Small merchants may face new UPI transaction fees for the first time since 2020

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.

Foreign investors may face lower tax friction on cross-border transactions in India

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.

Larger merchants may face small fees on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000

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.

New airport could open direct air routes to underserved coastal Andhra Pradesh districts

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.

Late filers may owe Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 in fees plus 1% monthly interest on unpaid tax

India's July 31, 2026, income tax return deadline has not been extended, leaving late filers liable for fees and interest. Business taxpayers without an audit requirement have until August 31, while those needing a tax audit must file by October 31, 2026.

Meta may face stricter compliance requirements for content moderation in India

India's IT Ministry summoned Meta's global head of public policy after automated filters removed Prime Minister Modi's Facebook post on paper leak legislation, with the government rejecting Meta's glitch explanation as insufficient.

Students sitting national exams may see stronger security and fewer paper leak risks

PM Modi has appointed Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to lead a high-powered task force on exam reforms targeting the National Test Agency, a day after the Education Minister resigned. The government is also introducing an amendment bill in the Lok Sabha to toughen penalties for paper leaks and exam malpractice.

A new exam reform task force may change how India's national tests are designed and delivered

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, with Pralhad Joshi named as his replacement. Prime Minister Modi announced a Nandan Nilekani-led task force on exam reforms, while protests ended after the CJP reached an agreement with Union Ministers Nadda and

NEP 2020 reforms may slow during the leadership transition period

Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of the Education Ministry after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. The dual-charge arrangement makes Joshi responsible for both Consumer Affairs and Education, with the permanence of the arrangement not yet confirmed.

Organised paper leak gangs could face up to Rs 10 crore in fines under the new bill

The Union Cabinet approved a bill amending the Public Examinations Act to raise penalties for paper leaks, including up to 10 years in prison and a Rs 10 crore fine for organised offenders. The bill is expected in Parliament on Monday, following PM Modi's late-night announcement amid protests over the NEET-UG leak.

Indian travelers and businesses in Spain may eventually pay via UPI at local merchants

India and Spain have agreed to speed up technical talks on linking UPI with Bizum, Spain's bank-run mobile payments platform, following meetings during Minister Piyush Goyal's European tour.

Repeated adjournments could delay key bills and government accountability hearings

India's Monsoon Session opened with Congress, SP, and Trinamool MPs entering the Well of the House over NEET paper leak and Ram Temple donation theft allegations, forcing the Lok Sabha to adjourn.

Daily fuel pricing could reduce windfall profits for traders who time inventory around price cycles

Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has announced a shift from weekly to daily fuel price adjustments, using a transparent formula-based system to remove political intervention and eliminate windfall trading opportunities.

International students may have just 30 days to find a US employer sponsor after graduation

The Trump administration finalized rules capping student visas at four years, journalist visas at 240 days (90 days for Chinese nationals), and adding restrictions on graduate school transfers and post-graduation grace periods.

Rival AI assistants may gain voice-activation and cross-app powers on Android by mid-2027

The European Commission has ordered Google to share anonymised search data with rival search engines and AI chatbots from January 2027, and to open 11 Android features to competing AI assistants by July 2027.

FCC commissioners may be forced to recuse from a $110 billion merger vote

FCC Chair Brendan Carr and Commissioner Olivia Trusty accepted thousands of dollars in Kennedy Center tickets from Paramount while the company's merger deals were pending before the agency. Ethics experts say both officials should recuse themselves from the upcoming Warner Bros.

State election officials may face gaps in federal technical guidance and funding support

President Trump fired Democratic EAC commissioners Benjamin Hovland and Thomas Hicks and allowed Republican Christy McCormick to resign, leaving the election standards agency with no members.

Immigrant minors with legal protections may still face detention and deportation under new policy

A data analysis of ICE records shows deportations of immigrants who entered the U.S. as unaccompanied minors are running at triple the rate of Trump's first term, with immigration courts issuing more than 10,000 removal orders per month.

Salaried workers earning Rs2.2m to Rs7m could see lower monthly tax deductions from July 2026

Pakistan's 2026-27 budget cuts income tax rates for salaried earners between Rs2.2 million and Rs7 million, abolishes super tax for incomes under Rs500 million, slashes business-class travel excise duty, and reduces customs duties on 92 tariff lines.

E-rickshaw drivers could lose a full day's income from a single remote shutdown

MeitY has ordered app stores to remove BAT-BMS, Epoch-i-ion, and Lossigy after the apps were used to remotely cut power to e-rickshaws via unsecured Bluetooth battery systems. Drivers in Delhi and Gurugram reported losing full working days after vehicles were shut down mid-route.