Naval Collision: Pakistan Summons Indian Envoy, MEA Highlights 1991 Pact Violation

A political row has escalated over the UPI merchant discount rate (MDR) framework, with the BJP targeting Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The BJP highlighted that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance that approved the MDR revenue framework included five Congress MPs: P. Chidambaram, Manish Tewari, Gaurav Gogoi, Kishori Lal, and K. Gopinath. All five MPs were present on 12 August when the report was adopted without any recorded dissent in the published minutes. The parliamentary committee had noted that delaying the framework would leave payment service providers reliant on inadequate subsidies, potentially impacting investments in cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and network infrastructure.

Severe floods have shut down schools and submerged homes across parts of Bihar, including Raghunathpur village in Katihar district. To prevent learning loss and keep children engaged with their studies, private tutor Mohammed Saheb has converted a boat into a makeshift floating classroom. Classes are conducted for an hour to an hour and a half in areas where the water is shallow. Students attend the lessons with parental consent, stating that they feel safe and enjoy continuing their education despite the surrounding floodwaters.

An Indian Army paratrooper from the Surya Command has executed a tandem parachute jump alongside a dog handler and a combat canine carrying a full combat load. According to the Indian Army, this operational feat highlights trust, teamwork, and combat readiness. The exercise demonstrates that military canines are trained for specialized operations spanning from ground missions to airborne deployments.

This special News Today broadcast covers key economic, geopolitical, and national developments. The programme examines the political and economic debate surrounding the levy of a 0.4 percent merchant discount rate on Unified Payments Interface transactions exceeding 2,000 rupees.