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Elections 2026Education / The Times of India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined Indias BRICS vision at the Leaders Session of the BRICS Business Forum, stressing secure sea lanes, freedom of navigation and safety of seafarers. He highlighted Indias focus on resilient supply chains, infrastructure, strategic sectors and UPI, saying 50% of the worlds real-time payments use the technology. Modi also pointed to Indias free trade agreements with nearly 40 countries. Under Indias BRICS presidency, he proposed removing the top 10 trade barrier
UPI now dominates Indian merchant payments, significantly reducing card usage. Debit cards are primarily used for cash withdrawals, not shopping. Credit cards are specializing in larger purchases and e-commerce transactions. RuPay credit cards can now link directly to UPI apps. The QR code scan is becoming the default checkout method for everyday purchases.
UPI payments are set to become more convenient with the RBIs introduction of UPI Tap and Pay and MyUPI. Tap and Pay allows users with NFC-enabled smartphones to make payments at compatible POS terminals by unlocking their phones and tapping them on the machine, even without mobile internet. The transaction uses the POS terminals internet connection. Payments up to 5,000 can be made without entering a UPI PIN, while larger transactions require authentication. Alongside this, MyUPI, developed by N
Google has made significant changes to its European search results to meet EU antitrust rules. These mandated adjustments will reportedly lower search quality for consumers and raise operational costs. The company warns these changes are the most severe downgrade in its search history. Similar concerns were previously raised by Apple regarding EU regulatory impacts. These modifications prioritize online intermediaries over direct local business listings.
Spreading Awareness About Drug Abuse, Breast Cancer Also Discussed
A light-hearted exchange between PM Narendra Modi and a teacher during an interaction with National Teachers Award winners sparked laughter after the teacher gave a witty response to Modis public-speaking tip.
Pune: The corporators, including the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), objected to the demand for water charges of around Rs 935 crore made by the irrigation department to the PMC. The department claimed that the corporation must pay the amount as charges and arrears for lifting additional water than the prescribed quota since 2016.
Nishu Azad has issued a clarification over her controversial remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the CJP protest.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever shared a light-hearted remark about the Indian secret of killing with food while speaking in Mumbai, praising the irresistible charm of Indian cuisine.
Italy PM Giorgia Meloni has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he congratulated her on becoming Italys longest continuously serving postwar prime minister. Meloni, who has completed 1,413 consecutive days in office, said the India-Italy relationship is stronger than ever and highlighted their Special Strategic Partnership and cooperation on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. Modi praised Melonis leadership and friendship in strengthening bilateral ties. Meanwhile, the duos s
Rose-Hulman students have developed a remarkable wearable device tailored for visually impaired individuals. This innovative headgear employs advanced sensors to identify surrounding obstacles, providing users with haptic feedback. With a remarkable twelve-hour battery life on a single charge, this device empowers users with greater independence. The project's goal is to enhance the day-to-day experiences of those with vision impairments.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has invited eligible Higher Educational Institutions to apply for recognition to offer Open and Distance Learning and online programmes for the 2026-27 academic year. The application process covers sessions beginning January-February 2027 onwards. Institutions must register through the UGC DEB portal, while applications will be scrutinised before recognition is granted.