The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is preparing to introduce a new unified platform that will bring together all digital currencies used in the country. The RBI has released a new wallet system that allows smoother transactions across digital forms of money.

The initiative aims to enable users to send money using only mobile numbers, even if the receiver does not have a bank account. Initially, the service will be rolled out through Punjab National Bank on a pilot basis. By integrating the digital rupee with UPI apps like BHIM, the RBI seeks to make the digital currency more accessible and popular among the public.

New Delhi: Starting January next year, passengers will be able to change the date of their train journey without cancelling their booked ticket, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced. Under the current system, passengers must cancel tickets and rebook, losing part of the fare as a cancellation fee. The new feature eliminates this fee, though seat confirmation on the new date is not guaranteed. Passengers will need to pay the fare difference if the new ticket costs more. Presently, cancelling a ticket 48–12 hours before departure incurs a 25% deduction, with higher penalties for later cancellations, and no refund after the reservation chart is prepared.

Mumbai: Despite global economic slowdowns, salaries in India are expected to increase by 9% in 2025, according to an annual survey by global professional services firm Aon. The survey, covering 1,060 companies across 45 industries, found that India’s economy remains resilient. The automotive and engineering design services sectors are projected to see salary increases of 9.6%, while real estate/infrastructure may witness 10.9%, and non-banking financial services (NBFCs) around 10%.

New Delhi: India has produced defence equipment worth 1.2 lakh crore using domestic resources to strengthen national security and self-reliance, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced. Speaking at a national conference on defence manufacturing held at Vigyan Bhavan, Singh highlighted the growing importance of drones and other modern warfare technologies. The minister noted that India’s indigenous capital procurement rose from 74,000 crore in 2021–22 to 1.2 lakh crore in 2024–25. He added that by 2047, India aims to become a developed nation by boosting domestic defence production.