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.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his visit to Mumbai, affirmed that the US policy on weapons aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine remains unchanged. He stated that President Donald Trump is "frustrated and angry" over false accusations of deliberately harming Ukraine and is keen on a negotiated end to the conflict. Rubio also addressed concerns about missile interceptor supplies and intelligence sharing regarding recent air strikes, attributing any issues to technical matters rather than deliberate denial. He highlighted global concerns over fuel shortages and the risk of escalation, stressing the urgent need to end the war.
Himon Kumar Mondal from West Bengal and Tanishka Kalbhairav from Karnataka secured victories in the U-15 boys' and girls' categories, respectively, at the second National Ranking Table Tennis Championships held in Panchkula on Saturday. Mondal won a thrilling final against Rishaan Chattopadhyay, while Kalbhairav defeated Aarya Redkar.
Jay Meena, once a mischievous schoolboy rusticated for a prank, has made history by winning India's first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis. His journey from a troubled youth to a bronze medallist at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is a testament to destiny and the guidance of his coach. Meena hopes his achievement will boost the sport's profile in India and pave the way for its inclusion in future events like the Commonwealth Games.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Pravin Shinde and Brijesh Moradiya in a money laundering investigation connected to international drug trafficker Salim Ismail Dola's syndicate. The probe revealed a highly organised network involved in manufacturing and trafficking mephedrone, using hawala channels to layer proceeds of crime and acquire assets.
Assam Police's Special Task Force (STF) seized Yaba tablets worth Rs 10 crore and arrested one person in Kamrup district. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the bust, highlighting the state's commitment to combating drug menace as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Election Commission and its chief regarding a plea by Sanjay Raut and 12 others, including Rahul Gandhi, concerning alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions. The court provisionally entertained Raut's petition but stated he would need to explain his conduct, while also addressing allegations of attempts to 'browbeat' the judiciary.
Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and members of the INDIA bloc, have strongly condemned the arrest and jailing of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for protesting at Jantar Mantar, asserting that waving the national flag and peaceful protest are not crimes.
Defending champions India, led by captain Anmol Ekka's two goals and goalkeeper Vivek Lakra's crucial saves, defeated Malaysia 3-1 in the AHF Men's Junior Asia Cup semi-final. India will now compete for their fourth consecutive and sixth overall title against the winner of the Pakistan vs South Korea match.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 in Ahmedabad, emphasising the role of traditional sports in reflecting cultural identity and fostering international cooperation. The one-day event, hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, brought together delegations from BRICS and partner countries to showcase indigenous sporting practices like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu from India, alongside Wushu from China and Sambo from Russia. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also highlighted India's rich sporting heritage and proposed initiatives for global promotion and preservation of traditional sports.
Former world number one Justin Rose believes more golfers are considering leaving LIV Golf to play on the DP World Tour, aiming for eligibility in next year's Ryder Cup. He also shared his evolving career goals, prioritising creating lasting memories over solely winning Major championships, and expressed his excitement about returning to India for the DP World India Championship after 22 years. Rose highlighted India's growing importance in global golf.
Indian mixed doubles pair Manush Shah and Diya Chitale suffered a 1-3 loss to Chinese Taipei's Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching in the semifinals of the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash on Thursday. Their historic run as the first Indian mixed doubles pair to reach a WTT Grand Smash semifinal concluded, with other Indian players also exiting the tournament.
When the Ambanis celebrate Indian craftsmanship, you can expect a masterclass in all things heritage, handwork and high fashion.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged CEC Gyanesh Kumar to resign and turn approver, stating the opposition's fight is against the "bigger powers" behind him.
Rishabh Pant, recently excluded from India's white-ball squad, has been appointed captain of the Rest of India team for the upcoming Irani Cup match against Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir.
Golf star Rory McIlroy has voiced strong support for the DP World Tour's recent decisions concerning players involved with LIV Golf. He backed the Tour's move to restrict LIV players from its 2027 season and its right to protect business interests, while also highlighting the Tour's opportunity to showcase international golf during less crowded periods in the PGA Tour schedule. McIlroy, a DP World global ambassador, expressed his commitment to the Tour and shared his thoughts on returning to the Delhi Golf Club.
India has stated its commitment to protecting its economic interests and ensuring energy security after the US House of Representatives passed a bill allowing the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries, including India and China, for purchasing Russian crude oil. The Ministry of External Affairs affirmed India's resolve to maintain diversified energy sourcing and has articulated its concerns to US interlocutors regarding the bill's potential implications.
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar lauded Shreyas Iyer's maiden T20I century against the West Indies, stating it came at an 'important time' and signalled the Indian skipper's return to his best form after a challenging period with the bat.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey and West Bengal Minister Indranil Khan offered their perspectives on the Indian football team's 6-1 defeat against Uruguay. Chaubey highlighted the team's strong start and confidence, suggesting rain disrupted momentum, and stressed the importance of playing top-level opposition. Khan called the match a landmark moment for Indian football exposure but also criticised political interference in West Bengal's football ecosystem.
Anirudh Thapa scored a historic goal against Uruguay, becoming the first Indian to score against a top-20 FIFA nation since 1992.
Gautam Adani and family have reclaimed the top spot on India's rich list, surpassing Mukesh Ambani, as the nation's billionaire population reached a record 391, according to the M3M Hurun India Rich List.
Three suspects have been detained in Kota, Rajasthan, in connection with the recent firing incident targeting actor Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai, as police investigate the alleged involvement of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as the captain of the Indian women's cricket team across all formats, a decision acknowledged by the BCCI which lauded her leadership, particularly the 2025 Women's World Cup victory and Asian Games gold medals. Kaur expressed her commitment to continue playing for India, contributing as a senior player.
The challenge for India lies in navigating complex landscape to its best advantage. The BRICS Summit will test its navigation skills, asserts former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
India's spin-bowling all-rounder Naman Dhir discusses how his experience as a batter enhances his ability to read opponents while bowling. He elaborates on his strategy for dismissing Kamil Pooran in the recent T20I match against West Indies and outlines his role as a batting all-rounder in the Indian team, emphasising his reliance on line, length, and pace variations.
Andhra, Saurashtra, and Punjab secured three points each in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B matches after earning first-innings leads, despite the games ending in draws. Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Assam settled for one point each. Karun Nair's unbeaten 155 for Karnataka was a highlight, while Ravindra Jadeja was Player of the Match for Saurashtra.
India failed to qualify for the Davis Cup Final 8 after losing 3-1 to Korea in the Qualifier Round 2 tie. Despite a fighting doubles victory by Dhakshineswar Suresh and N Sriram Balaji, Sumit Nagal's defeat in the reverse singles sealed India's fate, making Korea the first Asian team to reach the knockout stage under the new format.
The Supreme Court of India has sought proposals for establishing a permanent financial corpus to support patients suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disorder requiring expensive treatment. This initiative follows an earlier case involving comedian Samay Raina, which led the court to examine broader systemic concerns for SMA patients.
India's athletics campaign at the Asian Games saw Sawan Barwal secure an unexpected silver in the marathon with a national record, while Tajinderpal Singh Toor also claimed silver in shot put. Prachi Chaudhary added a bronze in quarter-mile, bringing India's athletics medal tally to eight. The day also saw injuries to medal contenders Jyothi Yarraji and Praveen Chithravel.
When it pretends to be deaf, a situation can snowball into something it cannot contain. The government cannot dismiss public anger merely because protests are inconvenient or politically embarrassing, asserts Ramesh Menon.
Cricket giants India are set to play a historic one-off T20 International against Japan in Sano, a match seen as a pivotal moment for the sport's growth in the baseball-dominated country, coinciding with celebrations of 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations.
Defending champions India began their Asian Games campaign with a dominant 13-1 victory over Indonesia in their opening Pool A match. Striker Dilpreet Singh led the charge with four goals, supported by braces from Shilanand Lakra and Sukhjeet Singh. India's focus remains on securing the gold medal and a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India's men's and women's chess teams are set to defend their respective Chess Olympiad titles, with strong lineups featuring world champion D Gukesh and in-form R Praggnanandhaa for the men, and Koneru Humpy leading the top-seeded women's squad.
Hyderabad secured an innings and 40-run victory over Tripura on the third day of their Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Elite Group B match. Pacers Tanay Thyagarajan and Mohammad Siraj led the bowling attack, bundling out Tripura for 120 in their second innings. Hyderabad earned seven points from the match, including a bonus point.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma won the Rs 2 crore Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship by six strokes in Greater Noida on Saturday, securing his second DP World PGTI victory this season. His dominant performance, highlighted by a crucial eagle on the 12th hole, provides a significant boost ahead of the upcoming DP World India Championship.
India trainer Ramji Srinivasan has issued a clear mandate to Hardik Pandya, stating that the all-rounder must regain full fitness and significantly increase his bowling workload to be considered for the 2027 ODI World Cup, following a prolonged absence due to multiple injuries.
New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson believes the coming tour of New Zealand will present significant challenges and exciting opportunities for 15-year-old Indian cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, despite his impressive recent performances.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is facilitating discounted tickets for members of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting for India's upcoming FIFA tier-1 friendlies against Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay. These high-profile matches will be held in Bengaluru and Kolkata, with the AIFF also planning Fan Parks across districts to promote grassroots football and allow wider viewership. The matches are seen as a significant opportunity for the Indian national team to test itself against top-ranked opponents.
The Indian Navy is enhancing its operational capabilities across all domains, including air, underwater, AI, and quantum technology, to become a multi-domain network force. Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, highlighted lessons from recent conflicts, the exploration of directed-energy weapon systems, and significant procurement plans, including 42 new platforms on order and RFPs issued for LPDs and next-generation frigates. The Navy's focus on indigenous innovation and technology absorption, guided by "scale, sophistication, speed, and spiral development," aims to meet evolving operational requirements and protect maritime interests, especially amidst ongoing global crises.
Shubhankar Sharma retained a two-shot lead after the third round of the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship on Friday, despite an even-par 72. Bengaluru's Manoj S and Italy's Michele Ortolani are his closest challengers heading into the final round.
