UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13 AUGUST 2026

The current affairs article covers major developments in India’s economy, food security, culture, polity and international infrastructure. UPI’s 10-year journey highlights its dominance in digital payments, while proposed Merchant Discount Rate reforms seek to ensure financial sustainability without burdening consumers and small merchants. The proposed National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026 aims to restructure AAY …

Cess

Source: BSSubject: Economy Context: The Himachal Pradesh government imposed a widow and orphan cess of 60 paise per litre on petrol and high-speed diesel. Cess About Cess: What It Is? A cess is a specialized, targeted tax levied by the government over and above basic taxes to generate revenue for a specific, pre-determined purpose (e.g., …