The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 26th July 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

 The ‘Geo-Calculus’ of the Moscow visit 

Why in News?

Two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Russia, his first bilateral trip in the third tenure of the government, the dust from the storm it kicked up in the United States and Europe is only just beginning to settle. The evident warmth between Mr. Modi and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, drew sharp criticism from the Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and also a series of statements from the U.S. State Department, the National Security Adviser and the U.S. Ambassador to India, expressing disappointment.

What Makes the Indian PM’s Visit to Russia Special this Time?

First visit after Russia's attack on Ukraine: 

• This marks the initial one-on-one meeting between the Indian Prime Minister and Russian President Vladimir Putin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
• The two leaders have had a total of 16 meetings since 2014.
• The Indian Prime Minister's previous trip to Russia was for the Eastern Economic Forum gathering in Vladivostok in September 2019.
• The Russian President's last visit to India was in December 2021 for the yearly bilateral summit.

Breaking tradition: 

• By selecting Russia for his primary bilateral visit after taking office, the Indian Prime Minister breaks away from the usual practice of new Indian Prime Ministers typically going to neighboring countries first.
• For example, in June 2014, he visited Bhutan, and in June 2019, he visited Maldives and Sri Lanka.
• Just last month, he journeyed to Italy for a group meeting with the G7 leaders, marking another recent international commitment.

 Significance of the Indian PM’s Visit to Russia:

•  Foreign policy priority: The bond between Russia and India has lasted for seventy years, originating from the kindness and companionship of the USSR period. While defense is crucial in their close relationship, cooperation in space and nuclear fields is also significant. 
• Global context: The meeting between the two nations occurs alongside a gathering of leaders from 32 NATO countries in Washington DC, commemorating 75 years of the alliance. This emphasizes the worldwide importance of India-Russia relations. 
• Russia's relations with China: As India broadens its global ties, its connection with Russia has encountered difficulties in some aspects. Simultaneously, Russia's strengthening bonds with China have offered diplomatic and economic backing during Western sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. India is cautious in ensuring that military technologies shared by Russia are not passed on to other nations, particularly China. 

Key Areas of Engagement Between India and Russia:

Defence: 

• Throughout the Cold War period, the Soviet Union was India's main source of defence gear. Presently, about 60-70% of India's defence equipment has roots in Russia and the Soviet Union.
• The collaboration in defence has advanced from mere buying and selling to joint exploration, development, and manufacturing.
• India and Russia have deals encompassing the provision of S-400 Triumf mobile surface-to-air missile systems, MiG-29 fighter planes, and Kamov helicopters.
• This includes the authorized construction of T-90 tanks, Su-30MKI fighter jets, AK-203 rifles, and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
• The INS Vikramaditya, one of India's two aircraft carriers, began as the Soviet and Russian vessel Admiral Gorshkov.

Oil trade: 

• Due to the conflict in Ukraine, India has upped its acquisition of Russian oil at reduced prices to counter the inflationary effect of soaring oil costs.
• Despite global disapproval, India's External Affairs Minister has confirmed the nation's dedication to persist in purchasing Russian oil for the benefit of Indian consumers.

Trade: 

• The trade volumes between India and Russia have exceeded projections, hitting a record high of $65.70 billion in FY 2023-24, surpassing the previous target of $30 billion by 2025.

Challenges for India in Maintaining its Ties with Russia:

• Trade imbalance: India buys a lot from Russia, mainly oil, gas, fertilizers, minerals, jewels, metals, and oils. This leads to India spending more money than it makes from Russia. 
• Diplomatic balancing act: India hasn't openly criticized Russia's attack but is worried about the threat of nuclear war from Russian leaders. India hasn't voted against Russia in some UN decisions. 
• Maintaining relations with Western nations: India's actions during the Russia-Ukraine issue have strained its relationships with Western friends. This is shown by recent meetings with them before the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Russia. 
• Mediator role: People think India is trying to be a fair middleman between Russia and Ukraine, aiming to help them talk to each other. 
• Safety of Indians in Russia: Some Indians in Russia were tricked into joining the fighting in Ukraine. India wants them back safely, and this will likely be discussed during the Indian Prime Minister's visit. 

Way Ahead for India:

• India's main focus is on maintaining its defense relationship with Russia.
• Dealing with the growing alliance between Moscow and Beijing, which creates challenges for India's strategic interests.
• The Indian Prime Minister's visit is intended to:
  • Strengthen the long-standing connections between India and Russia.
  • Ensure that the developing Moscow-Beijing relationship does not harm India's direct relations with Russia.

The Karnataka Bill is a symptom of a larger problem 

Why in News?

The Karnataka Reservation Bill has been panned almost universally and also generated so much controversy that the State government was forced to pause it and issue assurances. The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, as it is called, mandates 50% and 70% reservation in management categories and non-management categories, respectively.

About Gig Economy

• In recent times, the job market worldwide has seen a big change due to the growth of the gig economy, which is also known as the gig model. This is changing how we work.
• This includes:
  • People who work as freelancers and are paid for each task they complete.
  • Independent contractors who do work and are paid for each contract they take on.
  • Workers who are paid based on the projects they work on.
  • Employees who are hired for a specific period of time.
  • Individuals who work part-time, not full-time hours.

Classification of Gig Economy:

• Platform-Based: They utilize online apps or digital platforms for finding and doing tasks, like ride-hailing, food delivery, e-commerce, online freelancing, etc.
• Non-platform-based gig workers: They are involved in work beyond the usual employer-employee setup, such as casual wage laborers and self-employed workers in sectors like construction, domestic work, agriculture, etc.

Challenges: 

• Blocking Access to Service: Companies that provide platforms can suddenly stop a worker's access, essentially ending their jobs. They claim not to be employers, so this is seen as stopping access to a service. 
• Opaqueness: Gig workers currently have a mysterious relationship with platforms. These platforms watch what workers do but don't explain why they take negative actions based on certain criteria. This lack of transparency reduces the chances of unfair pay due to algorithms or workplace mistreatment. 
• Nature of Relation: Some argue that gig work on platforms, especially in ride-hailing services, should be seen as employment. They believe platforms are not just middlemen or markets but actual employers. In the Netherlands, there's recognition of a modern employer-employee dynamic between drivers and platforms. In the UK and Spain, workers are acknowledged, but it's not clearly stated that the platform is the employer. 

Significant Provisions of the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2024

• Clear Definition: It provides a clearer explanation of gig workers and sets up ways for a formal agreement between platform companies and workers, still calling platform companies "intermediaries." This could help bring platform-based gig work under labor regulations.
• For Termination: The Karnataka bill requires companies to give advance notice of termination, with a valid reason, 14 days beforehand. This confirms that what platforms offer is more than a service that can be taken away arbitrarily.
• Access to Information: The Karnataka bill gives gig workers the right to ask for information about work, ratings, and personal data. In the Rajasthan law, only the state and the welfare board can request algorithm transparency.
• Grievance Redressal Mechanism: It establishes a way for gig workers to address their complaints.
• Compensation: It states that gig workers should be paid at least once a week.
• Use of Labour Laws: It mentions that gig workers can use the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, to resolve disputes and utilize existing Indian labor laws.
• Expanded Role of Welfare Board: It involves discussions with gig worker groups and allows the board to create social security plans for women and individuals with disabilities.
• Social Nature of Gig Work: It acknowledges the communal aspect of platform-based gig work instead of a simple transaction, hopefully leading to more discussions about the effects of platformization on society.

Challenges that Need to be Tackled

• Not Extensive Details: The exact details of what this contract will look like and what aspects of state and central labor laws will apply to it remain unanswered. 
• Termination Conditions: Since the details of the contract will be worked out when the rules are created, at this stage, it is difficult to ascertain to what extent the legislation will be able to prevent unfair terminations. 
• On Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Grievances can only be raised about provisions of the draft bill and thereby stop short of providing gig workers the ability to file grievances about the amount of compensation provided or other forms of exploitation at the hands of companies and customers that are not explicitly covered by the bill.

Conclusion

• The proposed law highlights the reemergence of negotiations for gig laborers and showcases the influence of the strengthening gig worker unions in India.
• For gig workers operating through online platforms, this proposal signifies a positive advancement, although the official recognition of gig employment is still pending.