Political Row Erupts Over New UPI Rule as Opposition and Centre Clash Over MDR Charges

A revised Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for select UPI merchant payments above 2,000 rupees will come into effect from October 15. All transactions up to 2,000 rupees and peer-to-peer transfers will remain free. For payments above 2,000 rupees, merchants in sectors such as railways and fuel will pay a flat fee of five rupees, while other merchant transactions will attract a 0.4 per cent charge capped at 300 rupees. While consumers will not face direct charges, questions remain over whether merchants will absorb costs or pass them on. The government will also create a dedicated fund to upgrade digital payment infrastructure for small vendors.

In an interview with India Today, Bishop Peter Machado discussed his meeting with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge regarding pressing demands of the Christian community in Karnataka. Machado highlighted that the delegation urged the state government to repeal the anti-conversion bill enacted under the previous BJP administration, noting that Congress had promised the repeal in its election manifesto. Pointing out that the ruling party now holds the required majority in the upper house, he urged the government to fulfill its commitment to gain the confidence of minorities. Machado also requested a distinct 1% reservation quota for Christians, explaining that the community currently struggles to secure government employment and benefits under the broader 3B category. He remarked, "Give us another separate bracket itself and give us 1% so that we will be satisfied."

A billionaire legislator in Mumbai stepped out onto the streets disguised as a beggar to experience the life of an underprivileged citizen ahead of the sacred Jain period of Chaturmas. Giving up official security and luxury vehicles, the legislator walked with a begging bowl across the constituency following advice from a spiritual mentor. During the experiment, several local residents offered food to him. After spending a few hours on the road, the lawmaker removed the disguise, returned to the visited locations, and later felicitated the individuals who had extended help, stating the exercise was intended to connect with overlooked sections of society.

A suspected counterfeit medicine racket has been uncovered in Bengaluru, prompting an investigation by a Special Investigation Team and the Drugs Control Department. Investigators suspect expired and rebranded low-cost medicines, including cancer drugs, were supplied at steep discounts to more than ninety hospitals and clinics across the city. A pharmacy owner linked to a raided healthcare facility near Minerva Circle has been arrested. The crackdown follows an earlier raid at a farmhouse in Bengaluru South District, where counterfeit medicines worth five crore rupees, fake labels, and filling equipment were seized. The probe has expanded across Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra to trace the supply network.