The government has prepared a significant restructuring of India’s tax administration to support the nationwide rollout of the goods and services tax, according to a Moneycontrol exclusive. The plan includes a revamp of the Central Board of Excise and Customs to reduce transition risks and improve implementation readiness. The move signals that officials are treating GST not just as a tax reform, but as an administrative reset requiring tighter coordination and cleaner execution.
Tributes have poured in from across Indian cinema following the death of veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, whose inventive storytelling and technical daring shaped generations of filmmakers and performers. Kamal Haasan, S.S. Rajamouli, Jr NTR, Mahesh Babu and others remembered him as a rare creative force whose work expanded the language of Indian film.
Tamil Nadu secured the under-23 title with an outright victory, underlining the depth and discipline of its next generation of cricketers. The result adds to the state’s long-standing reputation as one of India’s most productive domestic cricket systems, built on structure, selection clarity and competitive bench strength.
Pavan Wadeyar’s ‘Bail’ arrives as a watchable but uneven crime drama that leans heavily on its ensemble cast and intermittent crowd-pleasing flourishes. Shivarajkumar provides the film’s firmest anchor, while Jayaram and Sai Kumar add weight to a story that often wobbles between seriousness and commercial instincts.
India have been warned against complacency ahead of their meeting with Uruguay, with Jamil calling for discipline, concentration and tactical clarity from the side. The message reflects a broader demand for India to treat the contest as a serious test rather than a routine assignment, especially at a stage where execution could decide the outcome.
The Chief of the Army Staff received the joint India-Argentina Army mountaineering expedition team in New Delhi, underscoring the Indian Army’s continued emphasis on high-altitude training, international military cooperation and expeditionary preparedness. The interaction highlights how mountaineering remains both a test of endurance and a strategic instrument of soft power and professional exchange.
India’s economic growth may ease below 7% in the second half of the fiscal year, but the country could still post an average expansion of about 7.2% for the full year, according to economist Madan Sabnavis. He expects second-quarter growth in the 7.5% to 7.6% range and says India’s longer-term potential remains close to 8%, underscoring the economy’s resilience despite a likely moderation ahead.
Andhra Pradesh’s commercial tax receipts climbed 18% year-on-year to Rs 30,435.98 crore in April-September 2026, with September delivering the strongest monthly collection so far this fiscal. Net GST collections also rose 18% to Rs 19,635.49 crore in the first half of FY27, underscoring firmer compliance and broader economic activity. The state said technology-led monitoring and enforcement helped lift revenues across the period.
Arvind Sanger, managing partner at Geosphere Capital Management, said he is cautiously optimistic on Indian equities as global liquidity conditions appear unlikely to improve materially from here. He argued that the next leg for markets will depend less on easy money and more on an earnings revival, making corporate profit growth the key variable for investors to watch.
‘Avaraachan and Sons’ arrives as a familiar family drama dressed in the language of a contemporary entertainer, but its writing rarely rises above routine. The film remains watchable largely because Biju Menon brings warmth, timing and credibility to material that often feels flat and mechanically assembled.
HDFC Bank has appointed Anup Bagchi as managing director and chief executive officer, with the transition set to take effect on October 27, 2026, subject to the bank’s governance process. The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment, and Bagchi will also join the board as an additional director.
Kalshi has introduced a perpetual futures contract linked to its US 500 index, giving traders a way to maintain exposure without the need to roll positions. The move marks a significant expansion for the exchange as it seeks to deepen its role in market-linked trading and offer both long and short access to broad U.S. equity performance.
Tamil Nadu clinched the U-23 title with an outright win, underlining the depth and discipline of its age-group cricket structure. The result adds another significant trophy to the state’s long-standing reputation as one of India’s most productive domestic cricket nurseries.
Rajasthan has stepped up enforcement to prevent fertiliser hoarding and black marketing as the rabi crop season gathers pace, with officials promising uninterrupted supply to farmers in line with demand. The move is aimed at stabilising distribution, protecting farm input access, and reducing the scope for illegal diversion in a season when timely fertiliser availability can directly affect crop outcomes.
A fresh wave of praise for Hope’s leadership qualities has emerged from Sammy, who described the cricketer as composed, influential and tactically aware. The remarks add to the growing conversation around leadership depth in Indian cricket, where temperament and decision-making are increasingly valued alongside raw talent.
Agricultural experts are calling for a significant expansion of cocoa cultivation, backed by certified planting material and stronger quality controls, as India looks to reduce dependence on imported beans and build a more resilient domestic supply chain. The push comes amid rising interest in value-added cocoa products and renewed scrutiny of farm productivity, traceability and farmer returns.
India’s banking system saw a sharp fortnightly contraction in outstanding deposits and a slowdown in credit growth in the period ended September 15, according to Reserve Bank of India data. Deposits fell by Rs 2.49 lakh crore as banks allowed expensive bulk deposits to mature, while loan growth eased to 18.1%, signalling a broader recalibration in funding strategy and balance-sheet management.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s 200th international appearance is more than a milestone; it is a measure of longevity, adaptability and sustained influence in Indian cricket. At a time when women’s cricket is expanding rapidly, her career has become a reference point for leadership, consistency and competitive edge.
RDU Global’s latest Drop Shot episode stitches together four seemingly distinct stories that reveal how Indian culture is being contested and reimagined across film, literature and architecture. From Arjun Das and Aditi Shankar’s reflections on choosing resonant stories in Once More to Meena Kandasamy’s examination of the Indian incel mindset, the episode frames entertainment as a lens on social change.
A new daily quiz marking the memory of legendary filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao arrives as a concise but pointed tribute to one of Indian cinema’s most inventive directors. The format underscores how his work continues to invite discovery, reflection, and renewed appreciation even after his death on October 3.
The Astana International Financial Centre is exploring a potential partnership with India’s GIFT City, a move that could strengthen cross-border financial services and investment flows between Central Asia and one of Asia’s fastest-growing capital markets. The discussion reflects AIFC’s push to expand its international footprint beyond Kazakhstan, while positioning GIFT City as a natural counterpart in a region increasingly focused on fintech, sustainable finance and digital assets.
India’s Cabinet has approved a Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund designed to support small and medium enterprises through direct equity investments. The move is aimed at strengthening manufacturing capacity, improving access to patient capital, and helping promising firms scale beyond the constraints of traditional bank lending.
A senior Bangladeshi river expert has said the Ganga Water Treaty is outdated and structurally flawed because it lacks a guarantee clause and ignores ecological and environmental flow requirements. The remarks sharpen attention on a key India-Bangladesh water-sharing agreement that has shaped river management for three decades but now faces growing scrutiny amid climate stress and changing river conditions.
The Astana International Financial Centre is exploring collaboration with India’s GIFT City, signalling a potential new channel for cross-border financial services and investment between Central Asia and one of Asia’s fastest-growing financial hubs. The move reflects the AIFC’s push to expand its international footprint through sustainable finance and digital assets, while leveraging regional proximity to India.
Swara Baby Products has secured approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India to launch a Rs 1,000 crore initial public offering, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for the disposable hygiene products maker. The issue will comprise a fresh share sale and an offer for sale by promoters, with proceeds earmarked for capacity expansion, debt reduction and other corporate purposes.
Pranavi, the Mysore golfer, said the result unfolded exactly as she had planned after she sealed gold with a four-day total of 15-under 265. A composed final-round 70 was enough to close out a commanding campaign that underlined both her control under pressure and her ability to manage a tournament from the front.
The Delhi High Court has sought Salman Khan’s response to a plea filed by the producer of the film 'Kala Hiran', escalating a legal dispute over the movie’s release. Khan has moved to restrain the film, claiming it is based on him, setting up a clash between celebrity reputation rights and a producer’s freedom to release a work of fiction.
Motilal Oswal has initiated coverage on Molbio Diagnostics with a Buy rating and a target price of ₹1,800, implying about 21% upside from current levels. The brokerage argues that the company is well placed to benefit from the shift toward decentralised molecular diagnostics, anchored by its Truenat platform and expanding global footprint.
The Supreme Court has declined to grant an interim stay on the government’s new merchant discount rate framework for select UPI transactions above ₹2,000, allowing the policy to remain on track for an October 15 rollout. The court, however, issued notices to the Centre, the Reserve Bank of India, the National Payments Corporation of India and other respondents after a public interest litigation challenged the legality of the levy.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla underscored that a resilient democracy is sustained not by confrontation but by dialogue, plural viewpoints, and substantive public engagement. His remarks come at a time when India’s parliamentary discourse is under renewed scrutiny over polarization, legislative disruption, and the quality of deliberation in public life.
State Bank of India is sharpening its growth strategy around digital banking, deeper customer engagement and stronger consumer protection, according to chairman C S Setty. The lender, which is marking its platinum jubilee, sees its total business potentially rising to Rs 200 lakh crore by 2030 if it can sustain scale, trust and technology-led efficiency.
The Reserve Bank of India’s net short forward position rose sharply to $200 billion in August from $136 billion in July, underscoring a significant build-up in its dollar liabilities. The increase, alongside additional long dollar positions, points to active market intervention and a more complex balance-sheet posture as the central bank works to manage currency volatility.
The World Bank has lifted its growth projection for India to 7.1% in FY27 in its latest India Development Update, signalling confidence in the economy’s medium-term momentum. But the lender also warned that external risks remain elevated, underscoring the vulnerability of an export-linked and capital-sensitive economy to global shocks.
Mumbai airport has imposed curbs on Russian airlines, prompting an agent to complain to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, according to people familiar with the matter. The move comes just days after Adani Group completed a $1 billion share sale in its airport business to investors that included US funds, adding a sensitive market and geopolitical backdrop to the dispute.
Indian Energy Exchange reported a 10.4% year-on-year increase in electricity traded volume in September, reaching 12.2 billion units, underscoring sustained activity in India’s power market. The exchange also said it handled 39,685 million units in the second quarter of FY27, up 12.7% from a year earlier, pointing to robust trading momentum through the quarter.
The eighth edition of the Prime Minister’s memorial souvenir series has turned its attention to Karnataka, presenting the state through a wide range of cultural, historical, and civic expressions. The release underscores how the initiative continues to function as both a commemorative platform and a soft-power instrument within India’s public memory ecosystem.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has used Pre-COP31 climate summit meetings to argue that climate policy must be built around local realities rather than imported templates. He said local studies and assessments are essential to identify emerging risks, shape mitigation and adaptation measures, and determine the resources required for implementation.
The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller arrives with the ingredients of a glossy psychological thriller, but the result is closer to an unintended parody than a dark, erotic drama. Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson bring star power, yet the material around them is so tonally confused that the film struggles to generate suspense, heat or conviction.
The trailer for 'Jailer 2' has positioned Rajinikanth’s Muthuvel Pandian once again at the center of a high-voltage action spectacle, this time facing what appears to be a far larger and more coordinated set of adversaries. Produced by Sun Pictures and slated for release on October 15, the film is being framed as a major tentpole for Indian commercial cinema. The teaser signals a sequel that aims to expand the scale, intensity and mythmaking of the original while leaning heavily on Rajinikanth’s enduring screen persona.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has left for New Delhi ahead of the upcoming GST Council meeting, in a move that places the state’s fiscal priorities squarely in the national policy spotlight. Sources said the visit may also give Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar an opportunity to meet senior Congress leaders and discuss pending organisational and governance issues.
Singapore business leaders and policy voices have described India as one of the most compelling investment destinations in Asia, citing its young workforce, rapid economic expansion and improving business climate. The remarks came at the Singapore-India Network for Growth Forum 2026, where the chief ministers of Haryana and Chhattisgarh outlined state-level opportunities aimed at drawing Singapore capital and expertise.
Asset reconstruction companies have urged the government to strengthen the debt recovery framework, arguing that delays at Debt Recovery Tribunals are slowing asset resolution and weakening recovery outcomes. Their proposals include automatic expiry of interim stays after two months, better notice systems for creditors, faster appointment of tribunal officials, and expanded electronic litigation services.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is preparing to propose changes to the Chartered Accountants Act, a move aimed at enabling larger, more competitive domestic accounting firms. The initiative follows discussions at the Prime Minister’s Office on regulatory adjustments that could help Indian professional services firms expand their scale, collaboration and global reach.
The Enforcement Directorate has detained former Karnataka Public Service Commission chief Sahukar and KPSC member Geetha after conducting a fresh raid in a widening probe into alleged irregularities linked to the recruitment body. The action marks a significant escalation in a case that has drawn scrutiny over governance, public hiring integrity, and the use of investigative powers in state-level administrative oversight.
Public sector banks and older private lenders have advised customers to complete urgent transactions ahead of a three-day nationwide strike beginning September 28, as unions prepare industrial action under the United Forum of Bank Unions. The government has already directed public sector banks to remain open on Sunday to reduce disruption and help customers access essential services before the shutdown period.
Bypolls were held across five Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat on a day marked by uneven turnout, allegations of intimidation, and a sharp political dispute in West Bengal. Madurantakam recorded the highest participation at 86%, while the state’s Chief Electoral Officer said 97 official complaints were received on polling day, prompting the Congress to demand cancellation of the bypolls in the state.
Max Verstappen delivered a commanding response to recent frustrations by winning the Bahrain Grand Prix, securing his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season and the 72nd win of his career. The four-time world champion converted pace into control at a circuit where strategy, tyre management and composure proved decisive.
Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Thursday urged students to settle their differences with vice-chancellors through discussion rather than confrontation, framing dialogue as the most durable route to academic stability. His remarks came at a convocation where honorary degrees were conferred on filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, industrialist P.K. Ahammed and scientist E.D. Jemmis, underscoring the university’s emphasis on public service, industry and research.
India’s airline industry is urging the government to intervene as lenders hold back the balance disbursement of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme funds, according to the Federation of Indian Airlines. Carriers say the delay is worsening liquidity pressures at a time when operating costs remain elevated and cash flows are still fragile.
The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of five police commissionerates for Bengaluru, a major administrative overhaul aimed at sharpening urban policing in one of India’s fastest-growing cities. Former senior police officers, however, have warned that a civic model cannot be transplanted wholesale into law enforcement, arguing that crime patterns, traffic control and emergency response do not neatly align with municipal boundaries.
