THE HEADLINES ::

1. Government says, there will be no charges at all for person-to-person UPI transactions, irrespective of amount transferred.
2. Maharashtra government decides to provide soft loans to sugar mills to clear pending dues of farmers for 2025-26 crushing season.
3. Delhi Government decides to double monthly incentive for ASHA workers from three thousand to six thousand rupees; To also build hostels for 10 thousand  students studying in colleges and universities across national capital.
4. India-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas begins at Auli in Uttarakhand and Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
5. New Zealand’s Parliament passes legislation to implement its free trade agreement with India.
6. In Men’s Cricket, India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in second T20 International to take unassailable 2-nil lead in three-match series.

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Government has clarified that there will be no charges at all for person-to-person (P2P) UPI transactions, irrespective of the amount transferred. Finance Ministry said that payments to merchants up to two thousand rupees along with transactions covered under the zero Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for small merchants, will also remain free. The Ministry said that consequently, approximately 96 percent of all P2M transactions will remain unaffected. It said that MDR will apply only to specified merchant transactions above two thousand rupees. The Ministry said that MDR is neither a tax nor a charge collected by the government or National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It is distributed among payment ecosystem participants, including banks and payment application providers, to support the operation and continued expansion of the UPI ecosystem. NPCI has said that a revised UPI Merchant Discount Rate framework has been introduced on select merchant transactions, effective from 15th of next month, while keeping UPI free for consumers. Our correspondent reports said that a dedicated fund for promoting use of UPI by small merchants will be set up with contribution of 5 percent of total MDR collections.

The Finance Ministry said that charges will apply only to person to merchant (P2M) transactions exceeding two thousand rupees. It said that UPI app providers are explicitly prohibited from levying platform fees or hidden charges. The Ministry said that banks have been advised to ensure that merchants do not pass Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges to customers for UPI payments. A nominal MDR of 0.4 percent will be levied on Person to Merchant transactions above two thousand rupees while for high-value transactions of 75 thousand rupees and above, MDR will be capped at three hundred rupees per transaction. The Ministry informed that small merchants receiving up to one lakh rupees per month via UPI QR codes under the Person to Person Merchant (P2PM) classification will continue to enjoy mandatory zero MDR for all transactions. Akshit Vedyan, Akashvani News Delhi.

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Maharashtra Cabinet has approved soft loans of around 750 crore rupees for cooperative sugar mills to clear pending Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) dues to sugarcane farmers for 2025-26 crushing season and support operations for the 2026-27 season. More from our correspondent:

The decision to approve soft loans of around 750 crore rupees for cooperative sugar mills was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by  Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis yesterday. The Chief Minister said the state government will bear the interest on these loans. Mr. Fadnavis said the move will enable cooperative sugar mills to commence operations and procure sugarcane for the current crushing season, benefiting both mills and farmers. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Fadnavis said that Maharashtra has achieved nearly 99.5 per cent payment of FRP to sugarcane farmers and is now first in the country in terms of FRP clearance. Prarthna, Akashvani News, Mumbai.

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Delhi Government has announced to double the fixed monthly incentive for ASHA workers from three thousand rupees to six thousand rupees. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in New Delhi last evening. More from our correspondent:

The increase in the monthly incentive will benefit over six thousand ASHA workers currently working in Delhi. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the increase in the monthly incentive is an important step towards recognising ASHA workers’ contribution and ensuring their financial security. The Chief Minister said that it will boost their enthusiasm for work and help them continue their services. In another decision, Delhi government has  decided to build hostels for over ten thousand students studying in colleges and universities across the national capital.

Delhi Chief Minister said that the government will also conduct a survey of colleges that have sufficient space for hostel construction. With Akshit Vedyan, Rishu Jaiswal, Akashvani News, Delhi.

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Uttar Pradesh cabinet has approved the transfer of free land to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the establishment of a Regional Centre of the National Security Guard (NSG) in Ayodhya. The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath yesterday. More from Our Correspondent..

Giving details about the decisions of the cabinet, Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister of State, Suresh Khanna said that after the construction of the Ram Temple and its consecration ceremony, Ayodhya has emerged at the national and international level as a major cultural, religious and strategic centre. A large number of devotees, distinguished guests and tourists from the country and abroad are continuously visiting there. In such a situation, the security sensitivity of the area has also increased considerably. Keeping this in view, the minister said, permanent deployment of an NSG in Ayodhya through this regional centre has become necessary. SUSHIL CHANDRA TIWARI AKASHVANI NEWS LUCKNOW .

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The Chhattisgarh State Election Commission will organise a two-day All India Conference of State Election Commissioners in Nava Raipur beginning today. The 32nd Election Commissioners’ Conference will be inaugurated by Governor Ramen Deka.

State Election Commissioners from various states will deliberate on making the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies more empowered, transparent, inclusive, credible and participatory.

International experts from Princeton University, New Jersey, and the United States, specialising in democratic elections, will also participate in the conference.

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Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is arriving in Bihar today on a day-long visit. During the visit, Mr. Chouhan will take stock of the flood situation and meet flood-affected farmers and families. A report:

The Union Minister will begin his visit with an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Dighwara and Maner in Patna district. He will then visit Tarsia and Saraipur villages in Hajipur. In Patna, Mr. Chouhan will hold a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and senior officials. The meeting will review the flood situation, disaster management, relief and rescue operations, and the assistance being provided to affected farmers. The Union Minister will also visit Munger and Bhagalpur. Meanwhile, the flood situation in Bihar continues to remain serious. WITH Abhishek Das’s report from Patna JIGYASA PANDEY, AKASHVANI News.

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Four airports are set to come up in West Bengal, as the state government moves to speed up regional air connectivity. A report:

The airports will be located at Chharra in Purulia, Balurghat in South Dinajpur, Hasimara in Alipurduar and Kalaikunda in Paschim Medinipur.

A tripartite MoU between the Centre and the state for the four airports is expected to be signed under the UDAN scheme. The signing ceremony is scheduled at Nabanna Sabhaghar on 23rd September, in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister K. R. Naidu and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

The state government will provide land and develop basic infrastructure, including electricity and water. The Airports Authority of India will oversee airport infrastructure and flight operations. Sandipon Dasgupta, akashvani news.

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The opening ceremony of the 22nd edition of the India-US joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ was held at Auli in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The ceremony was conducted at the Auli Foreign Training Centre, with contingents of 600 personnel each from the two countries participating. The exercise is being conducted at Auli as well as the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. More details from our correspondent:

The exercise aims to enhance the capabilities of both armies to conduct joint military operations in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, with special emphasis on infantry-based operations. During the exercise, the two armies will exchange operational methods and strengthen joint planning and operations.

The training will include the use of drones and autonomous systems for surveillance and reconnaissance. Modern weapon systems will also be demonstrated at the Mahajan Field Firing Range. Experts from both armies will exchange views on emerging technologies and developments related to multi-domain warfare. Sakshi Singh, Akashvani News, Dehradun.

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New Zealand’s Parliament has passed legislation to implement its free trade agreement with India, paving the way for significant reductions in tariffs and expanded trade between the two countries. The legislation was approved by a vote of 93-29, with support from the opposition Labour Party. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay said the agreement would deliver “immediate and substantial” benefits for exporters. He said the high-quality trade deal is expected to enter into force later this year. Under the agreement, tariffs on about 95 percent of New Zealand’s exports to India will be eliminated or significantly reduced. More than half of the products covered by the deal will become duty-free from the day the agreement enters into force. All Indian goods will receive duty free access to the New Zealand market. Wellington has also agreed to invest 20 billion US dollar in ​India over ​the next ⁠15 years.

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In Men’s Cricket, India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second T20 International at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi last night, to take an unassailable 2-nil lead in the three-match series. Chasing a target of 160 runs, India comfortably reached 163 for 3 in 14.5 overs. Sanju Samson top-scored with a blistering 57 off 22 balls, while Abhishek Sharma contributed 39 runs off 19 balls. Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 38 off 23 balls to guide India home. India had won the toss and elected to field. The third and final match of the series will be played at the same venue in Delhi tomorrow.

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India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall over Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi today. Similar Weather Conditions are also expected to prevail over Kerala, Mahe, Punjab, Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim,Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal for the day.

Met Department said that thunderstorms and lightning conditions will continue over Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Rajasthan for the next two days. Similar Weather Conditions are also expected to prevail over Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand for today.

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World Ozone Day is being observed across the globe, today. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the crucial role of the ozone layer in safeguarding life on Earth. The theme for 2026 is “Global Action for a Cooler Planet.” The theme highlights the achievements of international cooperation in protecting the ozone layer.

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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS,

1. “India’s global interests, responsibilities have grown, says External Affairs Minister (EAM) Jaishankar” leads The Statesman.
2. “India calls Pakistan’s Masood Azhar reward move a gimmick” reports The Pioneer.
3. On the Kishau multipurpose project, The Asian Age writes “6 states sign pact with government over Yamuna rejuvenation.”
4. “BJP plans NDA’s show of strength on Modi’s birthday” states The Asian Age.
5. “Meta to share reports on child safety with government agencies directly” informs The Hindu.
6. Finally, On the Emmy Awards, Financial Express reports  “Widow’s Bay swept the 78th Emmy Awards, setting a new comedy-series record with 14 wins, including best comedy series. The Pitt repeated as best drama, while Matthew Rhys and Jean Smart added historic acting milestones.”

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN

1. Government says, there will be no charges at all for person-to-person UPI transactions, irrespective of amount transferred.
2. Maharashtra government decides to provide soft loans to sugar mills to clear pending dues of farmers for 2025-26 crushing season.
3. Delhi Government decides to double monthly incentive for ASHA workers from three thousand to six thousand rupees; To also build hostels for 10 thousand  students studying in colleges and universities across national capital.
4. India-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas begins at Auli in Uttarakhand and Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
5. New Zealand’s Parliament passes legislation to implement its free trade agreement with India.
6. In Men’s Cricket, India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in second T20 International to take unassailable 2-nil lead in three-match series.

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