Union Cabinet Approves 3% Hike in Dearness Allowance to 63%
The Union Cabinet approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief, raising rates from 60% to 63% from July 1, 2026. The decision will benefit approximately 48.54 lakh central government employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners across India.
Originally posted by The Hindu
NPCI and IIIT Hyderabad Partner to Strengthen Digital Payment Cybersecurity
NPCI and IIIT Hyderabad signed an agreement to strengthen cybersecurity in digital payments through joint research, practical security solutions and specialised training. The collaboration will involve IIIT Hyderabad’s Cyber Manthan Centre and focus on emerging threats facing India’s growing digital payments infrastructure.
Originally posted by The Times of India
SEBI to Review Compliance Rules for Foreign Portfolio Investors
SEBI plans to review compliance requirements for foreign portfolio investors and seek public feedback on aligning Indian rules with global standards. The proposed changes aim to simplify market access and reduce regulatory burdens while preserving investor safeguards and market integrity.
Originally posted by The Times of India
Haryana Introduces UPI Payments Across 610 Public Healthcare Institutions
Haryana has enabled UPI payments at 610 public healthcare institutions and expanded online OPD pre-registration to reduce hospital queues. Patients can pay applicable hospital charges digitally, while traditional walk-in registration and cash payments will remain available for those preferring them.
Originally posted by ETHealthworld
India Could Have Reached 8% Growth Without External Shocks, Says RBI Deputy Governor
RBI Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta said India could already have reached 8% economic growth without external shocks. She cited improvements in digital infrastructure, manufacturing, public services and governance, arguing that stronger domestic systems have increased the economy’s resilience to global uncertainty.
Originally posted by The Times of India
SEBI Extends Compliance Deadline for Debenture Trustees to April 2027
SEBI has extended the deadline for debenture trustees to shift non-regulated activities into separate business units until April 27, 2027. The six-month extension follows implementation challenges raised by industry bodies and an ongoing expert review of the regulatory framework for trustees.
Originally posted by Moneycontrol
FASTag Transactions Fall 3.89% in September Despite Rising Tag Issuance
FASTag transactions declined 3.89% month-on-month to 337.34 million in September 2026, according to NPCI data. However, cumulative FASTag issuance increased to 130.33 million, suggesting that the growing number of issued tags did not translate into higher transaction volumes that month.
Originally posted by MediaNama
Union Cabinet Approves ₹7,395.55 Crore Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana
The Union Cabinet approved the ₹7,395.55 crore Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana for 2026–31. Covering over 2.55 lakh Panchayats, the scheme aims to strengthen digital governance, planning, financial accountability and training for elected representatives and local government officials across India.
Originally posted by Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
SEBI announced direct mutual fund plans as the default option on asset management company digital platforms from November 1, 2026. Investors opting for regular plans must be informed about higher expense ratios, improving transparency around investment costs and distributor commissions.
Originally posted by Moneycontrol
NPCI Approved WhatsApp Pay for Phased UPI Rollout in 2020
In November 2020, NPCI approved WhatsApp Pay to launch UPI services through a phased rollout, initially restricting registrations to 20 million users. The limit was subsequently expanded and removed entirely in December 2024, allowing WhatsApp Pay to onboard users nationwide.
Originally posted by ETGovernment
RBI Rejects All 224 Bids in ₹23,000 Crore Treasury Bill Auctions
RBI rejected all 224 bids across three Treasury Bill auctions worth ₹23,000 crore, marking its first complete rejection since March 2025. Dealers linked the move to elevated yield demands amid tight liquidity, while government cash balances reduced immediate borrowing pressure.
Originally posted by The Times of India
Former RBI Governor D Subbarao said India needs growth that creates more jobs, not just higher output. He called for stronger private investment, labour-intensive manufacturing, skills development and deeper global integration to make economic expansion more inclusive and economically resilient.
Originally posted by The New Indian Express
Higher EPFO Wage Ceiling Could Reduce PF Lump Sum by ₹20 Lakh
A higher EPFO wage ceiling could redirect part of employers’ provident fund contributions into pensions. In one illustrative 25-year scenario, the PF lump sum falls by about ₹20.63 lakh, offset by an estimated ₹9,643 in monthly pension payments from age 58.
Originally posted by Business Standard
SEBI Issues Warnings to Over 200 Foreign Portfolio Investors
SEBI has issued administrative warnings to more than 200 foreign portfolio investors since 2024 following compliance reviews. Lapses included incomplete KYC records, delayed ownership updates and beneficial ownership disclosures. The regulator reportedly chose warnings over formal proceedings for comparatively minor violations.
Originally posted by Moneycontrol
Critical PHP Security Flaws Force Government Websites Offline
Critical security flaws in PHP prompted government websites across Europe and elsewhere to go offline temporarily as authorities deployed emergency patches. Developers released updates to address vulnerabilities that could enable malicious code execution, urging operators to secure affected systems without delay.
Originally posted by Reuters
EPFO and ESIC Schedule Nidhi Aapke Nikat Outreach Programme in Tiruppur
EPFO and ESIC scheduled a joint Nidhi Aapke Nikat outreach camp in Tiruppur on October 27 to address provident fund, pension and employee insurance queries. The initiative offered grievance assistance and guidance to workers, employers, pensioners and other local stakeholders.
Originally posted by The Hindu
NPCI Defers 0.4% UPI MDR Rollout Until After Diwali
NPCI postponed the 0.4% merchant discount rate on eligible UPI payments above ₹2,000, cancelling its October 15 start date. The charge is now scheduled for after Diwali, with a fresh implementation date yet to be announced, giving merchants more preparation time.
Originally posted by The Times of India
Merchants Say Banks and Government Should Bear UPI Charges
Merchant representatives argued that banks and the government should bear UPI processing costs rather than businesses accepting digital payments. They warned that the proposed MDR could hurt already narrow margins, particularly for small retailers, and potentially discourage wider digital payment adoption.
Originally posted by The Hindu
SEBI to Issue AI and Machine Learning Guidelines Soon
SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said guidelines for AI and machine learning in capital markets were coming soon, focusing on accountability, data controls and human oversight. Separate rules for derivatives expiry-day settlement pricing were also expected following consultation with market participants.
Originally posted by The Economic Times
EPFO 3.0 Rollout May Face Another Year's Delay
EPFO 3.0 may require another year after its technology tender concludes, potentially delaying initiatives for gig, platform, unorganised and construction workers. The new system aims to modernise provident fund administration, but its implementation timeline has raised concerns about timely social security coverage.
Originally posted by Business Standard
RBI May Take Further Steps to Curb Rupee Volatility, Says Finance Minister
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said RBI may take additional measures to curb excessive rupee volatility without targeting any fixed exchange rate. Recent central bank interventions and restrictions on dollar demand supported the currency, even as global uncertainties continued to pressure markets.
Originally posted by The Economic Times
September Retail Inflation Rises to 5.54% as Food Costs Climb
India’s retail inflation rose to 5.54% in September 2026 from 4.83% in August, exceeding RBI’s 4% target. Food inflation reached 7.74%, while rural inflation climbed to 6.08%, underscoring growing pressure on household spending amid higher essential goods prices across the country.
Originally posted by News On AIR
Fintech platforms may continue charging platform, convenience or technology fees alongside UPI merchant discount rates. Industry participants distinguish these charges from MDR because they cover additional services, meaning merchants or consumers could still face separate costs depending on the platform and transaction.
Originally posted by Moneycontrol
UPI’s 0.4% MDR Rollout May Shift to January 2027
An October 8 report said NPCI was considering delaying the 0.4% MDR rollout until January 2027 amid merchant concerns. NPCI subsequently confirmed a postponement until after Diwali but did not announce January as the new implementation date, leaving the final timeline open.
Originally posted by India Today
RBI Raises Repo Rate to 5.5% After 3.5 Years
RBI raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%, its first increase since February 2023, and shifted to calibrated tightening. Floating-rate borrowers may face higher borrowing costs, while fixed deposit returns could rise as banks adjust their interest rates.
Originally posted by The Times of India
RBI Governor Says 0.4% UPI MDR Is Unlikely to Reduce Transaction Volumes
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the proposed 0.4% MDR on select UPI merchant transactions was unlikely to significantly affect volumes. He noted that transaction activity had not declined at the time, even as businesses debated whether extra payment costs might influence acceptance.
Originally posted by The New Indian Express
₹5 Lakh Health Cover Becomes a New Employee Benefits Benchmark
A Plum report found that ₹5 lakh health insurance coverage is becoming a common employee benefits benchmark. Since FY22, the share of employers offering more than ₹5 lakh coverage increased 53%, alongside growing maternity, accident, term life and preventive healthcare benefits.
Originally posted by Business Today
Zimbabwe Explores UPI Technology for National Payments Network
Zimbabwe’s central bank is exploring NPCI International’s UPI technology for a national real-time payment network. The proposed system would connect banks, mobile-money providers and fintechs, while talks were expected to conclude by October 31, potentially supporting cheaper and faster domestic transfers.
Originally posted by Moneycontrol
RBI Removes Paytm Payments Bank From Scheduled Banks List
RBI removed Paytm Payments Bank from its list of scheduled banks following cancellation of the institution’s banking licence over regulatory non-compliance. The decision concerns the payments bank specifically and should not be confused with the separate Paytm app or its UPI services.
Originally posted by Livemint
RBI Expands Account Aggregator Interoperability and Consolidated Financial Statements
RBI announced plans for interoperability between Account Aggregators, making consent-based financial data sharing easier across participating platforms. It also plans to include bank deposits in consolidated account statements alongside investments, giving customers a more complete view of their finances in one place.
Originally posted by The Times of India
Apple Pay Launches in India
Apple Pay launched in India on September 30, initially supporting Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Customers can make secure contactless and online payments using compatible iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches, with support for Mac devices expected at a later stage.
Originally posted by Apple
Supreme Court Questions Legal Basis of 0.4% UPI MDR
The Supreme Court questioned the legal authority behind the 0.4% MDR on select UPI merchant payments above ₹2,000. It sought explanations from the government, RBI and NPCI, while declining an interim stay as the legal challenge continued before the court.
Originally posted by The Hindu
India and Qatar Discuss Wider UPI Use as Investment Treaty Talks Advance
India and Qatar discussed expanding UPI acceptance in Qatar alongside negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty. The talks also covered Qatar’s $10 billion investment commitment and potential infrastructure cooperation, reflecting efforts to strengthen financial connectivity and economic ties between the countries.
Originally posted by Moneycontrol
Traders Withdraw October 2 ‘No UPI Day’ Call After Meeting FM Sitharaman
Trader associations withdrew their planned October 2 ‘No UPI Day’ protest after meeting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. They sought reconsideration of the proposed MDR on eligible merchant payments and a festive-season delay, citing added costs for smaller businesses accepting UPI.
Originally posted by Moneycontrol
NSE Gets SEBI Approval to Launch Corporate Bond Index Futures
NSE received SEBI’s no-objection certificate to introduce corporate bond index futures, subject to RBI approval. These exchange-traded contracts could help investors hedge bond exposure and manage portfolio risk, offering another tool for risk transfer in India’s expanding corporate debt market.
Originally posted by The Economic Times
RBI Amends FEMA Rules for Export and Import of Goods and Services
RBI amended FEMA regulations for exports and imports, effective October 1, 2026. The revised rules shorten specified export proceeds realisation timelines from fifteen to nine months and give authorised dealer banks greater authority to resolve certain older trade transactions without RBI approval.
Originally posted by SCC Online
UPI Transactions Rise 23% to 24.07 Billion in September
UPI processed 24.07 billion transactions worth ₹29.37 lakh crore in September 2026, according to NPCI. Volume rose 23% year-on-year and value grew 18%, although monthly volume dipped from August. Average daily transactions reached approximately 802 million during September across India.
Originally posted by DD News
