PAYD suits infrequent drivers who can estimate annual mileage.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has approved significant constitutional changes to align with the National Sports Governance Act (NSGA).
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced the new season of the Indian Women's League (IWL) will commence in October, alongside IWL 2. The federation also revealed significant changes including higher coaching licence requirements, revised disciplinary rules, and an ambitious long-term expansion strategy aiming for 12 teams by 2032 to professionalise women's football in India.
Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has criticised the Centre for introducing a 0.4% charge on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, alleging the decision was influenced by pressure from the United States and its payment companies like Visa and Mastercard. He highlighted a perceived shift in the government's stance on Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI, claiming it would ultimately burden consumers and small businesses while benefiting American firms.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has rejected Tata Sons' application to surrender its non-banking finance company (NBFC) licence, a decision that mandates a public markets listing for the conglomerate's holding company as it is classified as an upper-layer NBFC.
Indian tennis player Dhakshineswar Suresh discusses the significant transition from collegiate tennis to the professional tour, highlighting the challenges of travelling alone, managing his body, and maintaining consistency. He shares insights on the importance of off-court preparation, physical fitness, and setting ambitious goals like breaking into the top 250.
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."
Paralympic Committee of India president Devendra Jhajharia expressed confidence in the Indian contingent's performance at the upcoming Asian Para Games in Japan. He highlighted the team's focused training, stress-free environment, and recent successes, while also outlining long-term plans for the 2028 and 2032 Paralympics and addressing grassroots development challenges.
Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma stated that the government's new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on large-value UPI transactions will significantly increase the company's revenue and profitability. The 0.4% fee on UPI transfers exceeding Rs 2,000 to merchants, effective October 15, is expected to give Paytm a competitive edge. Sharma also highlighted the company's focus on generating free cash flow, expanding internationally, and developing proprietary artificial intelligence capabilities to drive future growth.
India's burgeoning franchise volleyball ecosystem, particularly with dedicated Under-21 tournaments like the Guardians Trophy, is creating a structured pathway for young players. This initiative aims to develop talent from the grassroots to professional levels, fostering cultural adaptation and skill enhancement, with the ultimate goal of strengthening the senior national team and achieving Olympic qualification.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is poised to approve significant constitutional amendments to comply with the National Sports Governance Act 2025. These changes, already endorsed by the executive committee, will be formalised at a Special General Body Meeting. Key areas of reform include age and tenure guidelines for office bearers, which differ from the existing IOA rules, and a potential reduction in the Executive Committee's size. The General House will also discuss the upcoming December elections.
India and China have agreed to advance discussions on an "Early and Substantial Harvest" of boundary delimitation and border management during the 25th round of Special Representatives talks between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. Both sides reached an eight-point consensus, committing to the 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement. Key outcomes include enhancing border management, improving understanding of the Line of Actual Control, establishing new meeting points and hotlines, and continuing cooperation on trans-border rivers and pilgrimage.
India's UPI system continues its rapid growth, dominating retail payments. Recent amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act allow for targeted Merchant Discount Rates (MDR) on high-value merchant transactions, aiming to create a self-sustaining revenue model for the ecosystem while keeping P2P and low-value payments free. This move could generate significant revenue and encourage ecosystem participation.
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.
Government sources state that Meta, due to its algorithmic amplification of content, can no longer be considered a "simple intermediary" but rather a "service provider," implying greater responsibility and potential loss of legal immunity. This shift comes as Meta commits to directly reporting child abuse content to Indian law enforcement, amidst increasing government scrutiny over harmful online content and algorithmic bias.
India's electric two-wheeler market has seen record penetration, exceeding 11.2 per cent, driven by crude oil price fluctuations. This surge has led to an unexpected crisis for Indian OEMs, with unfulfilled customer demand reaching 20-30 per cent and average waiting periods exceeding four weeks, a situation expected to intensify during the upcoming festival season.
Global brokerage Jefferies forecasts a double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for India's defence spending, estimating a cumulative domestic opportunity of over $60 billion across four years, driven by geopolitical tensions and the government's indigenisation push.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% fee on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15, sparking strong opposition from political parties and traders. Despite accusations of foreign influence and demands for a rollback, the finance ministry and top functionaries have stated there will be no reversal, citing the need for a self-sustaining digital payments ecosystem.
India's Shafali Verma has become the fastest and youngest player to reach 3,000 runs in Women's T20 International cricket during a match against Pakistan in Dubai.
India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, hosted both the Indian and Sri Lankan men's cricket teams at the India House in Colombo, emphasising cricket's role in strengthening bilateral ties ahead of their second Test match.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council's October 7 meeting will focus on 'GST 2.0' process reforms, including e-invoicing and input tax credit rules, while also addressing complex issues surrounding the taxation of the digital economy and cryptocurrency.
Senior executives from Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, appeared before India's child rights body, NCPCR, for questioning regarding alleged advertisements promoting child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM) on its platforms. This follows a BBC report and a stern notice from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to Meta over the issue.
A senior coach from India's shooting contingent for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has voiced disappointment over the logistical arrangements, particularly the long travel times to the training venue.
Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL) has announced it will raise 9,825 crore through a primary equity infusion from a consortium of global investors, including Alpha Wave Global, Premji Invest, Temasek, and funds managed by BlackRock, who will collectively acquire a 5.54 per cent stake.
The Finance Ministry has clarified that the decision to impose a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 was made independently, refuting claims of foreign influence. The ministry stated the policy aims to build a self-sustaining digital payments ecosystem, with MDR funding infrastructure and supporting small merchants.
'The way the government behaves, sometimes I ask myself: Are not Tamils Sri Lankans too? Why do you discriminate so much?'
Former Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has criticised the differential treatment of foreign and local coaches in Pakistan cricket, stating that foreign coaches enjoy more authority and less scrutiny. He also highlighted the need for consistency, patience, and long-term planning, drawing comparisons with India's successful cricket development model.
'If crude remains above $100 per barrel, with restricted retail-price increases, OMCs could face negative petrol and diesel marketing margins, higher LPG under-recoveries, higher crude-landing, freight and insurance costs, working capital and debt accumulation and inventory losses if crude subsequently corrects sharply.'
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has urged the 30-member Indian shooting contingent for the Asian Games to prioritise individual medals over team events. He also highlighted the need for significant improvements in coaching, advocating for more former international medallists in the system, and stressed the importance of better grassroots talent identification, drawing comparisons with China. Kumar also commented on the void left by coach Jaspal Rana's death and questioned recent selection policies.
SkyHop Aviation has partnered with Norwegian firm NOEMI Aerospace to explore deploying electric seaplanes in India and South Asia, aiming to enhance regional air connectivity. The collaboration includes evaluating NOEMI's aircraft for SkyHop's fleet, with plans to induct up to 10 by FY2030, and exploring manufacturing opportunities in India.
The National Stock Exchange's initial public offering (IPO), expected to raise around Rs 30,000 crore, is likely to open for public subscription on September 18 and list on September 25, potentially becoming India's largest IPO.
World junior champion Anahat Singh, now 18, is returning to the Asian Games with significantly higher stakes, as the women's singles gold medal offers direct Olympic qualification. Ranked world number 20, she is a strong medal contender and is embracing the pressure of competing for her country. Anahat faces formidable opponents like Satomi Watanbe and Sivasangari Subramaniam but is focused on refining her game and physical strength to achieve her goals.
The Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group, the second-largest shareholder in Tata Sons, has publicly endorsed a listing of the Tata Group's holding company, aligning with the board's push for greater transparency and public accountability despite opposition from the Tata Trusts.
Indian tennis player Yuki Bhambri is a doubtful starter for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Korea in Seoul due to a right-leg strain suffered during practice, though he has assured his participation in the Asian Games is not threatened.
The Iran national women's kabaddi team conducted a six-day practice camp at the Sports Authority of India's Sonepat centre, engaging in matches against the Indian team and local sides.
The Indian rupee experienced its sharpest single-day decline in eight weeks, settling at 94.83 per dollar, primarily due to escalating crude oil prices and persistent risk-off sentiment driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and limited foreign inflows.
India T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer has highlighted the importance of regular game time and confidence for Jasprit Bumrah, who is returning from injury ahead of the Afghanistan T20I series, the Asian Games, and the ODI World Cup.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has approved significant constitutional changes to align with the National Sports Governance Act (NSGA), allowing for longer tenures for office-bearers and revising age limits. These amendments, which have received preliminary approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), also impact the structure of the Executive Council and set the stage for upcoming elections, including those for the Athletes' Commission.
'Listing leads to greater transparency and shareholder oversight.'
India's first Archery World Cup Final male gold-medallist, Dhiraj Bommadevara, has inspired the national team ahead of the Asian Games. Dola Banerjee, India's first World Cup Final gold-medallist, believes his triumph will boost confidence and help the team surpass its previous medal haul, despite a new-look squad.