An RBI statement released on Thursday stated that the Digital Payments Index (DPI) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased from 493.22 in March 2025 to 516.76 as of September 2025.

The apex bank stated that the notable expansion in criteria like payment performance and payment enablers nationwide over the period was the primary driver of the RBI-DPI’s rise.

Since January 1, 2021, the RBI has been releasing a composite RBI-DPI, using March 2018 as the basis month to gauge the level of payment digitization nationwide.

The base period ending in March 2018 received a score of 100. After a year, in March 2019, the index increased to 153.47. Since 2021, the index has been released every six months, and it has been rapidly increasing over time.

Significant increases in the country’s payment performance and payment enablers over the period were the main drivers of the RBI-DPI index’s rise. On July 28, 2025, the most recent index was released.

The DPI is made up of five key metrics that track how widely and deeply digital payments have become used in the nation over time.

Among these metrics are payment enablers, which have a weight of 25%; payment infrastructure, which includes supply-side and demand-side elements (10%); payment performance, which has the largest weight (45%); and consumer centricity, which has a weight of 5%. Every parameter has sub-parameters, which are made up of different quantifiable indications.

The country’s adoption of digital payments has increased significantly thanks in large part to UPI. According to transaction volume, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is the biggest retail fast-payment system globally, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF’s June 2025 paper on “Growing Retail Digital Payments (The Value of Interoperability)” made this point clear.

Furthermore, UPI leads the world in real-time payment systems with a 49 percent market share and a transaction volume of 129.3 billion, according to the ACI Worldwide research on “Prime Time for Real-Time” 2024.

With a market share of 14% and a transaction volume of 37.4%, Brazil is ranked second. Thailand comes in third with a market share of 8% and a transaction volume of 20.4 billion. With a 6% market share and a 17.2 billion transaction volume, China comes in fourth place.

Defending champions India defeated Namibia by 93 runs in their Group A match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday in the Men’s T20 World Cup, with wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy claiming 3-7.

Ishan Kishan’s scorching 61 off 24 balls and Hardik Pandya’s 52 off 28 balls helped India reach 209/9 in their 20 overs. Gerhard Erasmus, the captain of Namibia, was the best bowler in the team, producing figures of 4–20 with his slingy style and variety.

Louren Steenkamp and Jan Frylinck launched a powerplay attack to start Namibia’s chase, but Chakravarthy’s spell destroyed their middle order. Namibia was bowled out for 116 in 18.2 overs, with each Indian bowler contributing at least one wicket. In addition to being India’s largest victory in Men’s T20 World Cup history, the 93-run margin highlights their supremacy in spite of sporadic mistakes during the game.

Jan Frylinck took a four and six off Hardik Pandya to start Namibia’s chase. He then drove and pulled Arshdeep Singh for two boundaries. But when Frylinck mishandled a knuckleball to deep mid-wicket in the fourth over, Arshdeep responded. Namibia finished Power-play at 57/1 after Louren Steenkamp carved Arshdeep for two boundaries and a six slashed over the short third.

In the eighth over, Varun Chakaravarthy shifted the tide of the match after Namibia amassed 10 runs off Jasprit Bumrah’s first over. His first delivery was a googly that hit Steenkamp for 29. Erasmus and Loftie-Eaton made an effort to rebuild, but Varun’s accuracy silenced them.

Even though Gerhard Erasmus hit Axar Patel with consecutive slog-sweeping sixes in the ninth over, Varun came back to further destroy Namibia, dismissing JJ Smit with another googly and having Loftie-Eaton hole out to long-off.

When Erasmus holed out to long-off, Axar was added to the wicket-taking charts. Malan Kruger then top-edged a sweep to short fine leg, but he was able to hold onto the ball just in time.

In order to help India win the T20 World Cups for the eleventh time in a row, Bumrah, who replaced Mohammed Siraj, smashed a yorker on the base of an off-stump to castle Ruben Trumpelmann. Hardik also took two wickets, and Shivam Dube got Zane Green out by hit wicket.

Brief scores:
India 209/9 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 61, Hardik Pandya 52; Gerhard Erasmus 4-20)
Namibia 116 all out in 18.2 overs (Louren Steenkamp 29, Jan Frylinck 22; Varun Chakaravarthy 3-7, Axar Patel 2-20)

The “Most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours” is a Guinness World Records title that IndiaAI and Intel India will seek to achieve next week, February 16–17.

According to a formal statement released on Wednesday, the goal of this national “AI Responsibility” Pledge is to encourage the ethical, human-centered, and responsible application of AI while fostering awareness, trust, and accountability in emerging technologies.

The project seeks to increase India’s preparedness for AI and encourage its responsible application. It demonstrates India’s dedication to moral and inclusive AI and is one of the biggest initiatives centered on responsible digital citizenship.

Citizens from all regions, age groups, and backgrounds—especially young people—are urged to support trustworthy AI, data protection, responsible technology use, and the fight against misinformation through a 24-hour national digital commitment, the statement stated.

After receiving an honorable badge from Intel and IndiaAI, participants will have the chance to investigate several government-led AI learning pathways.

A broad range of individuals are invited to participate in the AI responsibility pledge, including students of all ages, educators and academic leaders, parents and guardians, general citizens from a variety of backgrounds, public sector representatives and government officials, and employees from a variety of industries.

Visit https://aipledge.indiaai.gov.in/ to participate in the AI Responsibility initiative.
You can then begin by scrolling down and selecting the “Take the Pledge” button.

From February 16–20, India will hold the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam. The summit will bring together governments, business executives, researchers, entrepreneurs, students, and citizens from all around the world.

It is being sponsored by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as part of the IndiaAI Mission. It seeks to go beyond high-level debates and provide concrete results that can assist social development, economic progress, and the sustainable use of AI.

It is envisioned as a crucial worldwide platform to build a future-oriented agenda for inclusive, responsible, and impactful AI.

The summit will be organized around three main pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. Topics of debate will include economic and social development, sustainable and energy-efficient AI, and employment and skilling.

Representatives from the Global North and Global South will co-chair seven thematic working groups that will provide tangible deliverables such as sector-specific compendiums of AI use cases, trusted AI tools, shared compute infrastructure, and suggestions for AI Commons.

Additionally, participants will learn how AI is affecting different industries and professions, what new skills are needed in the changing labor market, how startups can interact with partners and investors, and how AI can help small businesses, farmers, and service providers.

Participants are encouraged to arrange their schedules by looking over the website’s agenda, selecting sessions that interest them, and adding them to their calendars.

There are nearly 700 sessions scheduled across five days. AI safety, governance, ethical use, data protection, and India’s approach to sovereign AI—including the creation of domestic foundation models for key industries—will all be covered in sessions.

The AI Impact Expo, which will highlight real-world AI applications in fields like healthcare, agriculture, education, climate change, energy efficiency, and accessibility, will be a major part of the Summit. The purpose of these demonstrations is to educate the public on how AI can enhance service delivery and solve practical issues.

By preparing questions, actively participating in sessions, and comprehending how AI can be responsibly implemented to improve productivity, livelihoods, and quality of life, citizens are invited to treat the India AI Impact Summit as a learning and participation opportunity.

The goal of the Summit is to give attendees the information and guidance they need to confidently and clearly navigate the AI-driven future.

The summit’s official website, www.impact.indiaai.gov.in, offers registration, which guests are encouraged to finish beforehand.

In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, South Africa and Afghanistan engaged in an intense Group D match at the Narendra Modi Stadium. After two thrilling innings, the match was forced into a double super over before the Proteas eventually won.

With the squad aiming for their first victory of the competition, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan chose to field after winning the toss.

Afghanistan took full advantage of the early morning circumstances, which helped the bowlers somewhat, and held the South African batsmen in check for the opening three overs.

The first goal came from Fazalhaq Farooqi, who cleverly used a slower throw to snare South Africa skipper Aiden Markram in mid-off.

However, Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickleton’s strong partnership quickly turned the tide of the match in South Africa’s favor. The left-handed duo amassed 116 runs off of just 61 balls, tearing up the Afghan bowling attack.

Rickleton was outstanding, hitting 61 from just 28 balls, including four sixes and five boundaries, while De Kock completed his fifty with a graceful pull shot, ending at 59 off 41 deliveries.

By dismissing both de Kock and Rickleton within three balls, Rashid was able to momentarily stop the run-flow, but cameos from David Miller (20 not out) and Dewald Brevis (23) allowed South Africa to record a respectable 187/6.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was in full force as Afghanistan got off to a fantastic start in the chase. The squad quickly reached 50 in just four overs thanks to the opener’s two fours and three sixes.

In response, South Africa took three fast wickets, with Kagiso Rabada dismissing Sediqullah Atal and Lungi Ngidi dismissing Ibrahim Zadran and Gulbadin Naib, bringing Afghanistan down from 51/0 to 52/3.

Gurbaz persisted in his assault, striking hard and hitting seven sixes and four fours to reach a fifty off 26 balls. Afghanistan had 93/3 at the 10-over point, maintaining the pressure on the Proteas.

Gurbaz’s devastating blow was finally stopped by George Linde, but Rashid Khan (20) and Azmatullah Omarzai (22) maintained the pace.

Afghanistan needed 13 runs to win the match, which came down to the last over. Afghanistan managed to scrape to 187 after Kagiso Rabada’s over started badly with a no-ball and a wide, but a critical run-out compelled a thrilling super over.

Afghanistan was the first to bat in the first super over. Against Linde and Ngidi of South Africa, Azmatullah and Gurbaz scored an incredible 17 runs together, with Azmat’s long-range six and a deft boundary through backward point serving as highlights.

Tristan Stubbs cleared Nabi’s outstretched hand, leveling the super over and forcing a second one after South Africa’s Brevis responded with a massive six off Farooqi.

With Miller and Stubbs walking out to set up a target for the Afghans, South Africa proceeded confidently in the second super over, thinking they had the match to win.

By hitting a slower-ball off-cutter over deep mid-wicket for six, Stubbs gave South Africa a head start. In order to keep the strike going for Miller, he quickly singled.

Miller then grabbed control, hitting a huge six off a length delivery outside off with a brilliant loft over deep mid-wicket and then another huge six off an off-pace length ball right after. Two more runs were scored after a poorly timed pull, but South Africa’s momentum persisted.

By the last delivery, Miller had swung the balance decisively in the Proteas’ favor by flicking a yorker-length ball between long-on and deep mid-wicket for a well-taken two, bringing South Africa’s second super over total to 23 runs. Afghanistan now had a formidable goal of 24 to chase.

Mohammad Nabi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz were sent out by Rashid to chase the total, but Keshav Maharaj, the spin ace for South Africa, maintained his composure admirably.

Nabi misjudged a lofted shot to Miller at the backward point, causing him to fall early. Gurbaz was left to bear the burden of the pursuit by himself.

The Afghan opener reduced the equation to four needed off the final ball with a stunning exhibition of power hitting, hammering three successive sixes in a display of utter boldness.

However, Maharaj remained calm and trapped Gurbaz on the final delivery, dismissing him and giving South Africa a thrilling win.

The outcome ended an incredible match that had already featured two super overs, valiant efforts by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, David Miller, and Stubbs, and an incredible exhibition of drama, skill, and tension that will go down as one of the best T20 matches in World Cup history.

Brief Scores
South Africa 187/6 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickleton 61, Quinton de Kock 59; Azmatullah Omarzai 3-41, Rashid Khan 2-28)
Afghanistan 187/10 in 19.4 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 84, Azmatullah Omarzai 22; Lungi Ngidi 3-26, Keshav Maharaj 1-27)

1st Super Over

Afghanistan 17/0 (Azmatullah Omarzai 16*, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 1*; Lungi Ngidi 0-17)
South Africa 17/1 (Tristan Stubbs 10*, Dewald Brevis 6; Fazalhaq Farooqi 1-17)

2nd Super Over

South Africa 23/0 (David Miller 16*, Tristan Stubbs 7*)
Afghanistan 19/2 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 18, Keshav Maharaj 2-19)

‘Mayilaa‘, a Tamil film directed by Semmalar Annam, had its global debut earlier this month and is currently nominated for the NETPAC Award at the 2026 International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR).

The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema presents the NETPAC Award, which honors exceptional Asian films that exhibit artistic merit, cultural nuance, and cinematic brilliance.

Recall that the film, which depicts a young working woman’s path to independence and dignity in a personal and realistic manner, was well appreciated by festivalgoers at its Rotterdam showing.

An major turning point in the movie’s international festival journey has been reached with the nomination.

Filmmaker Pa introduces ‘Mayilaa’ to the uninitiated. Anto Chittilappally formed Newton Cinema, which produced Ranjith.

V. Shudar Kodi plays a key supporting part in the movie, while P. Melody Dorcas plays the lead.

The technical team consists of sound designer Anand Krishnamoorthi, music composer Nandhan Kalaivanan, sync sound recordist Amrith Shankar, editor A. Sreekar Prasad, and cinematographer Vinoth Janakiraman.

“This NETPAC nomination is a meaningful recognition for our entire team,” director Semmalar Annam said in response to the nomination. ‘Mayilaa’ was made with great care and honesty, and it is heartening to see the picture receiving recognition at IFFR.

“The journey of ‘Mayilaa’ has been very rewarding, from the world premiere at Rotterdam to this nomination,” stated Anto Chittilappally, founder of Newton Cinema. We are proud, as is everyone who contributed to the movie.

“Mayilaa is a socially rooted and emotionally sincere film,” stated filmmaker Pa. Ranjith, who is also the film’s presenter. Such views should have access to global platforms, and this nomination is well-earned.

“We are thankful and inspired by the NETPAC nomination. We are all very touched by the response during the global premiere and by this honor,” the cast and crew said.

According to people close to the unit, Mayilaa will continue its festival run with other overseas screenings in the upcoming months.

President Donald Trump claimed that in order to fulfill the enormous demand for electricity brought on by artificial intelligence, the US is permitting private corporations to construct their own power facilities.

In a Larry Kudlow interview on Fox Business, Trump claimed that AI infrastructure demands previously unheard-of energy capacity.

“Anyway, AI requires a lot of electricity, don’t you think? twice the amount of electricity already produced nationwide,” he stated.

Trump stated that rebuilding the nation’s grid to meet such demand would take time. He stated his administration is allowing businesses to build massive facilities to produce their own electricity as a result.

He declared, “I’m allowing anyone who constructs a plant to construct their own electric plant.” “They will eventually resemble a utility.”

According to him, developers are building expansive facilities and will run separate production systems. They are constructing their own power plant. According to Trump, they are generating their own electricity.

Any extra electricity would be sold to the system again. He went on to say, “They’ll sell anything they have left over to the grid.”

According to Trump, energy sources may change based on the requirements of the project. “Some are coal as a backup, some are oil and gas, and some are nuclear,” he stated.

Additionally, he maintained that the US is leading the world in artificial intelligence. Trump declared, “We are controlling everyone in the AI.”

Trump said that enormous building was taking place all throughout the nation and connected the AI drive to more general industrial growth. “We have invested $18 trillion in this nation. It’s unlike anything anyone has ever experienced,” he remarked.

He stated that the creation of factories and plants was a key component of his economic agenda.

“We’re setting a new historical record. Nothing like that has ever existed,” Trump remarked.

In his economic rhetoric, Trump has continuously linked technology advancement, energy generation, and manufacturing, claiming that home manufacturing lessens reliance on international supply chains.

It is generally anticipated that in the upcoming ten years, the need for energy would rise dramatically due to artificial intelligence infrastructure, which includes data centers and semiconductor plants. Governments across major economies are weighing grid upgrades, nuclear expansion, and renewable deployment to support AI-driven growth.

With policymakers closely observing international models for powering massive data infrastructure while striking a balance between energy security, climate commitments, and industrial competitiveness, India is likewise growing its AI and semiconductor ecosystem.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not made any significant concessions to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in exchange for refraining from boycotting the match against India in the current ICC T20 World Cup, which is set to take place in Colombo on February 15.

In its discussions with the ICC, the PCB has asked for a larger portion of the ICC’s earnings and has requested that the sport’s governing body invite the BCCI to approach the Indian government in order to resume bilateral cricket relations between the two nations.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) replaced the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) with Scotland for the jointly-hosted India-Sri Lanka ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after the BCB avoided financial penalties or suspension for refusing to send its men’s cricket team to India.

Following a tri-partite meeting between the ICC, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in Lahore on Sunday, the ICC decided not to impose financial sanctions on the BCB.

It has been decided that the Bangladesh Cricket Board would not face any financial, athletic, or administrative sanctions in connection with the current issue. It is understood that BCB has the option to contact the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) if it so desires. The ICC said in a statement on Monday that this right is still in place and exists under current ICC laws.

The Indian players’ “no handshake” policy with Pakistani players, which was instituted during the 2025 Asia Cup, has also been urged to be lifted by the PCB and the ICC. The ICC stated that it will keep assisting in the development of the sport in Bangladesh.

“The dialogue between ICC and PCB took place as part of a broader engagement with both parties recognising the need for constructive dealings and being united, committed and purposeful in their aspirations to serve the best interests of the game with integrity, neutrality and cooperation,” the International Cricket Council stated in an official statement.

Shortly after the Pakistani government made a statement in Islamabad authorizing their squad to play India on February 15, the ICC announcement was released.

“In that prevailing spirit, it was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events and do all that is necessary to ensure that the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a success,” the International Cricket Council added.

In order to guarantee that the national team’s exclusion from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has no lasting consequences for cricket in Bangladesh, the ICC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting growth in one of cricket’s most active markets, with over 200 million ardent supporters,” the ICC statement read.

“It is unfortunate that Bangladesh will not be participating in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but this does not change the ICC’s longstanding commitment to Bangladesh as a core cricketing nation,” stated ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta. Our focus remains on collaborating closely with BCB and other important stakeholders to make sure the sport develops sustainably in the nation and that players’ and fans’ possibilities for the future are enhanced. Bangladesh’s cricket ecosystem is still a top priority that merits sustained investment in order to grow, compete, and integrate globally. It is not characterized by temporary disturbances.

In a meeting with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Tuesday, Union Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed his expectation that the US would be heavily represented in the next “AI Impact Summit 2026.”

The world has responded incredibly well to the February 16–20 “India AI Impact Summit 2026,” which is expected to be the largest AI summit to date.

“Good meeting with U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.” In an X post, Vaishnaw stated, “We talked about deepening our strategic partnerships, with an emphasis on semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, and supply chain resilience.”

“Anticipate significant U.S. participation in the AI Impact Summit 2026,” he continued.

According to Vaishnaw, top IT firms have created over 200 targeted, industry-specific AI models, which are expected to be unveiled during the AI Impact Summit.

He added that by expanding AI infrastructure and industry-finalized curricula to 500 universities, the sector will have a robust talent pipeline. Currently, investments totaling almost $70 billion are going into the AI infrastructure layer, and by the end of the Summit, this amount could double.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s recent meetings with industry leaders, developers, and innovators working across the AI value chain—which includes models, applications, and infrastructure—the minister said that these meetings demonstrated the methodical advancement of India’s AI ecosystem and a strong emphasis on deployment-led solutions.

From February 16–20, 2026, India is getting ready to hold the first-ever global AI summit in the Global South at Bharat Mandapam.

Over 500 carefully planned events will take place at Bharat Mandapam and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan over the Summit week, allowing for concurrent leader-level discussions, exhibits, and outcome-focused meetings.

More than 840 exhibitors, including State Governments, Industry, Startups, Research Institutions, Ministries, and Country Pavilions, will be present at the AI Impact Expo to showcase AI technologies that have demonstrated practical applications.

Additionally, IndiaAI will showcase advancements in the country’s core AI models.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) stated that the completion of the first tranche of the India-US trade agreement has increased business prospects for India’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in the US market.

The MSME sector benefits greatly from this trade agreement, which was made possible by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary and resolute leadership. It also represents a significant turning point in India’s development as a global economic powerhouse.

According to a CAIT statement, “This agreement reflects India’s growing stature as a confident, competitive, and reliable trade partner on the world stage.”

The trade agreement will greatly benefit a number of important Indian industries, including textiles and clothing, leather and footwear, gems and jewelry, generic pharmaceuticals, automotive and aircraft components, chemicals, plastics and rubber products, home décor, handicrafts, and a few engineering goods, according to CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal.

He noted that India’s export competitiveness in the largest economy in the world will be improved by improved market access and tariff rationalization.

The MSME sector, which is the foundation of India’s economy, will receive a significant and timely boost from the deal, he added.

The agreement will allow MSMEs to increase production, grow internationally, and create significant jobs, particularly for women and young people, by creating more export prospects.

By further integrating Indian businesses into global value chains, it will also support the “Make in India” campaign, Khandelwal continued. The deal also protects India’s fundamental national interests, especially in delicate agricultural and rural areas, highlighting the Indian government’s fair and farmer-focused trade strategy,” the CAIT Secretary General stated.

All things considered, the India-US trade agreement is a progressive move that will boost exports, encourage entrepreneurship, and strengthen India’s progress toward “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Viksit Bharat,” Khandelwal continued.

In India’s non-corporate sector, CAIT is the premier national organization that represents over 40,000 trade associations and over nine crore traders.

Founded in 1998, it promotes fair trade practices, technology adoption, and regulatory improvements on behalf of small businesses and merchants.

In order to promote, assist, and maintain the expansion of small and medium-sized businesses, CAIT serves as a liaison between the government and the business community.

The government is looking for feedback from a range of stakeholders regarding the guidelines and forms in the Income-tax Act, 2025, which will take effect on April 1, 2026.

According to the Finance Ministry on Sunday, the proposed Income Tax Rules and Forms have been posted on the official website in order to promote broader stakeholder input prior to the final notification of the Income Tax Rules and Forms.

Following extensive deliberation, the relevant Income-tax Rules and associated Forms were created to conform to the guidelines of the Income-tax Act of 2025. In its notification, CBDT urged stakeholders to analyze the information and offer ideas, which would then be collated and reviewed before the final announcement.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is seeking feedback and recommendations from interested parties in four areas as part of a broader consultation process: identifying redundant or obsolete rules and forms; reducing litigation; simplifying language; and lowering the burden of compliance.

After providing their name and mobile number, stakeholders can submit their inputs, and an OTP-based validation process will be conducted.

Under the four previously indicated categories, the ministry has been advised that all recommendations must explicitly state the pertinent provision of the proposed Income-tax Rules or the proposed Form Number (with the exact rule, sub-rule, or form number) to which the recommendation relates.

On Budget Day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Income Tax Act 2025 will take effect on April 1, 2026, and that the I-T forms have been changed to make it easier for regular people to comply.

The extension of the ITR filing date for non-audit cases to August 31 and exemptions from insurance interest awards and nil deduction certificates for small taxpayers are among the new measures.

“I launched a thorough study of the Income Tax Act 1961 in July 2024, and it was finished in record time. The Income Tax Act 2025 will take effect on April 1, 2026. The forms have been revised for ease of use and compliance by regular folks,” she stated.