Why in News? The Government has introduced a new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for UPI, effective October 15, 2026, under which charges will apply to certain merchant transactions exceeding ₹2,000. About the UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) Framework, 2026 The Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is a fee charged within the merchant payment ecosystem for processing digital…
Why in News? The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi from 12–13 September 2026 under India’s chairship, with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The summit culminated in the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2026, comprising 140 paragraphs covering global governance, international peace and security, trade, finance, technology, climate change, health and development. What is it? The 18th BRICS Summit marked the institutional consolidation of the expanded…
Why in News? Ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong proposed the ‘POWER’ framework for a Greater BRICS, emphasizing stronger Global South cooperation, enhanced India-China coordination, and joint efforts on AI and resilient supply chains. What does POWER stand for? P – Principle: Respect for sovereignty, sovereign equality, non-interference…
Hi there. You must be just entering the UPSC arena with a lot of hope, courage and dreams. First of all, don’t let the hype get to you. With the right direction, discipline and consistency, you can clear this examination. There must be a “why” behind your decision to enter this journey. You all know why you have entered…
Published on : 01-09-2026 By : NEWSUPSC Editorial Subject : Indian Economy UPSC : GS III Source : The Hindu Link : https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/what-goes-on-behind-the-screen-when-you-pay-through-upi-explained/article71411087.ece Context: The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has further strengthened its position as the backbone of India’s digital economy, processing 2,366 crore transactions worth nearly ₹30 lakh crore in July 2026 alone. About…
New Delhi | August 30, 2026 Nepal is facing one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent years after a catastrophic flash flood struck the Himalayan region along the Nepal-China border on August 26. The disaster, triggered by a massive ice-and-rock collapse, sent torrents of water, mud and debris through river valleys, destroying settlements, roads,…
