Exit polls for India's state assembly and by-elections point to tight races in West Bengal while projecting clearer leads for established alliances elsewhere. In Tamil Nadu, polls show the DMK-led front ahead, and in Kerala, the UDF holds an edge. The NDA is projected to win in both Assam and Puducherry. The most striking data point comes from Tamil Nadu, where Axis My India projects a major surge for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party launched by actor-turned-politician Vijay. TVK's projected performance suggests it could reshape Tamil Nadu's opposition space, potentially eating into votes that would otherwise split between the DMK and AIADMK blocs. West Bengal remains the most contested call, with no alliance showing a commanding lead in exit poll projections. Exit polls carry a track record of missing actual results, so final tallies will be the real test. Counting day will confirm whether Vijay's political debut translates into seats and whether the Bengal contest breaks clearly for any side.
India's government plans to amend the Payment and Settlement Systems Act to restore UPI merchant discount rates, ending the zero-MDR regime in place since January 2020.
India's government has introduced the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing changes to payments regulation, income tax, and the Finance Act to attract FDI and support Make in India. The Bill's final shape will depend on parliamentary debate and committee review.
The government's Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes to replace the blanket UPI MDR ban with a system allowing the Centre to notify which payment modes stay fee-free.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rs 5,000 crore Bhogapuram greenfield airport in Andhra Pradesh, built under a public-private partnership model. He also laid foundation stones for infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs 18,000 crore in the state, signalling a broad investment push for the region.
