Kerala’s Right to Disconnect Bill

Why in News?

Recently, Kerala has introduced the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, aiming to protect private-sector employees from being forced to answer work calls, emails, or messages after office hours.

What is the Right to Disconnect Bill of Kerala?

• About the Bill – The Kerala Government’s proposed Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 seeks to protect private sector employees from excessive work-related digital communication beyond official working hours.
• Important provisions – The bill grants employees the right to disengage from calls, emails, messages, and virtual meetings after work hours, without fear of disciplinary action.
• Significance – If enacted, Kerala would become the first Indian state to legislate such a right.
• International examples – Countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Belgium have introduced similar measures.
• Evidence from France’s experiments with shorter workweeks indicates improvements in mental health, productivity, and job satisfaction, suggesting that regulated working hours can benefit both workers and employers.
• Indian context – In India, where long workdays and constant digital availability are often normalized, the Right to Disconnect could serve as an important corrective, particularly for women navigating paid work alongside unpaid care responsibilities.
• Similar policy – Karnataka’s paid menstrual leave legislation are among the most progressive state-level initiatives aimed at addressing the everyday pressures faced by workers, particularly women.
• Other measures – Alongside such reforms, the expansion of digital technologies, remote work, and flexible employment arrangements has created new opportunities for women’s participation in the workforce.
• Continuing concerns – However, despite these changes, women continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid domestic and care work and this raises a crucial policy question.

What are the impacts of various reforms?

• Impact of new Labour Codes – Parallel to state-level reforms, the four new labour codes introduced by the Ministry of Labour and Employment aim to improve women’s participation in the workforce.
• These reforms permit women to work at night across sectors (with consent and safety measures) and promise equal access to higher-paying jobs.
• Such measures are significant in a country with one of the lowest Female Labour Force Participation Rates (FLFPR) globally.
• Since 2004–05, India’s FLFPR declined steadily, reflecting deep-rooted structural and social constraints.
• Education and the U-Shaped Hypothesis – Economists often explain trends in women’s workforce participation using the U-shaped relationship between education and employment.
• Women with very low education levels tend to work out of economic necessity, while those with higher education access better-paying jobs and professional opportunities.
• Women with intermediate education, however, are more likely to withdraw from the workforce due to social norms, marriage, or caregiving responsibilities.
• Additionally, India’s pattern of economic growth has been skewed towards sectors that traditionally employ fewer women, limiting job opportunities outside agriculture.
• Recent data shows a modest rise in FLFPR, largely driven by self-employment among rural women, particularly in agriculture—highlighting the lack of quality non-farm jobs for women.
• Effect of digitalisation – Between 2015 and 2022, India witnessed a sharp increase in internet access and digital penetration, coinciding with a gradual rise in FLFPR.
• Several studies point to a positive relationship between digitalisation and women’s employment, particularly for salaried and self-employed women.
• Digital technologies enhance women’s access to job information, increase autonomy, and enable flexible work arrangements such as work-from-home (WFH).
• Limitations – However, these benefits are not evenly distributed.
• Women who lack digital literacy, autonomy, or household support often fail to benefit fully from ICT-led opportunities.
• Gig Economy – The gig economy, often promoted as flexible and empowering, has attracted increasing numbers of women across the Global South.
• For women with lower education levels, gig work can provide income opportunities while allowing them to manage domestic responsibilities.
• Digital entrepreneurship and e-commerce – They have opened new avenues.
• India has approximately 7,000 women-led start-ups, accounting for around 7.5 per cent of all start-ups, and women make up nearly 14 per cent of entrepreneurs.
• Digital platforms allow women to access markets, build networks, and bypass traditional barriers such as mobility constraints.
• However, most women entrepreneurs remain concentrated in micro-enterprises within the informal sector, facing limited access to credit, technology, and social security.

What are the important issues women facing?

• The “Double Burden” of Labour – The Covid-19 pandemic normalised remote work, especially in the formal sector.
• While the work from home (WFH) increased women’s labour force participation, it also blurred the boundary between paid work and domestic labour.
• Historically, Indian women have worked from home as unpaid family labour or as home-based piece-rate workers in industries such as garments and bidi rolling.
• Contemporary corporate WFH arrangements, however, largely involve middle-class women who are expected to perform professional duties alongside domestic work—often without a corresponding redistribution of household responsibilities.
• Studies consistently show that WFH women experience a “double burden”, juggling paid employment and unpaid care work, particularly childcare.
• Flexible jobs may increase women’s participation, but they do not automatically reduce unpaid labour.
• Corporate Work Culture and Burnout – India’s corporate sector reports some of the highest burnout levels globally.
• Long workdays, constant digital surveillance, and expectations of round-the-clock availability have intensified since the pandemic.
• Employees working with multinational firms often operate across time zones, leading to disrupted sleep cycles and poor work–life balance.
• For women, these pressures are compounded by entrenched gender norms assigning primary responsibility for household and care work to them.

What lies ahead?

• Need for Structural Support – Economist Claudia Goldin highlights that when women combine paid work with caregiving under WFH arrangements, frequent interruptions reduce productive work time.
• The care economy and the market economy are deeply interlinked, and women’s participation in paid employment reshapes household care dynamics.
• In this context, the Right to Disconnect Bill can be a meaningful intervention for formal sector workers.
• However, its effectiveness depends on complementary structural policies, including:
  • Affordable and accessible childcare and crèches
  • Paid parental leave for both parents
  • Social security for informal and gig workers
• Without such support, flexible work arrangements risk reinforcing, rather than reducing, gendered inequalities.
• Flexible work arrangements and digital technologies have expanded opportunities for women, but they are not a panacea.
• In the absence of structural care support and equitable household labour distribution, flexibility often translates into intensified workloads for women.
• Progressive legislation like the Right to Disconnect must therefore be embedded within a broader framework of gender-sensitive labour and social policies to genuinely ease women’s work burdens.

Reference

The Indian Express| Reducing the Burden on Women

Farmer Suicides in India

Why in News?

Recently, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released a data on farmer’s suicide in a new analysis of last 28 years.

What does the data reveal?

• 2 important states – Maharashtra and Karnataka have remained the epicentres of farmer suicides in India for more than two decades.
• The suicide rates consistently about 2.5 times the national average since the mid-1990s,
  • Maharashtra – 4,151 farmer suicides
  • Karnataka – 2,423, farmer suicides
• In 2023 alone, these states recorded, these numbers making them the two worst-affected states in the country.
• Major reason – One of the major drivers over the years has been the rapid spread of Bt cotton in the early 2000s, particularly across rain-fed regions, the analysis by independent research organization Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) found.
• The study links the crisis in these states to the failure of Bt cotton to deliver on promises of higher yields and pest resistance.
• Instead, farmers faced sharply rising input costs and greater financial risk.
• Repeated crop failures, combined with the absence of reliable price support, pushed many small and marginal farmers into chronic debt.
• Regional concentration of crisis – Beyond Maharashtra and Karnataka, the data show a clear regional concentration of the crisis.
• Southern and western India together account for around 72.5% of all farmer suicides recorded since 1995.
• Andhra Pradesh and Telangana follow closely among the worst-affected states.
• Together, they have reported more than 170,000 farmer suicides over the past 28 years.
• Telangana, which was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, has emerged as a high-crisis state in its own right.
• The cotton-growing districts that became part of Telangana already carried a heavy suicide burden, while coastal Andhra Pradesh districts historically reported lower rates.
• Madhya Pradesh has also consistently ranked among the top contributors to national suicide figures, underlining that the crisis is not confined to a single region.

What are the Peak years of agrarian crisis?

• The period of crisis – At least 394,206 farmers and agricultural labourers died by suicide in India, according to NCRB records.
• This amounts to an average of about 13,600 deaths every year.
• The analysis noted that the crisis intensified after India joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995.
• Reduced subsidies and increased agricultural imports weakened farm incomes, particularly for small producers.
• 2000 to 2009 – The most acute phase came between 2000 and 2009, when more than 154,000 suicides were recorded.
• 2002 – The year 2002 stands out as the deadliest, with 17,971 farmer suicides nationwide.
• 2023 – After years of decline, the trend reversed sharply in 2023.
• The country recorded 10,786 farmer suicides, an increase of more than 75% compared with 2022.
• The figures also reveal a significant shift within the rural economy.
• Agricultural labourers now account for a larger share of suicides than cultivators.
• Of the 10,786 deaths recorded in 2023, 6,096 were agricultural labourers, compared with 4,690 cultivators.
• Identified causes – Researchers linked this to a combination of droughts, collapsing crop prices, weak crop insurance, and shrinking access to institutional credit.
• The growing share of suicides among agricultural labourers points to deeper rural distress.
• Effect on labourers – Unlike land-owning farmers, labourers face:
  • Acute wage insecurity,
  • Seasonal unemployment,
  • Rising food prices and
  • Limited social protection,
• Making them especially vulnerable to economic shocks.
• The analysis cautioned, however, that part of the increase in 2023 may reflect delayed reporting during the Covid-19 period, rather than a sudden deterioration in a single year.

How MGNREGA came to rescue?

• Declining of farmers’ suicide – The sharp rise in 2023 contrasts with trends seen over much of the previous decade.
• From around 2010 onwards, farmer suicides declined steadily across several states, reaching their lowest levels between 2015 and 2019.
• Key Intervention – One of the key interventions during this period was the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which provided wage employment during lean agricultural seasons and drought years.
• MGNREGA helped reduce income volatility for small and marginal farmers and agricultural labourers.
• Other measure – Expanded crop insurance coverage and debt relief measures.
• Visible results – Kerala recorded a steep fall in farmer suicides, from 1,118 in 2005 to 105 in 2014.
• West Bengal reported zero farmer suicides by 2012, according to the NCRB data analysed.
• Madhya Pradesh, which had recorded some of the highest numbers during the peak crisis years, also saw sustained reductions during this period.
• Shortcomings – In states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka, suicide numbers have remained persistently high despite welfare interventions, underscoring the limits of short-term relief in the absence of broader agrarian reform.
• In these states rain-fed agriculture and market-linked commercial crops continue to dominate.

Reference

Down To Earth| Farmer’s Suicide

Battle of Basantar, 1971

Why in News?

Titled Ikkis (Twenty‑one), the film hit theatres on New Year’s Day and traces the valiant journey of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who laid down his life in the 1971 India‑Pakistan war.

• Battle of Basantar – It was fought on the Western Front of India during the Indo-Pak war of 1971.
• Location – Shakargarh Buldge, a strategic area in the Punjab & Jammu Sector, with road links important for both India and Pakistan.

The Basantar River is a tributary of the Ravi, flowing through Shakargarh in North Punjab.

• It is considered to be one of the Fiercest Tank battles ever fought between two countries.
• The Minefield Challenge - The 9th Engineer Regiment (known as the "Thambi Regiment") performed a legendary feat by manually and trawl-clearing deep minefields (over 1,400 metres) under heavy fire to allow Indian tanks to advance.
• It was a decisive Indian victory that secured the vital Pathankot–Jammu axis, preventing Pakistan from cutting off Jammu and Kashmir from the rest of India.
• Heroes and Honours - The battle is renowned for extraordinary acts of gallantry, resulting in two Param Vir Chakras (PVC), India's highest military decoration.
  • 2^nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal (Posthumous).
  • Major Hoshiar Singh.

Quick Fact

References

1. Indian Express | Ikkis: Real-life story of Arun Khetarpal
2. Aviation Defence Universe | Battle of Basantar 1971 War

Galaxy frogs

Why in News?

According to the study, a group of seven galaxy frogs vanished, all likely to be dead, after multiple photographers descended on their habitat, causing disturbances and behavioural changes.

• Scientific Name – Melanobatrachus indicus
• Family – Microhylidae
• It is a rare, tiny, and most dazzling amphibious creature in the world that lives exclusively under rotten logs in Kerala’s Western Ghats.
• 1^st discovered in – Although they were first discovered in 1878, not much is known about them since they are difficult to find.
• Distribution – It is endemic to the Western Ghats, Kerala (India).
• Habitat – It is found primarily under rotting logs, leaf litter, rocks, and other moist ground cover within 10 m of streams or in swampy areas.
• It is found in moist evergreen forests at elevations around 1,000–1,500 m, restricted to small forest patches in the southern Western Ghats.
• Ecological Needs – It requires precise temperature & humidity (cold-blooded, highly sensitive) to survive, because they are cold-blooded animals.
• Size – Each the size of a fingertip, measures just 2-3.5 centimetres (0.8-1.4 inches).
• Appearance – Glossy black skin with blue-white speckles (galaxy-like), orange streaks on limbs, giving supernova effect.

• Unique Trait – They use their spots to communicate, making existing data about their population and breeding behaviour deficient.
• Behaviour – They are primarily nocturnal and do not produce calls, making them incredibly difficult to find.
• When threatened, they exhibit a "contraction" behaviour, arching their backs and keeping their limbs close to their bodies.
• EDGE species – These frogs are the only species in their genus, which makes them evolutionarily unique.
• Because of this, they are listed as Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species—one of the world’s most rare and threatened animals.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN - Vulnerable
• Threats – Habitat loss due to deforestation and agriculture, disturbance from photo tourism, and extremely limited distribution make it highly sensitive.

References

1. Indian Express | 7 of world’s rarest frogs presumed dead
2. Amphibia web | Melanobatrachus indicus

Eurozone

Why in News?

Bulgaria, the poorest member of the European Union (EU), became the 21^st member of the eurozone.

• Eurozone/euro area – It represents a monetary union within the EU, distinct from the wider EU membership.
• In other words, it refers to the geographic and economic region comprising those members of the European Union (EU) that have fully adopted the euro as their official currency.
• Maastricht Treaty, 1992 – It laid the foundation for the Eurozone by establishing
  • European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);
  • A common currency – Euro;
  • European Central Bank (ECB); and  
  • Common Economic Region.
• Eurozone Membership – The Total EU states is 27, of which 21 are members of the eurozone (with Bulgaria, Jan 2026).
• Non‑Eurozone EU states (6) - Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania retain their own currencies.
• Special Cases
  • Microstates with EU agreements – Andorra, Monaco, the Vatican City and San Marino use the euro through agreements with the EU.
  • Unofficial euro users – Kosovo and Montenegro use the euro as their sole currency without an agreement.
• Eurozone eligibility – All EU member states, except Denmark (which availed an opt-out clause), satisfy certain “convergence criteria” under the Maastricht Treaty, and certain legal alignment with the European Central Bank (ECB) framework.
• Transition to the Euro – Starting January 1, both the lev and the euro can be used for transactions. From February 1, the euro will become the sole legal tender.
• Gains for Bulgaria – For Bulgaria, joining the Eurozone means credibility in global finance, a stronger European identity, and a tourism boost through seamless travel.

After the US Dollar, the euro is the largest reserve currency, and a vital symbol of European integration and identity.

• Benefits of the eurozone – The countries join the Eurozone to gain stability, competitiveness, cost savings, deeper EU integration, and global credibility.

Reference

Indian Express | Bulgaria joins eurozone

The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty

Why in News?

India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty expiring in December 2026, the officials from both the countries have commenced talks on renewing the treaty.

• The treaty signed on December 12, 1996, between India and Bangladesh governs the sharing of the Ganges River waters during the dry season.
• Purpose – To manage the sharing of Ganges waters at the Farakka Barrage, which diverts water to India's Hooghly River to maintain Calcutta Port's navigability.
• Farakka Barrage – It was built in 1975 across the Ganges at Farakka, West Bengal.
• India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers that drain through Bangladesh, of which the Ganges is highly seasonal. 

Features of the treaty

• Validity & Review – The treaty is valid for 30 years, subject to review every 5 years or earlier if either government desires.
• Either party can seek the first review after two years to assess the impact.
• Period of Sharing – Water sharing to be by 10-day periods during the lean season (Jan 1 – May 31) every year.
• Sharing formula –
  • If the flow at Farakka is less than 70,000 cusecs, sharing is 50:50.
  • If flow is between 70,000–75,000 cusecs, Bangladesh receives a fixed 35,000 cusecs & India gets the remainder.
  • If the flow is more than 75,000 cusecs, India gets 75,000 cusecs, while Bangladesh receives the balance.
• Emergency Clause – If the flow falls below 50,000 cusecs in any 10 days, both governments will enter into immediate consultations for emergency adjustments.
• Data Basis – The schedule derived from 40 years of average flow data (1949–1988) is to be applied to the formula which governs actual sharing.
• Fail-Safe Mechanism – India must release at least 90% of Bangladesh’s share downstream until the next 5-year review.
• Monitoring – A Joint Committee with equal representatives from both countries monitors daily flows at the Farakka feeder canal and at the Hardinge Bridge navigation lock, and submits annual reports to both governments.

Other water sharing treaties - Kushiyara River Water Sharing Agreement (2022), Feni River MoU (2019), Teesta River Agreement (Proposed, Not Signed).

References

1. First Post | India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty expiring in 2026
2. IPCS | India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty

Rani Velu Nachiyar

Why in News?

Prime Minister pays tribute to Rani Velu Nachiyar on her birth anniversary.

• Rani Velu Nachiyar was the 1^st queen to fight against the British colonial power in India.
• Birth – She was born on 3^rd January 1730, as the only child of Raja Chellamuthu Vijayaragunatha Sethupathy and Rani Sakandhimuthal of the Ramnad kingdom.
• Training – She was trained in war match weapons usage, martial arts like Valari, Silambam (fighting using a stick), horse riding and archery.
• Skills – She was a scholar in many languages, and she had proficiency with languages like French, English and Urdu.
• Marriage & Conflict – She married Muthuvaduganathaperiya Udaiyathevar, king of Sivagangai, who was killed by British soldiers and the Nawab of Arcot’s son.
• Exile – She escaped with her daughter, Vellachi, and lived under the protection of Palayakaarar Kopaala Naayakkar in Dindigul for 8 years.
• Alliance – At Dindigul, she met Haider Ali of Mysore, won his support, and he admired her intellect and Urdu skills.
• Return to Power – In 1780, with allied forces, she attacked Sivaganga Fort, reclaimed her kingdom.
• She gave administrative powers to the Marudhu Brothers.
• Title – She is known by Tamils as Veeramangai (brave woman).
• Succession – Vellachi, Velu Nachiyar’s daughter, succeeded her to the throne and ruled from 1790 to 1793.
• She died on 25^th December 1796 in Sivagangai.
• Legacy
  • Udaiyaal Unit – She established one of the first all-women army units, named after her adoptive daughter Udaiyaal.
  • She constructed a mosque and church to honour Haider Ali’s support and maintained ties with Tipu Sultan.
  • She was honoured with a postage stamp (2008), a memorial statue in Sivagangai (2014), and an annual celebration of her birth anniversary on January 3.

Quick Fact

References

1. PIB | PM pays tribute to Rani Velu Nachiyar on her birth anniversary
2. Indian Culture | Velu Nachiyar
3. FII | Velu Nachiyar