UPI

At the India Today Group's Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference, experts claimed that AgriStack was kickstaring a UPI-like revolution in agriculture.

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Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select person-to-merchant (P2M) Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions will be implemented after Diwali on a date to be formally notified. The decision to defer the rollout ensures that the festive season sales across Navratri and Diwali remain unaffected. The upcoming charge, set at 0.4 per cent on specific merchant categories, is not applicable to person-to-person (P2P) transfers. While merchants and fintech companies had sought clarity from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) regarding eligible transaction categories and sustainability, the fee aims to support payment ecosystem infrastructure and address losses incurred by fintech players managing security and fraud safeguards. The government has stressed that merchant costs should not be transferred to consumers.

Addressing the Bloomberg Economic Forum hosted in India, the speaker emphasised that global power in the 21st century has shifted towards technology, data, knowledge, and innovation. Outlining the vision of 'Power to Empower', the address underscored that the true value of power lies in enabling and collaborating rather than controlling. Drawing on Indian governance and ancient traditions, the address pointed to India's democratic landscape, boasting over 100 languages, 80,000 registered publications, over 1,000 satellite TV channels, and more than 500 million users each on YouTube and Instagram. Highlighting reforms since 2014, the speaker explained how affordable mobile data opened opportunities for small-town students, rural shopkeepers, and youth. The address also showcased India's unified digital payments ecosystem used by street vendors and large showrooms alike, noting that India shares open-source digital public infrastructure, such as the CoWIN platform, with partner nations and the Global South to empower humanity.

A special retrospective reviews Narendra Modi's 25 uninterrupted years as an elected head of government, marking the milestone since he first took oath as Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7 October 2001. After rebuilding the state following the Bhuj earthquake, Modi established a governance blueprint focused on infrastructure, administrative efficiency, and investment through initiatives like Krishi Mahotsav and the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit. Transitioning to the national stage in May 2014, his twelve-year tenure as Prime Minister expanded these frameworks nationwide through digital public infrastructure, direct benefit transfers, highway expansion, and Make in India. The report details significant economic growth, rising domestic electronics and defence production, and last-mile welfare delivery via schemes such as PM-KISAN, Ayushman Bharat, and Jyoti Gram Yojana. Furthermore, it outlines a transformed national security paradigm featuring targeted counter-insurgency, the abrogation of Article 370, border infrastructure modernization, and the replacement of colonial-era criminal laws with contemporary legal codes.

In this India Today broadcast anchored by Gaurav Sawant, the programme reviews the completion of 25 years of Narendra Modi in public governance, encompassing 13 years as Chief Minister of Gujarat and 12 years as Prime Minister of India.

A special broadcast reviews Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years in governance, marking a quarter of a century since he took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7 October 2001. The bulletin traces his 13 years in Gujarat and his tenure as Prime Minister since 2014, becoming the first leader after Jawaharlal Nehru to secure three consecutive terms. The broadcast highlights his five targets for a Viksit Bharat by 2047, including becoming a top three global economy, expanding Atmanirbhar Bharat, establishing India as a global manufacturing hub, hosting the Olympic Games, and advancing space exploration. It covers major policy shifts including GST, Jan Dhan accounts, UPI adoption, the abrogation of Article 370, and strategic security responses against cross-border terrorism. In his speech, the Prime Minister contrasts earlier policy paralysis with ongoing economic reforms, export growth, and saturation governance.

A special broadcast reviews 25 years of Narendra Modi in public office as an elected head of government, spanning his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister from October 2001 and his leadership as Prime Minister since 2014. The report traces the transition from rebuilding earthquake-hit Gujarat and launching the Vibrant Gujarat initiative to driving nationwide economic, digital, and welfare programmes, including UPI, Direct Benefit Transfers, Make in India, and PM Kisan. Beneficiaries across Gujarat recount how welfare schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, Jyoti Gram Yojana, and Anganwadi initiatives transformed rural livelihoods, healthcare access, and women's empowerment. Furthermore, the report examines the overhaul of India's national security architecture, highlighted by the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, counterinsurgency accords in the North East, the near-eradication of Naxalism, and the replacement of colonial-era criminal laws with modern legal frameworks.

A special broadcast traces Narendra Modi's 25 uninterrupted years as an elected head of government, beginning on 7 October 2001 when he assumed office as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Inheriting a state recovering from the devastating Bhuj earthquake, he rebuilt Gujarat over four terms, developing an administrative and infrastructure model that positioned it as a key industrial and investment destination. Following consecutive electoral mandates in 2002, 2007, and 2012, this governance framework transitioned nationally with the Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentary majority in May 2014. As Prime Minister, his administration rolled out sweeping reforms, including digital public infrastructure like UPI, direct benefit transfers, rural housing, national highways, the Goods and Services Tax, and the Make in India initiative. While supporters praise the decisive, delivery-focused administration and foreign policy milestones such as the G20 presidency, critics cite concerns over economic inequality and political polarization.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the completion of 25 continuous years in executive public office, tracing a tenure that began on 7 October 2001 when he first took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, followed by three successive terms as Prime Minister of India from 2014. The day commenced with prayers offered at the Shree Vinayak Temple in Sarojini Nagar, New Delhi. To mark the milestone, the Union Cabinet adopted a formal resolution documenting policy initiatives and governance decisions implemented over the period, citing programmes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Unified Payments Interface, the Goods and Services Tax, the abrogation of Article 370, Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, and Ayushman Bharat. Nationwide events organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party included a gathering at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi attended by Union ministers and party officials, as well as public programmes connecting Vadnagar and Varanasi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed 25 continuous years in executive public office, marking a milestone in Indian political history. The journey began on 7 October 2001, when he took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat shortly after the Bhuj earthquake. Modi led Gujarat for over a decade before assuming office as Prime Minister of India in 2014, securing three consecutive terms at the Centre. To mark the milestone, Prime Minister Modi offered prayers in Delhi. Over these 25 years, key flagship initiatives under his nation first, citizen first policy have included the Jan Dhan Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, Ujjwala Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Jal Jeevan Mission, Digital India, and PM Kisan Yojana. His governance journey from Gandhinagar to New Delhi highlighted delivery-driven administration, infrastructure development, and electoral consolidation across states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed 25 years in public office, beginning his administrative journey on 7 October 2001 when he became Chief Minister of Gujarat. After serving as Chief Minister for 13 years, he led the Bharatiya Janata Party to majority victories in the 2014, 2019, and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, being sworn in for a third term as Prime Minister on 9 June 2024. The milestone highlights key policies under his tenure, including the Swachh Bharat Mission, Make in India, the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax regime, the 2016 demonetisation, the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the National Education Policy 2020, the digital infrastructure expansion through Unified Payments Interface, the Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration in 2024, and the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. To commemorate the occasion, celebrations are underway in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, featuring a massive biker rally from Vadnagar, temple visits, and a planned public gathering.

Apple Pay has launched in India after a decade-long wait, rolling out support initially for Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards across iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Unified Payments Interface is not included in the initial release. Apple Pay operates as a secure digital payment service enabling card transactions without entering an OTP or PIN, relying on on-device biometric or passcode authentication. Users can add eligible cards via Apple Wallet or the Axis Bank app and pay by holding their device near contactless readers.

On the Business Today Show, anchor Sakshi Batra tracks closing action across Dalal Street as the Nifty slips 95 points to end near 22,620 and Sensex trades weak under pressure from elevated crude oil prices and global bond yield spikes. Market expert Pankaj Pandey analyses persistent equity market volatility, rate hike expectations from the Reserve Bank of India, credit quality concerns in the microfinance space, and emerging opportunities in railway and premium consumption stocks. The broadcast reviews Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's scheduled meeting with traders over the proposed 0.4% UPI merchant discount rate fee. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government declares 265 talukas drought-hit, directing banks and financial institutions not to harass farmers for crop loan recoveries while announcing a 10% urban water cut. Additionally, the Union Cabinet approves a 1.86 lakh crore rupee outlay for rabi minimum support price increases, including hikes for wheat and safflower, alongside the PM Dhara renewable scheme approval.

The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of a public interest litigation challenging the implementation of UPI MDR charges, issuing notices to the Centre, the Reserve Bank of India, and NPCI. The court sought clarity on the legal basis of the fee, questioning whether it constitutes a fee or a tax and under which law it is being collected. While the counsel for the Reserve Bank of India stated that the government earns nothing and that the charges are transaction fees collected by banks and payment platforms, the top court declined to grant an interim stay on the rollout scheduled from October 15. An affidavit is expected to be filed within four weeks.

A morning business bulletin covers key financial developments, policy updates, and corporate events. The central government has clarified that there is no proposal to rethink Merchant Discount Rate on the Unified Payments Interface, nor is there any proposal to exempt fuel from it, while efforts with the Indian Banks' Association are being explored to ensure costs are not passed to consumers. In corporate updates, Tata Sons has rejected Noel Tata's objections to the reappointment of N. Chandrasekaran, citing majority board validity and legal opinions from former Chief Justice of India U. U. Lalit and former Supreme Court Judge B. N. Srikrishna ahead of shareholder ratification. Meanwhile, domestic stock indices opened mildly lower with the Nifty near 23,054, amid fluctuations in IT and banking shares alongside commentary on Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India consultation proposals. Additionally, the bulletin touches upon Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's remarks on trade pact negotiations and a high-profile dinner hosted in Washington.

Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) banks in India may remain shut for five consecutive days from September 26 to September 30 due to a three-day nationwide strike called by bank employee unions, combined with the regular weekend closure on fourth Saturday and Sunday. The key demands raised by the bank unions include the implementation of a five-day working week and the complete withdrawal of the Performance-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Customers have been advised to complete essential branch-related work, including cash deposits, cash withdrawals, cheque clearances, and loan processing, before September 25 to avoid disruptions. While physical bank branches will remain closed during the strike period, digital channels such as ATMs, UPI transactions, internet banking, and mobile banking services are expected to remain functional. The government is currently holding discussions with stakeholder associations, urging them to reconsider the proposed strike.

Petrol pump owners in Madhya Pradesh have opposed the new Merchant Discount Rate mechanism on Unified Payments Interface payments. Under the new fee structure starting in mid-October, merchant transactions above Rs 2,000 will attract a 0.4% charge. Fuel pump dealers stated that existing profit margins are already low and the additional levy would increase monthly operational costs by approximately Rs 17,700 per fuel station. In response, petrol pump operators are seeking the withdrawal of these charges and have indicated that they will stop accepting digital UPI payments above Rs 2,000, seeking cash payments instead.

In an interview, Kerala BJP Chief and Nemom MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar discusses Kerala's political landscape, governance, and economic challenges. Criticizing the past decade under the CPM, he states, "It was not a Kerala model, it was a CPM model. And that model was a very, very dysfunctional model." Chandrasekhar evaluates the state's financial crisis, emphasizing that severe debt and lack of investment pose major headwinds for Chief Minister VD Satheesan's administration. He addresses controversies surrounding UPI merchant discount rates, terming opposition criticism manufactured and affirming that consumer transactions remain unaffected. He also comments on the Vande Mataram controversy, asserting that constitutional laws must be upheld uniformly across all states.

A special broadcast reviews Prime Minister Narendra Modi's journey as he turns 76, marking 25 years in public life and his tenure as India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister. The report highlights India's economic ascent from the tenth to the fifth largest economy, structural reforms including the Goods and Services Tax, digital public infrastructure under the JAM trinity, and expansion in manufacturing through Production Linked Incentive schemes. Key welfare programs, such as the PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism, are detailed alongside rapid infrastructural growth spanning Vande Bharat trains, national highways, and aviation under the UDAN scheme. The bulletin examines India's foreign policy approach, space milestones including Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan, and traditional service-oriented birthday initiatives, culminating in the launch of healthcare programs in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. Global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, extended birthday greetings commending India's rising international profile.