Christian Delegation Meets Mallikarjun Kharge, Demands Quota and Anti-Conversion Law Repeal

The central government's push to implement the Uniform Civil Code across 21 NDA-ruled states by 2029 has triggered differences within the NDA alliance. Key Bihar allies, including the JD(U) and LJP(RV), have called for wider consultations and making the draft public before taking a final stand, stressing that no community should feel hurt. Meanwhile, Bihar opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav has demanded that the allies clearly state their positions. The proposed UCC framework includes a complete ban on polygamy, a uniform marriage age, mandatory registration of live-in relationships, gender-equal inheritance rights, and common personal laws, while exempting Scheduled Tribes from its ambit.

The Janata Dal (United) has voiced reservations regarding the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code across NDA-ruled states before 2029. In response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement, JD(U) leaders reiterated that the party seeks extensive dialogue so that no community is hurt. As opposition party RJD demanded clarity from the ruling ally in Bihar, JD(U) Working President Sanjay Jha is scheduled to meet Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss party concerns and resolve alliance differences regarding the proposed uniform law.

The central government has formally notified a change under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, barring banks and payment system providers from imposing direct or indirect charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions up to 2,000 rupees. The decision ensures no fee, levy, or additional charge applies to making or receiving payments within this limit. The government has also prohibited charges on RuPay debit card payments and kept person-to-person UPI transfers free. While individual transactions remain exempt from extra costs, merchant discount rates may apply to large entities with high turnover for transactions exceeding 2,000 rupees.

In this India Today Programme Video, anchor Marya Shakil takes up the intensifying global race to develop artificial intelligence and the growing debate over whether humans can keep pace with the technology they are creating. With tech leaders including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warning about AI development outpacing safety guardrails, the question of how far the AI race should go is becoming increasingly urgent. US President Donald Trump, however, has rejected calls for slowing down, arguing that the United States cannot afford to fall behind China.