EP GROUND CHECK

The government has proposed a legislative amendment that could pave the way for merchant discount rates (MDR) on UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000 when they are made to businesses. Person to person transfers are expected to remain outside the scope of the proposal. The change comes through the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill introduced […]

Hospitals across Ernakulam district in Kerala are operating at full capacity as cases of influenza and fever spike sharply, according to The Hindu. Multiple medical facilities across the district are now unable to admit new patients, with wards operating beyond their standard bed strength. The surge is forcing healthcare providers to make difficult decisions about

ASHA workers across Haryana have launched protests demanding better pay and permanent employment contracts, according to The Hindu. ASHA, short for Accredited Social Health Activists, are frontline health workers stationed in villages and small towns who connect families to government health services. They track pregnancies, conduct immunisations, monitor disease outbreaks, and refer patients to hospitals.

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board is facing a growing safety crisis as most pilgrims attempting the trek to the Amarnath cave are bypassing mandatory health checks. According to The Hindu, the board has observed a significant surge in unregistered devotees who are arriving without completing medical screening that assesses whether a person’s heart, lungs, and

Four lakh app-based drivers and delivery workers across India are planning a strike beginning August 8 to demand better pay and workplace protections. The protest, reported by Andhrabhoomi, represents one of the largest coordinated actions by gig workers in recent years and signals growing frustration with working conditions on digital platforms. Gig workers have complained

An ex-IPS officer and two victims injured by pellet gun fire have moved India’s Supreme Court seeking a complete ban on the weapons and compensation for past injuries. The petition, reported by Mint, challenges the use of pellet guns as a tool for dispersing civilian assemblies, arguing the weapons are fundamentally unreliable and dangerous. The

Farmers across India are moving away from traditional crops that demand heavy water use and towards vegetables and plants that survive with less rain. According to reporting on agricultural practices, this shift is accelerating in states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, where the monsoon has become increasingly unreliable over the past decade. The change is

The Prime Minister announced on July 23 that the government would establish fast-track courts to handle exam paper leak cases, citing the importance of protecting students’ futures. The announcement followed three days of student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, which ended in police action involving baton charges and tear gas. Some protesters reported injuries and

The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions on Monday against alleged police brutality directed at students during the CJP protests over NEET paper leaks. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant agreed on July 24 to hear these petitions on July 27 after lawyers brought the matter before the court. The

Tamil Nadu’s ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has reiterated its demand for the complete abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), while also calling for a significant restructuring of how education is governed in India. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party said its opposition was not limited to alleged irregularities surrounding