IndiGo, India's largest airline, has recently increased charges for several ancillary services, including infant travel and unaccompanied minors, citing rising operational costs and higher fuel prices. Domestic infant travel charges have risen to Rs 3,000, while unaccompanied minor services are now Rs 5,999 for domestic and Rs 12,999 for international flights.
India's net direct tax collection has surged by 13 per cent to over Rs 12.12 lakh crore by September 17 in the current fiscal year, driven by a significant increase in advance tax payments from corporates, according to CBDT data.
Delhi Police have registered three FIRs and detained nearly 1,000 individuals, including prominent political leaders and activists, following protests at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests, which violated prohibitory orders, were in response to allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
A Fast-Track Special Court in Hoshiarpur has sentenced a 33-year-old migrant labourer, Nanke Yadav alias Radhe Sham, to death for the aggravated sexual assault and murder of a five-year-old boy. The court termed it a 'rarest of rare' case, with the death sentence subject to confirmation by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Customs officials at Delhi's IGI Airport have seized 15.38 kg of hydroponic weed, valued at Rs 5.38 crore, which was concealed inside two geysers carried by passengers arriving from Kuala Lumpur. Two individuals have been arrested, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the wider drug-smuggling network.
The National Stock Exchange marked its stock market debut at the Bombay Stock Exchange on September 24, 2026, with a traditional gong-ringing ceremony.
The Supreme Court has given actor Rajpal Yadav a final two-week opportunity to present a concrete proposal for repaying an outstanding amount to a private firm, directing him to deposit Rs 2 crore with the apex court registry. This comes after a series of cheque bounce cases, with the Delhi High Court previously upholding his conviction and sentencing him to three months' imprisonment. The court noted Yadav's past conduct did not inspire confidence but granted a last chance.
Bengaluru Customs officials arrested two passengers from Bangkok at Kempegowda International Airport for smuggling hydroponic ganja worth Rs 6.33 crore. This incident is part of a series of recent seizures, including more ganja and gold, highlighting ongoing efforts against contraband.
The Supreme Court has refused to grant an interim stay on the imposition of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, which is set to take effect from October 15. The court has agreed to examine the challenge to this new fee and has issued notices to the Centre, RBI, and NPCI, seeking their responses within four weeks. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) argues that the levy lacks statutory safeguards, transparency, and public consultation, and could adversely affect merchants and consumers.
A Delhi court has granted default bail to six Ukrainian nationals arrested in connection with an NIA probe into a drone-warfare training camp linked to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar, after the agency failed to file a chargesheet under UAPA within the stipulated time.
Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing has arrested Manish Kumar for allegedly defrauding over 20 unemployed youths of Rs 5.5 lakh by falsely promising contractual jobs at GTB Hospital. Kumar, a B.Sc in nursing, used his alleged connections to gain trust before collecting security deposits, then disappeared when jobs didn't materialise.
'Your retirement corpus isn't just a big pile of cash for 'one day' -- it is the salary you pay yourself when you no longer want to go to work.'
Merchants will be subject to an 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000, but can mitigate this burden by claiming input tax credit (ITC), according to tax experts.
A father and daughter have been arrested in Bengaluru for allegedly defrauding over 40 job seekers of more than Rs 5.30 crore by promising them government jobs through fake connections and training centres.
Tax experts clarify that merchants will pay 18% GST on Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. However, registered merchants can claim Input Tax Credit (ITC), mitigating the tax burden. This move is expected to generate significant GST revenue for the exchequer while funding payment infrastructure.
UPI transactions saw a 27% volume increase and 20% value increase in the first half of the current fiscal year. Despite a slight moderation in September, the digital payment system is set to implement a 0.4% merchant discount rate on transactions over Rs 2,000, aiming for a sustainable revenue model. Small merchants and person-to-person payments remain exempt, and UPI's global presence continues to expand.
Mobile phone retailers across India, represented by AIMRA, are protesting the 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000 for merchants. They plan to observe 'No UPI Day' on October 2, 2026, arguing that this fee will significantly impact their income and burden small businesses, advocating for a continued Zero MDR structure for UPI merchant payments.
The BJP has accused AAP leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, of operating a corruption syndicate in Punjab. The allegations claim that middlemen, allegedly on behalf of Mann and his wife, demanded bribes of up to Rs 5 crore to settle rape cases. The National Human Rights Commission has ordered an inquiry into a complaint regarding these allegations.
Fuel pump dealers in Madhya Pradesh plan to stop accepting UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000 for petrol and diesel from October 16, citing concerns over the proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR). The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged the government to reconsider the MDR imposition, warning it could hinder digital payment adoption and impact traders' profits.
As India's festive season approaches, passenger vehicle dealers are seeing a notable increase in inventories, yet discounts remain surprisingly moderate compared to previous years, signalling a tighter demand-supply balance in the automotive market.
A new report by TeamLease Digital highlights a significant AI-ready talent gap in India's technology industry, with shortages of 53-60 per cent in Generative AI and cloud skills. The report indicates that only 16 per cent of IT professionals possess AI skills, leading to rising salary premiums for AI-core roles and a projected demand for over 10 lakh GenAI roles by 2026.
The Karnataka CID is investigating alleged irregularities in the KPSC veterinary officer recruitment exam, questioning 40 candidates and arresting suspended IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar. The probe has revealed financial links, with significant deposits traced to accounts connected to candidates and middlemen, and has frozen substantial amounts. The High Court has ordered a fresh probe by an SIT.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case of Disproportionate Assets against suspended Additional Superintendent of Police N Bhujanga Rao in Hyderabad. Searches at his properties and associates' places revealed assets valued at over Rs 5.92 crore, including agricultural land, plots, houses, cash, bank balances, gold, and cars. Rao is also implicated in a "phone tapping" case from the previous BRS regime.
Property insurance premium rates are increasing by 25-30 per cent, primarily due to a reduction in discounts, following substantial claims from natural calamities like the Gujarat floods, which caused an estimated 5,000 crore in losses.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has criticised the BJP government's proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on high-value UPI transactions, calling it a "chungi" (tax) on digital payments. He alleged the move was an attempt to extract money from people's transactions, contradicting the government's goal of a trillion-dollar economy. The new UPI framework will impose a 0.4% MDR on person-to-merchant transactions above Rs 2,000 from October 15, with certain sectors having a flat Rs 5 MDR.
Compare premiums, claim settlement ratios, exclusions, waiting periods and surrender provisions.
Indian benchmark stock indices, Sensex and Nifty, rebounded on Friday, driven by value buying in banking, oil & gas, and auto shares following recent sharp losses. The Sensex climbed 315.20 points to settle at 73,895.74, while the Nifty rose 77.40 points to 23,140.50.
Hanuman Ansh continues its phenomenal run at the box office, cementing its status as an all-time mega blockbuster, even as new releases Daayra and Vibe struggle.
Experts laud the decision to impose a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move, along with a dedicated fund for small merchants, is seen as crucial for creating a sustainable digital payments ecosystem, incentivising expansion in rural areas, and funding innovation while keeping most transactions free for users.
Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader announced the busting of a major interstate counterfeit drug racket, leading to an arrest and an ongoing investigation into the suspected supply of fake medicines to hospitals. The racket involved procuring cheap drugs, refilling them, and relabelling them as premium brands, with seizures worth Rs 5 crore. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the widespread network.
'Elevated crude prices and unchanged domestic fuel prices would put pressure on the profitability and cash flows of OMCs.'
DRI sleuths at Chennai International Airport seized five kgs of crystal methamphetamine, valued at Rs 5 crore, from a passenger attempting to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur. The passenger has been arrested, and an investigation is underway to uncover the broader drug network.
Police in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, have registered a case against 69 former and serving officers and employees of an Indian Bank branch for allegedly embezzling nearly Rs 5 crore from a union account. The case was filed following a court order after the accused failed to return the embezzled funds despite an earlier undertaking.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly refuted Opposition allegations that the decision to levy a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on specific UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 was influenced by external pressure. She clarified that the decision was a professional one made by the payment ecosystem, not a government imposition or a tax on consumers, with collected funds distributed among banks and UPI entities to ensure a sustainable digital payments framework.
Holding-company discounts and losses at key unlisted ventures could weigh on Tata Sons' IPO valuation, though its diversified portfolio may still command a premium.
Seven of them posted losses, led by Air India, with their combined net loss widening to Rs 31,823 crore in FY26 from Rs 17,553 crore a year earlier and Rs 1,555 crore in FY20.
A Delhi court has granted default bail to six Ukrainian nationals arrested in connection with an NIA probe into a drone-warfare training camp linked to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. The court also discharged them from Immigration and Foreigners Act charges after the FRRO compounded the offences with a fine. The NIA's UAPA probe is ongoing, with a supplementary chargesheet possible.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that the proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select high-value UPI transactions is not a tax or cess, and its collections will not go to the government. She explained that MDR is a charge within the digital payments ecosystem, shared among participants to maintain infrastructure, and will not be passed on to consumers. The NPCI's new framework, effective October 15, applies a 0.4% MDR on person-to-merchant UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, with most transactions remaining free and small merchants exempt.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Kirshanu Sharda, an alleged middleman for suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, in a money laundering case. Sharda is accused of facilitating illegal gratification for Bhullar, with investigations revealing unexplained cash deposits and frozen assets worth over Rs 1.42 crore.
Government sources clarify that the 0.4% merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, effective October 15, will not be passed on to consumers. The charge, paid by merchants, aims to create a sustainable revenue framework for the digital payments ecosystem, with funds shared among banks and UPI entities. Small merchants using QR codes for up to Rs 1 lakh monthly are exempt.
