact on commercial shipping, and bilateral trade, with Jaishankar inviting his Ukrainian counterpart to India for further talks.
Samsung India Electronics has initiated job cuts in its Consumer Electronics (CE) division, laying off 8-10 mid-to-senior-level employees with plans to let go of another 40-50 staff. This move is part of a cost-rationalisation exercise driven by rising input costs, muted consumer demand, and intense competition from rival Korean and Chinese players.
RNFI Services Ltd has received in-principle authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment Aggregator - Physical (PA-P). This approval allows the company to expand its financial infrastructure into physical, offline, and in-store payments, complementing its existing regulated financial services portfolio.
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.
Merchants will be subject to an 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000, but can mitigate this burden by claiming input tax credit (ITC), according to tax experts.
State Bank of India has launched a suite of AI-powered digital innovations on its YONO platform, enhancing both retail and business banking services. These new features include a 3-in-1 digital onboarding process, a sustainability tracker, integrated trade finance, and an AI virtual assistant, aiming to provide intelligent and future-ready banking experiences for its 53 crore customers.
The retro hair, the vintage clothing, that's not the real charm of these images. It's the ability to look at a screen and create the one thing modern technology has never been able to give us: the tactile, imperfect feeling of memory, points out Kaleem Ullah Fasihi.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% fee on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15, sparking strong opposition from political parties and traders. Despite accusations of foreign influence and demands for a rollback, the finance ministry and top functionaries have stated there will be no reversal, citing the need for a self-sustaining digital payments ecosystem.
The third edition of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) has commenced with a quiz contest, leading to a national finale in January 2027 where young leaders will present their ideas for a developed India to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The multi-stage event includes essay challenges, district championships, and state-level dialogues, aiming to foster youth participation in nation-building across various thematic areas.
Industry body Assocham has welcomed the new UPI framework for large-value merchant transactions, effective October 15. This framework introduces a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on person-to-merchant UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000, with a cap of Rs 300 for transactions over Rs 75,000. The move aims to enhance UPI sustainability, support innovation, and mitigate fraud, while protecting small merchants and ensuring most everyday transactions remain free.
A high-level committee, including representatives from banks and payment associations, is set to decide on Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000 to merchants. While person-to-person and person-to-merchant transactions up to Rs 2,000 remain free, the move follows a recent amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, sparking debate and clarification from the Finance Minister that only certain high-value merchant transactions might incur charges.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Modi government of quietly paving the way for imposing fees on UPI transactions, alleging it's a surrender to American pressure. The government's recent notification exempts charges only up to Rs 2,000, sparking concerns that higher value transactions and eventually all UPI payments could incur fees. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, clarified that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies to merchants, not customers, and supports digital infrastructure.
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.
A new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, effective October 15, could force small merchants and price-sensitive consumers to revert to cash, according to economic think tank GTRI. The move, which introduces a 0.4 per cent MDR with a Rs 300 cap and concessional rates for specific categories, is questioned by GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava, who suggests it's not a revenue issue for the government but potentially a response to US pressure regarding UPI and RuPay's preferential market position.
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 lineup is set to cost 20 to 43 per cent more in India, primarily due to rising global memory component costs and a depreciating rupee, while the new foldable iPhone Duo will be priced between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh, matching the cost of some hatchback cars.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is set to significantly increase its use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and real-time analytics in Customs processes, aiming for a near-touchless, near-digital clearance experience, according to Chairman Vivek Chaturvedi.
Tax experts clarify that merchants will pay 18% GST on Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. However, registered merchants can claim Input Tax Credit (ITC), mitigating the tax burden. This move is expected to generate significant GST revenue for the exchequer while funding payment infrastructure.
