Today Current Affairs – 16 September 2026, Daily Important news Compiled from official public sources, useful for Govt jobs aspirants.
Economy
UPI Charges on Merchant Payments Above ₹2,000
The Finance Ministry of India announced that UPI merchant transactions above ₹2,000 will attract a 0.4% fee.
- Rate: 0.4% MDR on Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions above ₹2,000.
- Cap: ₹300 per transaction for payments of ₹75,000 and above.
- Effective Date: 15 October 2026.
- Applicability: Only for merchant payments (PhonePe, Paytm, Google Pay, etc.).
Exemptions:
- Person-to-Person (P2P) transfers remain free.
- Small merchants earning up to ₹1 lakh/month via UPI QR codes are exempt.
- Essential sectors (railways, telecom, fuel, utilities) have a flat ₹5 MDR.
Rupee depreciates by 41 paise against US dollar
In the forex market, the rupee depreciated by 41 paise to close at 95 rupees and 96 paise against the US dollar on 15 September 2026.
International
India, China agree to be sensitive towards each other’s core concerns during PM Modi and President Xi Jinping meeting: MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs has said that several issues came up during the discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 15 September 2026.
National
Six states sign agreement for rejuvenation of Yamuna River
Chief Ministers of Six States today signed the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project agreement for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River on 15 September 2026.
- These States are Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.
- The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
NHAI Tightens Compliance Norms for Plantation Before Issuance of Provisional Certificate of Completion for National Highway Projects
To ensure strict compliance with contractual obligations related to plantation along the median and avenues of National Highway projects, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued comprehensive guidelines mandating plantation and landscaping as integral components of National Highway development and overall project completion on 15 September 2026.
Awards and Honours
DFS Wins First Prize under ‘Rajbhasha Kirti’ for 2025-26 at 6th All India Official Language Conference and Hindi Diwas
The Department of Financial Services was awarded the First Prize under ‘Rajbhasha Kirti’ (in the category of ministries/departments with fewer than 300 personnel) for its outstanding implementation and innovative achievements in the field of Official Language during the year 2025-26.