UPSC Current Affairs
Supreme Court scrutinizes UPI zero-MDR policy, electoral roll revision plea, and TB preventive care dynamics
9 stories · about 4 min read · quiz and Mains question at the end
Supreme Court Examines UPI Merchant Discount Rate and Digital Payment Subsidies
The Supreme Court of India questioned the Union government regarding the zero Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) policy on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions. The court sought clarity on the regulatory and financial framework that compensates banks and payment service providers, while the government noted that ongoing budgetary subsidies help bridge the operating costs of the digital payments ecosystem.
Supreme Court Moved Over Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls
A petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a time-bound independent inquiry and a stay on the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across several States and Union Territories. The plea raised concerns over procedural safeguards against arbitrary deletions of eligible voters from voter lists without adequate ground-level verification.
Delays in Remuneration at SAKHI One Stop Centres Highlight Implementation Gaps
Operational delays in disbursing salaries to staff at SAKHI One Stop Centres have highlighted administrative bottlenecks in the centrally sponsored scheme funded under the Nirbhaya Fund. SAKHI centres provide integrated support, including medical aid, legal counseling, temporary shelter, and psycho-social services, to women facing violence.
Assessment of Make in India Initiative After Twelve Years
A review of key macroeconomic indicators over the twelve years of the Make in India initiative reveals mixed outcomes across manufacturing sectors. While electronics manufacturing and targeted production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes demonstrated significant export growth, broader structural challenges remain in expanding manufacturing's total share in GDP and aggregate formal job creation.
Lancet Study Shows Waning Efficacy of TB Preventive Treatment in High-Burden Settings
A global study published in The Lancet indicated that the protective effect of Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) may wane after one year in countries with high transmission rates. Researchers emphasized that pharmaceutical prevention of latent infection must be combined with broader public health interventions, such as improved ventilation and airborne infection control, to achieve lasting containment.
Kerala Institute Develops Early Warning Model to Forecast Dengue Outbreaks
Scientists at the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) in Kerala have created a predictive early warning system to forecast dengue fever transmission trends. The predictive model incorporates meteorological variables, vector breeding dynamics, and historical epidemiological data to help public health authorities deploy targeted preventive vector-control measures before seasonal surges.
Uttar Pradesh Leverages Inland Waterbodies for Fisheries and Rural Livelihoods
Uttar Pradesh has leased out more than 80,000 hectares of Gram Sabha ponds and 2,205 km of river stretches to boost rural aquaculture and livelihood opportunities. The initiative has contributed to more than doubling the State's fish production over the past eight years, highlighting the economic potential of inland community water resource management.
Strategic Realignment in United States-China Diplomatic and Trade Relations
Bilateral meetings between the leaders of the United States and China concluded with steps toward stabilizing commercial interactions, including tariff adjustments on agricultural commodities and ongoing dialogues regarding technological competition and artificial intelligence governance. The calibrated engagement reflects an effort to manage geopolitical competition and preserve economic predictability.
India-New Zealand Trade Negotiations Emphasize Targeted Economic Cooperation
Bilateral trade discussions between India and New Zealand highlight a shift toward focused, modular trade agreements that target non-sensitive sectors such as services, forestry products, and education. Such specialized frameworks allow partner countries to expand trade flows without triggering domestic agricultural and dairy market sensitivities.
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