| Good morning, “Scanner?” is the new refrain of customers, from neighbourhood Kirana stores to fancy mall outlets. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, digital payments, especially Unified Payments Interface(UPI), exploded across India. But here's the twist—despite this digital surge, cash still hit an all-time high. Surveys show that 40% of Indians still haven’t switched to digital payments. There are also growing concerns from stakeholders about the sustainability of the UPI model. Zero merchant fees and a lack of innovation may be speed bumps along UPI’s way. On that note, let's get to today's edition.
🚨Big Story Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters is no ordinary business. No sitting Prime Minister had ever done so. Even Modi, from the time he came to power in 2014, had stayed away—until Sunday. With the BJP set to choose its new president, reportedly with the blessings of the RSS chief, PM Modi's visit to the RSS office came at a crucial time. Modi was effusive in his praise for the right-wing organisation. He called it "India’s huge banyan tree of immortal culture and modernisation". The PM's visit is seen as an attempt to mend the BJP’s ties with the Sangh, which had faltered last year. The party's subdued victory in the Lok Sabha elections compounded this unease.
⚡Only in Express The Congress party finds itself at a crossroads amid renewed debate over judicial accountability. Insiders say that the party favours a Bill to replace the current Collegium system that appoints judges. However, it’s wary of putting its weight behind the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, which may give control to the party in power. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, now the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, weighs in on the debate in the latest edition of Idea Exchange. “We should have had these debates much earlier as to why the institution is not responding to its failings in dealing with issues that reduce public credibility in the institution…” Read. Also Read: What does justice mean in Justice Varma case by Upendra Baxi, a professor of Law
📰 From the Front Page Hit reset: As Delhi looks to restore the floodplains of the Yamuna River, residents may be in for a treat. The government is planning a riverfront site with a promenade, a central piazza, a topiary park, and a shopping centre. Against this backdrop, The Indian Express spoke to the inhabitants of the riverbanks—from farmers to the boatmen—about what the Yamuna means to them. The grey in green: The government notified the Green Credit Programme (GCP) in October 2023 to incentivise industry players towards environment-positive actions. Records obtained by The Indian Express through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, however, hint at murky beginnings. The Environment Ministry rolled out the programme—shortly before PM Modi publicly announced it at the Dubai climate conference—despite the Law Ministry's apprehensions.
📌Must Read ExplainSpeaking: US President Donald Trump loves tariffs. On April 2, he will announce "reciprocal tariffs" on the rest of the world. The move is expected to further disrupt global markets and alter the price of goods and services. In his weekly column, Udit Misra examines the problem Trump is trying to solve and whether tariffs offer any solution.
⏳And Finally… The Smart Cities mission was launched in 2015 with the ambitious aim of transforming 100 cities. A decade later, with an expenditure of nearly Rs 48,000 crore, the project winds up today. How 'smart' are these cities today? A status check from Agra, the city of the Taj, raises some pertinent questions on the road ahead. Before you go, don't forget to tune in to today's episode of the '3 Things' podcast, where we discuss the demolitions in Gujarat, the rescue of 47 migrant workers in Jharkhand and the train accident in Odisha. That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta | 
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