News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants
Source: The Hindu , Indian Exp and others

No charges on UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000; govt yet to decide on MDR for higher-value payments

The government has directed banks and payment system providers not to levy charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions of up to ₹2,000 or on payments made through RuPay debit cards. However, the government has not specified whether charges would be applicable to transactions above ₹2,000, to be paid by merchants. So far, there has been no charge on UPI transactions, irrespective of the amount.

As per a gazette notification dated September 14, no bank or system provider would impose, whether directly or indirectly, any charge on a person making or receiving a payment through a RuPay debit card or UPI transaction of up to ₹2,000. As per a gazette notification dated September 14, no bank or system provider would impose, whether directly or indirectly, any charge on a person making or receiving a payment through a RuPay debit card or UPI transaction of up to ₹2,000.

Odisha rejects premature release of Dara Singh serving life for murder of Graham Staines, two sons

The premature release of Rabindra Kumar Pal alias Dara Singh, serving a life sentence for the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons, has hit a deadlock, with the State Sentence Review Board (SSRB) rejecting his release after the Supreme Court directed the Odisha government to take a clear stand on the matter. Earlier, the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Service and Kendujhar Jail Authorities had recommended his release on grounds of good behaviour.

“The Kendujhar district authority on August 28, 2026 have reported that on August 15, 2026, a congregation comprising approximately 200-250 persons associated with Dara Sena assembled in front of the District Jail, Kendujhar in connection with the proposed release of the convict, during which provocative slogans were reportedly raised,” says the proceeding copy of SSRB’s August 31, 2026 meeting.

India deeply concerned about blockades in Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb: Govt.

India is “deeply concerned” by the blockades in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday (September 15, 2026), even as the Houthis ramped up attacks on Saudi cities and a ship, carrying 14 Indian seafarers, was targeted on Sunday (September 13, 2026) off the Oman coast.

Rural jobs scheme shows modest uptick in August, but trails 2025 MGNREGA levels

In its second month of operation, the government’s new rural employment scheme, Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM G), registered a modest improvement in employment generation. However, a year-on-year comparison with MGNREGA for August shows a 9% decline in the availability of work for the rural poor.

Bengal withdraws approval for Akshaya Patra to provide mid-day meals in four districts

The West Bengal government has withdrawn approval for the Akshaya Patra Foundation to provide mid-day meals in four districts of the State —  Howrah, North 24 Parganas, Purulia and Purba Medinipur. However, the approval has not yet been revoked for Kolkata.

Power discom is still heavily reliant on Tamil Nadu government’s financial support

The excess reliance of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) on the State government for financial support has been brought to light once again — this time, through the State Finances Audit Report for Tamil Nadu by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG).

Ex-ABVP convenor, PM-EAC members in NCERT’s new textbook committees

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has constituted two committees to develop Economics and English textbooks for Classes 11 and 12, whose members include a former national media convenor of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), as well as members of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.

War on Iran cost U.S. more than $38 billion: Congressional Budget Office

The U.S. war against Iran has cost the Department of Defence more than $38 billion through August 1, and will continue costing up to $3 billion a month or more depending on the intensity of the conflict, according to an assessment released on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

India-Afghanistan 2nd T20I: Nitish, Samson to the fore as Men in Blue seal series with ease

Nitish Kumar , who has ramped up his speed in recent months, scalped three for 24 in his three overs as Shreyas Iyer & Co. restricted Afghanistan to 159 for eight and clinched a seven-wicket win in 14.5 overs. With it, India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.

Two senior Leh leaders express concern over ‘protest marches’; ask Kargil and Leh bodies to follow May 2025 agreement

Two senior regional leaders from Ladakh’s Leh, Tsering Samphel and Rigzin Spalbar, have expressed concern over protest marches proposed to demand Statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. They are instead pushing for elections to local hill councils in newly created districts.

“We are strongly against holding any padyatra (walk) or protest in Leh while formal talks are proceeding as a follow-up to the agreement consensually signed by ourselves. Such actions at this juncture will only weaken our collective negotiating strength. The satisfactory sixth meeting with the MHA (Union Ministry of Home Affairs) at New Delhi must be followed up with sincerity to take it to its logical conclusion,” Mr. Spalbar, former chairperson of the Ladakh Hill Development Council-Leh, and Mr. Samphel, former president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, said.

The move comes against the backdrop of the ongoing ‘Martyrs Month’ being observed in Ladakh to remember the four civilians who died during protests in Leh in September 2025. Both the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance support the first death anniversary remembrance meetings. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has also backed the agitational route to pressurise New Delhi in meeting promises made during the May 22 and September 9, 2025 talks between the Union government and the representatives from Ladakh.

Maratha quota stir: Days after cops deny him protest permission, defiant Jarange leaves for Mumbai

Undeterred by the police’s denial of permission to stage a protest in Mumbai, fasting Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange left for the Maharashtra capital on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) morning from Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. Mumbai Police earlier denied permission to Mr. Jarange, who has been on a hunger strike for the last 17 days demanding OBC quota for Maratha community members with Kunbi caste genealogies, to take the protest to Azad Maidan, citing law and order concerns during the ongoing Ganesh festival. Though defiant, Mr. Jarange tweaked his earlier plan to mobilise Maratha community members from various parts of Maharashtra to Mumbai and decided to go with a select group of 5-10 associates amid tight security.

Seven former Australian cricket skippers urge Australian FM to raise concerns over Imran Khan’s detention

Seven former Australian cricket skippers have written to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to raise humanitarian concerns over the detention of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Cricinfo reported. The signatories to the letter sent to the minister are Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, who have clarified that they are writing “not as diplomats or political figures, but as former captains who felt compelled to speak up”. In the letter, “the group makes clear it takes no position on the legal or political case against Mr. Khan”, describing that as a matter for Pakistan alone.

J&K Admin. issues eviction notices in Srinagar’s high-end market of Lal Chowk, Kara Nagar against Nazool land occupants

The J&K Administration has issued eviction notices to several occupants of Nazool land, a government property allotted on lease, in Srinagar district that includes the iconic building of the Mohi-ud-Din Trust in the Polo View commercial centre. “The material produced does not establish the existence of any subsisting lease or an order of renewal/extension from the competent authority. Now, therefore, in exercise of the power’s conferred by Section (1) of the J&K Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988, I, being the Estates Officer under the Act, hereby order the eviction of the Mohi-ud-Din Trust, Residency Road, Srinagar from the aforesaid public premises,” reads the eviction notice, issued by the Tehsildar, Srinagar.