Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on digital transactions applies to merchants, not customers, and aims to support banks and fintech in infrastructure investment. She countered Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's claims, stating that a committee will decide on MDR only after Parliament passes the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, a process currently stalled by parliamentary disruptions.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar outlined the critical factors for the media and entertainment sector's next growth phase, including robust intellectual property, sustainable revenue models, and disciplined investments. Speaking at the CII Big Picture Summit, he emphasised the government's role in fostering an environment for creative enterprises and addressing challenges posed by digital platforms and AI. The CII White Paper also projected a USD 100 billion Indian M&E sector, advocating for stronger IP and regulatory reforms.
A graphic designer, Pankaj Gupta, was arrested by Mumbai Crime Branch for creating malicious Android Package Kit (APK) files that enabled cyber fraudsters to cheat over 9,600 people of Rs 150 crore. Gupta, who previously escaped a digital arrest scam, developed APKs disguised as government services, selling them to cybercriminal networks in Bihar and Jharkhand.
A report by IIT Bombay suggests that the proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions needs rationalisation before implementation to safeguard public trust in the digital payments system, highlighting that UPI's long-term economic benefits outweigh potential incremental income from merchant fees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the democratisation of technology to ensure no section of society is left behind, advocating for affordable and accessible digital services, especially for the Global South. He highlighted the potential of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and called for solutions to cyber fraud, global standards for emerging tech, and mechanisms to identify AI-generated content during his interaction with GSMA board members.
L&T Technology Services (LTTS) CEO Amit Chadha announced that artificial intelligence is a net positive for the company, with six key focus areas expected to contribute 80% of revenue in five years. These areas, including digital manufacturing and AI infrastructure, are projected to deliver higher growth and margins, offsetting pricing pressures in traditional IT services. LTTS also inaugurated an NVIDIA-powered AI manufacturing lab in Bengaluru.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met with a World Bank delegation to discuss advancing Artificial Intelligence, digital governance, and skill development in the state. The discussions focused on leveraging technology to enhance citizen services, with plans to showcase Haryana's AI Sandbox globally and develop a dedicated AI model for the state.
Jio Platforms Ltd, the digital and telecom arm of Reliance Industries, is poised to launch India's largest-ever initial public offering (IPO) at Rs 30,213 crore, surpassing Hyundai Motor India's Rs 27,870-crore offering.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, articulated a vision for India's communications sector, emphasizing a global framework to combat cyber frauds and deepfakes. He called for India to become a hub for innovation and product development for the world. Industry leaders lauded his vision, highlighting India's robust digital infrastructure and its journey towards becoming a global technology leader, with a focus on trust, security, and responsible innovation.
Microsoft has launched its fourth cloud region in India, located in Hyderabad, significantly expanding its hyperscale cloud presence. This move is part of a USD 20.5-billion investment in India's digital and AI infrastructure, aiming to support the country's rapid digital growth and meet increasing demand from major enterprises.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated it is "premature" to discuss the implementation of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for digital payments, advising a "wait-and-watch" approach. He emphasised that investment in public payment infrastructure is necessary and someone must bear the cost, whether through taxes or MDR. The government is currently working on amendments to relevant statutes, and the RBI is focused on strengthening this infrastructure.
Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, has urged for the expanded adoption of the Account Aggregator (AA) framework to facilitate formal credit access for self-employed individuals and gig workers. He highlighted its potential to enable cash-flow-based lending by leveraging diverse data streams, moving beyond traditional asset-based lending, and fostering a more inclusive digital financial infrastructure in India.
The Indian Super League (ISL) has partnered with YouTube to stream all 163 matches live and free for the 2026-27 season, aiming to expand its digital reach and remove subscription barriers.
A man named Fayaz Ahmad has been arrested in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly creating and sharing a digitally edited video on social media that depicted a fake explosion at a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) camp along the India-Nepal border. The video, which targeted a sensitive security installation, led to an investigation and his subsequent arrest for breach of peace.
A 49-year-old teacher, Sandeep Vilasbuwa Joshi, who went missing from Beed, Maharashtra, was found dead in a well near a temple on Saturday. He had left a digital suicide note on Friday, prompting a search by his family. Police have registered a case of accidental death, and the motive remains unclear.
Bank of Baroda has launched 'bob World 2.0', an AI-powered mobile banking app featuring voice-command capabilities for payments and navigation. The updated app also includes a personal finance management module and a persona-based customer experience, aiming to offer intuitive, secure, and personalised banking services.
Whether you're politically active or simply an everyday internet user, these are ten digital traps worth understanding.
The Supreme Court has made permanent its order protecting a journalist from coercive action in a road rage case and quashed a police notice to 'X' seeking his digital details. The court noted the police sought data from before the alleged crime and granted the journalist liberty to challenge the FIR and seek guidelines for data collection.
Airtel Business CEO Sharat Sinha stated that evolving architecture and methodologies for safely deploying Artificial Intelligence, coupled with adequate guardrails, are essential to unlock productivity gains. He welcomed the government's upcoming consultation paper on AI regulation, focusing on safety, deepfakes, and a human-first approach. Sinha also highlighted AI's role in driving demand for digital infrastructure and Airtel's growth in cybersecurity and fraud prevention.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has launched a new digital platform in partnership with World Tennis Number, creating a unified ecosystem for Indian tennis. This platform will streamline registrations, tournament entries, and provide access to rankings, aiming to modernise the sport's administration and player experience.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the strong health cooperation within BRICS, emphasising the critical role of digital health and artificial intelligence in ensuring continuity of care. Speaking at the 16th BRICS Health Ministers' meeting, she noted shared challenges among member nations and showcased India's advancements in digital health infrastructure and AI strategy.
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.
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.
IBM India and South Asia MD Sandip Patel stated that India is at a defining moment with a unique opportunity to shape exponential technologies like artificial intelligence, emphasizing that "when India builds, it builds for billions," leading to scalable impact. Speaking at the IBM Think 2026 event, Patel highlighted that the AI revolution is still in its early stages, requiring enterprises to redesign their operations around agents, real-time data, automation, hybrid architecture, and trust. He also introduced the concept of "digital swaraj" or sovereignty in the Indian context, stressing the importance of control over operating environments, data, technology, and AI execution. IBM also announced an MoU with MeitY Startup Hub to accelerate India's deep tech innovation and startup ecosystem, providing startups access to IBM's technology expertise and platforms like watsonx and Sovereign Core.
The first five matches of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season have garnered significant viewership on YouTube, with 65 million views and 52 million viewers. The opening week also saw high concurrent viewership, particularly for the Inter Kashi versus Kerala Blasters FC match, and strong engagement across both English and Hindi feeds, underscoring the league's growing digital presence and the importance of multilingual content.
The CEO of the National Health Authority, Sunil Kumar Barnwal, highlighted BRICS nations' shared aspiration for connected, patient-centric, and resilient healthcare systems through digital health infrastructure and responsible AI. Discussions at the 16th BRICS Health Ministers' meeting focused on overcoming challenges like limited interoperability and workforce constraints, with countries like Brazil and Indonesia sharing successful digital health initiatives.
Faridabad police have arrested three individuals for robbing a man of Rs 32,500 at knifepoint after luring him through the dating app Grindr. The victim was taken to a secluded spot, assaulted, and robbed, with the extorted money later deposited into an online betting site.
The Lok Sabha has passed a Bill to amend the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, authorising the government to permit banks and service providers to levy charges on UPI and other electronic payment modes. This move aims to create a sustainable revenue model for the digital payments ecosystem, shifting from the current exemption of UPI transactions from such charges.
Adani Enterprises and US-based Jabil have signed a non-binding agreement to establish a 50:50 joint venture in India. This JV will manufacture artificial intelligence and data centre equipment, including AI racks, servers, storage, networking gear, and cooling systems, targeting both Indian and global markets. The collaboration aims to capitalise on India's accelerating data centre demand and the surging global investment in AI compute infrastructure.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu congratulated the State Cooperative Bank on successfully migrating its core banking system to the 'Finacle 10.2.25' platform. This upgrade aims to provide faster, more transparent, and secure financial services, enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency across its 262 branches.
Protesters associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Delhi, many of whom participated in a July demonstration, adapted their strategies for a recent protest on Saturday. They used digital artwork, prepared for potential police action like lathi charges, and advised newcomers on safety measures such as carrying multiple masks and goggles. The protest, called to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-list manipulation, faced heavy security deployment, barricades, and mass detentions, preventing a large-scale gathering at Jantar Mantar.
African digital financial services platform, Airtel Money, has successfully debuted on the London Stock Exchange, marking the exchange's largest initial public offering (IPO) in several years with an implied market capitalisation of about USD 7 billion.
Jio Platforms Ltd's initial public offering (IPO), anticipated to be India's largest, is scheduled to open for subscription on October 21 and close on October 23, with reservations for employees and Reliance Industries Ltd shareholders.
Across all 10 schemes from FY24 to FY26, print media captured 58.8 per cent of the total ad spending, followed by electronic media at 19.5 per cent, digital media at 14.6 per cent, and outdoor media at 7.2 per cent.
Delhi-based travel influencer Jatin Pratap Singh posted a cryptic picture with a caption hinting that he may be a potential wild card contestant for Bigg Boss 20.
A new EY India report highlights how young professionals, women wealth creators, entrepreneurs, ESOP beneficiaries, and digitally active consumers from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are fundamentally changing India's wealth ecosystem. This shift is evidenced by increased participation of young and women investors, a rise in disciplined investing via SIPs, and the crucial role of Digital Public Infrastructure in democratizing access to long-term wealth creation. The report predicts over 100 million new investors by 2035.
Economic think tank GTRI has urged the Indian government to withdraw the proposed UPI charges, set to begin on October 15, arguing that the digital payment system should remain free for merchants and consumers. GTRI warns that these charges could lead to higher prices, reduced earnings for small businesses, and weakened household demand, while also benefiting international card networks by eroding UPI's price advantage. The think tank also called for an independent audit of UPI's running costs.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a private company's provision of email services does not, by itself, make it amenable to writ jurisdiction, even if the account is crucial for a user's business. This decision came as the court dismissed a petition by a media company seeking restoration of access to its Gmail account.
Indian benchmark stock indices, Sensex and Nifty, rallied significantly, with Sensex jumping over 1,500 points and Nifty reaching a nearly three-week high, driven by strong buying in banking, IT, and Reliance Industries stocks, alongside easing crude oil prices.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has deferred the implementation of a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on Person-to-Merchant (P2M) UPI payments above Rs 2,000, originally set for October 15, until after Diwali.
