The Finance Ministry does not expect a meaningful shift back to cash after the proposed merchant discount rate on a small slice of UPI transactions, according to sources. Officials believe the continued zero-cost status of RuPay debit card payments and close monitoring of pricing behaviour will help preserve India’s digital payments momentum.
India ended their Asian Games 2026 men's volleyball campaign in sixth place after a narrow 2-3 defeat to Thailand in the fifth-sixth classification match. In a tense contest lasting one hour and 56 minutes, the Indians twice levelled the match but could not close out the deciding set, losing 19-25, 25-17, 21-25, 25-17, 15-17.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has sharply criticised the government’s latest minimum support price increase for rabi crops, calling it an insult to farmers and dismissing the wheat hike as barely 25 paise per kilogram. The farmers’ body also questioned the Centre’s claim that the revised MSPs guarantee a 106% return over production costs, signalling a renewed confrontation over agricultural pricing and income support.
India’s credit card market showed signs of moderation in August, with spending slipping 2.8% month-on-month to ₹2.02 lakh crore from ₹2.08 lakh crore in July. New card issuances also eased, with banks adding 1.19 million cards during the month, down 5.6% from July, even as the total outstanding card base rose to 124.1 million.
Kerala has unveiled Mission Samudra, a ₹400-crore initiative designed to build an integrated logistics hub around the state’s maritime strengths and deepen its role in India’s coastal economy. The project signals a strategic shift toward port-led industrial growth, with policymakers seeking to convert geography into a durable fiscal and employment advantage.
Economists and policy experts are calling for more open trade and investment regimes as geopolitical tensions, supply-chain fragmentation and financial volatility intensify pressure on the global economy. The appeal comes amid growing concern that protectionism and policy uncertainty could deepen shocks for emerging markets, including India.
Razorpay-backed POP has launched POPchop, a buy-now-pay-later product that lets eligible shoppers split purchases into three interest-free instalments over three months. The move marks a strategic shift for the UPI-led rewards and commerce platform as fintech firms look beyond payments to higher-margin consumer credit.
The Reserve Bank of India is actively assessing Anup Bagchi as a potential chief executive for HDFC Bank and has sought feedback from both the insurance regulator and ICICI Bank on his suitability, according to people familiar with the matter. The review reflects concern over Bagchi’s roughly three-year gap from mainstream banking, even as he emerges as a leading contender for one of India’s most closely watched financial-sector appointments.
HDFC Bank shares rose about 2% after the lender appointed Anup Bagchi as its new managing director and chief executive officer, removing a key uncertainty that had weighed on investor sentiment for months. Brokerages including Jefferies, Morgan Stanley and Citi stayed constructive, arguing that leadership clarity and strong quarterly business momentum could support a further re-rating.
The Telangana Pradesh Congress Seva Dal on Friday organised a satyagraha, intensifying its attack on the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision exercise and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. State Seva Dal president Middela Jitender said the exercise undermined citizens’ voting rights and posed a serious threat to the democratic process.
India’s credit card market showed signs of moderation in August, with spending falling 2.8% month-on-month to ₹2.02 lakh crore from ₹2.08 lakh crore in July. The slowdown came alongside a softer pace of new card additions, which declined 5.6% from the previous month even as the overall card base rose to 124.1 million.
Healthcare is moving beyond incremental digitisation into a broader technology-led reinvention, with sensors, wearables, 3D-printed skin, reconstructed organs and AI-enabled clinical trials reshaping how care is delivered and financed. The shift is creating fresh opportunities across medtech, biotech and digital health, while also raising the bar for regulation, validation and long-term commercial execution.
Seven major OPEC+ producers have agreed to keep November crude output unchanged, resisting calls for a supply response even as the Iran conflict disrupts flows and drives Brent above $100 a barrel. The decision underscores the cartel’s preference for price discipline, while G7 nations prepare to release 100 million barrels of oil and refined products, including diesel, to soften the blow to consumers and industry.
Nykaa shares climbed as much as 6.1% to an intraday high of ₹342.95 on the BSE after the beauty and fashion retailer delivered a strong Q2 FY27 business update that reassured investors on growth momentum. The move reflected renewed confidence in the company’s operating trajectory, with the market responding positively to signs of resilient demand and continued scale-up across its core categories.
Bank credit growth strengthened across major sectors in August, with personal loans emerging as a key driver, according to Reserve Bank of India data. Outstanding personal loans rose 16.9% year-on-year to ₹72.9 lakh crore, sharply higher than 11.9% a year earlier, underscoring resilient consumer borrowing even as lenders remain selective.
Japan’s 30-year government bond yield surged to a historic 4.235% on Friday, underscoring investor unease ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s anticipated remarks. The move came as shorter-dated Japanese yields eased, while U.S. Treasury yields rebounded after a weak jobs report revived debate over the Federal Reserve’s next steps.
India is preparing to take a revised bilateral investment treaty framework to the Cabinet soon, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, signalling a renewed push to deepen investment ties with key partners. The move comes as New Delhi looks to address investor concerns while also navigating tariff frictions and persistent trade imbalances in a more uncertain global environment.
England produced one of the most emphatic results of the Nations League campaign, dismantling Croatia 7-0 to strengthen their hold on second place in League A, Group Three. Spain remained flawless at the top with a victory over the Czech Republic, keeping the group hierarchy intact with one round of fixtures left in the phase.
India’s Department of Science and Technology has joined the national Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign, underscoring how cleanliness has become a governance priority rather than a ceremonial exercise. The initiative is expected to align institutional discipline, public service delivery, and workplace accountability with the broader national cleanliness agenda.
The state visit of the President of the Swiss Confederation to India underscores a relationship increasingly shaped by trade, investment, technology, and regulatory cooperation. Beyond ceremonial optics, the trip reflects New Delhi’s effort to broaden partnerships with advanced European economies while Switzerland seeks stronger access to one of the world’s fastest-growing major markets.
India’s trade agreement with the European Union is expected to strengthen exports and create jobs in labour-intensive industries, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, framing the pact as a strategic opening for manufacturing and services. She said India has opened 92.5 per cent of tariff lines and about 97 per cent of tariff value under the deal, underscoring the scale of market access on offer.
Kumkum Mohod delivered a landmark performance to become the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games medal in the individual recurve archery event, claiming gold in a result that reshapes India’s standing in the discipline. The victory also earned her an Olympic quota, giving Indian archery a timely boost and underlining the depth of the country’s emerging women’s talent pipeline.
Andhra Pradesh’s commercial tax collections rose 18% year-on-year to Rs 30,435.98 crore in the first half of FY 2026-27, with September delivering the state’s highest monthly collection so far. Net GST receipts also climbed 18% to Rs 19,635.49 crore, underscoring the impact of tighter enforcement, improved compliance and technology-led monitoring.
India’s major gig platforms are increasingly building tax filing assistance into their apps as delivery partners seek refunds on tax deducted at source and a clearer financial footprint. The move is helping workers recover cash, formalise income records and improve access to credit, signalling a deeper shift toward compliance in the country’s fast-growing gig economy.
Seven major OPEC+ producers have agreed to keep November crude output unchanged, resisting calls for a larger response as the Iran conflict tightens global supply and pushes Brent above $100 a barrel. In parallel, G7 nations are preparing to release 100 million barrels of oil and refined products, including diesel, in an effort to cool markets and shield consumers from higher fuel costs.
YourStory has released Edition 252 of its weekly business quiz, a format designed to sharpen entrepreneurial judgment through questions spanning workflow, sustainability and artificial intelligence. The latest edition underscores how business literacy is increasingly tied to understanding operational efficiency, climate-conscious strategy and the practical deployment of AI across startups and venture-backed companies.
Former NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar has cautioned that introducing merchant fees on UPI payments could slow India’s digital payments momentum and nudge users back toward cash. His remarks come after the government moved to levy a 0.4% merchant discount rate on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 from October 15, while keeping consumer payments free.
A 40-basis-point merchant discount rate on UPI transactions could generate a revenue pool of about Rs 27,000 crore by FY28, according to Bernstein. The brokerage said issuing banks and UPI apps would capture the largest shares, while merchant-side payment apps and acquiring banks would also benefit, even as the levy remains far below card fees and excludes many smaller transactions.
India is likely to post growth of around 7% this year, even as higher crude prices and uneven rainfall pose risks to inflation, interest rates, the rupee and corporate earnings, according to Nilesh Shah. He said second-quarter momentum remains strong, suggesting the economy is still expanding at a healthy pace despite external headwinds. The outlook, however, is increasingly sensitive to energy costs and monsoon-linked farm output.
A fresh wave of attacks on lawyers and a CPI(M)-linked office in West Bengal has triggered sharp condemnation from legal professionals and political leaders, intensifying scrutiny of law-and-order conditions in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has described the assaults as unacceptable, as critics warn that repeated targeting of advocates is eroding confidence in public safety and institutional protection.
HDFC Bank has appointed Anup Bagchi as its next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, with the transition set for October 27, following the end of Sashidhar Jagdishan’s term a day earlier. The Reserve Bank of India has cleared the appointment after its assessment, placing a long-serving ICICI Bank executive at the helm of India’s largest private-sector lender at a critical moment for the banking industry.
Dalal Street is headed into a heavy supply phase over the next three months as lock-ins expire on shares in 91 companies, releasing stock worth roughly $14 billion. The largest single overhang is expected from Central Mine Planning & Design Institute, where 464 million shares are set to become tradable, raising the prospect of heightened volatility as investors assess post-lock-in selling pressure.
India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has stepped up its crackdown on narcotics trafficking with three coordinated operations that led to the seizure of nearly 7 kilograms of amphetamine, 5 kilograms of cocaine, and 3.5 kilograms of heroin. Five people have been arrested in connection with the cases, underscoring the agency’s widening focus on transnational drug networks and domestic distribution chains.
The Prime Minister has lauded the Indian contingent’s standout performance at the 2026 Asian Games, framing the results as evidence of a deeper sporting transformation underway in the country. The remarks come at a time when India is seeking to convert competitive success into a more durable ecosystem of athlete development, institutional support, and international medal consistency.
Heritage activists and conservation voices have raised alarm over a proposed open-cast coal mine near the Ramappa Temple complex in Telangana, warning that industrial activity in the vicinity could endanger the integrity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The dispute has sharpened the tension between energy extraction and heritage protection, placing state and central authorities under pressure to clarify safeguards.
Panchkula’s table tennis tournament has retained its National-ranking status after an ad hoc committee reviewed the calendar and removed ranking recognition from the remaining proposed events at Phagwara and Dehradun. The decision sharpens the competitive landscape for the domestic circuit, preserving one sanctioned ranking opportunity while narrowing the field of events that can influence national standings.
An approved real estate project can materially reduce friction in the home-buying process by giving lenders greater confidence in the legal and technical soundness of the property. In practical terms, that can mean faster loan processing, fewer verification hurdles for borrowers and, in some cases, quicker access to funds and longer repayment flexibility.
India’s latest cricketing discussion has sharpened around a familiar but increasingly urgent theme: technical ability remains the foundation of success at the highest level. As the game grows faster, more data-driven and more unforgiving, selectors, coaches and players are being reminded that talent alone is no longer enough without sound mechanics and repeatable method. The debate reflects a broader shift in Indian cricket, where the margin between promise and performance is being decided by discipline, adaptability and skill under pressure.
A cluster of well-backed runners delivered notable performances in a closely watched Indian racing card, with Maana, Power Of Beauty, Jersey King, Spiritual Light and Tolkien emerging as the day’s standout names. The results underscored the depth of competition in the domestic circuit, where form, conditioning and tactical execution continue to separate contenders in a rapidly tightening field.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India is developing a second surveillance system to identify “bad elements” among listed companies, according to a senior official, in a move aimed at tightening market oversight. The regulator is also examining how to screen small initial public offerings that may not be suitable for the capital market, signalling a more selective stance toward market access.
European equities inched higher in cautious trade on Tuesday, recovering modestly from last week’s losses even as French shares lagged on renewed fiscal concerns. The CAC 40 fell 0.8% after Schneider Electric tumbled on news of its $22.6 billion acquisition of PTC, while investors weighed softer U.S. jobs data, bond-market moves, inflation risks and political uncertainty across Europe.
HDFC Life Insurance Company shares fell in live trade on Tuesday, reflecting a cautious mood across the market and renewed scrutiny of valuation in India’s private life insurance space. The decline comes as investors weigh near-term earnings visibility, premium growth trends and broader macroeconomic signals that continue to shape financial stocks.
Kumkum Mohod delivered a landmark performance at the Asian Games 2026, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games medal in the individual recurve event. Her gold-medal finish also secured India an Olympic quota, marking a significant breakthrough for the country’s archery programme.
The GST Council is set to examine whether an 18% goods and services tax should apply to merchant fees linked to UPI payments above Rs 2,000, according to a report. The discussion comes as the government proposes a 0.4% merchant discount rate, capped at Rs 300, from October 15, with merchants eligible to claim input tax credit on the GST paid.
Visa used its booth at #GFF26 to spotlight how trusted commerce is evolving across mobility, digital payments, and connected consumer experiences. The presentation underscored the company’s push to make transactions more seamless, secure, and embedded in everyday journeys, including the fast-changing automotive and EV ecosystem in India.
Groups with non-banking finance companies and core investment companies are restructuring assets and income streams to avoid crossing regulatory thresholds that would trigger Reserve Bank of India registration and tighter compliance, sources said. The manoeuvre underscores how corporate groups are adapting balance-sheet design to remain outside the central bank’s supervisory perimeter even as scrutiny of shadow banking intensifies.
Brazil’s football identity is undergoing a notable tactical reset, with discipline, structure and defensive resilience increasingly complementing its long-celebrated flair. The shift reflects a broader modernisation of the national team, as coaches and players adapt to the demands of elite international football where control without solidity is no longer enough.
India’s startup ecosystem opened the week with a familiar mix of capital deployment, product expansion and market recalibration, underscoring how founders are navigating a more selective funding environment. The latest daily roundup points to a sector that remains active, but increasingly disciplined, as investors continue to favor efficiency, clear unit economics and defensible technology moats.
Economists and policy experts are pressing governments to keep trade and investment channels open as geopolitical tensions and supply-chain disruptions threaten growth. The call comes amid rising concern that fragmentation in the global economy could deepen inflationary pressures, weaken investment, and leave emerging markets more exposed to external shocks.
The Delhi High Court has directed police to identify an alternative protest venue for bank employees by September 28 after rejecting the unions’ application to hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The ruling comes as the United Forum of Bank Unions prepares a nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, a move likely to disrupt banking services across India while intensifying pressure for a five-day work week and improved pension benefits.
