Former NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar has urged the government to maintain zero-fee UPI transactions for several more years, arguing that the benefits of UPI as a public good outweigh the costs. This comes amidst the government's recent decision to introduce a 0.4% fee on person-to-merchant UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 from October 15, a move that has drawn criticism.
More and more young people, short of time, on the go, opt to start their day with a nutrient-packed smoothie that they whizz up themselves or carry in a portable blender and press on when ready to sip it.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4 per cent charge on UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000 made to merchants, with a cap of Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 and above. This policy shift ends the zero-MDR regime, which was previously criticised by financial institutions. While essential sectors and capital markets have specific fee structures, small merchants with monthly UPI QR code earnings up to Rs 1 lakh remain exempt. Person-to-person transfers are unaffected, and measures are in place to prevent merchants from passing these costs to customers.
In Rajasthan's recent urban local body elections, several candidates experienced unusual results. A BJP candidate and a Congress candidate each secured only one vote, while an RLP candidate received zero votes. These outcomes occurred across different municipalities in Didwana-Kuchaman, Nagaur, and Balotra districts, with one candidate alleging foul play in the vote count.
Congress workers and police clashed outside the Jaipur Police Commissionerate during a protest demanding the registration of a zero FIR regarding the alleged assault on NSUI leader Ritu Barala by Delhi Police. Jaipur Police refused, citing an ongoing investigation in Delhi, while Congress leaders insisted on the legal provision for a zero FIR and accused the BJP government of denying justice. BJP leaders, in turn, called the protest a "political drama."
The Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Department plans to implement solar energy projects across its buildings and land to achieve zero electricity bills and generate revenue by selling surplus power. A MoU was signed with MAHAPREIT to prepare a Detailed Project Report, with pilot projects starting in Pune and Beed.
Mining major Vedanta has invested over $1 billion in net-zero transition initiatives for FY26, focusing on renewable energy, lower-carbon fuels, energy efficiency, and technology-led interventions to drive its decarbonisation efforts.
The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) has sent an athlete back from the Asian Para Games in Japan due to alleged misconduct. The athlete faces severe disciplinary action, including a potential lifetime ban, after the Games conclude. The PCI reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct and emphasised its commitment to discipline and integrity.
A man wanted in 17 criminal cases, Bunty Prasad, was injured in an exchange of fire with police in Odisha's Jharsuguda district on Monday morning. Prasad allegedly opened fire on a police team during a search operation in Amdara forest, prompting police to retaliate. He is currently in stable condition and faces charges including robbery, extortion, and firearms offences.
Police in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, seized heroin worth Rs 20 lakh and arrested a woman. The seizure of 261.85 gm of heroin occurred in New Khamdu village. Home Minister Mama Natung praised the police, reiterating the government's zero-tolerance policy against illicit drugs.
Authorities in Kathua, Jammu, demolished the residential house of a habitual drug offender, Rupesh Kumar alias Bobby, on Wednesday. The house was allegedly built on government land. The operation was conducted peacefully, reinforcing the administration's zero-tolerance policy against drug peddling and illegal encroachment.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is undergoing a significant modernization drive, establishing drone platoons, developing a new 'Strike' course for Galwan-like situations, and constructing underground infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control. This strategic shift, announced by DG Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, aims to counter China, identified as India's 'biggest adversary,' by embracing modern warfare techniques learned from recent global conflicts.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the renaming of Kasari-Masari, a former stronghold of gangster Atiq Ahmed, to Shrikrishnapuri. The area in Prayagraj will see the construction of 1,200 homes for poor families on land reclaimed from the mafia leader. Adityanath reiterated his government's "zero-tolerance" policy against criminals and highlighted development initiatives.
Police in Chatra, Jharkhand, have arrested two individuals, including a minor boy, in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl. The incident came to light after the victim was hospitalised due to deteriorated health, and a Zero FIR led to the arrests.
India has expressed deep concern over reports of an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Illinois, US. A teenager was arrested on October 11 in connection with the plot, which reportedly involved white supremacist ideology and threats against people of Indian origin. India has urged US authorities to investigate thoroughly and take measures to prevent such hate-motivated violence.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has promised stringent action against those responsible for the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh alias Jhota in Mansa, where tensions are high following the killing, protests, and demolition of the accused's house. Mann reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy on drugs and assured a thorough investigation into the incident and any conspiracy behind it.
Two individuals have been arrested in Palghar, Maharashtra, for the murder of a 52-year-old woman. Initially suspected as an accidental death, an autopsy revealed severe head trauma. Police investigations led to the arrest of Nilesh Dharmaji Chibhade and Ujawala Navsu Khutade, who allegedly bludgeoned the victim with a hammer after a minor quarrel.
Gurugram police have arrested a deaf and non-speaking man, Adnan Khan, for allegedly raping a woman with similar disabilities. The victim met Khan through Instagram and was lured to Gurugram on the pretext of a job. She alleges he drugged and raped her on February 14, threatening her afterwards. A Zero FIR was initially filed in Lucknow before the case was transferred to Gurugram.
This week's OTT releases offer a diverse selection, from the Tamil drama Dorothy to the live-action Moana, alongside Telugu thrillers, Korean cooking shows, and Hindi biopics, ensuring there's something for every viewer.
A health inspector from the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, Anuroop, has been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl from Andhra Pradesh at a spa in Kovalam. The arrest follows an investigation by a Special Investigation Team, which also led to the arrest of spa owners. The case involves cash transactions between the inspector and the establishment, and the girl's maternal aunt and her husband have also been taken into custody.
A self-proclaimed healer has been arrested in Kanker, Chhattisgarh, for allegedly raping and impregnating a 14-year-old tribal girl. The incident came to light when the girl, an inmate of a tribal girls' hostel, was found to be five months pregnant during a medical examination. The accused, Ramesh Kumar Pisda, allegedly exploited the girl under the pretext of curing her ailment, administering intoxicating substances to facilitate the abuse.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, and actor-activist Prakash Raj joined a protest in Bengaluru, demanding the scrapping of the electoral roll revision exercise and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging widespread voter deletion aimed at disenfranchising specific groups.
Samajwadi Party MP Shiv Pal Singh Patel asserted that the Congress would not have secured any seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections without their alliance. He claimed SP chief Akhilesh Yadav persuaded Rahul Gandhi to contest Raebareli and highlighted the SP's significant contribution to the INDIA bloc's success in Uttar Pradesh.
Katrina Kaif served two jaw-dropping looks in London and honestly, the timing couldn't be better.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has announced that Input Tax Credit (ITC) will now be available on health and life insurance policies provided by employers to their employees, a move expected to significantly reduce costs for businesses, especially MSMEs.
Indian para-archers Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar secured a gold medal in the compound mixed team event at the Asian Para Games.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stressed on Friday (local time) that Tehran remains prepared for "full-scale defence" should the US betray the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two countries last month.
IBM India and South Asia MD Sandip Patel stated that India is at a defining moment with a unique opportunity to shape exponential technologies like artificial intelligence, emphasizing that "when India builds, it builds for billions," leading to scalable impact. Speaking at the IBM Think 2026 event, Patel highlighted that the AI revolution is still in its early stages, requiring enterprises to redesign their operations around agents, real-time data, automation, hybrid architecture, and trust. He also introduced the concept of "digital swaraj" or sovereignty in the Indian context, stressing the importance of control over operating environments, data, technology, and AI execution. IBM also announced an MoU with MeitY Startup Hub to accelerate India's deep tech innovation and startup ecosystem, providing startups access to IBM's technology expertise and platforms like watsonx and Sovereign Core.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has criticised the BJP government, posing 12 questions regarding the banking sector. He highlighted issues such as recurring bank charges, reduced interest rates, demonetisation's impact, missing locker valuables, and poor working conditions for bank employees, accusing the government of weakening banks and exploiting vulnerable communities.
Elon Musk's Tesla has unveiled a new Roadster capable of 'kickflipping' in mid-air using aerospace-inspired technology, showcasing a vision of flying cars and extraordinary acceleration.
'The smartphone had become my boarding pass, my digital ID, my train ticket repository, my taxi booking tool and my payment instrument,' says Brijesh Haldia
The Indian Army captured Thang in Ladakh in the 1971 War. Ghulam Hussain had left home for a routine errand found himself on the other side of an altered border. He could never return and found a new country and a new home.
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.
Mahindra & Mahindra has officially expanded its popular compact SUV lineup with the launch of the Mahindra XUV 3XO ZNG, its first-ever mainstream CNG passenger vehicle at an introductory starting price of Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
Maharashtra is grappling with an escalating drought crisis, with 305 talukas now declared drought-hit, prompting the state government to announce Rs 5,000 in financial aid for farmers before Diwali and extend comprehensive relief measures.
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has criticised the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI), calling it an 'unimaginative and dystopian' vision. He argues that while AI threatens intellectual jobs, humans have endless tasks related to nature, nurture, culture, and spirituality that can provide purpose and sustenance, rejecting the idea of dependency on handouts.
'Nana Patekar gave Gaman a powerful flavour of the soil, an authenticity that could not have been manufactured or imagined. There was an anger in him, a restlessness, a turmoil that belonged to the streets and the people he embodied. He was not merely playing a character; he was bringing an entire world into the film.'
Indian shooter Rahi Sarnobat's Asian Games campaign was marred by a controversial scoring decision in the 25m sports pistol qualification. A shot she believed was on target was ruled to have hit the frame, resulting in a zero and severely impacting India's team medal chances. Sarnobat questioned the decision and the evidence, highlighting the need for a more effective challenge mechanism in competitive shooting.
Police in Gorakhpur have launched a murder investigation into the death of a 38-year-old CISF jawan, Karamveer Yadav, whose body was found near an embankment with a severe head injury. A case was registered after the post-mortem findings, and authorities are examining evidence and the deceased's recent contacts.
How India's Jumbo King Is Taking On McDonalds And Burger King Without Selling Chicken Burgers.
