The Parliament was told on Friday that India is now a global leader in digital payments, with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) operational in more than eight nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius, and Qatar.

Remittances are increasing, financial inclusion is being promoted, and India’s standing in the global fintech scene is being reinforced by UPI’s expanding worldwide adoption.

Additionally, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada told the Rajya Sabha that the government has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) or agreements with 23 nations for the sharing or cooperation of India Stack/Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), mainly for the replication and adoption of India’s digital governance platforms.

In line with India’s larger DPI diplomacy under the India Stack framework, these Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) concentrate on collaboration in areas like digital identification, digital payments, data exchange, and service delivery platforms, the minister said.

MoUs for Digilocker have been signed with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), Cuba, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates.

In addition, the government has taken action to spread the word about India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) success throughout the world.

India Stack Global promotes India’s DPI and helps friendly nations adopt it. 18 important digital platforms are accessible through the gateway.

“India has contributed the most DPI solutions to the Global DPI Repository, which was established during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 and functions as a global knowledge platform,” the minister stated.

Aadhaar, UPI, CoWIN, API Setu, DigiLocker, Aarogya Setu, GeM, UMANG, DIKSHA, e-Sanjeevani, and PM GatiShakti are a few of the most important DPI and digital solutions.

According to current data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the UPI saw a 28% increase in transaction volume (year-over-year) in January, reaching 21.70 billion, and a 21% increase in transaction value, reaching Rs 28.33 lakh crore.

India won a record-tying sixth U19 World Cup title on Friday at the Harare Sports Club in Harare after defeating England by 100 runs in the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final.

India decided to bat first after winning the toss, however they were quickly defeated when Aaron George was out for nine. However, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre spearheaded a robust reconstruction effort.

Before Mhatre unintentionally pulled a ball and was out for 53 off 51 balls, the pair added 142 runs in 15 overs for the second wicket. From then on, Vaibhav owned the stage.

With a spectacular attack, Suryavanshi reached his century in 55 balls and reached 150 in 71 deliveries. He finished with an outstanding 175 off 80 balls, which featured 15 fours and 15 sixes, after adding 25 more runs off the following nine balls. India was scoring almost 10 runs per over when he was dismissed, demonstrating the significance of his innings.

Following Vaibhav’s departure, India’s scoring pace momentarily decreased, but significant contributions kept the trend rolling. Vihaan Malhotra contributed 30, Vedant Trivedi scored 32, and RS Ambrish added 18. Kanishk Chouhan’s late burst of 37 off 20 balls was crucial in helping India surpass 400 runs and end at 411/9.

With 3 for 63, James Minto was England’s most impressive bowler, while Alex Green and Sebastian Morgan each claimed two wickets. Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s valuable wicket was taken by Manny Lumsden.

In this high-stress knockout encounter, England had a difficult challenge as they chased an overwhelming 412. Joseph Moores left them early, but the “Ben duo” fiercely retaliated. They began hitting boundaries after completing the first phase, scoring 74 runs for the second wicket in 49 balls until Mayes was dismissed for 45 off 28.

Thomas Rew, the captain, then joined Ben Dawkins and came out firing, scoring 31 off 18 balls. After reaching fifty and confidently moving up to 66 off 56 balls, Dawkins emerged as England’s greatest threat.

Ayush Mhatre’s decision to join the attack and become India’s golden arm marked a sea change. As soon as he got rid of Dawkins, Ralphie Albert tired himself out, and India struck again.

After Farhan Ahmed and Sebastian Morgan were removed by Deepesh Devendran in the following over, England fell precipitously to 177/7.

When Manny Lumsden fell, Falconer took over with the tail for backup and carried on the battle. After hitting a few more boundaries and reaching an incredible century in 63 balls, he was well caught by Khilan Patel for 115 off 67 balls. Despite a strong comeback from 177/7, England finished with 311.

The bowlers from India distributed the spoils well. Kanishk Chouhan and Deepesh Devendran each claimed two wickets, while RS Ambrish finished with 3 for 56. Khilan Patel and Ayush Mhatre each took one wicket to ensure a resounding win.

BCCI President Mithun Manhas stated, “We are so proud of our India U-19 team for winning the ICC Under-19 World Cup.”

Months of dedication, outstanding collaboration, and the gutsy style of cricket these young champions play have all contributed to this victory. The guys shown incredible maturity and character on the international scene, from stressful situations to game-winning performances.

Sincere congrats to the players, coaches, and support staff for fostering talent and preserving India’s illustrious cricketing history. Indian cricket’s future is in capable and secure hands.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, who declared, “World Champions again! The India U19 team deserves our sincere congratulations for winning the U19 World Cup. A dominant run during the competition, highlighted by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s incredible knock in the championship match. Congratulations to the players and support crew on this historic victory.

Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Indian men’s team, wrote on social media, “I’m proud of you guys! The future is bright! #IndiaU19.

“Congratulations on winning the World Cup once more, Indian U-19 team. We continue to dominate cricket at all age groups and beyond. Virat Kohli wrote on X, “Congratulations to the entire team and the support crew.

“India’s U19 team didn’t just show up with a galaxy of stars to rest on their laurels,” remarked Ian Rachel Bishop, a former cricket player for the West Indies. When they arrived, they flexed and turned on the electricity. They deserve this victory since they put in a lot of effort and played well. Congratulations.”

Devajit Saikia, the board’s secretary, told that the BCCI had declared a total financial award of Rs 7.5 crore for the selection committee, technical personnel, and the victorious U20 Men’s Cricket World Cup squad.

At the BCA Stadium, Kotambi in Vadodara on Thursday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Delhi Capitals by six wickets to win their second Women’s Premier League championship.

With flawless ease, RCB accomplished the highest successful chase in a WPL final in 19.4 overs after captain Jemimah Rodrigues top-scored with 57 to lead DC to 203/4.

With the triumph, RCB became the first team to win the championship after leading the group stage standings and the first team to hold the IPL and WPL titles at the same time.

With 87 off 41 balls, 12 fours, and three sixes, captain Smriti Mandhana delivered her most elegant and outstanding WPL performance to date.

After managing just six runs from her first five deliveries, she began to accelerate magnificently, hitting boundaries nearly every over. Smriti became the mainstay of RCB’s dominant chase, and her knock also made her the tournament’s top run scorer.

Georgia Voll, who scored an incredible 79 off 54 balls with 14 boundaries, and Smriti shared a commanding 165-run partnership off 92 balls. The fact that there were at least one boundary in each over of the chase demonstrated how dominant their batting performance was.

Radha Yadav made sure RCB crossed the line with consecutive boundaries despite a slight wobble at the finish, which was caused by DC pitching pace-off deliveries. This led to joyous emotions in the dugout.

Despite having the greatest first innings total in a WPL final, DC, playing their fourth straight final, was the victim of the Smriti-Georgia masterclass, blasting the ball all over the park and suffering yet another heartbreaking loss.

Georgia proceeded with her strokeplay, cutting and driving Marizanne for consecutive fours after flicking Chinelle through midwicket and scooping over short fine leg for boundaries. There was no relief for DC even after Nandni Sharma was introduced; Georgia swiped her for four before Smriti slogged and swept her for two boundaries.

Before the former and later struck a four off Minnu Mani and Shafali Verma, respectively, Smriti expertly pierced off-side field. The two took a boundary apiece against N Sree Charani of Georgia, smashing her over mid-off.

Smriti danced down the field to loft Charani over long-on after catching a short ball from Nandni over square leg for six. Smriti raised her half-century by lofting Sneh Rana over additional cover for four after Georgia raised her fifty.

Smriti responded to Marizanne’s reintroduction in the 14th over with lofted drives that went straight down the ground and over mid-off. RCB was winning the chase when Georgia hoicked Nandni over midwicket and Smriti once more glided down the pitch to loft Minnu over mid-off to score more boundaries.

Smriti’s dismissal for 87 after Chinelle uprooted her leg-stump left RCB on a challenging pitch, despite Georgia and Richa Ghosh falling in short succession after holing out to long-on off Minnu and Nandni, respectively. However, Radha’s successive boundaries off Charani—crunching over cover and lofting over cover-point—secured the trophy victory for RCB.

In the past, Jemimah took control with a dazzling knock after Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma gave the early momentum. She demonstrated her incredible timing and ability to find gaps with breathtaking simplicity to score eight boundaries.

Chinelle Henry had a brilliant cameo of 35 off only 15 balls to help Delhi surpass the 200-run threshold, while Laura Wolvaardt contributed a helpful 44 off 25 balls. Chinelle’s final touch had such an impact that DC scored 55 runs in the final four overs.

With a run of 0-19 in four overs, Lauren Bell was the only bright spot for RCB with the ball. However, the rest of the attack struggled with their lines and lengths, providing scoring opportunities in every over. Following Jemimah’s departure in the sixteenth over, RCB mounted a brief comeback, but their dreams were crushed by Chinelle’s late pyrotechnics.

Jemimah demonstrated her full range in the crucial 12th over, cover-driving, sweeping, and cutting Shreyanka for three boundaries before slicing fiercely off Radha Yadav. In the 15th over, Jemimah reached her half-century before being caught by deep square leg off Sayali Satghare for 57.

However, in the last overs, Laura and Chinelle launched a vicious attack. In the 18th over, Chinelle in particular tore into Nadine de Klerk, hitting four boundaries and a six to amass 24 runs. In the last over, both of them hit boundaries off Sayali, giving up 15 runs. Laura was then run out while trying a desperation second run, as DC set RCB up for a difficult chase that they dominated.

Shreyanka Patil, an off-spin bowling all-rounder for RCB, called their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 victory “very special” and dedicated it to captain Smriti Mandhana, citing difficulties the captain has faced recently.

“Very unique to me. My WPL return season. I couldn’t have hoped for more. This crowd is lovely and has always been there for us, even though there were 200 on the board. I want to express my gratitude to every single member who has supported us. Additionally, the viewers in Bangalore and Karnataka would like to express their gratitude to you all,” she stated.

The winning runs were made by left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Radha Yadav, who commended the management for helping the players and getting them ready for stressful situations. “Everyone is overjoyed. This group has put in a lot of effort. The management has supported the players and fulfilled our requests. In fact, they’ve provided us much more than we requested. They deserve this victory.

“As athletes, we work hard; sometimes we see the results, and other times we don’t. But congratulations to the management for their hard work. Our management was really helpful. How can we enhance the skills we already possess? They supported us in discovering those paths,” she remarked.

Brief Scores:
Delhi Capitals 203/4 in 20 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 57, Laura Wolvaardt 44; Arundhati Reddy 1-40, Sayali Satghare 1-46) lost to
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 204/4 in 19.4 overs (Smriti Mandhana 87, Georgia Voll 79; Chinelle Henry 2-34, Minnu Mani 1-19) by six wickets

The Indian men’s cricket team is receiving a ton of support from their female counterparts as they prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The men’s squad has received passionate notes from members of the Indian women’s team, who made history by winning the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025, wishing them well as they attempt to defend their title in the forthcoming competition.

The support from their female counterparts serves as a reminder of the unity and fraternity within Indian cricket, as the Indian men’s team enters the event as the reigning champions after defeating South Africa in an exciting final of the T20 World Cup 2024.

The Indian women’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, spearheaded the effort with a strong statement of encouragement. “Best wishes for the T20 World Cup to Team India. We all know you will win if you play with all of your heart and have fun. She exuded faith in the team’s skills and remarked, “Wishing all the luck.”

“Wishing the best for the Indian Team, looking really good, we all are looking forward to another cup,” said Smriti Mandhana, vice captain of her side and one of the biggest names in women’s cricket. Recognizing the great expectations for the men’s team, she said, “But no pressure, and hopefully we can play some good cricket.”

Deepti Sharma, who was voted Player of the Series and was instrumental in India’s ODI World Cup victory, expressed enthusiasm for the forthcoming event in India, giving her remarks a hint of emotional significance. “I’m wishing you all the best; this will be a very special event that takes place in India. The all-rounder emphasized the pride and fervor that come with a home World Cup by saying, “Go get the cup home.”

Recognizing the importance of the World Cup for both sides, India’s talented wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh also conveyed her best wishes to the men’s team. She encouraged everyone ahead of what seems to be a great competition by saying, “Good luck guys, I wish you all the very best for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.”

The Indian women’s side demonstrated that the spirit of Indian cricket is unified regardless of format or gender as they achieved history by winning the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time since the tournament’s start.

The women’s team is getting ready for their multi-format tour of Australia, which begins on February 15, while the Men in Blue prepare to begin their campaign against the USA on Saturday.

A three-game Twenty20 International series will kick off the Women in Blue’s tour, which will also include numerous One-Day Internationals and a single Test.

US banking authorities are turning their attention to artificial intelligence. AI can boost markets, but there are hazards that need to be closely watched, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Congress.

Bessent was providing testimony on the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s 2025 annual report before the House Financial Services Committee.

AI is currently one of the top four priority for safeguarding the financial system, according to him. Cybersecurity, Treasury markets, and regulatory modernization are the other three.

Bessent stated that the council is giving the responsible application of AI top priority in order to improve financial stability.

Regulators are collaborating with both public and private partners, he said. Monitoring hazards and enhancing system resilience are the objectives.

According to Bessent, AI is rapidly gaining traction in financial markets and banks. Businesses use it for operations, compliance, and risk management. However, he cautioned that improperly comprehended or unmonitored use may exacerbate shocks under stressful situations.

According to him, the FSOC report shows a change in strategy. Broad warnings are becoming less common among regulators. Instead, they are concentrating on particular weaknesses that have the potential to cause systemic disruption.

“In order to focus on the issues that are most important for the financial stability of the United States, we are ignoring the noise,” Bessent stated.

Democratic members expressed concern over decisions made by AI. They cautioned that discrimination and bias could be introduced by opaque algorithms, particularly in credit and lending decisions. They claimed that previous financial crises had been exacerbated by similar blind spots.

Bessent recognized the dangers. The FSOC’s mandate, he argued, is limited. When asked about explainability in AI systems, he responded, “It could be a concern.” “However, we don’t think it’s important for financial stability.”

The administration’s strategy received broad support from Republican lawmakers. They argued that early regulation shouldn’t stifle innovation. They contended that AI can tighten compliance, enhance customer service, and aid in the detection of fraud.

Regulators are also keeping an eye on concentration hazards, according to Bessent. He claimed that an excessive dependence on a small number of AI suppliers or systems could increase the harm caused by technical malfunctions or hacks.

“Criminal organizations and nation-state actors continue to target our infrastructure and financial institutions,” he stated.

FSOC is coordinating with foreign peers, Bessent continued. He stated that in order to prevent regulatory loopholes, international cooperation is necessary to mitigate the global risks associated with AI.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 final between the Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi) is sure to be an exciting match with the highest stakes ever.

With major players like Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, and Richa Ghosh lighting up the stage and international flair from Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt, this final has a distinctive India-South Africa flavor.

This encounter has had a surprising build-up. After facing tremendous pressure to advance to the final, DC, who frequently scrap through must-win scenarios, makes their fourth effort at WPL gold.

However, thanks to crucial contributions from Grace Harris in Ellyse Perry’s absence, RCB’s strong run to the top—they finished first in the group with six wins in eight games—has allowed them to enter this final with confidence.

On the other hand, neither team’s path to the championship game could have been more unlike. With Arundhati Reddy back and leg-spinner Prema Rawat potentially joining, RCB is set to support Pooja Vastrakar as a specialist hitter, offering tactical depth.

Because of their reliable core, DC is unlikely to alter its winning lineup, staying with the 13 players they have utilized all season.

One of the highlights will be the first fight between Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee of DC and Lauren Bell of RCB. Bell’s struggle against DC’s power-hitting openers might set the tone. She has been a threat with the new ball.

Shafali and Lee’s fiery powerplay performances will be critical; DC’s success this season has been built on chasing big targets, with their opening duo crucial to setting the chase.

On the other hand, Mandhana’s leadership has been crucial to RCB’s success, and her reliability in the championship game might be the secret to their third victory.

In addition to securing another WPL championship, a win may strengthen Mandhana’s argument for a more important leadership position in Indian cricket.

While DC’s Nandni Sharma leads the Indian wicket-takers chart in the 2026 WPL with 16 wickets, Grace Harris is the player to watch for RCB as her strike rate of 181 is the highest among batters facing more than 50 balls.

With an economy rate of 8.27, RCB’s death bowling is the best in the league, while DC’s ranks second at 8.37. DC is unbeaten in games where Shafali and Lee have put on a 50+ partnership.

The Vadodara pitch is balanced and has a good amount of grass cover, which may help the spinners. Although dew is not anticipated to have as much of an impact as it did earlier in the season, conditions could change rapidly, so tactical choices are vital. In a final where every inch matters, both teams will try to take advantage of these subtleties.

The WPL 2026 final is sure to be spectacular, with everything on the line. Will DC emerge to win their first WPL title, or will RCB continue their winning run? Fans will undoubtedly be on the edge of their seats due to the excitement.

All eyes are now on the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, which starts on Wednesday and will include the crucial repo rate decision on Friday, following the Union Budget 2026 and the historic India-US trade agreement.

Economists predict that any additional policy rate cuts by the MPC, chaired by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, will be halted. To address the risks associated with currency, bond stability, and liquidity, the Central Bank is instead planning to take direct action.

In February 2025, the RBI reduced the repo rate to 5.25%, a reduction of 125 basis points.

There is no justification to make more cutbacks, analysts added, since inflation is expected to rise even in the new base year series that will be released on February 12.

According to a Yes Bank note, “the current real rate of 125 bps seems reasonable with the current repo rate at 5.25 percent and with inflation anticipated at around 4 percent (will wait to see if the new series changes the inflation view).”

It further stated that in the event of a growth collapse, the RBI should remain on hold, maintain a “neutral” attitude, and maintain its firepower.

Bond purchases are anticipated to continue this quarter and in April and June of 2026.

Radhika Rao, Executive Director and Senior Economist at DBS Bank., stated that, “the central bank may want to be agile and nimble in its money market related operations and keep borrowing costs in check because the FY27 Budget outlines a record high of borrowings.”

In order to relieve liquidity pressure, the RBI recently announced a number of liquidity-enhancing initiatives that will inject over Rs 2 lakh crore into the banking sector. The Central Bank stated that in order to improve liquidity conditions in the financial sector, it will employ a combination of open market bond purchases, a foreign currency swap, and a variable rate repo operation.

The actions are being taken after a review of the financial and liquidity situation.

The India-US trade agreement was warmly hailed by international and Indian brokerages on Tuesday, who described it as a significant boost to India’s GDP, business profits, and foreign investment sentiment.

The stock markets mirrored the strong support from financial professionals, with the Sensex rising more than 4,200 points during intraday trading to reach a record high of 85,871.73.

According to brokers, lowering reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports to the US will improve economic prospects and lessen the strain on India’s external balances.

According to Goldman Sachs, the reduced tariffs could reduce India’s current account deficit by around 0.25 percent of GDP in 2026, bringing it down to almost 0.8 percent.

Additionally, the company anticipates that capital inflows would rebound after the acquisition is fully executed, which could bolster the rupee and lower negative risks to its dollar-rupee estimate.

According to Goldman Sachs, the Reserve Bank of India is probably nearing the end of its cycle of rate reductions and might maintain the repo rate at 5.25 percent through 2026.

It also mentioned that, in terms of export competitiveness, the trade agreement places India in a marginally better position than other Asian rising nations.

Even though corporate profits have been weak recently, Bernstein said it’s a good moment for investors to enter the market due to the positive attitude around India.

Nomura emphasized that foreign investment in India is expected to resume. After a poor FY26, it anticipates a gradual reversal of both foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments and foreign portfolio investor (FPI) flows.

In FY27, the brokerage anticipates a balance of payments surplus of about $7 billion. Additionally, it noted that labor-intensive export industries like manufacturing and textiles will have less margin pressure as a result of the tariffs being lowered to 18%.

India may increase technology imports and attract long-term US investments if it opens its markets to more US goods, according to BofA Securities.

It further stated that the impact of the new pricing structure will be minimal, despite some currency weakening.

According to their projections, India’s effective tariff rate might drop from approximately 30–35% to about 12–13% after current US duties on goods like steel, aluminum, and cars are taken into account.

Markets will now pay greater attention to the improving trend in corporate results, according to domestic brokerage Motilal Oswal.

The deal is very good for Indian stocks, according to Antique Stock Broking.

The anticipated return of foreign investors, which has been a significant worry for markets over the previous year, would be the main advantage, according to the statement.

Given this perspective, Antique has set a target for the Nifty 50 of 29,500 by March 2027, favoring equities in industries including capital goods, consumer goods, financials, and defense.

To the pleasure of fans and movie enthusiasts, the producers of Rajkumar Periasamy‘s widely anticipated upcoming film, which stars Dhanush in the main role, welcomed actress Sai Pallavi and Sree Leela on board the film’s unit on Monday.

Actor Dhanush’s production company, Wunderbar Films, welcomed actress Sai Pallavi to their X timeline. Wunderbar Films is one of the production companies doing the movie.

It stated, “She embodies both grace and strength simultaneously. Welcome to @Sai_Pallavi92, everyone’s favorite, on board #D55. The popular pair makes a comeback to the big screen.

This will be Sai Pallavi’s second collaboration with Dhanush. She previously collaborated with Dhanush in “Maari 2,” a film directed by Balaji Mohan.

Recall that on January 30 of this year, actress Sreeleela was welcomed onto the film’s unit by the film’s producers, who are now working under the tentative name #D55.

Sree Leela was welcomed to the unit by the production company, which said, “You didn’t see this coming.” Greetings from #D55 to the stunning damsel @sreeleela14.”

Sai Abhyankkar, a rising musical sensation, was also brought on board by the producers.

To announce the news, Wunderbar Films posted on their X timeline: “Time is up. It fractures the SAI-lence. To have the amazing @SaiAbhyankkar create the music for #D55 is an exciting development. D55: The Musical #SaiAbhyankkar. A brand-new partnership is being loaded.

“Super excited and pumped working with @dhanushkraja sir on #D55! My dream collaboration @Rajkumar_KP, dear sir thank you so much!” was Sai Abhyankkar‘s response to the production house’s post. Thank you so much, dear @theSreyas Anna. @wunderbarfilms @RTakeStudios GIG. This is going to be a really special cooking.

The youthful music sensation was also welcomed by director Rajkumar Periasamy to join the crew of the movie, which is currently being referred to as #D55.

He posted on his X timeline: “Sai, you are a Wonder-kid! I’m thrilled to have you, my brother, as the music composer for #D55. @SaiAbhyankkar, may God bless you. Thank you, sir @DhanushKRaja. #D55 A Musical by Sai Abhyankkar. Shra2309 @azy905 @sandy_sashr @vishurams @theSreyas @wunderbarfilms @RTakeStudios.”

The producers have already revealed that the movie will be a masterpiece, which has created a great deal of anticipation.

Recall that only one week prior, R Take Studios, a different production company, stated that it would be collaborating with Wunderbar Films to produce this movie.