Rural commercial vehicle (CV) registrations have consistently outpaced urban sales from April to July 2026, driven by a significant diversification of the rural economy and the positive impact of GST-led consumption, according to experts and data from Fada.
Researchers at CSIR-CIMFR have developed India's first mobile Smart Algal Liquid Tree (SALT), an innovative air-purification system using microalgae to absorb CO2 and release oxygen. Designed for polluted urban areas, this compact unit offers a sustainable solution where conventional tree planting is challenging, also providing public utility features.
India's urban unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above marginally increased to 6.7 per cent in April-June, while rural unemployment rose to 4.8 per cent, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). This rise in unemployment coincides with a notable decline in the overall labour force participation rate (LFPR) to a five-quarter low of 54.6 per cent.
India's urban areas are projected to contribute 70 per cent of gross domestic product in 2025-26, up from 45 per cent in the 1990s, according to a report by Dun & Bradstreet.
The Congress party won six out of nine wards where repolling was conducted across four urban local bodies in Rajasthan, while the BJP secured three. These results finalise the tally for all 10,244 wards, with the BJP holding the overall lead in total wards won, followed by Congress and Independents. The process for electing mayors and chairpersons is now underway.
India's automobile retail sales reached an unprecedented 24.23 lakh units in August, marking a 17.51 per cent year-on-year growth, with alternative fuels (CNG, hybrid, and electric) collectively surpassing petrol in the passenger vehicle segment for the first time.
Comptroller and Auditor General of India K Sanjay Murthy highlighted the need for stronger accountability systems to support India's urban transformation and sustainable mobility push at the BRICS Supreme Audit Institutions Leaders' Summit in Bengaluru.
'I don't really expect the August increase in food prices, which was close to 6 per cent, to persist as we go close to the end of this year.'
GIS intelligence solutions provider Mirai Aerospace Systems and Software Solutions has signed an MoU with US-based GreenValley International Inc to strengthen India's geospatial and LiDAR remote sensing manufacturing base. The collaboration focuses on local assembly, manufacturing, technical support, and the development of AI-driven LiDAR applications, aiming to meet India's growing demand across various sectors.
Digital money is gradually starting to behave like software. It's no longer inert -- sitting passively in accounts. In the not-so-distant future, your money could become 'smart' and 'active,' understanding your preferences, paying your bills automatically, optimising your returns, and managing your risks -- all without you having to manage the details.
The highlight of the successful BRICS Summit was its ability to deliver a joint statement that all members, including Iran and the United Arab Emirates, embroiled in the war in West Asia, signed.
'It is not about a place with fewer incidents of violence but a city where women have real agency in planning their daily lives.'
Despite near gender parity in basic bank account ownership, women in India remain significantly underrepresented in the growing platform economy due to gaps in digital financial capability and access to credit, according to a joint report by the International Labour Organization and National Council of Applied Economic Research.
A study by the Wildlife Institute of India in the Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary reveals that abandoned mining areas have become the most bird-rich habitat, supporting 46 species. These former quarries, now featuring diverse scrub, grassland, rocky patches, and water pools, demonstrate nature's recovery after human disturbance ceased, highlighting the importance of habitat diversity for conservation.
India's overall unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above decreased to 5.1 per cent in July 2026, down from 5.5 per cent in June 2026, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) by the National Statistics Office (NSO).
Amazon's ultra-fast delivery service, Amazon Now, has achieved $1 billion in annualised gross sales in India over the last three months, marking it as the fastest-growing e-commerce business in Amazon India's history, with orders doubling every quarter.
InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy have merged to establish India's largest artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled insurance distribution platform, targeting a significant premium book and extensive reach across the country.
Employers are increasingly prioritising professionals with four to 10 years of experience.
The BJP has narrowly defeated the Congress in the Rajasthan urban local body elections by less than one percentage point. Independent candidates secured a significant share of votes, and NOTA outperformed several smaller parties. Prime Minister Modi lauded the BJP's performance, attributing it to public support for good governance.
Tero Entertainment Public Co. Ltd. has launched Quest India 2026, marking the official introduction of 3x3 basketball to the country. This fast-paced, urban Olympic sport, backed by BFI and FIBA, will feature its inaugural event in September 2026, blending elite competition with street culture.
Indian companies, including NBFCs, filed proposals to raise $7.696 billion through external commercial borrowings (ECBs) and foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) in July 2026, a significant increase from $6.09 billion in June.
Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in India are committed to maintaining current prices through the festive season, despite facing increased commodity costs and geopolitical disruptions. This strategy aims to protect consumer demand and sustain volume growth, even as margins remain under pressure.
RBI Deputy Governor S C Murmu stated that the introduction of merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions is unlikely to cause a shift back to cash, despite some concerns, emphasising that MDR will help the payments ecosystem recover costs.
Computer-based testing can make the examination more secure and transparent. Ensuring equal opportunities to prepare will make it fair as well. India needs both, suggests Dibyasree Ganguly.
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.
In many ways, 17th century India occupied a position in the global economy comparable to that of the United States today. Just as millions of people now look towards America because of its economic opportunities, merchants, adventurers and trading companies once looked towards India.
Urban Indian millennials are caught in an algorithmically amplified consumption spiral where social media normalises spending patterns that systematically undermine retirement security.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Maharashtra government and other parties regarding a plea to fell and transplant trees for a proposed National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality in Mumbai's Film City. The project, deemed of "eminent national importance," requires the felling of 124 trees and transplanting 333, with compensatory afforestation planned. The court's intervention follows a previous order restricting tree felling in the Aarey colony.
Air India, SkyDrive, and Suzuki Motor Corporation have signed an initial pact to conduct a joint feasibility study on using electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for medical air logistics in India. This collaboration aims to address severe traffic congestion in major Indian cities, which poses challenges for time-critical medical transport, by developing last-mile emergency medical solutions.
The Finance Ministry has refuted allegations that US pressure influenced the decision to levy a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI payments. It clarified that NPCI guidelines prioritise RuPay credit cards on UPI to foster a domestic payment ecosystem and that the MDR introduction aims to create a sustainable revenue model for smaller domestic companies, thereby protecting India's sovereignty in digital payments.
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 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.
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."
Urban employment rate increased to 34.96 per cent in February. This is the highest employment rate recorded in urban India since September 2020.
'Treating stock brokers as merchants for MDR is fundamentally misplaced.'
Researchers at NIT Rourkela have patented a novel hybrid energy-storage system designed to significantly improve the efficiency and lifespan of electric vehicle batteries. This innovation addresses common issues like low power density and thermal stress by integrating supercapacitors with a simplified architecture, making EVs more reliable, especially in urban driving conditions.
The Finance Ministry has refuted allegations that US pressure influenced the decision to levy a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI payments. The ministry clarified that the NPCI guidelines prioritise RuPay credit cards on UPI to promote domestic alternatives and ensure a self-sustaining revenue model for smaller domestic companies, countering claims of favouring foreign payment providers.
Economists widely anticipate the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee will increase the repo rate by 50 basis points, likely split between the October and December meetings, as retail inflation is projected to peak at 6.1 per cent in the third quarter, exceeding the RBI's tolerance limit.
An analysis of 138 Indian cities reveals that urban greening should consider humidity and airflow for effective cooling, emphasising climate-responsive strategies over one-size-fits-all approaches.
'If there are different laws governing the same subject, it can increase the compliance burden on platforms. The process would be easier and more transparent if there were a singular national-level law.'
