Daily Briefing: CJP on Rajasthan’s schools, India’s Metro story, sugar-ethanol link

Good morning! Today's Expresso covers stories from Rajasthan, India's Metro growth, and the sugar-ethanol debate.

In Rajasthan, a CJP team attempting to inspect a government school near Jaipur faced an attack due to the school operating from a cowshed. The school was deemed unsafe and closed last year, with 611 state-run schools lacking any buildings. Of the 64,484 schools with buildings, 2,047 are missing toilets and 1,049 lack drinking water.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke threatens a sit-in protest if action isn't taken within 48 hours. The government has promised Rs 550 crore for repairs and Rs 450 crore for constructing new schools.

Meanwhile, India's Metro network has quadrupled since 2014, spanning 1,100 km across 26 cities. However, many newer systems carry only a fraction of the projected passenger capacity, raising concerns about costs and alternative public transport solutions.

In Afghanistan relations, India has transitioned from evacuating its embassy to open engagement without formal recognition. The August 15 Taliban takeover marked a turning point, with India gradually adjusting its approach.

Lastly, former Secretary to the Government of India RS Sharma argues against adding a small charge on UPI transactions, instead proposing the government fund the UPI architecture from the savings generated by it.