The Ministry of External Affairs has summoned the Pakistani charge d’affaires over a naval collision. The incident occurred in international waters. Opposition leaders criticize UPI charges, and gold hallmarking fees are increased.
The Ministry of External Affairs has summoned the Pakistani charge d’affaires in Delhi to register a "strong protest" over the collision of a Pakistani naval vessel with an Indian Navy ship that occurred in international waters in the Arabian Sea. The exact cause and timing of the incident remain unclear, but it was reported that New Delhi stated that the conduct of Pakistani naval units at sea was "unacceptable and unprofessional". According to reports, the collision did not cause major damage; however, it contravened a 1991 bilateral agreement that requires advance notice about military exercises, manoeuvres, and the movement of soldiers.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded that the Union government roll back charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "have a spine" and "stop lying down in front of the United States". The Aam Aadmi Party has criticized the charges as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government’s "new loot policy", describing it as an example of "Trump’s pressure on PM Modi’s decisions and his direct influence over India’s internal matters". However, the Union Ministry of Finance has denied these claims, stating that decisions on UPI policy were made independently.
The Union government has increased the gold hallmarking fee by 67%, hiking it to Rs 75 per article from Rs 45 ahead of the festive season. The fee for silver articles has been fixed at Rs 35, with a minimum charge of Rs 150 per consignment. Hallmark gold refers to jewellery that has been certified purity by the Bureau of Indian Standards. According to reports, the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council has opposed the hike, urging the government to review the decision and retain the existing charge until consultations are held with stakeholders.
Source:
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