Tamil Nadu

Governance, Public Health

Tamil Nadu Mental Healthcare Regulations, 2026 Notified:
- Notification: The State Government officially notified the Tamil Nadu State Mental Healthcare Regulations, 2026 to enforce minimum standards for infrastructure, staffing, professional qualifications, and patient care.
- Classification of Establishments: Categorises Mental Health Establishments (MHEs) into five distinct groups:
  - Category A: Stand-alone MHEs.
  - Category B: Psychiatric departments of medical college hospitals.
  - Category C: Psychiatric wards in multispecialty hospitals.
  - Category D: Stand-alone de-addiction centres.
  - Category E: Psychosocial rehabilitation centres.
- Patient Rights & Sheltered Accommodation: Formally recognises sheltered and supported housing (capped at 5 residents per unit) requiring weekly visits by professional social workers, clear consent/resident registers, and mandatory wage compliance for patient work.

AI Sanskrit Heritage Model Launch:
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched an AI-powered Sanskrit Heritage Model developed at Madras Sanskrit College in collaboration with Articul8.
- Utilises AI algorithms to digitise, analyze, and preserve ancient manuscripts, copper plates, and palm leaves, serving as a template for other Indic language systems.

NPCI Levy of 0.4% MDR on UPI Transactions Above ₹2,000:
- Policy: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) introduced a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on Person-to-Merchant (P2M) UPI payments exceeding ₹2,000, effective October 15.
- Flat Fee for Essential Services: A flat MDR of ₹5 per transaction above ₹2,000 will apply to essential sectors (Railways, telecom, insurance, fuel, agricultural inputs) to ensure cost predictability.
- Exemptions & Merchant Fund: Small vendors, street traders, and Person-to-Person (P2P) transfers are fully exempt. 5% of total MDR proceeds will be pooled into a dedicated fund to promote digital payment infrastructure among unorganised micro-merchants.