India's Defence Ministry Annual Report 2025-26 highlights **Operation Sindoor**, launched in May 2025 as precision military strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists. The report terms it a demonstration of India's resolve against cross-border terrorism. On the **LAC situation**, it notes continued disengagement with China post-2020 Ladakh standoff, with patrolling resuming at key friction points like Depsang and Demchok after diplomatic talks.

**India-New Zealand Trade Deal: Key Changes**

India and New Zealand have finalized a significant trade agreement aimed at boosting bilateral commerce. For Indian exporters, this means reduced tariffs on textiles, pharmaceuticals, IT services, and agricultural products entering New Zealand, enhancing competitiveness. Indian consumers can expect cheaper imports of New Zealand dairy products, fruits like kiwi, wool, and seafood. The deal also eases services trade, benefiting India's IT and skilled workforce mobility. Both nations aim to strengthen supply chains and investment flows, with provisions for intellectual property protection and dispute resolution. This pact diversifies India's trade partnerships beyond traditional allies, potentially boosting GDP growth and creating jobs in export-oriented sectors.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to visit Bhutan on September 16-17 for bilateral talks with his Bhutanese counterpart. The visit aims to strengthen India-Bhutan ties, focusing on development cooperation, hydropower projects, trade, and connectivity. Discussions will also cover regional security and border issues. India remains Bhutan's closest ally and largest development partner. The visit underscores New Delhi's "Neighbourhood First" policy, reinforcing the historic and strategic partnership between the two nations.

IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe has exposed a massive pricing disparity in hospitals, revealing that a medical product costing just Rs 11 is being billed to patients at Rs 325 — nearly 30 times its actual price. Mundhe, known for his anti-corruption stance, highlighted this as an example of how hospitals exploit patients through inflated charges on basic medical supplies. He called for stricter regulation and transparency in hospital billing practices. His revelation has sparked public outrage and renewed demands for government intervention to curb overcharging in healthcare, ensuring affordable treatment for all citizens.

Tanishka Aglave, a 17-year-old student, developed an innovative AI-powered tool to detect diseases in citrus plants, earning her a $50,000 prize. Her project uses machine learning to identify infections like citrus greening early, helping farmers prevent crop loss. Tanishka won the top award at the Regeneron Science Talent Search, one of the most prestigious STEM competitions for high school students in the U.S. Her work addresses critical agricultural challenges, showcasing how young innovators can drive real-world impact through technology and science.

Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath criticized NPCI's decision to impose charges on UPI payments for investments and broking transactions. While UPI remains free for regular payments, transactions above ₹2,000 in mutual funds, broking, and similar categories now attract interchange fees. Kamath argued these charges are unsustainable for brokers, saying, "I don't see how we can absorb this indefinitely," hinting costs may eventually be passed to customers, raising concerns about UPI's affordability promise.

Repolling began in select booths across Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Suket in Rajasthan's urban local body elections after irregularities were reported during the initial voting. The State Election Commission ordered repolling due to complaints of EVM malfunctions, booth capturing, and other disruptions. Tight security arrangements were made to ensure free and fair voting. The elections are crucial for BJP and Congress, as results will reflect political strength ahead of future state polls. Voter turnout is being closely monitored.

The US Senate advanced a bill threatening 100% tariffs on countries importing Russian oil, targeting nations like India. Opposition parties attacked the Modi government, saying India is being treated like a "ball" between global powers. Congress and other parties accused the BJP-led government of failing to protect India's strategic interests and energy security. India, a major buyer of discounted Russian crude since the Ukraine war, faces potential economic fallout. The government defended its foreign policy as independent, prioritizing national interests.

Seema Pahuja is a CBI officer who has gained prominence for investigating several high-profile cases in India. She previously played key roles in the Hathras gang rape case and the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case in Kolkata. Now, she has been assigned to probe the mysterious death of Disha Salian, former manager of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who died on June 8, 2020, days before Sushant's death. Her involvement signals CBI's serious approach to unresolved cases.

The FBI uncovered a Russian government-backed assassination plot targeting a US-based dissident and Ukrainian supporters. The scheme involved recruiting operatives to conduct surveillance and plan attacks on critics of the Kremlin living in America. Federal authorities arrested suspects linked to Russian intelligence services. The plot aimed to silence opposition voices and intimidate Ukraine's allies on US soil. The DOJ emphasized this as a serious national security threat, highlighting Russia's escalating efforts to export political violence abroad, undermining democratic freedoms.

Karnataka Minister has demanded strict action, including booking culprits under attempt to murder charges, against those involved in a fake drug racket uncovered in the state. The racket reportedly involved manufacturing and distributing counterfeit medicines, posing serious health risks to unsuspecting patients. The minister emphasized that selling fake drugs endangers lives and should be treated as a heinous crime. Authorities have been urged to crack down on the network, arrest all involved, and ensure stringent punishment to deter such life-threatening criminal activities in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

MUFG's Dragon Funds, the private equity arm linked to Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, is strengthening its investment focus on India-Japan and Asia-Pacific markets. The firm is eyeing a new fund targeting approximately $600 million to capitalize on growing opportunities in the region. This move reflects increasing investor confidence in India's economic growth and deepening bilateral ties between India and Japan. Dragon Funds aims to invest in mid-market companies across sectors, leveraging cross-border synergies between Asian economies for value creation and expansion.

Yes Bank shares surged 4% after global brokerages Citi and Morgan Stanley identified the lender as a key beneficiary of proposed UPI interchange charges. The Reserve Bank of India and NPCI are considering introducing merchant charges on UPI transactions, which could generate significant revenue for banks processing these payments. Yes Bank, being one of the largest UPI transaction processors in India, stands to gain substantial fee income, potentially boosting its earnings. Analysts believe this move could improve the bank's profitability and diversify revenue streams beyond traditional lending, making it an attractive investment opportunity amid India's growing digital payments ecosystem.

**Fake Freedom Fighter Certificates Expose MBBS Admission Fraud**

Four medical students were booked after authorities discovered they secured MBBS admissions using fraudulent freedom fighter dependent certificates. These certificates entitled them to reserved quota seats meant for genuine descendants of freedom fighters. An investigation revealed the documents were forged, and the students illegally occupied seats, depriving deserving candidates. Police registered cases of cheating, forgery, and fraud against the students and those who facilitated the fake certificates. Authorities are probing deeper to identify officials or agents involved in the racket. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in the admission verification process and has prompted calls for stricter document authentication. Educational boards may now implement enhanced verification mechanisms to prevent such frauds in future admissions.

# CAT 2026 Registration Update

CAT 2026 के लिए रजिस्ट्रेशन की डेडलाइन अभी खत्म नहीं हुई है। उम्मीदवारों के पास 22 सितंबर 2026 तक आवेदन करने का मौका है। IIM द्वारा आयोजित इस प्रवेश परीक्षा के लिए इच्छुक अभ्यर्थी आधिकारिक वेबसाइट iimcat.ac.in पर जाकर फॉर्म भर सकते हैं। CAT परीक्षा MBA और संबंधित प्रबंधन कार्यक्रमों में प्रवेश के लिए देशभर के IIMs और अन्य प्रमुख बिजनेस स्कूलों में मान्य है। अभ्यर्थी अंतिम तिथि का इंतजार न करें और जल्द आवेदन करें।