Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Rajasthan School Attack, Metro Growth, Sugar Prices and UPI
A team checking a government school near Jaipur says it was attacked.
The school was using a cowshed because its old building was considered unsafe.
Many other government schools in Rajasthan also have problems such as missing buildings, toilets, or drinking water.
Rajasthan’s government says it has set aside money for repairs and new buildings.
India is also building Metro trains very quickly in many cities.
Some people worry that newer Metro systems cost a lot but do not carry as many passengers as expected.
Sugar has become more expensive because production was lower than expected and poor rainfall may affect future crops.
An expert also says people should not be charged for using UPI because small payments are important to ordinary shoppers and merchants.
A Cockroach Janta Party team was attacked while inspecting a Rajasthan government school operating from a cowshed near Jaipur.
Rajasthan data shows 611 state-run schools lack buildings, while thousands with buildings lack toilets or drinking water.
India’s Metro network has grown from about 250 km to over 1,100 km across 26 cities, with another 900 km under construction.
India’s sugar price rise has been linked mainly to lower production and rainfall concerns, rather than ethanol diversion alone.
Former government secretary RS Sharma argues that UPI should remain free and be funded through savings generated by its digital-payment infrastructure.
- Who
- A Cockroach Janta Party team, Rajasthan authorities, Metro planners and critics, Indian sugar producers and traders, and UPI users and policymakers.
- What
- The briefing covers an alleged attack at a Rajasthan school, India’s Metro expansion, India’s changing engagement with the Taliban, rising sugar prices, a debate over UPI charges, and a review of the film “7 Dogs.”
- When
- The briefing is for Saturday; it also discusses the 2025-26 UPI year, the August 15 Afghanistan anniversary, and the August 17, 2021 embassy evacuation.
- Where
- The school incident occurred near Jaipur, Rajasthan; the other topics concern cities across India, New Delhi, Afghanistan, and international film locations.
- Why
- The stories examine public-school infrastructure, urban transport planning, India’s Afghanistan policy, the causes of sugar-price increases, the funding of UPI, and the release of “7 Dogs.”
Concerns and criticism
Government and expansion arguments
Rajasthan school conditions
Concerns and criticism
The Cockroach Janta Party says the school’s use of a cowshed and the alleged attack require urgent action, including repairs and arrests.
Government and expansion arguments
The government says it has allocated Rs 550 crore for repairs and renovation and Rs 450 crore for buildings for schools without premises or operating in dilapidated structures.
Metro expansion
Concerns and criticism
Critics question the high capital costs of Metro projects and say some newer systems carry only a fraction of their projected passengers, while cheaper public-transport alternatives may be neglected.
Government and expansion arguments
Metro supporters point to the network’s rapid growth and daily ridership exceeding one crore, with projections of more than 1.25 crore by 2028.
UPI transaction charges
Concerns and criticism
RS Sharma argues that a Merchant Discount Rate could burden small businesses, consumers, and low-value payments, such as those made to vegetable sellers, auto drivers, and small shops.
Government and expansion arguments
The briefing identifies a growing debate over whether a small UPI charge should be imposed, but it does not provide a detailed opposing case for introducing the charge.
- Rajasthan schools without buildings
- 611 state-run schools
- Rajasthan schools with buildings
- 64,484
- Schools lacking toilets
- 2,047 schools with buildings
- Schools lacking drinking water
- 1,049 schools with buildings
- India’s Metro network
- More than 1,100 km across 26 cities, with another 900 km under construction
- UPI activity in 2025-26
- More than 24,000 crore transactions worth about Rs 314 lakh crore
- Sugar price increase
- Retail prices rose by Rs 20 per kg in one month