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
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 showsHide the evidence↓↑
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]
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.
Not trueAkhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party)checked 1 Oct 2026
“In 10 years of BJP rule, farmers have never received fertiliser and seeds on time.”
91.72 lakh metric tonnes
What the evidence showsHide the evidence↓↑
What they said
Akhilesh Yadav said that in 10 years of BJP rule, farmers have never received fertiliser and seeds on time.
msn.com, checked 1 Oct 2026
What is actually true
91.72 lakh metric tonnes
urea availability in Uttar Pradesh, 2024-25, Lok Sabha answer
sansad.in
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers told Parliament on 31 July 2026 that the Uttar Pradesh government reported no shortage or delayed supply of fertilisers in the state. A separate Lok Sabha answer on 12 December 2025 gave urea availability in Uttar Pradesh as 91.72 lakh metric tonnes against a requirement of 77 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25, and said major fertilisers remained adequate over the last three years.
In a Lok Sabha answer dated 31 July 2026, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers stated the Uttar Pradesh government informed there is no shortage or delayed supply of fertilisers in the state. [1]
In a Lok Sabha answer dated 12 December 2025, the ministry provided data showing urea availability in Uttar Pradesh was 91.72 lakh metric tonnes against a requirement of 77 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25. [5]
The same answer said urea, DAP, MOP and NPKS remained adequate in Uttar Pradesh during the last three years. [5]
The claim says farmers 'never' received fertiliser and seeds on time in ten years of BJP rule. Official parliamentary answers show fertiliser was available and not delayed in Uttar Pradesh, with urea availability exceeding requirement in 2024-25. That directly contradicts the fertiliser part of the claim. The retrieved record does not cover seed distribution, but the absolute claim about fertiliser is false.
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 showsHide the evidence↓↑
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]
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.
“Instead of providing real solutions, this government is peddling fake numbers and false statistics in the name of job creation.”
16.83 crore
What the evidence showsHide the evidence↓↑
What they said
Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP-led government of peddling fake numbers and false statistics in the name of job creation instead of providing real solutions.
thenewsmill.com, checked 30 Sept 2026
What is actually true
16.83 crore
increase in employment 2017-18 to 2023-24, MoSPI/PIB data
pib.gov.in
The official record does not show any fabricated job numbers. A Press Information Bureau note quoting the Ministry of Labour and Employment says India's employment, as measured by the Periodic Labour Force Survey and the Reserve Bank of India's KLEMS database, rose from 47.5 crore in 2017-18 to 64.33 crore in 2023-24, an increase of about 16.83 crore [5]. The Ministry of Labour and Employment said on 8 July 2024 that official data show more than 8 crore employment opportunities from 2017-18 to 2021-22 and over 6.2 crore net subscribers joining the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation between September 2017 and March 2024, and cautioned against private surveys that it said use weak methodology [6].
A PIB note says total employment in India increased from 47.5 crore in 2017-18 to 64.33 crore in 2023-24, a rise of about 16.83 crore, using PLFS and RBI KLEMS data. [5]
The Ministry of Labour and Employment said official PLFS and KLEMS data show over 8 crore employment opportunities were created from 2017-18 to 2021-22, with over 6.2 crore net EPFO subscribers between September 2017 and March 2024. [6]
The Labour Ministry called its official data comprehensive and credible, and argued that private employment surveys use definitions and samples that are not as robust as official sources. [6]
Akhilesh Yadav's charge is an allegation, not a verified finding. The record shows the official basis for the government's job-creation figures: PLFS, RBI KLEMS and EPFO data, all of which indicate employment has increased. It contains no court order, audit report, parliamentary finding or statistical-body finding that any of these figures was faked.
Part of it is true, but the way it was said gives a wrong picture.
MisleadingAkhilesh Yadavchecked 1 Oct 2026
“For ten years you have made the youth unemployed. You snatched away reservations. You leaked the papers. You don't want to give government jobs.”
10.2%
What the evidence showsHide the evidence↓↑
What they said
Akhilesh Yadav alleged that in ten years the government made the youth unemployed, snatched away reservations, leaked examination papers, and does not want to give government jobs.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), run by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), shows the youth unemployment rate for ages 15-29 fell from 17.8% in 2017-18 to 10.0% in 2022-23, and was 10.2% in 2023-24. The Worker Population Ratio for youth rose from 31.4% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24. The Press Information Bureau records that paper leaks and malpractices have occurred in various parts of the country, and Parliament passed a law to curb them.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey shows the youth unemployment rate for ages 15-29 fell from 17.8% in 2017-18 to 10.0% in 2022-23. [6]
The Worker Population Ratio for youth rose from 31.4% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24, indicating more young people in employment. [5]
The Press Information Bureau says incidents of paper leaks and malpractices have occurred in various parts of the country, and Parliament passed a law to curb them. [9]
The claim that the government made the youth unemployed over ten years is contradicted by official PLFS data, which shows youth unemployment falling and youth employment rising. Paper leaks did occur, but the record does not show the government leaked them. No source supports the allegation that reservations were snatched away or that the government does not want to give government jobs. The claim mixes a true element with unsupported and contradicted assertions, so it is misleading.
“In the GST Council meeting held on December 21, 2024, crucial tax decisions affected everyday items like popcorn and vehicles, dramatically impacting India's middle class.”
18%
What the evidence showsHide the evidence↓↑
What they said
Dhruv Rathee said that in the GST Council meeting held on December 21, 2024, crucial tax decisions affected everyday items like popcorn and vehicles, dramatically impacting India's middle class.
youtube.com, checked 1 Oct 2026
What is actually true
18%
GST on old/used vehicles, 55th Council, 21 Dec 2024
cbic-gst.gov.in
The Ministry of Finance's 21 December 2024 press release on the 55th GST Council meeting says the Council recommended increasing GST from 12% to 18% on the sale of all old and used vehicles, including EVs, with GST applicable only on the margin. It also clarified popcorn rates: 5% for ready-to-eat salted/spiced popcorn sold not pre-packaged or labelled, 12% if pre-packaged and labelled, and 18% for caramel popcorn.
The 55th GST Council met on 21 December 2024 in Jaisalmer, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. [5][6]
The Council recommended raising GST on old and used vehicles, including EVs, from 12% to 18%, but only on the margin between purchase price and selling price. [5][6]
The Council clarified popcorn GST: 5% for ready-to-eat salted/spiced popcorn sold not pre-packaged or labelled, 12% if pre-packaged and labelled, and 18% for caramel popcorn. [5][6]
The official press release describes the popcorn change as a clarification to settle interpretation disputes; it does not state that the decisions dramatically impact India's middle class. [5][6]
The meeting and the popcorn and vehicle decisions are real, so the first part of the claim is accurate. But the official record does not support the 'dramatically impacting India's middle class' part. The vehicle rate increase applies only to old and used vehicles and only on the margin, not the full sale price, and the popcorn rates are clarifications of existing classification, not a new tax on all popcorn. That context is missing from the claim.