The government announced the UPI (Unified Payments Interface) Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework on 15 September 2026, with the charges set to take effect from 15 October 2026. The framework is as follows: (i) a 0.4% rate on person-to-merchant (P2M) payments above ₹2,000; (ii) no charge on P2M payments up to ₹2,000; (iii) a cap…
Imagine a torrent of over 100 million cubic metres of rock, ice, and mud rushing down a narrow canyon at a whopping speed of more than 170 km/h. You would have virtually no chance of outrunning it. This is what happened on 26 August 2026 in the Nepal Himalaya, 60 kilometres north of Kathmandu. At…
For decades, dominant Western media conglomerates, especially the BBC, CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian and Reuters, have indulged in promoting anti-Bharat narratives clashing with the strategic and economic interests of our rising nation. As the world’s most populous country, it is time we establish a robust international media ecosystem to…
A casual discussion with friends on electric cars and its impact on the transportation industry triggered me to pen this article. On 12 August 2026, Heart Aerospace, a US-based company, flew its 11-tonne X1 electric aircraft for 27 minutes over New York. It reached 1100 feet high, marking a huge technological leap since the first…
As Bharat completes 79 years of independence, its large youth population presents both an unprecedented opportunity and a profound responsibility for the government. This demographic dividend, representing the Yuva Shakti, comprising approximately 37 crore youngsters aged 14 to 29 years, represents nearly 26 percent of the total population. This vast young resource needs careful nurturing…
As the lifeline of Assam, the Brahmaputra River is both a boon and a bane; it fertilizes and enriches the soil on one hand yet causes destructive monsoon floods on the other. Assam receives both the monsoon rains and water from glacial melts from its northern tributaries originating in the Himalaya. The glacial melt in…
That your e-paper, Orangenews9, is being widely read and debated, and that readers’ questions are answered without any prejudice, reflects the good journalism that your digital media platform follows. Such engagement is essential in any healthy democracy, and Bharat is no exception. Renowned scientist and columnist Dr R.K. Chadha recently wrote an article, Will the…
The government’s new 2026 anti-leak legislation and high-tech task force signal a decisive effort to stop exam malpractice and protect students’ academic futures. Ironically, the opposition parties demanding strict action on the paper leaks were seen derailing the very law meant to do that. They stand exposed due to their aggressive and shameful behaviour that…
I woke up today with a profound, unexplainable sense of connection to my late parents. Yielding to modern habit, I opened WhatsApp, only to be met with an extraordinary sight. My screen was filled with messages from students, colleagues, and friends, including several from across the world I hadn’t heard from in years. Reading how…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened in the May 2026 NEET paper leak crisis after a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar turned violent on 20 July. The New Delhi clashes injured more than 150 security personnel and 60 demonstrators. In a midnight video message, PM Modi announced the formation of fast-track courts to…
