In December 2024, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy held a meeting with gig workers and promised to create a dedicated welfare mechanism. Since then, the government has consulted senior officials and the legal department, and it has prepared the draft of the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers Bill 2025. The cabinet has now approved the bill, and it has also launched the initial implementation process.

The government will set up a special welfare board with the Labour Minister as chairman. Moreover, the board will include representatives from platform companies, gig workers, civil society, and technology experts. It will operate from Hyderabad and will manage worker registration, welfare schemes, safe working conditions, and transparent payment systems. Workers can self-register, and platforms must submit their worker data within 60 days. Additionally, all aggregators must register within 45 days.

The bill also creates a welfare fund supported by aggregator fees, CSR donations, and government grants. Furthermore, a dispute resolution committee and an appellate system will address complaints. Platforms must give prior notice before removing a worker, and authorities will impose penalties for any violations.

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The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), hosted a seminar titled “Demystifying the IPR Chapter in the India–UK CETA.” Policymakers, experts, academics, and industry representatives explored opportunities and challenges in the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) chapter.

Experts clarified that the IPR chapter supports innovation without limiting India’s policy space. It aligns with India’s legal framework and developmental priorities while modernising IP protections. Participants noted that voluntary licensing remains preferred, and flexibilities for public health, including compulsory licensing, remain intact under the Doha Declaration.

Geographical Indications (GIs) were highlighted as a key opportunity to protect Indian products in the UK market. Officials said the IPR chapter sets a benchmark for future trade agreements, combining regulatory rigor with flexibility. It aims to boost exports, strengthen India’s cultural branding, and enhance its global trade position.

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A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai observed that extending the Act to political workers could open a Pandora’s box. The court noted that political parties operate differently from conventional workplaces and that applying the POSH framework could create unintended legal challenges.

The petitioners argued that women engaged in political activities face harassment and need protection under the law. However, the Supreme Court maintained that existing legal provisions outside the POSH Act can address such issues without altering the scope of the workplace legislation.

Legal experts say the judgment clarifies the current boundaries of the POSH Act while leaving room for alternative mechanisms to protect women in political spaces. The ruling reinforces the distinction between statutory workplace protections and political engagements, ensuring the law remains practical and enforceable.

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