💰 UPI charges: Sitharaman says merchants pay, not users

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on digital transactions only applies to merchants, not to end consumers. She stated that the proposed rates aim to help banks and fintech invest more in security and infrastructure. This clarification followed claims from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh that costs would be passed to ordinary citizens. The MDR is pending a decision by the UPI and Services Steering Committee after Parliament passes the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. All UPI users will benefit from the increased investment once this bill is enacted.

🔬 NEET paper leak: experts allegedly used chits to cheat

The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak involved accused insiders memorizing and writing down questions on chits. This incident occurred in early May, rocking the nation and leading to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Education Minister. The CBI chargesheet names three NTA experts—PV Kulkarni, Manisha Mandhare, and Manisha Havaldar—among 13 arrested. They allegedly copied questions during moderation, motivated by financial gain and boosting coaching class success. The CBI has filed the chargesheet in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court, and all 13 accused are in judicial custody. 🧐

🛡️ Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan sign new defence pact

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan are set to sign a joint defence agreement in Jeddah on Friday. This meeting involves Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The pact comes amid rising military tensions due to the US-Iran conflict in the region. Pakistan is noted as the Muslim world's only nuclear-armed state, adding weight to the alliance. The three nations view this move as having significance beyond the immediate crisis. 🛡️

🏛️ RS Chairman pushes for Shah's statement on protests

The Opposition has been demanding a statement from the Home Minister regarding the police action during protests across Parliament. Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to consider the request for Home Minister Amit Shah's presence. This followed Mallikarjun Kharge's demand on Thursday, Aug. 6, that Shah address the House about the July 20 Jantar Mantar protest. The Opposition seeks an independent inquiry into the alleged excessive force used against protesters. The government, however, maintains that the Leader of the Opposition cannot dictate proceedings. 😠

🐄 Dung found in SUV after checkpoint breach in Ramban

Dung was discovered inside a Scorpio after it allegedly breached a security checkpoint on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban. The vehicle, registered JK02AK-1743, was travelling from Srinagar towards Jammu when it fled from the Chanderkote naka at approximately 3:30 a.m. The three occupants abandoned the SUV and escaped into the Papria Peera forest. A joint operation involving J&K Police, CRPF, and Army is now searching for the unidentified men. Officials are investigating if the vehicle was modified for illegal bovine smuggling. 🐄

🌊 Gujarat well ripples mysteriously for five days

An 18-foot-deep well in a remote village in Gujarat's Morbi district started showing continuous waves for the past five days. Locals and commuters gathered to witness this unusual activity, which has puzzled the community. District Geologist J S Vadher ruled out any seismic activity, stating the phenomenon is likely due to air escaping from rocks. This assessment came after the Institute of Seismological Research in Gandhinagar confirmed no active fault line exists nearby. A team from Gandhinagar will investigate further, as informed by Morbi district collector Swapnil Khare.

✈️ IAF's Bhawana Kanth makes history as 'Top Gun' pilot

Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has achieved a major milestone by completing the Fighter Combat Leader course at TACDE in Gwalior. She is a pilot from Darbhanga district, Bihar, and was commissioned into the IAF in June 2016. This rigorous 20-week program is equivalent to the US Navy's 'Top Gun' training. Her achievement boosts the presence of women in advanced operational and leadership roles within the IAF. This marks another significant breakthrough for women in military aviation.

🤖 OpenAI's puck-sized AI speaker drops in 2027

OpenAI is launching a new, hockey puck-sized smart speaker that will look like a doughnut. This device will be designed for portability and is expected to cost over $300. The release is slated for 2027, aiming to be an AI-first computer to compete with Amazon and Google. It will feature moving parts and advanced voice interaction similar to ChatGPT. OpenAI is pushing ahead despite ongoing legal battles with Apple Inc. 🤖

💰 Kerala Lottery results dropping today 🤑

The Suvarna Keralam SK-64 lottery results will be declared on Friday, August 7, 2026. The draw is set to happen at Gorky Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram starting at 3 PM. Winners stand to gain a grand prize of Rs 1 crore, with other prizes including Rs 30 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. The draw will be monitored by an independent panel to ensure complete transparency. Participants must check official sources to claim their prizes within 30 days.

🚨 No link found between Jantar Mantar protests and terror module

Punjab Police has clarified there is no connection between the Jantar Mantar protesters in New Delhi and the Pakistan ISI-backed terror module busted in Amritsar. This clarification followed the spread of edited clips from the August 4 press conference by the Amritsar Commissionerate. The original statement only mentioned some arrested accused visited Jantar Mantar to plan attacks, not that they participated in protests. Social media handles allegedly altered the visuals and trimmed the video to create a false narrative. Police are taking legal action under the IT Act against those spreading this misleading content. 🚨

🏛️ Parliament approves UPI transaction charges bill swiftly

The Lok Sabha passed a bill authorizing the government to permit banks to charge fees for UPI transactions. This legislative action took place in the Indian Parliament. The bill passed without any debate on the floor of the house. The measure allows banks to impose charges on UPI transactions as per government authorization. Further rules and implementation details are expected to be announced soon. 🏛️