The Congress party has questioned the Modi government's decision to defer the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions, alleging a potential "U-turn on the U-turn." Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted previous denials by the finance minister regarding MDR imposition, only for it to be announced later and now deferred. He expressed concerns about future charges on UPI transactions.
The Kabaddi Champions League (KCL) has announced the coaches' roster for its upcoming Season 2, featuring experienced kabaddi personalities for 10 franchises. Coaches like Om Parkash Narwal and Ramesh Kumar expressed their commitment to building strong, disciplined teams. The official schedule and start date for Season 2 are yet to be revealed.
Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has not applied for the BCCI senior selector's post from the West Zone, leaving Pragyan Ojha well placed to continue as chairman while Ramesh Powar emerges as a possible contender.
Delhi Police have arrested three individuals, including the alleged mastermind, for orchestrating a honey-trap and extortion scheme. The accused attempted to frame a man in a false rape case to extort Rs 50 lakh, a plot reportedly linked to a family property dispute.
Rajesh Ramesh, a key figure in India's 4x400m relay teams, is set to make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, aiming to contribute to the team's success and make the nation proud.
Third seed Nitin Kumar Sinha caused a major upset by defeating defending champion and top seed Manish Sureshkumar in a three-set thriller to reach the men's singles final of the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship. Sinha will face Maan Kesharwani in the final. In women's singles, top seed Vaidehee Chaudhari and second seed Shruti Ahlawat will contest the final.
Police took prime accused Suhail to the accident spot in Nedumbassery near Kochi for evidence collection in the high-profile Mini Cooper crash case. Three youngsters died on October 11 when Suhail, allegedly driving under the influence, hit their scooter. The accused were also taken to bars where they reportedly consumed alcohol, and will be produced before the court later on Thursday.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has dismissed Opposition allegations of lapses in the investigation of a high-profile luxury car crash in Nedumbassery that killed three youngsters. Satheesan affirmed that the probe is on the right track, countering claims of foul play and attempts to protect the accused, Suhail, who was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. The accused were remanded to a Borstal school, a decision the CM attributed to the court.
Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has been invited as a guest to the RSS' annual Vijayadashmi event in Nagpur next week, which also marks the closing of the organisation's centenary year. The event will feature Sanjay Gupta as chief guest and an address by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The Congress has criticised the government regarding Dhankhar's housing situation despite the RSS invite.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced plans to strengthen the state police's Cyberdome to combat cybersecurity threats and deploy indigenously developed robots for traffic management and disaster response. He emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to address growing cyber challenges and protect critical infrastructure, while also highlighting the role of the CoCoN conference in sharing knowledge.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has strongly condemned the alleged mob lynching of an unidentified man in Palakkad district, announcing that seven people have been arrested and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will probe the incident. The victim, aged 35-40, remains unidentified, and the minister has sought assistance from Tamil Nadu police. The incident, which involved the victim being attacked with stones and wooden sticks, is the third alleged mob lynching reported in Palakkad in recent years.
The Kerala High Court dismissed pleas by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas, challenging an order to register an FIR against them in the alleged CMRL bribery case. Current Chief Minister V D Satheesan defended the government's actions, stating they followed legal advice, while political parties reacted sharply, with BJP welcoming the verdict and CPI(M) alleging political motivation.
Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and three others have surrendered to a Thane trial court after the Supreme Court cancelled their bail in a doctor assault case. The Supreme Court overturned a Bombay High Court order, emphasizing the importance of doctor safety and noting Mhatre's extensive criminal history.
'It is to observe the Sun continuously that you have the Aditya L1 mission.' 'It is in a position from where it can observe the Sun continuously.'
The Supreme Court has stayed the Bombay High Court's order granting bail to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, who is accused of assaulting doctors at a Thane hospital. The apex court emphasised that the medical fraternity must not be attacked, directing Mhatre to surrender within three days.
Amid the ongoing protests in the national capital, the Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal (BUVM), Delhi Pradesh, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, appealing for political demonstrations in the capital to be postponed until January 31, 2027, citing the festival and wedding season.
Odisha secured a dominant 9-0 victory over Kerala in the Hockey India Senior Men National Championship, marking their second consecutive win. Other teams like Uttarakhand, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Jharkhand, and Himachal also registered wins in their respective Pool B matches.
An elderly couple and their domestic help were brutally murdered in Dehradun by their plumber, who allegedly used a screwdriver during a payment dispute. The accused was arrested hours after the incident, and police are investigating a potential robbery motive after recovering a gold chain from him. The incident has sparked political criticism regarding law and order.
Dewas Police in Madhya Pradesh have arrested five members of a gang, including three women, for allegedly defrauding men seeking brides through sham marriages. The gang would arrange weddings, collect money, and then the 'bride' would flee. Preliminary investigations indicate at least four families were defrauded, with one victim losing Rs 1.50 lakh.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has alleged that the BJP's "real and ultimate target" in seeking a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha is to amend the Constitution to end reservation, rather than genuinely implement women's reservation.
Opposition parties, led by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, plan to march to the Supreme Court on Monday to meet the Chief Justice of India. They aim to submit a memorandum regarding alleged 'vote chori' and demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, halting of SIR, and a return to paper ballots. The protest follows widespread detentions during previous demonstrations, which the opposition condemns as an assault on democracy.
The Congress party, through leader Jairam Ramesh, took a veiled swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by invoking a Bollywood song and sharing Jawaharlal Nehru's notes from the 1955 Bandung Conference. This move came after the BRICS Delhi Declaration referenced the Bandung Conference, which advocated for a fairer and more inclusive multilateral system, amidst Modi's frequent criticism of Nehru.
The Congress party has strongly criticised the Modi government's decision to introduce a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions over Rs 2,000, alleging it is a result of US pressure to benefit American card companies. The party also linked this move to broader US actions against India, including tariffs and H-1B visa issues, coining the term "Narendra's Ongoing Trump Appeasement." The government, however, clarified that consumers will not bear the charge, which applies only to merchants.
Vaidehee Chaudhari secured her third Fenesta Open women's singles title, defeating Shruti Ahlawat in a tough final. Maan Kesharwani claimed his maiden men's singles title, overcoming Nitin Sinha. Ribhav Saroha and Parthsarthi Mundhe also won the boys' and girls' U-18 singles titles respectively at the national tennis championship in New Delhi.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a Vigilance probe into corruption allegations related to the 2006 KSTP road project, implicating incumbent Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who was then the PWD secretary. The investigation also concerns the death by suicide of a Malaysian engineer involved in the project, who reportedly named Kumar in his suicide notes. The probe revives a case that was allegedly "hushed up" after a change in government.
The Congress party has accused the Modi government of succumbing to US pressure by introducing a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions over Rs 2,000 for merchants. The party alleges this move aims to benefit US card companies and links it to broader US actions against India, including tariffs and H-1B visa issues. The government, however, clarifies that consumers will not be charged.
A Delhi court has dismissed the fourth regular bail application of Aniket Jha, an accused in the 2021 Jangpura Extension double murder and robbery case. The court cited the gravity of the offence, the recovery of stolen items, and the framing of serious charges, stating that long incarceration alone is not sufficient grounds for bail.
The Kerala Crime Branch has arrested Raveendran Nair, former caretaker of Jayamadhavan Nair, for his murder nine years ago. The investigation, initially treated as an unnatural death, gained momentum through forensic evidence, contradictory statements, and a forged will, leading to the unravelling of a property dispute motive.
The opposition has intensified its criticism of the government's decision to impose a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. Leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh allege the move is a result of US pressure, particularly from American card companies, and demand an immediate rollback, warning of increased costs for consumers.
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.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to disclose the specific rules and policies behind its requirement for shooters to submit an affidavit on a non-judicial stamp paper for date of birth verification. The directive came after an RTI appeal sought clarity on the basis for this mandatory requirement, which the NRAI stated was part of its age fraud prevention measures.
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.
The Congress party has criticised the government's recent notification regarding UPI transactions, alleging it paves the way for users to be charged fees, particularly for transactions above Rs 2,000. The party claims the government lacks transparency and questions if the move is to benefit American firms. The government, however, states that charges are necessary for the system's sustainability and infrastructure upgrades, with the Finance Minister clarifying that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies to merchants, not customers.
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.
Rahul Gandhi led INDIA bloc leaders in a surprise dharna near Jantar Mantar, protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. For the second consecutive day, police detained Gandhi and other opposition MPs, stalling their planned demonstration. The protest saw dramatic moments, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lying on the street, as leaders vowed to continue their fight for electoral integrity.
Police in Bengaluru have registered a case against two Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and others for allegedly submitting fraudulent Form 7 applications to delete 5,698 voters from the electoral rolls in the Jayanagar Assembly constituency. The complaint, filed by Karnataka Mahila Congress president Sowmya Reddy, claims the BLAs are affiliated with the BJP and targeted minority communities and politically unfavourable voters.
The Congress party has accused the Indian government of imposing new charges on UPI transactions due to pressure from the United States, specifically to benefit American card companies. The opposition party demanded the withdrawal of the decision, calling it "anti-national" and alleging it fills the coffers of US firms while burdening Indian citizens. The government, however, clarified that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges apply only to commercial transactions above Rs 2,000 and are not levied on consumers, a stance supported by the BJP which accused Congress of spreading "fake news".
Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticised the Centre for the security clampdown in central Delhi against the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest, calling it "worse than Emergency" and alleging dictatorship. He also accused Prime Minister Modi of being scared and protecting "vote chori" by crushing democracy, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Modi government of quietly paving the way for imposing fees on UPI transactions, alleging it's a surrender to American pressure. The government's recent notification exempts charges only up to Rs 2,000, sparking concerns that higher value transactions and eventually all UPI payments could incur fees. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, clarified that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies to merchants, not customers, and supports digital infrastructure.
Pranav Karthik caused a significant upset at the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship in New Delhi on Wednesday, defeating fourth seed Udit Kamboj after rallying from a set down. Other top seeds like Manish Sureshkumar and several women's and junior players also advanced, though the Boys U-18 draw saw its top seed eliminated.
