Notes on Hindu Analysis - 15th October

India-Canada Diplomatic Tensions

• Expulsion of Diplomats:
  • India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma.
  • Canada expelled six Indian diplomats following the allegations regarding the Nijjar case.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar

• Who is Nijjar?

  • Khalistani activist advocating for Punjab to be a separate nation.
  • Murdered in Canada, leading to allegations against India by the Canadian government.

• Background of the Incident:

  • In May 2023, Nijjar was killed; Canada claims Indian involvement.
  • Canada arrested four Indian nationals in connection with his murder.
  • Indian Government described Canadian allegations as "preposterous" and politically motivated.

Manipur Peace Talks

• Background:

  • Riots occurred in Manipur in May 2023 between the Kuki and Meitei communities.
  • Meitei community seeks Scheduled Tribe status to access land and benefits.
  • Kuki community is already classified as Scheduled Tribe.

• Recent Developments:

  • The Ministry of Home Affairs invited MLAs from all three major communities for peace talks.
  • Previous peace committee was rejected by both communities.

Violence in Bhaarij, Uttar Pradesh

• Reason for Violence:
  • Erupted following the killing of a man during a religious procession.
  • Resulting in public property damage and unrest.

Reserve Bank of India Monetary Policy

• Interest Rate Decision:
  • Monetary Policy Committee decided to maintain the benchmark interest rate at 6.50%.

Labour Laws and Gig Workers

• Drafting New Law:

  • The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment is drafting a national law to incorporate gig workers into social security schemes.
  • Gig workers include freelancers and those working for aggregators like Uber and Zomato.
  • Proposed benefits include health insurance and retirement savings.

• Requirements for Aggregators:

  • Expected to contribute 1-2% of revenue to a social security fund.
  • New definition of gig and migrant workers to be more inclusive.

Samsung Factory Protests

• Location: Sri Perum Budar, Tamil Nadu.
• Reason for Protest:
  • Workers protesting for their fundamental right to form a registered trade union for better employment terms.
• Government Response:
  • Formation of a working committee to resolve the issues instead of recognizing the trade union.

International News Highlights

• Russia:
  • Sentenced a French researcher for breaching foreign agent laws.
• Afghanistan:
  • Taliban to enforce laws banning publication of images of living beings.
• Nobel Prize in Economics:
  • Awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson for research on wealth inequality between nations.

Additional Notes

• Tata Groups and Shapurji Pallonji:
  • Strained relationship highlighted.
• Jai Shankar's Visit to Pakistan:
  • First visit as External Affairs Minister for SCO meeting.

Conclusion

• Importance of current events in shaping knowledge for competitive exams and understanding geopolitical dynamics.