The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has widened the scope of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions by allowing small finance banks (SFBs) to provide pre-sanctioned credit lines. RBI had introduced credit lines on UPI in September 2023 for banks and third party apps.

UPI currently facilitates transactions through linked savings accounts, overdraft accounts, prepaid wallets, and credit cards.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may be considering appointing two deputy chief ministers in Delhi, following similar strategies to the national capital as other BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Media reports suggest that BJP’s appointment of two deputies would better reflect the city’s diverse demographics and accommodate leaders from various castes, communities, and regional backgrounds, party leaders said on Wednesday.

The Congress on Thursday said Article 174 that stipulates there cannot be more than a six month gap between two assembly sessions has been "violated" in Manipur and alleged that this is a "deliberate contempt of the Constitution".

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the breakdown of constitutional machinery in Manipur and the agony of the people of the state continues as they still await a visit by PM Narendra Modi "who goes everywhere but Manipur".

US President Donald Trump and visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a press conference on Thursday when they meet in Washington, the White House said, a rare press briefing by the Indian leader.

Modi held a press conference with former President Joe Biden during a 2023 visit, but it is unusual for him to take questions from the media beyond occasional interviews, mostly around the time of elections.

Four days after N Biren Singh resigned as Manipur chief minister, the political situation in the state remains uncertain with the ruling BJP yet to decide on a new leader.

Meanwhile, state forest minister Th. Bishwajit left Imphal for Guwahati on Wednesday evening, and no official reason has been cited for his visit to the neighbouring state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with US Director Of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard in Washington, DC on Wednesday (local time). PM Modi and Gabbard discussed various aspects of India-US friendship. PM Modi and Gabbard shook hands and warmly greeted each other. He congratulated Gabbard on her confirmation. The meeting comes just hours after Gabbard was sworn in as US Director of National Intelligence at the swearing-in ceremony in the White House.

Two of India’s biggest state-run oil companies will this week sign agreements to buy liquefied natural gas from Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., as the world’s most populous nation looks to secure long-term supplies to meet growing energy demand.

Indian Oil Corp., the nation’s biggest refiner, will buy up to 1.2 million tons a year of LNG from Adnoc, valued at over $7 billion for the 14-year period of the deal starting 2026, according to a government statement.

Suzlon Group on Wednesday said it has secured a repeat order from Oyster Renewable to supply 64 wind turbine generators each having a rated capacity of 3.15 megawatts (MW).

It will supply 64 wind turbine generators (WTGs) of S144 series with Hybrid Lattice Towers (HLT) to Oyster Renewable in Madhya Pradesh, the company said in a statement.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday expressed strong disapproval of its ally and NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar felicitating Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at an event in Delhi.

It was Shinde who split the Shiv Sena with the help of Amit Shah, and felicitating him was akin to honouring the BJP leader, said Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut.

Marc Fogel, an American teacher who was deemed wrongfully detained by Russia, has been released in what the White House described as a diplomatic thaw that could advance negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Donald Trump, left Russia with Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, and they landed back in the US at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday night, according to the White House.

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