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Claims, the global file

Every claim we have checked.

One file for every speaker: hand-checked dossier entries and fact checks drafted by the watch desk agents and approved by an editor. Only claims that have been checked are listed; every one opens onto the evidence behind its rating.

Last discovery run: 15 Oct 2026, 13:26 IST, via rss+tavily, 27 official series retrieved

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Not true

1 claim

What they said is not true. The official record shows something else.

  • Not trueRahul Gandhichecked 1 Oct 2026

    “He alleged that the government had put a tax on “every single Indian person” by imposing charges on UPI transactions and claimed that the move would result in a large amount of money going to the United States.”

    every single Indian person, 96%

    What the evidence shows

    What they said

    every single Indian person

    Rahul Gandhi alleged the government imposed a tax on every single Indian person by charging on UPI transactions, and claimed the move would send a large amount of money to the United States.

    newindianexpress.com, checked 1 Oct 2026

    What is actually true

    96%

    merchant UPI transactions unaffected by new MDR, PIB, Sept 2026

    pib.gov.in

    The Ministry of Finance said on 8 August 2026 that there would be no charges for users and that all person-to-person UPI transactions would remain free. The UPI Steering Committee fixed a 0.4% merchant discount rate on 15 September 2026 for merchant payments above ₹2,000, effective 15 October 2026. The Press Information Bureau says customers do not pay the MDR and about 96% of merchant transactions are unaffected.

    • The Ministry of Finance stated categorically that consumers making payments will not face any transaction charges, and all person-to-person UPI transactions will continue to be free of charge. [4]
    • The new 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate applies only to person-to-merchant UPI transactions above ₹2,000, is capped at ₹300 for transactions of ₹75,000 and above, and customers do not pay it; around 96% of merchant transactions remain unaffected. [5][7]
    • Revenue from larger merchant transactions is meant to support banks, payment service providers and UPI application providers in India, and none of the sources shows any amount going to the United States. [5][7]
    • The Press Information Bureau says individuals will continue to have unlimited free UPI usage with no monthly quotas, volume restrictions or tiered caps on free transactions. [5]

    [4] Press Release Page | Press Information Bureau — pib.gov.in[5] Press Release Page | Press Information Bureau — pib.gov.in[7] Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on Select UPI (P2M) Transactions — financialservices.gov.in

    There is a new Merchant Discount Rate on UPI, so the claim has a kernel of truth. But the official record directly contradicts the assertion that it taxes every single Indian person: users are not charged, person-to-person payments are free, and only about 4% of merchant transactions attract the charge. The claim that a large amount of money would go to the United States is unsupported by the record; official sources describe the revenue staying with Indian payment ecosystem participants.

    Open official seriesHow this was checked: Checked against official records

No proof

1 claim

A serious accusation with nothing behind it: no court, no inquiry and no official figure supports it, and the speaker gave none.

  • No proofRahul Gandhi1 Oct 2026

    “In this episode, I discuss my recent press conference on "Vote Chori" by the Election Commission of India.”

    0

    What the evidence shows

    What they said

    Rahul Gandhi alleges that "Vote Chori" (vote theft) was committed by the Election Commission of India, which he discussed at a recent press conference.

    youtube.com, 1 Oct 2026

    What is actually true

    0

    repolls in Bihar Assembly election 2025, PIB

    pib.gov.in

    The Election Commission of India, which runs elections, held a press conference on 17 August 2025. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar called the 'vote chori' allegations baseless and an insult to the Constitution, and said Rahul Gandhi should file an affidavit within seven days or apologise. The Commission's official Bihar election note records 7,45,26,858 eligible electors and zero repolls in the 2025 Bihar Assembly election.

    • At a press conference on 17 August 2025, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar dismissed the 'vote chori' allegations as baseless and said Rahul Gandhi should file an affidavit within seven days or apologise. [1][3][4]
    • The Election Commission's official note on the 2025 Bihar Assembly election records 7,45,26,858 eligible electors and zero repolls. [5]
    • The Election Commission has said that inclusion or deletion of names in the electoral roll is governed by the legal claims-and-objections process, and that only 89 first appeals and one second appeal had been filed as of March 2025. [10]
    • No court order, parliamentary answer or published official data in the sources finds that the Election Commission stole votes. [1][5][10]

    [1] ‘Are you calling my voters liars?’: CEC on opposition's ‘vote ... — hindustantimes.com[3] CEC junks ‘vote chori’ charges - The Hans India — thehansindia.com[4] Vote chori: 10 questions Election Commission dodged at press ... — financialexpress.com[5] Press Release Page | Press Information Bureau — pib.gov.in[10] Press Release Page | Press Information Bureau — pib.gov.in

    The claim is an allegation of wrongdoing by the Election Commission. The only direct response in the record is the Commission's own denial, which is the accused body's position, not independent proof. Independent reporting also notes that the Commission did not answer several questions at its press conference, so the matter remains contested. Because no court, parliamentary or official data source in the record finds vote theft, the allegation is not proven on this record.

    Open official seriesHow this was checked: Checked against official records