Source: The Hindu (Delhi Edition), Monday, 28 September 2026
Jharkhand Public Service Commission

1. UPI MDR

• The ad states that all person-to-person (P2P) transactions are free, and that 96% of person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions are free (only 4% are above ₹2,000).
• Essential and government services up to ₹2,000 are free. Above ₹2,000 a flat ₹5 MDR applies.
• Small merchants receiving up to ₹1 lakh per month through QR codes are eligible for zero MDR.
• MDR is charged per transaction, not on the day’s total receipts. The MRP stays the same whichever payment mode is used.
• This is the follow-up to the 26 Sept item (MDR going live on 15 Oct).
• Static: MDR = Merchant Discount Rate. UPI is run by NPCI, and RuPay is NPCI’s card network. Zero-MDR on UPI dates from Jan 2020 (static add).

2. EC’s “damage control” on SIR, and the Congress reaction

• Congress says about 14 crore voters deleted from rolls are now being asked to reapply.
• The EC will review ECINet with a Senior DEC-led committee that includes an IIT/IIIT expert. BLOs will visit electors who received notices.
• Editorial and letters call for reconstituting the EC through a selection committee that does not give the government an overriding majority.
• Over 2,000 citizens wrote to the CJI seeking suo motu proceedings on the SIR and ECINet.
• Static:
  • Suo motu cognisance is used under Art. 32 (PIL jurisdiction).
  • SIR is done under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. It is not defined in statute.

3. T.N. rescinds the G.O. exempting the Public (Law and Order) Dept from RTI

• The G.O. (21 Sept) used Section 24(4) of the RTI Act, 2005 and was withdrawn after backlash.
• Static:
  • Sec. 24(1) exempts central intelligence/security organisations listed in the Second Schedule.
  • Sec. 24(4) lets a State government notify its own intelligence/security organisations for exemption.
  • Information on allegations of corruption and human-rights violations cannot be blanket-exempted. For human-rights information, the Information Commission’s approval is needed.
  • Trap: an exemption under Sec. 24 does not cover corruption or human-rights information.

4. Bank unions defer 3-day strike

• A high-level IBA–UFBU committee will examine the 5-day banking week. The other demands are the PLI scheme for Scale IV+ officers and moving from NPS to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
• Static: IBA = Indian Banks’ Association. UFBU = United Forum of Bank Unions. NPS is regulated by PFRDA.

5. Iran–US, Strait of Hormuz

• Iran conditions any reopening on a ceasefire in the region, release of frozen assets, lifting of oil sanctions, and an end to the US naval blockade.
• Static: The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman (the paper says so on p. 9). The Bab-el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (static add). The Houthis have seized Yemen’s Red Sea coast including Bab al-Mandab (p. 14).

6. Odisha: woman survives 25 km in the Brahmani

• Brahmani, Mahanadi and Baitarani are all in spate.
• Static: The Brahmani is formed by the confluence of the South Koel and Sankh rivers near Rourkela (static add). The Mahanadi, Brahmani and Baitarani systems form a large deltaic system.

CM launches 53 projects worth ₹214.12 cr. in unauthorised colonies (Seva Sankalp Abhiyan)

• The projects cover Kirari, Bawana, Mundka, Narela and Nangloi Jat.
• Static add: PM-UDAY (2019) gives ownership/transfer rights in Delhi’s unauthorised colonies. Basic services in such colonies are a recurring Delhi governance theme.
• The Parvesh Sahib Singh–AAP aide incident and other local items have low static yield.

1. “ED report alone can’t be basis for FIR against Vijayan” (Kerala)

• The Kerala Home Minister says the state ordered a preliminary inquiry. The ED had asked for an FIR based on its PMLA probe (CMRL–Exalogic).
• The Kerala HC directed the ED to submit the records it gave the police.
• Static:
  • PMLA, 2002 needs a scheduled (predicate) offence. The ED cannot itself register an FIR for the predicate offence, so it passes the information to the police.
  • An ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) is an internal ED document, not an FIR (static add). Vijay Madanlal Choudhary (2022) upheld this distinction (static add).

2. CBI: 2 more arrested in ₹11.42-cr “digital arrest” case (Operation Chakra-VI)

• The victim was held in “digital arrest” for three months by fraudsters posing as police and TRAI officials.
• Static: “Digital arrest” has no legal basis. TRAI is the telecom regulator.

3. Odisha Vigilance: ₹9.24-cr fraud in the R&B division (false gratuity and leave-salary bills). Low static yield.

1. SPOTLIGHT: Making every second count (IST rules), the highest-yield item today

• The Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026 were notified by the Dept of Consumer Affairs on Aug 27. They come into force in the last week of Feb 2027.
• IST becomes the only permissible time reference for legal, administrative, commercial and official purposes, and it must be drawn from an authorised Indian source.
• CSIR-NPL, New Delhi generates IST from five caesium clocks plus hydrogen masers.
• Facts to memorise:
  • The SI second = 9,192,631,770 cycles of the caesium-133 transition (fixed in 1967 by the CGPM).
  • IST = UTC + 5:30.
  • UTC is computed at Sèvres (near Paris) from about 450 clocks at 85 labs. It is published monthly as a backlog, not broadcast live.
  • NavIC: the rubidium clocks failed from 2016, and only 3 satellites were transmitting on 13 March this year against a minimum of 4. NavIC is named as an authorised source of time in the rules but is not currently a navigation system.
  • GPS is a US-controlled asset. This is why the rules require an Indian source.
• Static add: IST is based on the 82.5°E meridian, which passes near Mirzapur. NPL is a CSIR lab.

2. Haldwani “shuddhikaran puja” row

• The Congress SC/ST Parliamentarians Forum is holding a “Dalit-Adivasi Self-Respect Meeting” in Delhi on Tuesday.
• Static: the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955. The 1955 Act was originally the Untouchability (Offences) Act and was renamed in 1976 (static add).

3. J&K: Apni Party alleges outsiders are buying land

• The reference is to domicile laws in J&K. Article 35A was abrogated in 2019.

4. Karnataka: BJP and JD(S) skip the all-party delegation on drought relief. Low static yield.

1. “In need of an overhaul”: ECI and the SIR

• The SC’s May 27 ruling on the SIR is criticised for deferring to the state, likened to ADM Jabalpur.
• The editorial says the ruling brushed aside a 1995 ruling that every removal must be individually reasoned.
• It cites a West Bengal figure: over 9 in 10 appeals decided by state tribunals restored deleted voters.
• Static add: the 1995 case is Lal Babu Hussein v. ERO (static add). ADM Jabalpur (1976) = suspension of habeas corpus in the Emergency, overruled in Puttaswamy (2017).

2. “New equilibrium” (US–China)

• Xi’s visit produced a $30 bn reciprocal tariff cut, an AI dialogue, and a two-month extension of the trade truce.
• The leaders will meet at APEC (Shenzhen) and the G-20 (Miami).

3. Op-eds: “Kashmir as India’s gateway” (trade corridors, Silk Road history) and “De-Sinication paradox” (India as a China+1 beneficiary: TDK in Haryana, Murata). Mains-flavoured, low Prelims yield.

1. “Pitfalls of mandatory FIRs” (missing persons)

• The article covers G. Ganesh v. State of T.N. (Aug 5, 2026). The SC held that the police must register an FIR on information about any missing “person”, not only children.
• It also cites Bachpan Bachao Andolan (2013) and Sec. 154 CrPC = Sec. 173 BNSS. It mentions AHTUs (Anti-Human Trafficking Units) and Juvenile Welfare Officers.
• Static add: Lalita Kumari v. Govt of U.P. (2013) makes FIR registration mandatory for cognizable offences. A preliminary inquiry is allowed only in limited categories such as matrimonial, commercial, medical negligence, corruption and delay cases.

2. “Form 26 and the statutory mandate” (candidate affidavits)

• Form 26 is the affidavit under Rule 4A, Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.
• Sec. 33A RPA 1951 requires disclosure only of cases with an offence punishable by 2+ years where charges have been framed.
• The 2018 amendment to Form 26 asks for all pending criminal cases. This delegated legislation is arguably wider than the parent statute.
• The trigger is Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination, which was rejected. The SC dismissed her petition citing N.P. Ponnuswami (1952) and Art. 329(b). The remedy is an election petition (Sec. 100 RPA).
• Static chain: Union of India v. ADR (2002) led to Sec. 33A. Sec. 33B was struck down in PUCL (2003) (static add). Sec. 125A punishes a false affidavit.

3. Data Point: rape cases (NCRB)

• In 2024 about 29,536 rape cases were registered. Only about 421 ended in conviction after trial that year.
• Conviction after trial in the same year was about 2%.
• Static: the NCRB is under the MHA. Cases under the POCSO Act are reported separately.

“Should voting be a fundamental right?” (very high yield)

• Art. 326 gives universal adult suffrage. The right to vote is statutory (Sec. 62 RPA 1951) per the Constitution Bench in Kuldip Nayar (2006).
• Rajbala (2015) treated it as constitutional, but the larger bench ruling prevails.
• In Anoop Baranwal (2023), Justice Rastogi’s dissent located it in Art. 19(1)(a) and Art. 21.
• Sec. 19 RPA 1950: eligibility means 18+, ordinarily resident, not disqualified. Sec. 21 empowers the EC to prepare rolls.
• Lakshmi Charan Sen (1985): parties should help ensure eligible voters are included.
• Sec. 17 and 18 of the CEC Act 2023: business is transacted unanimously where possible, and otherwise by majority.
• Static add: the 61st Amendment (1988) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. The first CEC was Sukumar Sen, who introduced election symbols.
• Goa: the ECINet software design blocked EROs from reversing wrongful deletions of 97 eligible voters.

Also: News in Numbers includes 43 missing trainee teachers in Mexico (Ayotzinapa) and a child-trafficking rescue in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh. The Daily Quiz marks Lata Mangeshkar’s birth anniversary (the Bharat Ratna was in 2001, per the earlier quiz answer).

1. Russia sanctions law and Foreign Secretary Misri hosts a US delegation

• The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions against Russia and Iran Act (SRIA) passed on Sept 16. It mandates up to 100% sanctions on countries buying Russian oil.
• A determination on India is expected next month, after a 30-day deadline.
• Russia backs India and Brazil for a permanent UNSC seat but opposes more seats for Germany and Japan.

2. India–Canada

• India and Canada are working to raise ties “to a higher level”. The target is a free trade agreement, and Modi is expected to visit Canada around December.
• The G20 target is to conclude trade negotiations within the year.

3. Sonam Wangchuk

• He demands accountability for the Sept 24, 2025 Leh firing and ₹1 crore compensation, on the same principle as for NEET-leak victims.
• Static: NSA, 1980 (he was detained under it). Sixth Schedule (Art. 244(2), Art. 275(1)). Ladakh is a Union Territory.

1. Census 2027 is a “national responsibility” (Mann Ki Baat)

• Over 32 crore families are recorded, and 2.6 crore people have self-enumerated digitally. The first phase is nearly complete.
• Static: Census Act 1948, with two phases (houselisting, then population enumeration).
• The Census reference date is 1 March 2027, and 1 Oct 2026 for snow-bound areas (static add).

2. Mann Ki Baat items with static relevance

• The Somnath Temple was attacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026, and the Modhera Sun Temple (Gujarat) that year.
• The surgical strikes were on Sept 28–29, 2016, followed by Balakot and Operation Sindoor.
• The Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam) had encroachment cleared for returning elephants.
• Sundarbans women are planting mangroves. Nutrition-month initiatives include Har Ghar Munga and millet dishes.

3. Boeing 737-MAX software issue

• The issue affects the autopilot after a missed approach. India has 96 737-MAX planes: Air India Express 53 and Akasa 43. The DGCA had not responded.

Mutual funds vs PMS (10-year data):

• Mutual funds returned an average of 14.5% CAGR against 14.0% for PMS.
• Only 1% of mutual funds fell below 10% CAGR, against 12% of PMS strategies.
• About 4% of PMS strategies exceeded 20% CAGR, against 1% of mutual funds.
• PMS rebalancing triggers capital gains for the individual account holder.

• Static add: PMS is regulated by SEBI with a minimum investment of ₹50 lakh. Mutual funds are pooled.
• Inflation risk (retirees): Gold and equity may not hedge inflation. REITs must distribute 90% of net distributable income, per the article.

• Swiss voters rejected a plan to tighten neutrality rules (70.1% against). Switzerland had joined EU sanctions on Russia.
• Himlung Himal (7,126 m, Nepal): at least 10 climbers and guides were missing after an avalanche. Nepal is also recovering from the Aug 26 flood.
• Israel: Smotrich called for annexing Gaza up to the “yellow line” and south Lebanon up to the Litani River. Gaza’s health ministry puts the toll at 74,016.
• Taliban said its forces killed 28 fighters and captured 32 in Nuristan (Kamdesh). Pakistan rejected the claims.
• UK: five men were arrested near RAF Fairford, used by the US Air Force.
• China loans two giant pandas to Atlanta for 10 years (panda diplomacy).

• 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya: India retained both kabaddi titles (men 40-34, women 37-34 vs Iran). Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare won silver.
• Chess Olympiad 2026, Samarkand: Uzbekistan won the Open and China won the Women’s. India won silver (Open) and bronze (Women). India retained the Gaprindashvili Trophy and won several board medals.
• Kohli became the second batter after Tendulkar to reach 15,000 ODI runs (303 innings).

COP31 hosts Australia and Türkiye face the fossil-fuel question

• COP31 is in Antalya, Türkiye in November. Türkiye’s Murat Kurum is President. Australia’s Chris Bowen is Vice-President and oversees negotiations, a novel arrangement.
• The pre-COP is in Fiji, Oct 5–8.
• COP30 (Belém, Brazil): the EU pushed a “fossil fuel roadmap”.
• A “Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels” conference was held in Santa Marta (Colombia and the Netherlands, April 2026). The next is in 2027, co-hosted by Tuvalu and Ireland.
• The COP31 priority is electrification: raise the electricity share of final energy demand from about 20% to 35% by 2035.

UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise (UNGA, Sept 24, by consensus)

• Low-lying states such as Fiji, Tuvalu and Vanuatu keep their statehood, sovereign rights and UN membership.
• Maritime zones stay defined under UNCLOS even if the coastline retreats.
• Static: AOSIS = Alliance of Small Island States. Current global mean sea-level rise is about 4–5 mm/year (per the paper).

Other snapshots: Legal Metrology and the archives item on the 1976 Manikaran geothermal project (GSI). Related static: Manikaran (Himachal) and Puga Valley (Ladakh) are India’s geothermal areas (static add).

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