PAY
Gym closes 15 minutes earlier than advertised time, Punjab man quits six-month membership within two months; consumer court orders gym to pay him Rs 6,500
An Amritsar man paid Rs 5,760 for a six-month gym membership but left within two months, alleging that they closed earlier than advertised time and problems with facilities, including the steam bath. The district consumer commission ordered the gym to refund Rs 3,500 with 6% interest, pay Rs 2,000 compensation and Rs 1,000 litigation costs.
German antitrust authority says PayPal practices may restrict competition
Germany's Federal Cartel Office is scrutinizing PayPal's strategy that bars merchants from imposing extra charges for specific payment methods. This practice is perceived as a potential barrier to competition among payment services, raising concerns about compliance with existing competition laws. While PayPal has not yet provided a media response, this investigation indicates a growing regulatory focus on digital payment systems within Germany.
Govt raises price cap for electronic devices to Rs 1.8 lakh for officers; personal retention rights after 4 yrs
The Centre has raised the purchase ceiling for laptops, tablets and similar devices for eligible government officers to ₹1.5 lakh plus taxes, or ₹1.8 lakh for devices with more than 40% Make-in-India content. Officers in Pay Level 12 and above will be eligible, while departments can extend coverage to some lower pay levels, and employees may retain the devices after four years of use.
Deutsche Bank launches digital asset custody service for paying clients
Deutsche Bank launches its digital asset custody service for institutional and corporate clients, offering secure storage for cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ether. The move strengthens its digital asset strategy, with plans for potential Asian expansion and collaboration with DWS to develop regulated digital asset infrastructure.
Pakistan farmers in long fight to make German firms pay for flood damage
Farmers from Pakistan's Sindh province are pursuing legal action against German firms RWE and Heidelberg Materials. They claim these companies' emissions contributed to severe flooding that devastated their livelihoods in 2022. This case marks a significant attempt to hold major polluters accountable for climate change impacts.
Suvendu Sarkar rolls out Diwali bonanza for Bengal babus, hikes IAS allowances by 50%
The Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government has announced a range of benefits for its IAS officers, including a 50% hike in monthly sumptuary allowances for senior officials, education loans of up to Rs 50 lakh for children's studies in India and abroad, and expanded foreign travel benefits under LTC. The package also includes housing, electricity and post-retirement benefits, along with allowances for official work-related expenses.
- Go To Page 1

How intelligent commerce is shaping the next frontier of merchant payments
For a decade, the task in India’s merchant payments was to get every shop and website to accept digital money. The value, leaders argued, at GFF 2026, is now moving to identity, risk, credit and growth, and to preparing the checkout for AI agents that may soon shop on consumers’ behalf.

Indian organisations on edge as sites fail to Captcha AI intruders
Personal AI agents such as Instinct, Muse, Grokbot and OpenClaw have taken over the consumer internet in the US. But last month, major US banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley, reportedly flagged AI agents such as Meta’s Muse accessing customer accounts using login credentials voluntarily shared by users laying bare the risks of handing AI agents the keys to consumers’ digital lives.

Gas prices in the US are nearly half of Europe's: Why are American drivers paying so much less?
American motorists are currently paying much less for fuel compared to drivers in the European Union. The average petrol price in the EU is almost double that of the US, highlighting significant market differences. Higher taxation in Europe contributes to this price discrepancy, making it important for consumers to understand. Diesel costs also reflect a noticeable difference, though the gap is smaller than for petrol.

Bengaluru woman, an ISB graduate, explains why it took her 8 years to pay her Rs 43 lakh education loan: ‘I started earning in 22…’
Repaying an education loan can be a lengthy and financially taxing experience. A woman from Bengaluru, Arpitha Rao, took eight years to pay off her education loan before achieving financial freedom. Her path included overcoming various financial challenges, personal economic struggles, and the extra duties associated with being a mother.

Social Security payroll tax cap rises to $192,300 in 2027: How much more will high earners pay from their paychecks, who will be affected, and what does it mean for your take-home pay?
Social Security taxes will take a bigger bite out of some high earners' paychecks in 2027. The taxable income limit is rising to $192,300 from $184,500, meaning another $7,800 of wages will be taxed. Workers earning above the new limit could pay up to $483.60 more next year. The increase comes as retirees are set to receive a 3.6% benefit boost.

Man books overnight bus, reaches pickup point on time, then watches driver speed past his stop, leaving him behind; company ordered to pay Rs 14,725
A Ballari passenger who booked a Rs 1,725 bus ticket to Hyderabad alleged that the bus missed his pickup point, later broke down and left him unable to attend an urgent office meeting. The Ballari District Consumer Commission ordered the operator to pay Rs 14,725, including compensation and litigation costs.

Jailed Malaysian ex-PM Najib pays fine, meeting condition for house arrest
Jailed Malaysian former prime minister Najib Razak paid a $12 million fine Friday, allowing him to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest, his party said. Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim had granted Najib the conditional pardon in September, allowing him to serve out the rest of his prison sentence under house arrest provided he pay the fine.

8th Pay Commission: Rs 69,000 minimum pay, 40% HRA, 67% pension; 5 key NC-JCM demands and their impact on payouts
The National Council of the Joint Consultative Machinery has submitted essential recommendations to the 8th Pay Commission that could impact central government employees. Key proposals include a significant increase in minimum pay, pension, and annual increments. The council also suggests revising house rent allowance rates and allowing leave encashment for up to 600 days. If implemented, these changes could benefit over one crore employees and pensioners financially.

ET Graphics: Inside India’s factories — Jobs, pay, margins
More than 40% of India's factory workers are employed on contract, while women account for less than a fifth of directly employed workers, with jobs concentrated in a few southern states. An analysis of the Annual Survey of Industries also finds that profits claim half of factories' value added, against a third for wages.
68.4% respondents in survey plan job change in 2027; half seek 31%-plus pay hike: Survey
According to a recent survey, 68.4 percent of Indian professionals are planning to explore new job opportunities in 2027. Career growth is identified as the primary motivation for changing jobs, with high salary expectations influencing decisions as well. The report highlights that most professionals feel confident about their job prospects in the evolving job market. Many are actively engaged in upskilling, especially in AI.

Uttarakhand announces 3% DA hike for employees ahead of Diwali
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushakar Singh Dhami has approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance for state employees. This decision raises the DA rate from 60% to 63%. The increase follows a similar decision by the union government, effective since July 1. The benefits of this increase will extend to various personnel in local bodies and educational institutions.

Bangladesh garment factories close as workers clash with police in pay protests
Bangladesh's garment workers have been demanding a minimum wage increase due to rising living costs. Following their protests, police intervened with tear gas and stun grenades in several areas. Factory shutdowns were reported, impacting the country’s crucial garment industry significantly. The government is responding by forming a new wage board to address workers’ demands. Workers are expected to receive their first salaries under this new pay scale in January.

Canva layoffs: Affected staffers to get 6 months’ pay, a MacBook, and $10,000 to start up
Canva has announced significant changes that will impact around 1,271 team members, driven by a downturn in revenue growth. To improve project management and empower decision-making, teams will be consolidated. From January, employees will need to work in the office two to three times a week. A support package will provide generous severance, healthcare benefits, and career assistance, alongside a grant program to help exiting employees pursue new career paths.

8th Pay Commission news: Notified a year ago, 5 biggest 8th CPC developments since November 3, 2025
8th Pay Commission latest news: On November 3, 2025, the government announced the 8th Pay Commission’s Terms of Reference. The Commission is tasked with submitting its report within an 18-month deadline ending on May 3, 2027. An 18-question questionnaire was launched to gather inputs from stakeholders about various employment issues. Additionally, stakeholder consultations began in April 2026, with meetings held in multiple cities. Recommendations will influence future pay and pension adjustments for central government employees.

Google Pay wants to help you pick your next outfit
Google Pay is testing a new fashion and lifestyle shopping feature in India, bringing personalised outfit recommendations, visual product search and virtual try-on to its payments app. The Discover section will allow users to explore clothing trends, find similar products by uploading photographs and get daily outfit suggestions. Powered by Google's Shopping Graph, which has over 60 billion product listings, the feature redirects users to merchants' websites to complete purchases.

8th Pay Commission: 6 key demands by Railway employee's body; better pay, merging of pay scales, hardship allowance and more
8th Pay Commission news: The All India Railwaymen's Federation has made significant recommendations to the 8th Pay Commission. Higher pay scales are proposed to match the Indian Railways' modernization efforts and working conditions. Special allowances have been requested due to the inherent risks and hardships faced by railway employees. The issues of female loco pilots and track maintainers have been highlighted for attention.

8th Pay Commission pension calculator: How Rs 25,000 to Rs 75,000 basic pensions can change at 2.0, 2.25 and 2.57 fitment factors
8th Pay Commission news: The central government has many more pensioners than employees. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced DA and DR hikes that will benefit both employees and pensioners. The 8th Pay Commission will consider various recommendations regarding pension adjustments. Estimates show potential pension increases based on fitment factors of 2.0, 2.25, and 2.57. However, the final decision will be made once the Commission releases its report.

India railway unions seek ₹69,000 minimum pay under 8th Pay Commission
In a bid for enhanced worker welfare, the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen has approached the 8th Central Pay Commission with key demands. They seek to establish a minimum salary of ₹69,000, which includes a fitment factor of 3.833. The federation requests an adjustment in the annual increment from 3% to 6% and proposes five promotional opportunities during an employee's tenure.

Railway worker body seeks Rs 69,000 minimum wage from 8th pay commission
The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen has presented demands to the 8th Central Pay Commission. They have requested a minimum salary of Rs 69,000 for employees, along with a fitment factor of 3.833. Additionally, they seek an increase in annual increments from 3% to 6% and at least five promotions during service. The federation also wants the merger of dearness allowance with basic pay when it reaches 25%.

8th Pay Commission salary calculator: What 7% increment rate means for employees with Rs 53,100, Rs 56,100 and Rs 67,700 basic pays
8th Pay Commisssion newsThe 8th Pay Commission held its final meetings in Mumbai, focusing on salary and pension reform for central government employees. Associations have proposed an annual increment rate of 5-7%, aimed at counteracting inflation and enhancing salaries. If implemented, these adjustments could lead to substantial pay raises over the coming decade, with definitive figures pending in the forthcoming report from the Pay Commission.
Load More