In yet another setback to India’s rapidly growing digital economy, UPI (Unified Payments Interface) services across the country suffered a major disruption on Saturday morning. This marks the third significant outage in less than a month, severely impacting users and businesses who rely on the platform for quick and seamless financial transactions. Saturday’s outage left countless users stranded, unable to send or receive money through popular UPI-enabled apps such

Artificial intelligence (AI) is on track to become one of the most transformative technologies of the 21st century, with its market value expected to surge to $4.8 trillion by 2033, nearly the size of Germany’s economy. This staggering growth, as outlined by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), is set to drive productivity gains and contribute significantly to digital transformation across industries. However, this anticipated boom raises serious concerns, pa

  Purchasing a home has become more financially demanding for potential buyers, with a new study highlighting the necessity for a household income over $100,000 in several states. According to Bankrate’s 2025 Housing Affordability Study, 30 states and Washington, D.C. now require at least this much in annual household income to afford a typical home in the area. The data further sheds light on the stark contrast between high-income regions, li

As the popularity of short-form videos continues to skyrocket on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, a new health concern has emerged—‘reel-induced eye damage’. At the ongoing Joint Meeting of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) and All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS), top ophthalmologists have sounded the alarm over what they describe as a silent epidemic affecting eye health across all age groups. The concern is roo

As the new financial year begins on April 1, 2025, taxpayers, investors, and banking customers in India must prepare for several important changes in financial regulations. These reforms, previously announced by the government and regulatory bodies, are aimed at improving compliance, digital security, and financial transparency. Here’s a simple breakdown of the key changes that come into effect starting April 1.   1. Higher Income Tax Exemption Limit

Many users have faced difficulties in removing old or inactive mobile numbers linked to their UPI ID, leading to security risks and potential fraud. However, a new directive from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will simplify this process. By March 31, 2025, all banks and Payment Service Providers (PSPs) offering UPI services must update their databases to automatically remove inactive or recycled mobile numbers. The new rule is aimed at reducing errors and fraud that may ari

The Income Tax Department has issued a crucial reminder for taxpayers regarding the final instalment of advance tax for the financial year 2024-25. As per the official directive, taxpayers must clear their advance tax dues by March 15, 2025, to ensure compliance with Indian tax laws. Timely payment of advance tax not only prevents interest penalties but also contributes to the government's efforts towards economic growth, supporting the ‘Viksit Bharat Movement’ aimed at making

An American woman named Kristen Fischer, who has been living in India for nearly four years, recently shared her insights about things she has experienced in India that she believes would make life easier in the United States. In her now-viral Instagram video, Kristen listed ten things that impressed her about India's lifestyle, infrastructure, and services. From digital convenience to healthcare accessibility, these factors highlight what she considers significant advantages that India o

The first-ever White House crypto summit left some investors disappointed as Bitcoin prices dipped. While the event marked a shift in U.S. policy toward digital assets, the lack of strong commitments led to uncertainty. Crypto Industry Hopes for Stronger Support The White House hosted its first-ever cryptocurrency summit, bringing together top executive

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, reinforcing the United States’ role in cryptocurrency management. This move marks a significant shift in federal policy toward digital assets, as the US government will now officially stockpile Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies seized in criminal and civil forfeiture cases.Unlike traditional government reserves, this initiative does not involve taxpayer funds. Instead, the reserve will be bui

The Indian government has introduced the Income Tax Bill 2025, a major overhaul of the country’s tax laws, granting unprecedented investigative powers to tax authorities. While presented as a move to modernize tax compliance, the bill includes provisions that allow tax officers to access digital assets, emails, social media profiles, trading accounts, and cloud storage in cases of suspected tax evasion.Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the bill in Parliament, stating that i

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a new digital platform named "Mutual Fund Investment Tracing and Retrieval Assistant" (Mitra) to help investors track and reclaim lost, unclaimed, or inactive mutual fund investments. The initiative aims to reduce financial losses due to investor oversight, outdated KYC details, or the demise of the original investor.According to a circular issued by SEBI on February 12, 2025, an inactive folio is defined as a mutual f

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to introduce a major digital upgrade by allowing employees to withdraw their provident fund (EPF) claims using the Unified Payment Interface (UPI). This move is part of the Indian government’s broader initiative to enhance digital financial transactions and streamline fund disbursements for millions of subscribers. The feature is expected to launch in the next two to three months as EPFO collaborates with the National Paymen

Despite constant warnings from banks, government agencies, and corporates about the growing threat of online scams, many individuals continue to fall victim to these digital frauds. Recently, two retired government officials from Noida were scammed out of Rs. 2.87 crore, one through a digital arrest scam and the other via a forex trading fraud. Authorities have now launched criminal investigations into both incidents, hoping to curb the increasing number of cyberc

The global fear of becoming obsolete (FOBO) is growing, driven by advancements in AI and automation that are reshaping industries. In the face of this, India’s workforce is taking proactive steps to stay relevant. According to the ETS Human Progress Report 2025, 80% of Indians are upskilling using AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, much higher than the global average of 61%. The rise of 'Evidential Currency'—credentials and real-time skill assessments—is also c

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has recently issued 21,885 pension payment orders as part of its ongoing efforts to implement higher pensions under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995. As per Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shobha Karandlaje's written response in Lok Sabha, a total of 17.48 lakh applications were submitted by pensioners and members seeking to increase their pension by making higher contributions.   The EPF

A recent report by global analytics firm FICO has highlighted the increasing threat of scams in India's real-time payments (RTP) ecosystem. According to the survey, over one-third (34%) of respondents have lost money to scams, paying for goods, services, or investments that were never delivered. The report further reveals that 60% of respondents have received messages from scammers, and 54% reported that friends or family members have been scammed. Despite fewer people reporting

The Godrej Enterprises Group, known for its diverse presence across industries such as aerospace, defense, furniture, and IT software, revealed plans to invest more than Rs 1,200 crore over the next three to five years. This investment will focus on enhancing digital solutions and technology platforms, including AI and generative AI technologies. The group aims to improve customer experience, create a unified ecosystem, and foster deeper relationships with its 1.1 billion-strong consumer base

The Role of National Education Policy (NEP) in the Union Budget 2025: The Union Budget 2025-26 is crucial for shaping the future of India's education system, especially with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 being a significant focus. The BJP-led NDA government, entering its third term, continues to prioritize education and skill development. The NEP aims to modernize educati

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made a significant change to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system by enabling UPI payments between verified digital wallets, also known as Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs), and third-party UPI applications. This new directive will allow users of digital wallets to make and receive UPI payments via any third-party UPI app, rather than being limited to the wallet’s own mobile application. The move is aimed at enhancing interoperability within t