Current Affairs 25 October 2025
Supreme Court observed Freedom of Religion & Right to Privacy are interlinked
The Supreme Court in Rajendra Bihari Lal vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Others emphasized that the Right to Privacy is intrinsic to Freedom of Religion.
Inadequate Laws to Protect Domestic Workers in India
- Right to Fair Wages: Workers must receive at least the state-prescribed minimum wage under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
- Right to Safe Working Conditions: Employers must provide an abuse-free environment (POSH Act, 2013).
- Protection from abuse/exploitation: Bharatiya Nari Suraksha (BNS) Act, 2023 provides protection against all forms of abuse; enables legal remedies and complaint mechanisms.
- State-Level Initiatives: Tamil Nadu provides welfare benefits and minimum wages under the Manual Worker Act, 1982, while Karnataka’s 2025 Bill mandates worker registration, contracts, minimum wages etc. to a welfare fund.
Rani Chennamma (1778 – 1829)
- She was married to Raja Mallasarja of Kittur (or Kitturu)
- After death of her husband & only son she adopted Shivalingappa.
- However, the British rejected him as the legitimate heir to Kittur, leading to the Kittur Revolt in 1824.
- About Kittur revolt:
- It is regarded as the first Indian armed rebellion against British EIC. Also, one of the earliest woman-led anti-colonial struggles.
- Though British lost 1st battle in 1824, Rani Chennamma was later captured & imprisoned, till her death in 1829.
Kafala System
- Recently, Saudi Arabia has abolished the Kafala system.
- It is expected to benefit around 13 million foreign workers, including over 2.6 million Indians.
- About Kafala System
- It is a worker sponsorship programme which gave employers full control over their employees’ legal status, residencies, when or if they could leave the country, seeks legal help, or even changes jobs.
- The system tied each sponsor or ‘Kafeel’ to a migrant worker.
- Concern associated with System: It is criticized as mordern day slavery as Employers started to abuse this system to exploit employees. E.g., they would restrict their movement, seize passport, etc.
Afghanistan has announced plans to construct a dam on the Kunar River, obstructing its flow into Pakistan.
- About Kunar River
- It is a main tributary of Kabul River, which then merges with the Indus River in Pakistan.
- Origin: from glaciated Hindu Kush Mountains of Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan
- It then flows into Afghanistan and merges with Kabul River there.
- Two main tributaries: Bashgal (or Landiasind) and Pech.
The first of 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWC) ‘Mahe’ was delivered to the Indian Navy.
- Built by: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi.
- Named after: Historic port town in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
- Capabilities: underwater surveillance, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations in coastal waters.
- Significance: Enhances Indian Navy’s ASW capability in littoral zones & supports Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.