India's #Modi govt levying tax on #UPI and #RuPay transactions under #US pressure

UPI and RuPay driving US payment platforms like Visa and MasterCard out of the Indian market : US Trade Representative's 2026 report 

The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced by the Modi government, eliminates the statutory guarantee that had so far kept UPI transactions fee-free. It paves the way for imposing a merchant discount rate (MDR), which could easily be applied in the future to all types of digital payments. The burden of this will ultimately fall on ordinary people, who may now have to pay even for using UPI.

The Modi government's claim that this is the only way to keep UPI financially sustainabl

e is entirely wrong. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has sufficient capacity to maintain the UPI system on a financially sustainable basis without imposing any additional fees on merchants or consumers. In 2025-26, the RBI had transferred a surplus of ₹2.86 lakh crore to the Modi government. Just a small portion of this amount would be enough to support this vital digital public infrastructure.

In fact, the real reason behind this amendment is perhaps even more concerning. This step has been taken following the U.S. Trade Representative's 2026 report, which criticized the fee-free nature of UPI and RuPay and accused them of driving American payment platforms like Visa and MasterCard out of the market. Is the Modi government, under pressure from its good friend Donald Trump, seeking to weaken UPI and open up the digital payments sector to American companies?

And this wouldn't be the first time. Donald Trump has publicly claimed more than 100 times that he pressured the Modi government into securing a sudden ceasefire during Operation Sindoor by threatening American tariffs. The United States has also claimed that India's gradual reduction in oil imports from Russia is a result of President Trump's directives. We also know that the Modi government, bowing to President Trump's bullying, accepted a trade agreement between India and the United States that was widely regarded as unfair and which particularly sacrificed the interests of our farmers and small businesses.

Union Agriculture Minister returns Rs. 99 lakh subsidy after media expose

Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture, returned ₹99 lakh he received for a commercial cucumber project on his Rajasthan property in Peeh village. The subsidy, part of a horticulture scheme under his ministry, was credited to his bank account in March 2026 following NHB approval. Choudhary, a lifelong farmer and BJP MP from Ajmer, defended following all rules and using the farm for training, while the Centre confirmed no guidelines bar public officials from such aid. The refund came a month after an Indian Express report highlighted the issue, with another BJP MP also noted as a recipient of smaller funds.

Since July 25, no death certificate being issued in #KMC area under #BJP government

Death certificates have reportedly not been issued in the KMC area since July 25, leaving hundreds of bereaved families unable to complete essential legal formalities.

• Around 1,000 death certificates are estimated to be pending, while nearly 300 cremations take place daily across 6 KMC crematoriums.

Nearly 300 cremations occur daily across 6 KMC-operated crematoriums  

Families submit medical death certificates and Aadhaar but receive only a money receipt, which holds no legal validity  

Cremation certificates are also not being issued  

The disruption stems from an ongoing probe into birth and death certificate issuance processes and recent changes in signing authority  

Officials warn the backlog could become unmanageable if the suspension continues

No official timeline for resumption of certificate issuance has been provided.  

Families face hurdles in accessing insurance, pension, and property transfer benefits without valid documentation.

• Families are currently receiving only a money receipt after submitting the medical death certificate and the deceased's Aadhaar, which has no legal validity for insurance, pension, banking, inheritance, property transfer or other statutory claims.

• Cremation certificates are also not being issued, leaving families from outside Kolkata unable to apply for death certificates in their home civic bodies.

• The disruption is reportedly linked to an ongoing probe into birth and death certificate issuance and changes in the authority to sign death certificates, with pressure mounting to restore the earlier system.

• Officials have warned that the backlog could become difficult to manage if the suspension continues.

Future 'air taxis' showcased in Wuhan #China

The E-HAWK is a hybrid-electric eVTOL developed by Electric Eagle Technology Group, positioned as a “flying car–type” platform aimed at low-altitude logistics and rescue missions. It has recently cleared a key hybrid-power verification flight in Wuhan’s Optics Valley low-altitude pilot zone and has already logged more than 100 test flights, showing stable and repeatable flight behaviour.

From a configuration standpoint, E-HAWK is relatively compact (5.6 m long, 3.9 m wide, 1.8 m high) but heavy-duty for its class. Maximum takeoff weight is 1.2 tonnes, with a payload capacity of 450 kg. Endurance exceeds 20 minutes, which the developers explicitly frame as a limitation-breaker compared with battery-only eVTOLs.

The core technical differentiator is its hybrid power architecture. Instead of using the turbine for direct thrust, E-HAWK employs a micro-turbine coupled to a high-speed permanent-magnet generator. This turbine-generator set produces electrical power for the lift motors and onboard systems, effectively acting as a high-power-density range extender. The design targets better endurance and payload performance while retaining electric propulsion characteristics at the rotors.

The aircraft uses a fully enclosed, eight-channel electric propulsion system. This enclosed layout improves safety and allows “parking-space-level” vertical takeoff and landing, reducing dependence on dedicated vertiports.

Significant engineering effort went into the hybrid system itself. Over roughly two years, the team tackled high-speed rotor modal stability, stator-rotor thermal management, and lubrication reliability for turbine-side bearings operating at extreme RPM. A notable outcome is coordinated control of the turbine-generator and multiple generators operating in parallel, forming a self-organizing onboard power network that simplifies flight-control integration and supports adaptation to different airframes.

The latest test flights focused on validating power stability, transient response, and thermal behaviour in real flight rather than expanding the full flight envelope. While no hard numbers for speed or range were released, the tests confirmed steady turbine-generator operation and reliable power delivery to the rotors, meeting current demonstration goals.

Next development steps include lowering specific fuel consumption, improving cooling efficiency, and pushing the design toward production readiness. Initial applications are planned for cargo and emergency missions around 2026, with crewed operations targeted for 2027

#Thailand planning 15-day visa-free travel for Indian tourists

The Thailand Pavilion at TTF Kolkata 2026, showcasing traditional Thai culture through umbrella painting by Thai artists.

The event is supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata.

"We plan a 15-day visa-free policy for Indian tourists, but we need approval from the cabinet. The proposal has already been floated. It is not effective yet. It is still pending. We expect a new policy for India, particularly for Indian tourists. You can stay 15 days without a visa. For longer stays, you can apply for a visa very easily, " said Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata.

West Bengal government working on a new tourism policy

#Indonesia plans to buy additional #BrahMos from India

Ahead of PM Modi's visit to Indonesia, reports suggest Jakarta is looking to expand its planned procurement of BrahMos

This comes weeks after Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said India's BrahMos export deal with Vietnam had already been signed, with Indonesia next in line

If finalised, the deal would further strengthen India's position as a reliable exporter of advanced defence systems.

The sale of additional BrahMos supersonic missile systems is expected to come up during Modi's three-day visit to the country.

India ⁠has already signed ⁠a deal with Vietnam under which it will supply BrahMos missiles which it has jointly ‌developed with Russia and is in “final stages” for a similar deal with Indonesia, India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on ⁠Saturday. India has a strong commitment ‌to Asean nations, Singh said, without disclosing more details ‌of the deals related to BrahMos.

India, which has been building ‌up ‌domestic defence manufacturing for local use ‌and exports, has already sold ⁠the supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines.

A deal with Vietnam could be worth about 60 ‌billion rupees (US$629 million), ‌including training and logistical support, a source previously said. BrahMos’ growing export appeal rests on a combination of raw performance and its proven combat abilities. The missile’s battlefield debut came during “Operation Sindoor” in May 2025, India’s military campaign against Pakistan following a militant attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, that killed at least 26 civilians.

World is at an inflection point : New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon has said that the world is at an "inflection point in global geopolitics." He argues that while the emerging multipolar order is still evolving, countries must strengthen multilateral institutions and deepen cooperation with like-minded partners to address shared global challenges.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit New Zealand in July, which would be Modi’s first head of government. This is a historic trip given that India and New Zealand, on 27 April 2026, concluded a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in New Delhi. The deal, which is undergoing ratification, gives a practical shape to the long-standing desire of both nations to deepen their commercial ties.

New Zealand has for a long time considered India as a “strategic partner,” given the weight of the Indian economy, its increasing role in global politics, and its geographical centrality in the Indo-Pacific. A stronger bilateral relationship also helps New Zealand to not rely too heavily on a small group of countries for its exports.

One factor that has brought the two countries closer is the presence of a large Indian community in New Zealand, estimated at around 300,000 people (six percent of the population). Through commerce, academic exchanges, cultural activities and family connections, this diaspora has served as a link, referred to as a “vital living bridge” between the two governments over many years.

The trade between the two countries is still relatively small when compared to the overall size of the Indian economy. New Zealand exported to India goods and services valued at NZ$2.03 billion in the year ending December 2025, which made India only its 11th largest export market. This figure suggests that much of the trade potential between the two economies is yet to be realized.

Arvind SmartSpaces declares dividend of Rs. 2.25/- per share for Q4 FY26

Arvind SmartSpaces Ltd has announced its Q4 & FY26 Financial Results. 

Q4 & FY26 Financial Results highlights 

- Annual Booking Value of Rs. 1,550 Cr, YoY growth 22%

- Annual Collections of Rs. 1,100 Cr, YoY growth of 17%

- Quarterly Booking Value of Rs. 612 Cr; YoY growth of 61%

- Quarterly Collections of Rs. 355 Cr; YoY growth of 65%

- Net Operating Cash Flows of Rs. 417 Cr in FY26

- Crossed Rs. 100 Cr of PAT for consecutive years

- Acquired new projects with an expected topline of ~Rs. 3,140 Cr during FY26

- The Board of Directors recommended a final dividend of Rs. 2.25/- per equity share of face value of Rs. 10/- each

Arvind SmartSpaces (ASL) is one of India’s leading real estate development companies and a part of the Lalbhai Group. In March this year Pirojsha Adi Godrej had bought 8,17,530 shares in the real estate developer for ₹498 per share, while HDFC Capital Affordable Real Estate Fund-1 sold the same amount of shares for the similar price. 

⁠Five year extension for state government jobs in #WB under #BJP

Seven key decisions taken in the first cabinet meeting led by BJP led West Bengal government headed by CM Suvendu Adhikari today.  

1. Appreciate efforts of EC, Observers, Kolkata Police, West Bengal Police. 

2. ⁠As many as 321 BJP party workers killed paid respects by the cabinet, their families responsibility will be taken state govt. 

3. ⁠Process for land transfer to BSF for erecting fence on India-Bangladesh border & complete work of land transfer by 45 days. 

4. ⁠Ayushman Bharat scheme work begins, to be implemented soon. State enrolls itself under all central schemes like - PM Jan Arogya Yojana, Fasal Yojana, PM Viswakarma, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and all the other central schemes. Implementation soon. All petitions pending at centres for Ujjwala Yojana. 

5. IAS & IPS officers will be allowed for central training. BNS was not implemented in the state. 

6.West Bengal to implement BNS immediately. 

7. ⁠Five year extension for state government jobs.