Counterfeit Medicine Racket Busted in Bengaluru; Over 90 Hospitals Under Scanner, Chemist Arrested

A debate on The News Today examines the Modi government's gazette notification regarding merchant fees on high-value digital transactions. Under the new rules, transactions up to Rupees 2,000 on UPI and RuPay debit cards remain entirely tax-free, while payments above that threshold face a merchant discount rate of up to 0.4%. Former State Bank of India Chairman and current Mastercard India Chairman Rajnish Kumar defends the measure, clarifying, 'No, it is not a tax. That's not the right word to use. This is a fee which is payable by the merchant for the convenience.' Kumar argues the system requires massive capital for technology, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention, which cannot remain cross-subsidised indefinitely. In contrast, former Additional Solicitor General Bishwajit Bhattacharyya warns that merchants will pass the burden to consumers, effectively turning it into a destination-based consumption tax, and urges the government to continue subsidising India's digital payment ecosystem.

A panel discussion examines the alarming surge in hit-and-run incidents across Indian roads following a severe accident involving female biker Siya Chauhan in Gurugram. Former IPS officer Dr Kiran Bedi highlights the absence of road discipline and fear of punishment, calling for interconnected surveillance cameras and dedicated police motorcycle interceptors to ensure swift arrests. The victim, Siya Chauhan, alongside her father Roshan Chauhan, recounts the terrifying experience of being deliberately chased and struck by an aggressive driver. Panelists including biker Pratiksha Das, SafeLIFE Foundation founder Piyush Tiwari, and riding instructor Suparna Sarkar debate systemic road safety failures, gender-based harassment on highways, lax law enforcement, and the urgent necessity of stringent penalties to prevent fatal reckless driving.

The Food and Drug Administration, led by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, has launched a major food safety crackdown across Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi. Over 4,100 kilograms of sweets and 30 litres of milk have been seized during enforcement drives. The FDA also suspended the licences of four outlets, including Colaba's iconic Café Mondegar, after discovering critical safety breaches such as improper thawing, inadequate rapid cooling, sanitation issues, and failure to maintain mandatory hot and cold holding temperatures. Alongside enforcement, the FDA is conducting awareness workshops with mandals to ensure hygienic preparation and packaging of prasad and modaks distributed during festivities.

In an interview with India Today, biker Shivani Chauhan, also known as Siya, and her father Roshan Chauhan spoke about the viral Gurugram hit-and-run incident on Golf Course Road. Chauhan detailed how a speeding car chased and collided with her motorcycle, stating, "It was intentional." Describing her physical injuries and trauma, she rejected claims made by the accused driver's legal counsel alleging rash driving on her part. Chauhan emphasized that the driver's arrest was merely an initial measure, stating, "Arrest is just the first step," and called for strict punishment for everyone involved in the vehicle. Her father asserted that ramming a two-ton vehicle at high speed amounts to an attempt to murder and raised concerns regarding women's safety on public roads.