A 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) may be charged on UPI payments above ₹2,000 made to merchants, according to a new proposal. The move is aimed at helping banks and payment companies cover the cost of handling UPI transactions. The proposed charge would apply to merchant payments, while person-to-person transfers would remain free. The government has not yet taken a final decision on introducing the charge. UPI has become one of India’s most widely used payment methods, with millions of transactions made every day. The proposal could affect businesses that receive large-value payments through UPI.

Gurugram Police have arrested Kalyan Bainsla, the driver accused of ramming his car into woman biker Shivani Chauhan (Sia) on Golf Course Road, along with his cousin Lavnish Gurjar. Both were detained in Dausa, Rajasthan, on Tuesday, days after Sunday's incident went viral. CCTV footage showed Bainsla's white sedan swerving into Sia's Aprilia RS 457, throwing her off the bike. Police added an attempt-to-murder charge, carrying up to 10 years in prison. Bainsla had earlier claimed he didn't know the rider was a woman, a claim Sia has strongly disputed, alleging the attack was deliberate and premeditated. (PC: HT)

Pakistan has raised its bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar from PKR 50 lakh to PKR 70 lakh, listing him as a fugitive in its 2026 Red Book of most-wanted terrorists. India has dismissed the move as a "phoney announcement", calling it a smokescreen timed ahead of the FATF plenary in October to avoid the grey list. New Delhi says Indian intelligence assessments over the past six months show Azhar is actually hiding in Nawabshah, Sindh, contradicting Pakistan's long-standing claim that he fled to Afghanistan. Azhar remains wanted for the Parliament attack, 26/11, Pathankot and Pulwama bombings.

Three young men from western Uttar Pradesh, Himanshu Sharma, Shakti Punder and Ashu Saini, have gone missing in Russia, their families said, alleging they were coerced into fighting on the Ukraine frontline. The trio had travelled to Russia in 2025 on student visas for language courses and part-time work. Relatives say a panicked final call on July 30 suggested the men were being pushed toward the frontlines against their will, with passports allegedly confiscated. Over 30 Indians have reportedly died serving with the Russian military in the conflict so far. Families are now seeking urgent government intervention. (PC: X)

Gurugram Police on Tuesday arrested Kalyan Bainsla, the car driver accused of ramming his speeding Ciaz into a woman biker's Aprilia RS 457 on Golf Course Road, two days after the incident went viral. Bainsla was nabbed from Rajgarh in Rajasthan. The biker, identifying herself as Sia, alleged she was deliberately targeted and that Bainsla fled without checking on her after the crash. Following CCTV analysis, police added the charge of attempt to murder under Section 109 of the BNS, which carries up to 10 years' imprisonment, to the earlier FIR for rash driving and causing hurt. (PC: India Today)

The Finance Ministry has notified that banks and payment system providers cannot charge fees on UPI and RuPay debit card transactions up to ₹2,000. The notification, issued under Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, follows an amendment passed in Parliament's Monsoon Session. While small transactions remain fully protected, the rule opens the possibility of a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select higher-value merchant transactions above ₹2,000. The NPCI's UPI Steering Committee is expected to finalise MDR rates soon, with industry estimates suggesting 25-30 basis points for larger businesses. Person-to-person UPI payments remain unaffected. (PC: NDTV)

Chaos erupted at Delhi's IGI Airport as passengers of two SpiceJet flights to Dubai staged protests after delays stretched beyond 24 hours. Flights SG 5111 and SG 5105 were both rescheduled multiple times, leaving travellers stranded without clarity on departure, food, or accommodation. Passengers alleged no airline staff were available to address their concerns, prompting airport officials to step in with food and rest arrangements. A heated exchange between a passenger and an official over video recording further fuelled tensions. SpiceJet attributed the delays to the grounding of an aircraft and said alternate flights were being arranged, apologising for the inconvenience caused. (PC: India Today)

Several Delhi schools received bomb threats on Tuesday morning, triggering emergency evacuations as mid-term exams were underway. The British School, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Springdales and Air Force Bal Bharati School were among the institutions affected, with police, bomb disposal teams, sniffer dog squads and fire services deployed. Sardar Patel Vidyalaya confirmed all students were safely evacuated and that police were informed and taking necessary steps. The school was holding its first day of half-yearly exams when the threat arrived; senior school students had already finished most papers. Authorities are investigating; officials say the threats appear to be hoaxes, as in past incidents. (PC: HT)

Gurugram Police on Tuesday arrested Kalyan Bainsla, the car driver accused of ramming a woman biker on Golf Course Road, from Rajgarh in Rajasthan. Police said the arrest followed the addition of an attempt-to-murder charge under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The victim, known online as "Sia," sustained injuries after her sports bike was struck on Sunday. A viral video showed the car chasing and colliding with her before fleeing the scene. Bainsla has claimed the crash was accidental, saying he panicked and left fearing mob violence. The case has sparked nationwide outrage over women's safety on Gurugram roads. (PC: X)

The government has prohibited banks and payment system providers from imposing direct or indirect charges on UPI transactions of up to Rs 2,000 and payments made using RuPay-powered debit cards. A Finance Ministry notification specified both as electronic payment modes covered by the ban. The move leaves scope for a possible fee framework for higher-value merchant transactions. Under the notification, no bank or system provider can charge a person making or receiving a payment through the specified modes. The decision comes amid debate over introducing Merchant Discount Rate charges for larger transactions. The government’s move ensures payments through UPI up to Rs 2,000 and RuPay debit cards remain free from charges imposed by banks or payment system providers. (PC: Reuters)