India faced an unusual atmospheric event on a Monday night when a volcanic ash cloud from Ethiopia drifted across several states, affecting air traffic and visibility. The ash originated from the Hayli Gubbi volcano, which erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years on Sunday. The cloud travelled at high altitude and moved swiftly eastward across the subcontinent. Meanwhile, Delhi continued its battle with severe air pollution, prompting the government to enforce strict work-from-home mandates for half of all office workers under revised pollution control guidelines. In diplomatic developments, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accepted an invitation to visit India in 2026, marking a significant thaw in bilateral relations after years of tension. Both nations agreed to pursue a comprehensive trade agreement aiming to double trade to 50 billion dollars by 2030. The Supreme Court issued an important ruling on Monday cautioning against the misuse of rape laws in failed relationships, emphasising that consensual relationships turning sour should not be retrospectively labelled as criminal offences. Parliament preparations were underway as the Rajya Sabha issued a bulletin reminding lawmakers of conduct rules, particularly relevant as a newly elected Vice President prepares to preside over the upcoming winter session starting December 1. Economic reforms remained in focus with discussions around new labour codes designed to simplify regulations and enhance manufacturing competitiveness. India also continued its global leadership role, building on initiatives from the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, which emphasised Global South priorities including climate financing, sustainable development, and equitable resource sharing. The summit marked the first time the forum convened in Africa since its inception in 2008. Additionally, the Delhi High Court granted interim protection to Tesla Inc. in a trademark dispute with a Gurugram-based company, restraining the Indian firm from using Tesla's registered marks until the case concludes.
Volcanic Ash Cloud Disrupts Indian Skies
A windborne cloud of volcanic ash from Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano swept across Northwest India on Monday night, affecting visibility and air traffic. The volcano erupted on Sunday for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending ash particles high into the atmosphere. The cloud entered Indian airspace through Rajasthan at 6.30 pm, travelling at speeds between 100 and 120 kilometres per hour. It crossed multiple states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, and Punjab before continuing eastward. The India Meteorological Department confirmed the cloud remained above 10 kilometres altitude, meaning ground-level air pollution in Delhi would not be significantly worsened despite the city's existing air quality struggles. The ash reached Delhi around 11 pm and the impact was expected to last only a few hours. Airlines Akasa Air and IndiGo reported several flight diversions and cancellations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an evening advisory after detecting the plume over the Muscat Flight Information Region. The advisory, accompanied by an ASHTAM aviation alert, instructed airlines to avoid affected altitudes and regions. All aviation operators were directed to brief personnel on volcanic ash procedures and report any suspected encounters immediately, including engine performance changes or cabin smoke.
Delhi Enforces Work-From-Home to Combat Pollution
The Delhi government on Monday mandated that all government and private offices implement work-from-home arrangements for at least 50 percent of their staff. This measure, previously part of Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan, has now been moved to Stage 3 following a key revision. The environment department issued the notification under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, making violations punishable under the Act. Administrative secretaries and department heads in state offices must attend regularly, but only half the workforce may be physically present on any given day. Other employees should visit offices only for essential or emergency public services. Private establishments received similar instructions and were asked to prioritise flexible working hours and reduce office-related vehicle movement. Essential services including hospitals, fire services, prisons, public transport, utilities, sanitation, disaster management, municipal services, and air pollution control departments remain exempt. The Commission for Air Quality Management revised the action plan on November 22 following a Supreme Court hearing on deteriorating pollution levels. The commission informed the court it would shift certain actions between different stages to create more responsive pollution control measures.
India-Canada Relations Reset with Trade Agreement
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India next year, signalling a major turnaround in bilateral relations. The two countries have launched negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement aiming to double trade to 50 billion dollars (CAD 70 billion) by 2030. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal described the deal as having high ambition, stating that combining the strengths of both nations could create a force multiplier for businesses and investors. The Canadian Prime Minister's Office called the trade deal a powerful economic anchor between the countries. The decision to begin CEPA negotiations was announced following a bilateral meeting between Modi and Carney during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg on Sunday. Both countries also agreed to enhance diplomatic staffing levels to meet growing consular demands and strengthen people-to-people connections through reciprocal knowledge transfer. These comprehensive trade talks will be more expansive than earlier negotiations discontinued in September 2023 due to diplomatic tensions. A reset began when Carney replaced Trudeau as Prime Minister in March this year, leading to renewed bilateral engagement.
Supreme Court Ruling on Rape Cases and Failed Relationships
The Supreme Court on Monday warned that labelling every failed or bitter relationship as rape trivialises the seriousness of the crime and causes indelible stigma and grave injustice to the accused. The court condemned misuse of criminal justice machinery and stressed that rape laws should be invoked only where genuine sexual violence or lack of free consent is evident. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan made these observations while quashing an FIR and charge sheet against a Maharashtra-based lawyer accused of rape and criminal intimidation. The woman had initially approached the advocate for legal help in a maintenance case before entering a long-term intimate relationship with him. The court set aside the March 6 order of the Bombay High Court that had refused to quash proceedings. The Supreme Court held that material on record unmistakably indicated a consensual relationship that later became bitter. The bench noted the woman was an adult and educated individual who voluntarily maintained contact with the advocate and remained emotionally connected for nearly three years. The court stated that physical intimacy during a functioning relationship cannot be retrospectively branded as rape merely because the relationship failed to result in marriage.
Parliament Session Guidelines and Conduct Rules
Ahead of the winter session, the Rajya Sabha issued a bulletin reminding members that rulings by the Chair should not be criticised inside or outside the House. Parliamentary bulletin number 65855, issued on Monday, also stated that slogans including Thanks, Thank You, Jai Hind, Vande Mataram, or any others should not be raised in the House. The bulletin reminded lawmakers that displaying exhibits on the floor is not permitted. If one member criticises another lawmaker or minister, the criticised person is entitled to expect the critic to remain present to hear the reply. Absence during the reply constitutes a breach of parliamentary etiquette. These conduct issues are part of standard handbooks for lawmakers in both Houses. The bulletin gains significance because newly elected Vice President CP Radhakrishnan will preside in the Rajya Sabha for the first time during the upcoming winter session beginning December 1. Relations between the Rajya Sabha chairperson and Opposition lawmakers had deteriorated in the last two years, culminating in the first-ever impeachment notice against a Vice President. VP Jagdeep Dhankhar later dismissed the notice on technical grounds. The winter session will test the working relationship between Radhakrishnan and the Opposition.
Global South Priorities at Johannesburg G20 Summit
The G20 Summit in South Africa marked a significant moment for Global South nations, being the first summit held in Africa since the forum's inception in 2008. The Johannesburg meeting advanced the vision and agendas outlined by India during its presidency in 2023, prioritising Global South interests including greater financing for climate crisis response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined six initiatives framed within a vision of Integral Humanism, a political philosophy associated with Deendayal Upadhyay. These proposals call for rethinking development priorities advanced by wealthy Global North nations and emphasise sustainable growth and equitable resource sharing to end nature's over-exploitation. Initiatives include a global healthcare response team, a circular economy for critical minerals, and an open satellite data partnership, all designed to cement Global South cooperation. India's push for global consensus on condemning terrorism in all forms resonated in Johannesburg, as did the Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative. Leaders broke convention by issuing a statement at the summit's onset. The United States boycotted the summit, with the Trump administration accusing South Africa of racial discrimination. The 2026 summit is scheduled for Miami, but Global South nations demonstrated that the age of global hegemons is ending.
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