The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% transaction fee on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments exceeding Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15, marking the end of nearly six years of free service. Person-to-person transfers and small-value transactions below Rs 2,000 remain free. The new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is capped at Rs 300 for transactions above Rs 75,000, with differentiated rates for essential sectors and investments, and safeguards to prevent costs from being passed to consumers.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards celebrated the year's top television achievements, creating unforgettable moments.
Why should the front of your outfit get all the attention? Celebrities are turning around the traditional jewellery rulebook and proving that the back can be just as glamorous, dramatic and deserving of a close-up.
India's fertiliser ministry has introduced a new analytical tool and a national-to-retail dashboard to monitor fertiliser dispatches, movement, and inventories in real time, aiming to prevent localised shortages and ensure equitable access for farmers.
Former Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry has publicly backed Kylian Mbappe to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, citing his exceptional individual scoring achievements across the Champions League, LaLiga, and the World Cup.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticised commentators who express pessimism about India's demographic dividend, asserting that the country's youth are actively driving economic growth and innovation. She also highlighted the dual nature of AI and the need for robust safeguards in emerging technologies like quantum computing to balance innovation with safety.
IIT Guwahati researchers have developed SH²RFSSM, a model inspired by how biological neurons communicate.
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.
Nepal's Hindu groups have sought an all-party discussion on restoring Hindu-nation status within three months.
Researchers have developed a new AI model that can monitor satellites and detect anomalies in their behaviour, significantly reducing the risk of in-orbit collisions. This tool, part of the AI4 Space Safety and Sustainability project, learns from satellite light reflections to predict motion and identify unusual activity, crucial for managing the increasingly crowded space environment.
For India, the goal is not simply to host another grand diplomatic gathering. It is to prove that a diverse coalition of emerging powers can still deliver.
Jai Jai Ram may not have the lyrical punch of A R Rahman's earlier devotional tracks, but Shreya Ghoshal and Arijit Singh's vocals give this Ramayana anthem the spiritual grandeur it needs.
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has completed a decade since its launch, becoming the backbone of India's digital payments ecosystem. It has seen exponential growth in transaction volume and value, expanding financial inclusion and setting a global benchmark for real-time payments.
Robert Pattinson's performance in Primetime captivated audiences at the Venice Film Festival, earning a remarkable seven-minute standing ovation.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) stated that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) "is distributed only amongst the UPI ecosystem, to further invest into infrastructure resilience, innovation, cybersecurity (protecting the UPI infrastructure with banks and non-banks) and customer service."
US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, highlighted the evolving US-India space partnership, moving from cooperation to "co-creation" at the Bengaluru Space Expo. He emphasised joint design, funding, and co-authoring the future of human discovery, citing the NISAR satellite and India's participation in the Artemis Accords as key examples of this growing synergy.
The government is introducing a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant payments above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move ends the zero-MDR regime, aiming to fund UPI infrastructure and sustainability, as the previous government subsidy was insufficient to cover operational costs. Payments between individuals and most everyday merchant transactions will remain free.
BJP MP Raghav Chadha addressed the 12th IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, highlighting India's digital transformation journey. He emphasised how technology is widening access and promoting inclusion, citing UPI's success, affordable data, and robust data protection laws. Chadha also discussed India's digital cooperation with Uzbekistan and the importance of digital rights, safety, and skill development for all citizens.
From the adorably vain Poo to the free-spirited Geet, Kareena Kapoor Khan has delivered some memorable performances.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move ends nearly six years of fully free UPI payments, though person-to-person (P2P) transfers and small P2M payments remain free. The charges aim to bolster investment in UPI infrastructure, with specific exemptions and caps for essential sectors.
'It requires new skilling, new ways of working, and new structures. That's the reality.'
Last Man In Tower is an unsettling portrait of a society that can turn against one another when greed dangles the promise of a better life, observes Sreeju Sudhakaran.
Netas are embracing the viral '80s social media trend, sharing AI-generated images and real throwback photos.
Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scored for Barcelona in their 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou, marking their first home win of the LaLiga season and putting them level on points at the top of the table.
'When a glacier collapse or a major flood event does occur, the water will simply reclaim its original path, and anything built in that path will be swept away.'
'Everyone has a surname, and I think everyone has an equal responsibility to live up to that name.'
'I met with people who had their flats redeveloped. I saw this was a real human struggle.' 'People get caught in the middle between their dreams, wishes and their community.'
'When the women of India become unstoppable, India becomes unstoppable.'
Students are learning to combine technology with agriculture, healthcare, biotechnology, architecture and fashion, explains Mandeep Singh, assistant professor and deputy dean, Lovely Professional University.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the fintech sector to expand the global reach of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI), connecting it with local systems in other countries to help the diaspora save on remittance costs.
A frozen phone screen, a fake customer-care call, a screen-sharing request or even a duplicate SIM can give cybercriminals a route into your bank account.
A new study by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed an integrated land-use regression (iLUR) model to map environmental noise across Delhi. This innovative approach combines geographical and real-time traffic data, including vehicle counts, speeds, and honking, to provide a more accurate and cost-effective understanding of noise distribution in the city's complex urban landscape. The model aims to help authorities plan targeted measures for noise control.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu highlighted that the success of UPI, which handles nearly half of the world's real-time digital transactions, stems from a collaborative ecosystem including financial inclusion, digital identity, and affordable internet. He attributed this digital payments revolution to the vision of PM Narendra Modi.
India's economy recorded a robust 7.8 per cent growth in the April-June quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, surpassing both market expectations and the Reserve Bank of India's forecast. This strong performance positions India as the world's fastest-growing major economy, demonstrating resilience despite global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in Iran. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation highlighted the sustained growth momentum amidst global headwinds.
'It's a harrowing book because in the first 100 pages, you have the first-person account of very young girl being abused. It's an important, crucial document from her point of view, but impossible to emotionally endure if one is to illustrate it on screen.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon the fintech industry to expand the global footprint of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), advocating for its integration with international payment systems to reduce remittance costs for the Indian diaspora. Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest, Modi highlighted UPI's current presence in 11 countries and its connection with Singapore's local system, urging further expansion into nations with significant Indian populations or trade ties. He also stressed the need for India to set its own global payment standards and for the fintech sector to innovate beyond payments, focusing on cybersecurity, ethical data protection, and regulatory frameworks.
Real Madrid have signed Spain international Marc Cucurella from Chelsea on a six-year deal, making him Jose Mourinho's first signing since returning to the Santiago Bernabeu as manager.
Champions Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over Sunderland, maintaining their perfect start to the Premier League season and moving clear at the top. Meanwhile, title contenders Liverpool and Chelsea were held to draws against Fulham and Hull City respectively. Other notable results include Aston Villa's loss to Nottingham Forest, Ipswich's win against Crystal Palace, and Tottenham's continued struggle to score goals.
Delhi Police has implemented a comprehensive multi-layered security system for the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi, deploying 15,000 personnel, 200 paramilitary companies, and over 500 CCTV cameras. The arrangements aim to ensure maximum security for visiting dignitaries while minimising public inconvenience, with extensive coordination across agencies and states, and robust measures at the main venue, Bharat Mandapam.
We started with notebooks and graduated to lavatories, self defence classes, laptops during the lockdown... And, every Ganeshotsav, the contributions increased, says Ananya Chincholikar.
