Consider the following Assertion (A) and Reason (R): Assertion (A): The Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is not a government tax. Reason (R): MDR is a fee charged by a bank on a merchant for processing digital payments.

Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A

Daily Current Affairs — 17 September 2026

17 September 2026 · 14 min read · TS Police Hub (Anvil Edtech)

3rd BIMSTEC Traditional Medicine Conference (Goa); Global Gender Gap Index 2026 (India 131st); NITI Aayog's Electric Mobility Index (Delhi tops); UPI Merchant Discount Rate framework; India's first made-in-India endoscopy (EP-6000); Kishau Dam on the Tons; PM Vishwakarma at 3 years; Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 (Anant Nag); and Michael Kremer as World Bank Chief Economist.

1. International & Regional Groupings

Why in news: The 3rd BIMSTEC Conference on Traditional Medicine, Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Intellectual Property Rights concluded in Goa (16–17 September 2026). It was organised by the Ministry of AYUSH, with the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa as the nodal institute.

Key decisions: Members agreed to set up a BIMSTEC Task Force to develop traditional medicine, and discussed a shared Traditional Knowledge Digital Library. (At the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, Bangkok, April 2025, India had proposed a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Traditional Medicine.)
National Ayurveda Day: National Ayurveda Day is now observed on a fixed date — 23 September (earlier it was on Dhanvantari Jayanti, which shifts each year on the Hindu calendar).

2. Reports & Indices — Global Gender Gap Index 2026

Why in news: The World Economic Forum (WEF) released the Global Gender Gap Index 2026. India is ranked 131 out of 145 countries, with a score of 0.645 — the same rank as 2025.

Top & bottom: Top 3: Iceland (1st), Finland (2nd), Norway (3rd). Last place: Chad. The global average parity is 69.2%; India's is 64.5%.
The 4 dimensions: The index (published since 2006) measures gender parity on a 0–1 scale across four areas: Economic Participation & Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health & Survival, and Political Empowerment.

3. Reports & Indices — Electric Mobility Index 2025

Why in news: NITI Aayog (with WRI India) released the India Electric Mobility Index 2025, which scores states and UTs (out of 100) on their shift to electric vehicles.

Toppers: Delhi topped with 84, followed by Maharashtra (78), Karnataka (73) and Chandigarh (71); Goa (65) was 5th. Manipur topped the separate Highland/North-East category.
Three themes: It scores three themes: transport electrification (50% weight), charging-infrastructure readiness (30%), and EV research & innovation (20%).

4. Economy — UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR)

Why in news: The Government/NPCI announced a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for certain higher-value UPI merchant payments, effective 15 October 2026.

What changes: On person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI payments above Rs 2,000, a 0.4% MDR applies — charged by the bank to the MERCHANT (not the customer), capped at Rs 300 per transaction. Person-to-person (P2P) transfers stay free.
Exemptions: Small businesses receiving up to Rs 1 lakh/month via QR are exempt. Segments like railways, telecom, insurance and fuel pay a flat Rs 1; mutual funds/securities brokers pay 0.02%.

5. Science & Technology

Why in news: India's first 'Made in India' endoscopy system, named EP-6000, was installed at AIIMS New Delhi. It was manufactured by Fujifilm India at its Jodhpur (Rajasthan) plant and donated to AIIMS.

What it does: An endoscopy system is used in gastroenterology to look inside the digestive tract and diagnose stomach/intestinal conditions. Building it in India (under 'Make in India') cuts dependence on imports.

6. Infrastructure — Kishau Multipurpose Dam

Why in news: Chief Ministers of five states and Delhi signed an agreement in New Delhi to build the long-pending Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project (about Rs 15,000 crore) on the Tons River.

Key facts: It is a national multipurpose project — a 236-metre concrete gravity dam with a 422 MW hydropower plant, on the Tons River (a tributary of the Yamuna), on the Himachal Pradesh–Uttarakhand border. It will give hydropower, irrigation and drinking water to Upper Yamuna basin states.
Beneficiary states: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.

7. Schemes — PM Vishwakarma

Why in news: The PM Vishwakarma scheme completed three years on 17 September 2026 (launched 17 September 2023).

Key facts: It is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), for 18 traditional trades of artisans and craftspeople. Outlay about Rs 13,000 crore, for FY 2023-24 to 2027-28.
What it gives: Skill training with a daily stipend, modern tools with an incentive, collateral-free loans at a low interest rate, and support for digital transactions and marketing.

8. Awards — Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024

Why in news: The Government of India announced (on 16 September 2026) the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 for veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag.

The award: The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema, instituted in 1969. It will be presented by the President of India at the 72nd National Film Awards on 22 September at Kevadia, Gujarat; it carries a Golden Lotus, a medal, a shawl and Rs 10 lakh.
Named after: It is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Dadasaheb Phalke), the 'Father of Indian Cinema', who directed India's first full-length feature film 'Raja Harishchandra' (1913). The first awardee (1969) was Devika Rani.

9. Appointments

Why in news: Nobel laureate economist Michael Kremer has been appointed the Chief Economist of the World Bank (taking office 1 October 2026), succeeding Indermit Gill.

About him: An American economist and University of Chicago professor, he shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics for an experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.
Static GK: The World Bank was established in 1944, HQ Washington, D.C.; its current President is Ajay Banga (of Indian origin).

10. Defence & Sports Round-up

This week's quick facts

Exercise Eager Lion: A biennial military exercise between the USA and Jordan; the 2026 (12th) edition began on 15 September at Fort Carson, Colorado — the first time the USA is hosting it.
Formula One task force: The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports set up a 10-member task force, headed by NITI Aayog's Yugal Kishore Joshi, to explore reviving Formula One (an F1 race by 2028). India last hosted an F1 Grand Prix in 2013 at the Buddh International Circuit, Uttar Pradesh.
World Athletics C'ships 2029: Nairobi, Kenya will host the 2029 World Athletics Championships — the first time the event goes to the African continent.
Ladakh's first heritage village: Qumik (in Ladakh) has been designated Ladakh's first heritage village.

Practice questions with answers

The 3rd BIMSTEC Conference on Traditional Medicine (Sept 2026) was held in which state?
1. Kerala
2. Goa
3. Karnataka
4. Maharashtra
Answer: (B) Goa
Explanation: It concluded in Goa (16–17 Sept 2026), organised by the Ministry of AYUSH with AIIA Goa as the nodal institute. BIMSTEC has 7 members and its Secretariat is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
With reference to BIMSTEC, consider the following statements:
1. Its Secretariat is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
2. It has seven member countries.
3. Pakistan is a member of BIMSTEC.
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: BIMSTEC's members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand — Pakistan is NOT a member. It was formed in 1997.
In the Global Gender Gap Index 2026 (WEF), what is India's rank?
1. 101
2. 111
3. 131
4. 141
Answer: (C) 131
Explanation: India is 131st of 145 countries (score 0.645), the same as 2025. Top 3: Iceland, Finland, Norway; last: Chad. The index has been published by the WEF since 2006.
Which state/UT topped NITI Aayog's India Electric Mobility Index 2025?
1. Maharashtra
2. Delhi
3. Karnataka
4. Tamil Nadu
Answer: (B) Delhi
Explanation: Delhi topped with 84/100, followed by Maharashtra (78), Karnataka (73) and Chandigarh (71). It scores three themes — transport electrification (50%), charging infrastructure (30%), EV R&D (20%). NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015.
Consider the following Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is not a government tax.
Reason (R): MDR is a fee charged by a bank on a merchant for processing digital payments.
1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
3. A is true, but R is false
4. A is false, but R is true
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Both are true and R explains A. MDR is a fee a bank charges the merchant (not the customer) to process digital payments — hence it is not a government tax. It comes under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. From 15 Oct 2026, 0.4% applies on P2M UPI payments above Rs 2,000 (capped Rs 300); P2P stays free.
India's first 'Made in India' endoscopy system, EP-6000, was installed at which institute?
1. AIIMS New Delhi
2. PGIMER Chandigarh
3. NIMHANS Bengaluru
4. JIPMER Puducherry
Answer: (A) AIIMS New Delhi
Explanation: EP-6000 was installed at AIIMS New Delhi. It was made by Fujifilm India at Jodhpur (Rajasthan) under 'Make in India' and donated to AIIMS. Endoscopy systems are used in gastroenterology.
Match the project/award with its correct detail:
List I List II
A. Kishau Dam river 1. Ministry of MSME
B. PM Vishwakarma ministry 2. Tons (Yamuna tributary)
C. Dadasaheb Phalke — first winner 3. Jordan
D. Eager Lion — with country 4. Devika Rani
1. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
2. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
3. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
4. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
Answer: (A) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
Explanation: Kishau Dam is on the Tons (a Yamuna tributary); PM Vishwakarma is under the Ministry of MSME; the first Dadasaheb Phalke awardee was Devika Rani (1969); Exercise Eager Lion is a US–Jordan exercise. Hence A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 was announced for which personality?
1. Rajinikanth
2. Anant Nag
3. Mohanlal
4. Chiranjeevi
Answer: (B) Anant Nag
Explanation: Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag was named for the 2024 Dadasaheb Phalke Award — India's highest cinema award (instituted 1969, first winner Devika Rani). It is presented by the President at the National Film Awards.

తెలుగులో సారాంశం (Telugu summary)

డైలీ కరెంట్ అఫైర్స్ — 17 సెప్టెంబర్ 2026

3వ బిమ్‌స్టెక్ సాంప్రదాయ వైద్య సదస్సు (గోవా); గ్లోబల్ జెండర్ గ్యాప్ ఇండెక్స్ 2026 (భారత్ 131); నీతి ఆయోగ్ ఎలక్ట్రిక్ మొబిలిటీ ఇండెక్స్ (ఢిల్లీ అగ్రస్థానం); UPI MDR ఫ్రేమ్‌వర్క్; భారత్ తొలి స్వదేశీ ఎండోస్కోపీ (EP-6000); టాన్స్ నదిపై కిషౌ డ్యామ్; పీఎం విశ్వకర్మ 3 ఏళ్లు; దాదాసాహెబ్ ఫాల్కే అవార్డు 2024 (అనంత్ నాగ్); ప్రపంచ బ్యాంకు ముఖ్య ఆర్థికవేత్తగా మైకేల్ క్రెమర్.

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