💸 UPI rules changing: who pays the MDR fee?

UPI rules are changing starting from October 15, 2026, introducing a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on certain transactions. Eligible merchants in various locations will now pay a standard MDR of 0.4% for UPI payments over Rs 2,000. Person-to-person transfers remain free, while P2M payments above Rs 2,000 are subject to this charge. Essential services like fuel have a flat Rs 5 MDR, but small vendors under Rs 1 lakh/month stay zero-MDR. Ultimately, the merchant bears this cost, not the end consumer.

💻 Business Laptop Deal: HP EliteBook for under $400

A refurbished HP EliteBook 830 G8 PRO is available for sale at $389.99, marked down from its regular price of $549.99. This laptop features an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and supports up to 32GB of RAM. It boasts a 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen and a 360° convertible design for versatility. The machine includes HP Wolf Security and is built with a portable CNC-machined aluminum chassis. This deal is perfect for anyone needing powerful, professional hardware without breaking the bank.

🏫 Lokesh launches two P4 renovated schools in Nellore

Minister Nara Lokesh inaugurated two government schools renovated under the P4 model on Wednesday. The schools, RSR High School in Stonehousepet and Devireddy Sarada High School in Mulapet, are located in SPSR Nellore district. The renovations cost ₹8 crore, funded by VPR Foundation, and ₹13.40 crore from DSR Group's CSR funds, respectively. This initiative is part of his tour of the district, where he met various local leaders. Following the inauguration, Lokesh also attended a rally and a TDP cadre meeting before leaving for Kovur.

😨 Woman hit and dragged by car near Lucknow park

A woman was severely injured after being hit by a car and dragged on its bonnet following a heated dispute. The incident occurred near Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow after the victim saw her partner with another woman. During the confrontation, the driver accelerated, striking her and carrying her on the moving vehicle. The situation escalated when the car drove towards her again before the driver fled the scene. Police have initiated an investigation, examining the viral video and evidence to identify the accused. 😨

🎖️ Commander who wouldn't leave won Param Vir Chakra

Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore passed away on the battlefield leading his regiment in the 1965 war. He was commanding the Poona Horse regiment in the Sialkot sector of Pakistan. During the six-day battle, his regiment destroyed about 60 enemy tanks while suffering only nine losses. Tarapore bravely refused evacuation even after being wounded during the intense fighting. For his incredible leadership and courage, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra. 🎖️

🏛️ SC stays Sridevi's Chennai property case

The Supreme Court issued a notice on September 16 to Boney Kapoor, Janhvi, and Kushi Kapoor regarding Sridevi's Chennai property. Petitioners MC Sivakami and MC Natarajan challenged the Madras High Court's decision rejecting Sridevi's suit. The dispute concerns a 4.7-acre property, with petitioners claiming the sale deeds are fraudulent. The High Court previously ruled the plea was time-barred, but the SC ordered a status quo until the next hearing. 🏛️

⚠️ Salesforce service down during big conference

Salesforce is currently facing a service disruption, preventing some customers from accessing its main services. This issue started at 07:50 UTC on 16 September, impacting core services globally. The company is investigating the problem under ID 20004433 but has not yet shared the cause or fix time. This outage coincides with the Dreamforce conference in San Francisco, where AI is a major focus. Salesforce promises to share more updates as their engineering teams continue their investigation.

✨ Student's voice tech helps visually impaired write

Lingampalli Himaja developed RUDHRA, a voice-enabled Braille printer, to aid the visually impaired. She is a student at Shri Vishnu Engineering College for Women in Andhra Pradesh. The device converts spoken words to Braille using Alexa and a Raspberry Pi, winning the India national James Dyson Award 2026. This innovation simplifies Braille creation by eliminating the need for traditional writing techniques. Winning the award grants her recognition and support to advance the technology further. 🤩

🧐 IPS officer transfer over greeting controversy

An IPS officer has reportedly been transferred following a complaint. The incident occurred when the officer used the phrases "Assalamualaikum" and "Inshallah" during an interaction with civil service aspirants. This event took place recently, though specific dates are not provided in the report. The complaint suggests that the use of these religious greetings caused some offense among the attendees. Authorities are reportedly reviewing the matter to determine the next steps regarding the transfer. 🧐

😟 Guwahati teens face high substance use risks

A study revealed that 42.3% of surveyed adolescents in Guwahati face moderate or high substance-use risk, which is the highest among six Indian districts. This multi-centre study involved 6,168 school-going adolescents across 108 schools. The high risk is linked to digital exposure, peer pressure, and weak anti-substance-use attitudes in Guwahati. Experts suggest this combination of accessibility and pressure is fueling vulnerability among youth. Increased family support and guidance are highlighted as key factors for prevention moving forward. 😟

😟 9-year-old beaten by teacher in Jammu madrasa

A nine-year-old boy was severely beaten by a teacher at a madrasa in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir. The student, whose father is a shepherd, escaped the institution after the brutal assault. Locals noticed the injuries and notified the Child Welfare Committee, leading to his rescue nearly 30 kilometres away. The boy alleged that such harsh treatment was common practice at the madrasa. Authorities confirmed that the accused teacher and the madrasa administration will face strict legal action. 😟