Published on: April 16, 2025
Snippets : 16 APRIL 2025
Snippets : 16 APRIL 2025
- The Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2024 aims to provide social security and welfare protections to the growing gig workforce, particularly those associated with platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, Uber, Amazon, and Flipkart. With nearly two lakh gig workers in Bengaluru alone and traditional labour laws not covering them, the Bill seeks to introduce structured protections including mandatory welfare fees (1%-5%) per transaction, creation of a welfare board, transparent contracts, protection against arbitrary termination, and rest/safety provisions. The Bill introduces a Welfare Fee Verification System (WFVS) to ensure proper tracking of contributions. Despite initial opposition from industry bodies like NASSCOM and IAMAI regarding issues such as definition ambiguity, algorithm transparency, and state overreach, the Bill was cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet in April 2025 following revisions. Key amendments include removal of Industrial Disputes Act references, decriminalization of non-compliance, clarity on welfare fee collection, and introduction of a sunset clause to prevent duplication with the still-pending Central Code on Social Security, 2020. The Bill balances platform accountability with worker rights without altering the employer-employee status.
- The 4th edition of the India Justice Report, released by Tata Trusts, highlights significant gaps in India’s justice system. The country has only 15 judges per million people, far below the Law Commission’s 1987 benchmark of 50 per million, resulting in judicial delays. High Court vacancies stand at 33%, while the district judiciary has a 21% staffing gap, burdening judges with an average of 2,200 cases each. Police forces also face officer (28%) and constabulary (21%) level vacancies, while prisons report a 28% shortfall in both officer and cadre staff, and an alarming 44% vacancy in correctional staff and 43% in medical officers. Paralegal volunteer numbers have dropped by 43%, limiting community legal outreach. However, improvements like CCTV in police stations, video conferencing in courts, and prison legal clinics were noted. Overcrowding remains critical, with prisons operating at 131% capacity and projected to reach 6.8 lakh inmates by 2030, surpassing the expected 5.15 lakh capacity. Justice continues to remain inaccessible, with Justice Madan B Lokur observing that the burden of justice lies on the individual rather than the state. Among states, Karnataka leads in justice delivery, fulfilling SC/ST/OBC quotas in policing, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala, though no state has met its own targets for women’s reservation in police forces.
- Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, former judge of the Supreme Court of India, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the 23rd Law Commission of India. The Law Commission is a non-statutory, advisory body constituted by the Union Government and functions under the Ministry of Law and Justice. Although not defined under the Constitution, it aligns with Article 39A which promotes equal justice and free legal aid. It is an ad hoc body, set up for a specific purpose and tenure. The first Law Commission in India was established in 1834 during British rule under the Charter Act of 1833, chaired by Lord Macaulay. Post-independence, the first Law Commission was formed in 1955, headed by M.C. Setalvad, India’s first Attorney General. Since then, 22 commissions have been formed, with the 22nd chaired by Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi. A new Law Commission is constituted by a government resolution, requiring Presidential assent, and its Chairperson is typically a retired Supreme Court judge. The Commission includes legal experts, academicians, senior advocates, and sometimes former bureaucrats, appointed for a three-year term. Its primary functions include reviewing existing laws to identify obsolete ones, proposing new legislation, simplifying legal processes, and recommending judicial reforms to improve the delivery of justice and reduce delays in the system.
- According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), India is projected to receive above-normal monsoon rainfall in 2025, estimated at 105% of the Long Period Average (LPA), which is based on the 1971–2020 average of 87 cm. The forecast comes with a ±5% model error margin, and there is a strong likelihood of the monsoon being either “above normal” or “excess”. Certain regions like North Karnataka, Marathwada, Rayalaseema, North Andhra Pradesh, and Bastar (Chhattisgarh) are likely to experience copious rainfall. In contrast, Tamil Nadu, Ladakh, North-East India, and Eastern Bihar including parts of North Bengal may witness deficient rains. The monsoon is crucial for India’s $3.5 trillion economy, particularly for agriculture, as it directly impacts the production of paddy, pulses, oilseeds, and jute. Favorable climate conditions such as neutral ENSO and IOD, along with reduced Eurasian snow cover, are supporting a positive monsoon outlook. However, regional disparities are emerging. Notably, North-East India has shown a long-term decline in rainfall, while Rajasthan’s Thar Desert is receiving more precipitation—a phenomenon under ongoing study. The IMD is expected to release further updates, including the onset forecast by mid-May and a seasonal update by the end of May.
- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that an Ambedkar Museum would be established in Bengaluru, while a ‘Constitution Chair’ would be set up at the University of Mysore.
- The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) collected ₹4,930 crore in property tax in the financial year 2024-25, making it the highest ever collected by the civic body. This marks a significant increase of around ₹1,000 crore compared to 2023-24 . While BBMP’s total target for this year was ₹5,210.47 crore, it achieved 94.62% collection. Yelahanka zone achieved a 104.36% tax collection amounting to ₹464.66 crore, followed by Mahadevapura zone which achieved a 100.12% collection with ₹1,310.58 crore, which is also the highest amount collected among all the zones. With ₹733.65 crore, South zone achieved 95.34% collection, East zone achieved 93.52% with ₹843.14 crore and Dasarahalli zone collected ₹152.94 crore achieving 92.72% collection.
- Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Dr M Mahesh Joshi said that the 88th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sammelana will be organised in December after taking note of the prevailing climatic conditions in Ballari
- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) executed a major operation dubbed ‘Operation Chakra-V’ to clamp down on digital arrest scams, resulting in the arrest of four individuals.
- On April 11, 2025, the CEA launched the STELLAR Model for advanced electricity planning in India. The STELLAR Model aids states in resource adequacy planning per 2023 Ministry of Power guidelines. It ensures optimal generation, transmission, and storage planning for future electricity demand. The model supports integrated planning with demand response as a core feature. It helps states comply with dynamic resource adequacy requirements. Developed in India, it’s user-friendly, transparent, and regularly updated based on feedback. The software is free for all states and discoms, ensuring uniform access. Collaboration with TLG and ADB enhances the model’s development.
- In 2025, UK sightings of the Asian hornet surge, indicating breeding and overwintering confirmed by DNA. The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is an invasive species from Southeast Asia, not to be confused with the giant hornet. It preys primarily on crucial pollinators like honeybees, posing an ecological threat. Using specialized hunting tactics, Asian hornets can decimate honeybee colonies at hive entrances. Introduced to Europe in 2004 via a shipment of pottery, the Asian hornet has spread to 15 countries. France currently hosts over 500,000 nests of the Asian hornet. The first Asian hornet detection in Britain was officially recorded in 2016.
