Nalsar University of Law

The ‘Gig Economy’ involving a temporary contractual job or short-term contract of work is transforming Labour Relations in India from the traditional hire and fire policy to that of employees working on their own terms. In India, Gig workers do not fit into the definition of “employee” or “worker” and, therefore, remain out of India’s labour law coverage. The real challenge in regulating them is owed to the nature of the work that they perform. The Indian Government with an intention to accommodate the interests of the growing Gig economy in which millions of workers are involved has enacted the Code on Social Security, 2020, in which the terms “Gig workers”, “Platform workers” and “Gig economy” have been defined. The provisions for Gig and Platform workers fall under the chapter on unorganized workers, in the Code indicating that they are not a part of the formal workforce and are not eligible for the social security benefits which are funded by employers. The Labour Welfare organizations across the country are demanding that the social security schemes relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits and old age protection must be extended to Gig Workers. Any attempt to regulate the Gig Economy will affect the flexibility of the labour forces and escalate the compliance cost has been the concern of the business operators. It is in this background, the authors have analyzed the evolution of the Gig Economy in India and its impacts on the Labour Jurisprudence to suggest measures for balancing the conflicting interests between the demand for social security benefits to Gig workers and the obligation of compliance cost for the business operators.

Background: Phubbing, a social phenomenon associated with smartphone usage, often detracts from meaningful social interactions instead of enhancing them. Despite its prevalence, research is scarce, leading to a limited understanding of the factors that predict this behaviour and its societal consequences. This systematic review seeks to assess the potentially severe consequences of phubbing, particularly as an unintentional act, to aid policymakers in recognizing the associated risk . Methods: The review extensively examines the available literature from databases including PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar search engine. Following the PRISMA,(2020) (Page et al., 2021) guidelines, 43 relevant articles published between 2014 and 2024 were selected from an initial pool of 240 references for inclusion in the study. The inclusion criteria comprised empirical studies operationalizing phubbing as a measurable variable and utilizing quantitative methodological approaches. Only peer-reviewed articles published in English-language journals were deemed eligible for consideration. All papers included in this review were assessed for quality check as well. Results: The results synthesis was structured into two primary domains: individual-level and social determinants. Analysis revealed multiple variables within these domains, including psychological well-being, personality attributes, academic/occupational outcomes, and sociocultural factors. These factors functioned as both antecedents and consequences of phubbing behaviour. Conclusion: The synthesis of data from 43 empirical studies has resulted in a comprehensive framework for understanding the underlying causes of phubbing behaviour and its wide-ranging impacts on both individuals and society. The results highlights how societal influences drive technological choices and examines the broader consequences across different sectors. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the connection between evolving technological habits and social behaviors like phubbing. Continued research in this area is essential to deepen our understanding and to inform practical approaches in areas such as education, counseling, and the management of related social issues.

Abstract Diethyl sulphate (DES) is one of the most economical and commonly used reagents for N‐ethylation in bulk manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and specialty chemicals. In synthesis of an API, involving an N‐ethylation step on a hetero‐aromatic ring, along with the desired N‐ethylated product, formation of an N‐methyl impurity is a commonly encountered challenge. A potential source for methyl group is often linked with the ethylating agents and/or solvents used in the reaction. In case, where DES is used as an ethylating agent, the formation of undesired N‐methyl impurity is generally ascribed to the presence of dimethyl sulphate, a well‐known impurity in DES. In this article, we present a case study wherein another lesser‐known impurity namely, ethyl methyl sulphate (EMS) was revealed to be responsible for the generation of N‐methyl impurity in an API. Systematic evaluation of different batches of DES with varying amounts of this largely unknown impurity was performed using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry technique and its structure was established as ethyl methyl sulphate. The level of corresponding N‐methyl impurity in various API batches which was found to be in the range 0.02‐0.17% correlated well with that of this mixed alkylated impurity in different DES batches used in the synthesis. An in silico toxicity prediction study suggested the mutagenic and carcinogenic nature of ethyl methyl sulphate further highlighting the importance of its identification and control. It is shown that trace amount of methanol in the bulk ethanol contributes to the formation of ethyl methyl sulphate which ultimately effects the formation of N‐methyl derivative of the API. It is demonstrated that the level of ethyl methyl sulphate in DES could be reduced by a quenching reaction, by treating it with a phenol or an amine as well as by simple normal phase column chromatography.

ABSTRACT This article, based on field observations from a panchayat in the Cochin-Travancore region of Kerala, aims to shed light on the local mechanisms that contribute to the alignment between the Christian community in Kerala – specifically the Syrian Christians – and the Indian National Congress (INC). Based on field information, this study argues that the interplay of socio-political history, the symbiotic relationship between the church and the INC, social values associated with Syrian Christians, and the antagonism towards the Communists have created ideological subjects aligned with the INC. The residual nature of the INC’s social base or distributive factors, such as patronage, which define the party’s support in other areas, has limited significance here. These ideological underpinnings have sustained the INC’s social base in the region, even as the party faces setbacks elsewhere in India.