Australia A has announced a 14-member squad for their upcoming series against India A in Puducherry. The tour, featuring both four-day and one-day matches, is crucial for exposing players to subcontinental conditions and preparing them for future senior team tours to India, including a Test series next year. The squad includes several players with prior international experience.
Three BJP allies, including LJP (Ram Vilas), TDP, and RLM, have called on the Election Commission for a clearer explanation regarding concerns raised by two Election Commissioners over the voter list revision process. Union Minister Chirag Paswan warned that public faith in elections was at stake, while the EC asserted that differing views among its members were normal and final decisions were unanimous.
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.
Veteran Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar have secured a medal for India in the Asian Games mixed doubles squash event by reaching the semi-finals.
The Election Commission of India has introduced a mandatory declaration for new voters, requiring them to provide parental details from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. This move, aimed at streamlining voter mapping, has sparked controversy, with some Election Commissioners deeming it "illegal" and "unauthorised" due to potential negative impacts on young voters.
Mamata Banerjee, former West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo, alleged that her party leaders were kept under "house arrest" and prevented from attending a rally in Serampore. She accused BJP workers of blocking routes and the police of inaction, comparing the situation to "atrocities" seen in African countries.
Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya has lauded Indian teen cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a 'different kind of talent' and the 'future for India', despite his recent exclusion from the playing XI against Afghanistan.
Suchika Tariyal secured India's first-ever medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games, winning a bronze in the women's traditional 60kg event.
Indian shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at the Asian Games, missing out on a medal. Valarivan cited struggles with her position, while Mane focused on consistency. Both expressed determination to learn from the experience.
A political storm has erupted with the Opposition demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, following reports that two Election Commissioners raised 'expansive red flags' over the Special Intensive Revision of voters' lists, citing issues like name deletions and decisions made without their knowledge.
The new range brings Ola's 46-series LFP cells to its most affordable scooter lineup aimed at India's mass-market electric vehicle (EV) buyers.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, are organising a mass protest march in Mumbai on October 4 against the Election Commission. They accuse the EC of acting as a "branch of the ruling party" and allege "gross deception" of voters, calling for broader political and public participation.
The Indian women's table tennis team secured a hard-fought victory over Thailand to advance to the quarterfinals of the Asian Games. However, the men's team faced an early exit after a 0-3 defeat against South Korea in the round of 16.
'In the current environment, India is effectively paying a premium for supply security and diversification.'
India's men's 4x100m medley relay team finished last in the final at the Asian Games, clocking 3:44.26. Earlier, Aryan Nehra placed fourth in the 1500m freestyle Final B.
The Election Commission of India has defended its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' lists, asserting that differing views among Commissioners are a normal part of deliberations and all orders carry full legal sanction, following reports of two Commissioners red-flagging issues.
Cricket Australia has announced that private investment will be introduced into the Big Bash League (BBL) from the 2027-28 season, beginning with the sale of the Melbourne Renegades T20 franchise, a move aimed at strengthening the league's long-term future and boosting finances.
Any military response to a cross-border terror attack from Pakistan will have to take into account the new alignments beginning to take shape in the region, points out former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
Despite a pre-event declaration by Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey that the teams would revert to blue uniforms, both the Indian men's and women's hockey teams played their opening Asian Games matches in saffron kits, reigniting a controversy over kit colour.
Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has secured a silver medal in the women's 49kg event at the Asian Games, ending a 12-year pursuit for the prestigious continental honour. This marks India's first weightlifting medal at the Asian Games since 1998, adding to Chanu's impressive collection which includes an Olympic silver.
Indian wushu player Roshibina Devi secured her second consecutive Asian Games silver medal, defeating Zhang Xiaoyu of China in the women's 60kg final. This achievement comes amidst controversy surrounding her inclusion in the squad, following accusations of unfair selection by omitted player Divyanshi Choudhary. Roshibina dismissed the allegations, attributing the decision to the federation, and expressed happiness with her medal despite the pre-Games disturbances. She also highlighted the need for Indian wushu players to improve their mental fortitude to compete with dominant Chinese athletes.
A Supreme Court bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma has given split opinions on whether pleas challenging the 2023 law for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners should be referred to a larger Constitution bench, citing a difference in views on the law's constitutional validity and the executive's role in selections.
On National Sports Day, political leaders including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and several Chief Ministers paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and lauded Indian sportspersons for their contributions to the country.
Air India secured the 57th spot worldwide, marking a notable rise from its 84th position in 2025. IndiGo, meanwhile, slipped to 61st, compared with 39th place a year earlier.
Nirma University has formed a three-member committee to investigate an incident where a professor allegedly grabbed a student's collar during a stand-up comedy show. The incident, captured in a viral video, led to apologies from both parties and protests from student organisations, prompting the university to launch a formal inquiry.
Indian boxer Sumit Kundu secured a unanimous 5-0 victory over Thailand's Bunjong Sinsiri in the 70kg opening round of the Asian Games, advancing to the pre-quarterfinals. This marks a positive start for India's 11-member boxing contingent, which aims to improve upon its previous Asian Games performance of four medals.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions in India reached Rs 29.8 lakh crore in August, approaching record levels. Volume also hit a new high of 24.51 billion transactions, driven by festive activities like Raksha Bandhan. The digital payment system continues its rapid growth, expanding its global presence to 11 countries, with further growth anticipated during the upcoming festive season and new use cases like credit on UPI.
Indian boxer Sachin Siwach secured a hard-fought split-decision victory over Jordan's Mohammad Adnan Abu Jajeh to advance to the men's 60kg quarterfinals at the Asian Games, moving one step closer to a medal.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) Bengaluru has introduced Japanese cuisine into its athletes' diet plan to help them adapt to food culture ahead of the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This initiative aims to prevent performance issues caused by dietary struggles, as observed in past international events, and involves a gradual introduction of dishes and strict adherence to nutritional and safety standards.
Top-ranked 25m pistol shooter Esha Singh discusses her preparation for the upcoming Asian Games, highlighting her unique approach of competing against herself rather than others. She reflects on her recent World Cup gold and world record, emphasizing the importance of mental freshness and focusing on basics.
NPCI chief Dilip Asbe stated that only about 10 per cent of the total value of UPI transactions might see charges passed to consumers under the merchant discount rate (MDR). He clarified that large corporates are expected to absorb most costs, and a significant portion of transactions will remain charge-free. A new fund from MDR collection is also proposed to boost UPI acceptance among small merchants.
Indian debutant Paritosh has qualified for the quarterfinals of the Puyo Puyo Champions esports event at the Asian Games. He finished third in Group B with two wins and two losses, securing his spot in the next round.
NPCI chief Dilip Asbe stated that only about 10% of UPI transaction value might see charges passed to consumers, primarily from large corporates already absorbing credit card fees. He highlighted that 80% of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) would come from businesses with over Rs 1,000 crore turnover, and a significant portion of transactions will remain charge-free. A new fund, potentially Rs 3,000 crore, will also be created from MDR collection to support small merchants and accelerate UPI acceptance.
The second half of the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) kicks off with the AM Green IGPL Invitational 2026 in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, featuring top Indian golfers like Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shiv Kapur, and Udayan Mane. The event, starting September 25, marks another international stop for the growing league before it returns to India.
Indian long-distance runner Gulveer Singh has secured a silver medal in the men's 10,000m event at the Asian Games, clocking 28:29.38 minutes. This achievement marks an upgrade from his previous bronze and adds to his growing list of international accolades, including medals at the Commonwealth Games and multiple national records.
OnePlus has expanded the 13s range with a new 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage configuration.
Indian sports pistol shooter Rahi Sarnobat discusses her challenging journey back to elite competition after battling a debilitating neuropathic pain syndrome. She shares how the illness forced her to redefine her training, mindset, and priorities, leading to a "second life" in the sport as she prepares for her fourth Asian Games.
Notorious gangster Mainpal Dhilla, currently jailed, was granted 12-hour custody parole to marry his Cambodian partner, Meta Chan, in Jhajjar. Dhilla had met Chan in Cambodia after fleeing India in 2018 using a fake identity, where they had children. He was extradited last year after an international operation involving CBI and Interpol.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has advocated for Yashasvi Jaiswal to receive ample opportunities in the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. Pathan believes this exposure is crucial for Jaiswal to establish himself as a backup opener for the next year's ODI World Cup. He also highlighted the importance of testing India's bench strength, especially with several key players participating in the Asian Games, and backed Naman Dhir's inclusion for his all-round capabilities.
Indian boxer Sumit Kundu secured a unanimous 5-0 victory over Thailand's Bunjong Sinsiri in the 70kg opening round of the Asian Games. Kundu, who previously missed a medal at the Commonwealth Games, now advances to the pre-quarterfinals and aims for a gold medal.
