Axis My India's exit poll for Tamil Nadu's 2026 assembly election projects that actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is set for a strong debut, winning around 120 seats. The ruling DMK, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, is projected to lose power, with its seat count dropping to 110. Tamil Nadu's assembly has 234 seats, so a majority requires 118. If the projection holds, TVK would cross that threshold on its first electoral outing, a rare achievement for a new party. DMK has governed the state since winning the 2021 election. Exit polls are surveys conducted after voters leave booths and have a mixed accuracy record, they indicate trends but are not final results. Actual vote counts will determine the outcome. The result matters for the state's political direction and for national opposition politics, since DMK is a key Congress alliance partner. Watch for the official counting date to confirm whether TVK's debut translates into government formation.
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.
