The Supreme Court has proposed a pilot project to deny fuel to uninsured vehicles and asked the Centre and IRDAI to prepare an implementation plan. The court also directed authorities to integrate Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras with insurance databases to automatically detect uninsured vehicles and issue e-challans. It recommended handheld verification devices for traffic police, stricter penalties for uninsured driving and extending mandatory third-party insurance by one year for new private cars and two-wheelers. The bench stressed that mandatory insurance ensures timely compensation for accident victims and noted that nearly 56% of vehicles on Indian roads remain uninsured, leading to prolonged litigation and delayed relief. (PC: Reuters)  

India's free UPI payment system could see a major policy shift after the government proposed amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act that would allow Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges on select UPI transactions in the future. If approved, the changes would primarily target high-value payments above ₹2,000 made to large merchants, while person-to-person transfers and most consumer payments are expected to remain free. No MDR has been introduced yet, but the proposal creates the legal framework for future charges. The payments industry has long sought such a move, arguing it would help fund infrastructure, innovation and the continued expansion of India's digital payments ecosystem. (PC: Image created using AI for representational purposes)

The 2026 Environmental Performance Index ranked India 176th out of 177 countries, despite a small improvement over the past decade. The report said India continues to face major challenges in air quality, biodiversity and environmental health. It ranked 174th in environmental health and 171st in ecosystem vitality. The report noted that renewable energy has expanded, but coal use has also increased as power demand grows. India ranked 130th in climate change mitigation, its strongest category. The report also said India trails several South Asian neighbours, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, in overall environmental performance. (PC: First Post)

An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi hit severe turbulence on Tuesday, leaving at least 14 people injured. Passengers described frightening moments as the aircraft suddenly lost altitude. "We thought we would die. It was really scary," an Italian passenger said after seeing her sister thrown into the air and her mother suffer a head injury. Another passenger said people hit their heads on the overhead bins after the sudden drop. Air India said the aircraft landed safely in Delhi and injured passengers received medical care. The DGCA has been informed, and officials said a probe is underway into the incident.  

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a nationwide listening tour to engage with young people after its anti-NEET paper leak agitation. The party will hold a two-day strategy meeting in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, on Wednesday and Thursday to finalise its future roadmap. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, spokespersons and organisational leaders will attend. According to the party, the outreach aims to understand the aspirations and concerns of youth before deciding its next steps. CJP said the campaign follows consultations with volunteers and supporters and seeks to build on the momentum created by the NEET protest movement. (PC: India Today)

An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi encountered sudden turbulence during its journey on Monday, leaving around 14 passengers and crew members with minor injuries. Flight AI2379 experienced a brief turbulence-related event while cruising, causing a temporary change in altitude, the airline said. The aircraft landed safely at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Air India confirmed there were no serious injuries. Those requiring medical assessment were taken to an airport medical facility as a precaution. The airline said its airport team and medical personnel assisted the affected passengers and crew after the flight's safe arrival. (PC: Mint)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed Dabur India to stop using claims such as "100% Natural", "100% Pure" and "100% Organic" on food products, including honey and ghee. The regulator said such labels could mislead consumers and also objected to the unauthorised use of the "Jaivik Bharat" organic logo on certain products. FSSAI instructed the company to revise its packaging to comply with food labelling rules. The action is part of the regulator's efforts to ensure truthful advertising and prevent misleading claims in India's packaged food market. (PC: HT)

The lawyer for a 15-year-old Noida girl accused of using abusive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during CJP's NEET protest has alleged that she and her mother were forced to change residences three times after a Zero FIR was registered and their address was allegedly exposed. According to the lawyer, the family received death and rape threats, prompting repeated relocations for safety. The teenager has since apologised publicly, saying she was influenced by others and regretted her remarks. Prime Minister Modi later appealed for forgiveness, calling the protesters "misguided children." The Zero FIR has been transferred from Noida Police to Delhi Police, where further legal proceedings are pending. (PC: X)

The Chandipura virus has killed 22 children in Gujarat during the current monsoon season, with 35 confirmed cases reported from 184 suspected infections, Health Minister Praful Panseriya said. Seven infected children are receiving treatment in civil hospitals, while six have recovered. All confirmed patients are below the age of 15, and cases have been reported across different parts of the state. Health authorities have intensified surveillance, insecticide spraying and public awareness campaigns to control the spread of sandflies, which transmit the virus. Officials urged parents to seek immediate medical care if children develop symptoms. (PC: India Today)

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat said she and other wrestlers will continue their legal fight after a Delhi court acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Singh in a sexual harassment case. Several women wrestlers had accused him of harassment during his tenure, leading to nationwide protests in 2023. Phogat said the wrestlers would appeal the court's decision and had not lost hope. She alleged that powerful people protected Brij Bhushan throughout the case. Brij Bhushan welcomed the verdict and said the court had cleared him with honour. He repeated that the allegations against him were false from the beginning. (PC: X/@Phogat_Vinesh)