Today in History (July 11^th, 1897)

Birth day of Ram Prasad Bismil (11 June 1897 – 19 December 1927) was a notable Indian revolutionary who played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement. He is remembered for his involvement in the historic Kakori train robbery and as a founding member of the Hindustan Republican Association. Bismil’s patriotic writings and poems inspired many young Indians to participate in the freedom struggle.

Let’s revise

A) Operation Sarp vinash was launched in 2003 and its objective was to ____

1. To reduce snake bite cases
2. To fight terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir
3. To increase awareness about snake bites and precaution
4. To educate people for social harmony

Ans. (2)

B) In recent summit of India and Russia the target has been decided to increase the bilateral trade____till 2023.

1. $1200 bn
2. $100 bn
3. $50 bn
4. $70 bn

Ans. (2)

C) Who is the current minister for foreign affairs in Russian Government?

1. Vladimir Putin
2. Sergei Lavrov
3. Pezeskian
4. Mikhail Misustin

Ans. (2)

D) The summit of BRICS in 2024 will be held in____

1. Russia
2. India
3. China
4. Brazil

Ans. (2)

E) In 2024 Indian Prime Minister visiting a country in Europe where no Prime Minister of India has visited in last 41 years. This country is ____

1. Albania
2. Belarus
3. Austria
4. Greece

Ans. (2)

F) The capital city of Austria is _____

1. Vienna
2. Prague
3. Budapest
4. Hague

Ans. (1)

G) At the 75th anniversary of NATO which non-member countries participated in this summit in Washinton?

1. Australia, Japan, New Zealand
2. India, China, Brazil
3. India, Bangladesh, Nepal
4. North Korea, South Korea, Japan

Ans. (1)

H) Who is the secretary general of NATO?

1. Jens Stoltenberg
2. John Keynes
3. K. S. Paul
4. Zelensky

Ans. (1)

Summary of Today’s News

Supreme Court’s historical judgement to secure Muslim women

• The Supreme Court ruled that divorced Muslim women are eligible for maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which is considered a secular provision.
• The court agreed with senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal, who argued that the enactment of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, providing a personal law remedy, does not preclude divorced Muslim women from seeking maintenance under Section 125 CrPC.
• According to a two-judge Bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Augustine Goerge Masih, a Muslim man’s appeal against a Telangana High Court decision upholding interim maintenance for his divorced wife under Section 125 CrPC was dismissed.
• The appellant, Mohd. Abdul Samad, contended that the 1986 Act overrides Section 125 CrPC, making the latter inapplicable to divorced Muslim women.
• However, the court clarified that under the 1986 Act, maintenance obligations are limited to the iddat period, while Section 125 CrPC mandates ongoing monthly maintenance regardless of faith.
• Justice Nagarathna emphasized that any divorced wife who hasn’t remarried is entitled to maintenance from her ex-husband if he neglects or refuses to provide for her, irrespective of personal laws.

CJI on Caste based discrimination in Indian Prisons

• The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Chandrachud, is addressing caste-based discrimination in prisons across India.
• Several states, despite denials, have been found to practice discriminatory practices, such as referring to prisoners as belonging to the “scavenger class” or assigning work based on caste.
• Legal representatives highlighted issues like denotified tribes being stereotyped as habitual criminals in Madhya Pradesh.
• The court is considering involving legal services authorities at district and state levels to monitor prisons and ensure fair treatment of prisoners.
• Previous findings revealed that many state prison manuals still endorse caste discrimination and forced labor, contrary to modern reforms.
• Specific instances were cited, such as Dalits having segregated wards and caste-based segregation in barracks in Tamil Nadu’s jails.

Addressing the Status of Gig Workers: Towards Comprehensive National Legislation

• Growth of Gig Economy: The gig economy in India has expanded significantly, with projections suggesting a substantial increase in gig workers in the workforce.
• Lack of Employee Status: Gig workers currently lack formal employee status, leaving them vulnerable to financial instability and uncertainty about working conditions.
• Karnataka’s Bill: The Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2024 aims to provide some security through social security measures and welfare funds.
• Protections and Rights: The draft Bill proposes safeguards against arbitrary dismissals, grievance redress mechanisms, and transparency in algorithm-based payment systems.
• Implementation Challenges: Concerns exist regarding the effectiveness of welfare boards, emphasizing the need for a pragmatic approach to ensure the legislation’s impact.
• Political Landscape: The Karnataka Congress government is pushing for the bill’s enactment, highlighting contrasting approaches with the BJP-led states like Rajasthan.
• National Legislation Needed: There is a growing consensus for comprehensive national legislation that sets minimum wages, defines working conditions, provides social security benefits, and formally recognizes gig workers as employees.