Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, and RJD, have strongly criticised the government's decision to impose a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000 made to merchants. They allege the move is a result of "American imperialism" and will lead to increased commodity prices, while the government maintains the charge is on merchants and not consumers, with person-to-person transactions remaining free.
Ajit Agarkar's tenure as India's chief selector is reportedly nearing its end, with Wednesday's meeting to pick squads for the West Indies series potentially being his last, amidst a communication breakdown with the BCCI.
Seventeen-year-old table tennis sensation Syndrela Das has been called up to the senior women's side for the Asian Games. Ranked 99th globally, she aims for gold at the event and a rapid ascent into the top 50, attributing her success to rigorous training and a positive approach to pressure.
The updated Maruti Suzuki Baleno redefines the premium hatchback segment in India with its aggressive new look, advanced Level 2 ADAS features, and a more fuel-efficient Z series petrol engine, catering to the evolving demands of tech-savvy car buyers.
State-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) is strategically planning to enter the wealth management segment by early 2027 and significantly expand its credit card portfolio, aiming to tap into lucrative markets largely dominated by private-sector banks.
Chhattisgarh is rapidly emerging as a significant sports destination in India, driven by state government initiatives to host major events and develop infrastructure. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai highlighted the state's commitment to sports, exemplified by the DP World PGTI Nava Raipur Open 2026 golf championship, inaugurated with cricket legend Kapil Dev. These efforts aim to foster talent, promote sports tourism, and transform the state's image, including positive changes in regions like Bastar.
Hockey India is set to hold an emergent Executive Board meeting on September 18 to address a deepening internal controversy involving President Dilip Tirkey and Secretary Bhola Nath Singh, stemming from a jersey colour change. The meeting will also focus on restructuring the Hockey India League (HIL) to create an independent Governing Council with franchise involvement, and discuss upcoming elections and Asian Champions Trophy hosting.
The Indian government has officially declared the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This action, announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, targets a group involved in cross-border smuggling of arms, explosives, and narcotics, as well as inciting youth into terrorism and spreading hateful digital content. SBN is accused of threatening India's democratic structure, communal harmony, and internal security.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra has formally complained to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, alleging that senior Muslim IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal were deliberately excluded from official events attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Moitra claims these officers were sidelined due to their religion, a pattern she describes as discriminatory and potentially damaging to minority confidence in security establishments.
Harikesh Patel, a former member of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), has been arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for allegedly obtaining a second passport using forged documents. Patel had previously surrendered his original passport in connection with an ED money laundering case. He reportedly used the fraudulently obtained passport for international travel.
Pakistan has formally requested the Asian Hockey Federation to move its Asian Champions Trophy matches from India to a neutral venue, citing a "sensitive bilateral situation" and security concerns. The tournament is scheduled for October 27 to November 5 in Mohali and Jalandhar. This request follows earlier claims of Pakistan's participation and past withdrawals from events in India.
A Haryana-based singer, Bhupendra Dhingra, has been arrested for allegedly posting a video on fake social media accounts claiming responsibility for the murder of Haryanvi YouTuber Ankit Balyan. Dhingra admitted his intention was to increase social media followers, while police had already identified the actual shooters, two of whom were killed in an encounter. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the encounter deaths.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has surpassed 2,000 international runs, achieving the milestone with an explosive 57 off 22 balls against Afghanistan at Arun Jaitley Stadium. This performance marks a significant return to form for Samson, who has also had a stellar year in T20Is, including a 'Player of the Tournament' award in the T20 World Cup.
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 wrestler Nisha Dahia has transformed her mindset, moving past repeated injury setbacks and frustrations to focus on her performance at the Asian Games. After years of questioning her fate, she now embraces a mature outlook, concentrating on hard work and accepting outcomes. Her training with Japanese coach Kosei Akaishi has also enhanced her technical skills, particularly in ground wrestling, making her a more complete athlete as she aims for a major medal.
A new report by FICCI, BCG, and IBA outlines that India's banking sector must grow significantly faster than nominal GDP to support a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047, requiring banking assets of USD 45 trillion. The report highlights the sector's current strength, challenges in digitisation, and the need to enhance resilience against fraud and cyber threats, proposing a 13-point agenda for stakeholders.
Unseeded Indian men's doubles pair Krishna Prasad Garaga and Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy defeated the sixth-seeded Thai duo to reach the second round of the Korea Masters Super 300 badminton tournament. However, other Indian participants faced early exits in various categories.
Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, led by World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, defeated FYERS American Gambits 9-7 in a critical Global Chess League match. Carlsen ended Javokhir Sindarov's winning streak, while Gujrathi secured a marathon victory, propelling Pipers closer to a final berth.
Hockey India has issued a show-cause notice to its Director General, Cdr R K Srivastava, immediately stripping him of all powers. The notice lists eight charges, prominently featuring the controversial change in the Indian team's World Cup jersey and Srivastava's unauthorised travel to the event despite directives to focus on the Hockey India League. He has four weeks to respond, failing which further action will be taken.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff highlights India's crucial role in the company's shift to an AI-first enterprise system. He emphasized India's vast pool of technology professionals and partners as key to this transformation, underscoring the country's importance in Salesforce's global strategy.
India needs to move beyond ease and cost of doing business and focus on the "speed of doing business" as the next leg of reforms to sustain economic growth and private investment, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President R Mukundan said.
The SIP culture has been rapidly growing in India among retail investors. As per AMFI data, monthly SIP contributions crossed 31,961 crore in July 2026, which is nearly a 10x jump from 3,122 crore recorded in April 2016.
The SIP culture has been rapidly growing in India among retail investors. As per AMFI data, monthly SIP contributions crossed 31,961 crore in July 2026, which is nearly a 10x jump from 3,122 crore recorded in April 2016.
The Tata Sons board has voted to reappoint N Chandrasekaran as chairman for a third five-year term, a decision influenced by the Reserve Bank of India's rejection of the company's application to surrender its NBFC registration, which revives the prospect of a stock market listing.
Sumit Nagal, India's top singles player, believes sheer desire will be crucial in the Davis Cup qualifier against Korea, especially on the slow Seoul courts.
Despite India's dominant Asia Cup victory, head coach Amol Muzumdar acknowledged fielding as an area for improvement, while dismissing concerns over the middle-order's performance.
Indian tennis player Dhakshineswar Suresh discusses the significant transition from collegiate tennis to the professional tour, highlighting the challenges of travelling alone, managing his body, and maintaining consistency. He shares insights on the importance of off-court preparation, physical fitness, and setting ambitious goals like breaking into the top 250.
The Delhi Billiards & Snooker Association, in collaboration with NSCI, is organising the NSCI Open 8-Ball Pool Tournament from September 26 to October 5 in New Delhi. The event will feature top players like Sourav Kothari, Sundeep Gulati, Kamal Chawla, Vidya Pillai, and Chitra Magimairaj, competing for a prize purse of Rs five lakh.
Khalin Joshi has extended his lead to two shots at the inaugural Rs 1 crore Nava Raipur Open after a bogey-free four-under 30 in the second round. The Bengaluru golfer now stands at nine-under 59, showcasing consistent ball-striking despite challenging weather conditions that shortened rounds to nine holes.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested 19-year-old Maqsood Ali from Tamil Nadu for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to carry out "violent jihadist activities." Ali was reportedly part of WhatsApp groups sharing bomb-making videos and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) material, and was in contact with Pakistani hackers, developing a secure communication network for the group. This is the second arrest in the case, following Mohammad Nabeel's apprehension.
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan sustained a back sprain during India's net session in New Delhi after being hit by a short delivery from Navdeep Saini. The injury forced him to leave practice, and his fitness will be assessed over the next 24 hours, raising concerns for the team.
The Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, are set to feature top athletes across various disciplines. This preview highlights key contenders like swimmers Pan Zhanle, javelin throwers Haruka Kitaguchi and Arshad Nadeem, badminton star An Se-young, gymnastic sensation Carlos Yulo, tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala, and the formidable Indian cricket teams, all poised to make a significant impact.
TRAU FC defeated Indian Navy FT 2-1 in their final Durand Cup Group D fixture, thanks to a brace from Afridi Buyamayum and a strong performance by goalkeeper Tajuddin. Despite the victory, both teams were eliminated from the tournament, with FC Raengdai advancing as group winners.
Star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah made a strong return to the nets at Kotla, showcasing his full range of skills and dominating young batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. His presence brought a renewed energy to the team's training session, with even senior players like Shreyas Iyer struggling against his pace.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel addressed AI Manthan 2.0, advocating for the comprehensive integration of Artificial Intelligence across all university subjects rather than as a standalone course. She urged universities to develop clear, time-bound AI roadmaps covering education, research, healthcare, and agriculture, emphasising indigenous AI development, employment creation, and the importance of "Safe and Trusted AI." The event also saw the formation of an AI Policy Advisory Group and an AI Implementation Group to drive these initiatives.
A cricketer or sportsman must accept that there is no guarantee in sport -- only opportunities, preparation and perseverance, points out K R Nayar.
India's Asian Games athletics team has been reduced from 77 to 74 members, with javelin thrower Annu Rani, long jumper Shahnavaz Khan, and sprinter Nithya Gandhe dropped due to performance and medical reasons after a confirmatory trial.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4 per cent charge on UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000 made to merchants, with a cap of Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 and above. This policy shift ends the zero-MDR regime, which was previously criticised by financial institutions. While essential sectors and capital markets have specific fee structures, small merchants with monthly UPI QR code earnings up to Rs 1 lakh remain exempt. Person-to-person transfers are unaffected, and measures are in place to prevent merchants from passing these costs to customers.
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.
Amazon's ultra-fast delivery service, Amazon Now, has achieved $1 billion in annualised gross sales in India over the last three months, marking it as the fastest-growing e-commerce business in Amazon India's history, with orders doubling every quarter.
