International Labour Day: History, Significance, and India

What is it?

International Labour Day, also known as May Day or International Workers’ Day, is celebrated globally on May 1st every year.

• Purpose: The day honours the contributions of the working class and promotes their rights. It serves as a reminder of the historical struggles workers faced to secure better working conditions, fair wages, and social justice.
• It’s a platform to raise awareness about ongoing labour issues and advocate for workers’ welfare.

Historical Background:

• Origins: The day traces its roots back to the 19th-century labour union movement in the United States. During industrialisation, workers often faced harsh conditions, including working up to 15 hours a day.
• The 8-Hour Day Movement: Workers began demanding an eight-hour workday. A major turning point was a nationwide strike that began on May 1, 1886, in the US.
• Haymarket Affair (Chicago, 1886): A peaceful rally in Chicago’s Haymarket Square on May 4, 1886, held in support of the 8-hour day strike, turned violent when a bomb was thrown at the police. This tragic event, which led to deaths on both sides, became a powerful symbol of the workers’ rights struggle.
• Formal Recognition: In 1889, the Second International, a global federation of socialist and labour parties, declared May 1st as International Workers’ Day to commemorate the Haymarket Affair1 and support the struggle for workers’ rights, particularly the eight-hour workday.

International Labour Day in India:

• First Celebration: India observed its first Labour Day (May Day) on May 1, 1923, in Chennai (then Madras).
• Key Organiser: The celebration was organised by Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar, a prominent communist and labour leader, under the banner of the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.
• First Use of Red Flag: This event also marked the first time the red flag, a symbol associated with the labour movement, was used in India.
• Holiday Status: May 1st is a public holiday in many Indian states and for various services like banks, government offices, and schools in those regions. It coincides with Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day.
• Regional Names: In India, it’s also known by various names like Kamgar Din (Hindi), Kamgar Divas (Marathi), Thozhilali Dinam (Malayalam), Uzhaipalar Dhinam (Tamil), and Shromik Dibosh (Bengali).

Key Facts:

• Date: May 1st
• Origin Event: Commemorates the Haymarket Affair (Chicago, 1886) and the struggle for an 8-hour workday.
• First Indian Celebration: May 1, 1923, in Chennai by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan led by M. Singaravelu Chettiar.
• Global Observance: Celebrated in over 80 countries (though the US and Canada observe Labour Day in September).
• Core Issues: Workers’ rights, fair wages, safe conditions, social justice.

Gujarat Foundation Day (Gujarat Sthapana Divas) 2025

What’s Happening?

Gujarat celebrated its 65th Foundation Day, also known as Gujarat Sthapana Divas or Gujarat Gaurav Divas, on May 1st, 2025. This day marks the formation of the state of Gujarat back in 1960.

How Gujarat Was Formed:

• Background: After India’s independence, there were strong demands across the country to reorganise states based on language.
• Bombay State: At that time, the present-day states of Gujarat and Maharashtra were part of a single, large bilingual Bombay State, comprising both Gujarati and Marathi-speaking populations.
• Linguistic Movements:
  • The Mahagujarat Andolan (movement) pushed for a separate state for Gujarati speakers. Key leaders included Indulal Yagnik, who formed the Mahagujarat Janata Parishad to mobilise people.
  • The idea for a separate Gujarat was first proposed by K.M. Munshi in 1937.
  • Simultaneously, the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti advocated for a Marathi-speaking state.
• Reorganisation: Responding to these demands, the Indian Parliament passed the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960.
• Formation: On May 1, 1960, the Bombay State was officially divided into two new states:
  • Gujarat (for Gujarati speakers)
  • Maharashtra (for Marathi speakers)
• Territory: The new state of Gujarat included the regions of Saurashtra and Kutch.
• Capital: Ahmedabad served as the initial capital, which was later shifted to Gandhinagar in 1970.

Significance and Celebrations:

• Identity: The day celebrates Gujarat’s distinct linguistic and cultural identity.
• Progress: It’s an occasion to reflect on the state’s progress in various fields like trade, industry, and social development. Gujarat is often called the ‘Jewel of Western India‘.
• Contributions: It honours the efforts of all those who contributed to the formation and development of the state, including leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who were born in Gujarat.
• 2025 Celebrations:
  • The main state-level event was held in the Panchmahal district.
  • Development projects worth approximately ₹649.77 crore were launched.
  • The Gujarat Garima Award was presented to six individuals for their significant contributions.
  • Cultural programmes and flag-hoisting ceremonies are common across the state.

Economic Importance:

• Gujarat is a major economic hub in India.
• It contributes significantly to India’s GDP (8.2%), exports (over 30%), and GST revenues (8%), despite having only about 5% of the country’s population.

Maharashtra Day (Maharashtra Din) 2025

What’s the Occasion?

Maharashtra Day, also known as Maharashtra Din or Maharashtra Diwas, is celebrated every year on May 1st. This day marks the formation of the state of Maharashtra in 1960. It coincides with International Labour Day and Gujarat Foundation Day.

The Story Behind Maharashtra’s Formation:

• Post-Independence Context: After India gained independence, there was a growing demand to reorganise states based on linguistic lines (language).
• The Bilingual Bombay State: Initially, under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, a large bilingual state of Bombay was formed. This state included areas where people spoke Marathi, Konkani, Gujarati, and Kutchi. It comprised parts of the old Bombay Presidency, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka.
• The Samyukta Maharashtra Movement: Marathi-speaking people launched a strong movement demanding a separate state. This was known as the Samyukta Maharashtra movement (United Maharashtra Movement).
  • Key organisation: Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti led the campaign, organising protests, marches, and demonstrations.
  • Goal: To create a state where Marathi was the primary language, preserving its distinct linguistic identity and cultural independence.
• The Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960: Yielding to the demands of both the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and the Mahagujarat Andolan, the Indian Parliament passed this Act.
• State Formation: On May 1, 1960, the bilingual Bombay State was divided into two states:
  • Maharashtra: For Marathi and Konkani speakers, with Mumbai (then Bombay) as its capital.
  • Gujarat: For Gujarati and Kutchi speakers.

Significance and How It’s Celebrated:

• Commemoration: The day honours the successful struggle and sacrifices made by countless people during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement to achieve statehood.
• Cultural Pride: It’s a celebration of Maharashtra’s rich culture, language, history, and the unity of its people.
• Public Holiday: May 1st is a public holiday in Maharashtra, with most government offices, schools, and colleges remaining closed.
• Official Parade: The main official celebration includes a large parade held at Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai, which is attended by the Governor and other dignitaries. Flag hoisting ceremonies are held across the state.
• Cultural Events: Various cultural programmes showcasing Maharashtrian traditions, including folk art forms like Lavani and Tamasha, are organised.

ECI Introduces Key Reforms for Cleaner Voter Lists and Better Voter Services

What’s New?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has recently announced three significant initiatives aimed at improving the accuracy of electoral rolls (voter lists) and making the voting process more convenient for citizens. These steps follow discussions held during the Conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) in March 2025, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

The Three Major Reforms:

1. Electronic Integration of Death Registration Data:
   • How it works: The ECI will now receive data on registered deaths electronically directly from the Registrar General of India (RGI).
   • Purpose: This ensures that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) get timely information about voters who have passed away.
   • Action: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) can then conduct field verification promptly to confirm the information, without needing someone to formally apply for deletion using Form 7.
   • Goal: To quickly and efficiently remove the names of deceased persons from the voter lists, making the electoral rolls more accurate and reliable.
   • Legal Basis: This aligns with the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and the amended Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (amended in 2023).
2. Redesigned Voter Information Slips (VIS):
   • What’s changing: The format of the Voter Information Slip (VIS), which helps voters locate their polling booth details, is being modified.
   • Improvement: The voter’s serial number and part number on the electoral roll will be displayed more clearly and in a larger font size.
   • Benefit: This will make it easier for voters to find their details and polling station, and also help polling officials locate the voter’s name in the official list more efficiently on polling day.
3. Standardised Photo ID Cards for Booth Level Officers (BLOs):
   • Who are BLOs? BLOs are appointed under Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and act as the ECI’s primary contact point with voters at the local level.
   • New Measure: All BLOs across the country will now be issued standard photo identity cards.
   • Reason: This will help citizens easily recognise official BLOs during house-to-house visits for voter verification and registration drives.
   • Impact: It aims to increase voter confidence and facilitate smoother interaction between voters and the election machinery.

Overall Aim:

These reforms are part of the ECI’s continuous efforts to ensure the integrity of the electoral process by maintaining clean and accurate voter lists, leveraging technology, and enhancing the experience for voters.

Mahuadanr: A Model of Tribal Wisdom in Wolf Conservation

Indian Gray Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)

• Wild population estimated at fewer than 3,000 individuals, scattered mostly across central and western India.
• Plays a vital ecological role as a top predator, helping control herbivore numbers and maintain healthy grasslands.

Human–Wolf Conflict

• Negative perceptions arise from livestock predation and proximity to villages.
• Media narratives often sensationalise wolf attacks, ignoring underlying causes like shrinking prey or habitat loss.
• Wolves receive minimal policy attention compared to charismatic species (e.g., tigers, elephants).

Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary, Jharkhand

• India’s first dedicated wolf sanctuary, established in Latehar district.
• Landscape dominated by tribal communities (over 80% Sarna Dharma followers) who practice nature worship.

Cultural Buffer Zones

• Sarna Dharma believers avoid Sal forests (Shorea robusta) from November to February, coinciding with wolf breeding and denning season.
• This seasonal taboo creates undisturbed habitats, unintentionally safeguarding wolf dens.

Key Research Findings

• Wolves select den sites on steep slopes and in dense undergrowth, reducing detection risk.
• A significant preference for Sal-dominated areas confirms the effect of cultural avoidance on den site choice.
• Den sites are farther from human settlements with lower disturbance indices, highlighting effective human–wildlife coexistence.

US–Ukraine Reinvestment Fund: Strategic Minerals for Reconstruction

What is the Deal?

• Creation of the United States–Ukraine Reinvestment Fund to channel profits from new mineral permits into Ukraine’s rebuilding.
• 50% of royalties and profits from future rare-earth and critical-mineral licences will flow into this joint fund.

Key Resources Covered

• Titanium (aerospace alloys)
• Uranium (nuclear energy, medical isotopes)
• Lithium, Graphite, Manganese (battery technologies)
• Note: No transfer of existing gas infrastructure or control over current fields—only new permits.

Fund Structure & Governance

• Equal partnership: Ukraine and the US share decision-making and contributions.
• Ten-year horizon: Fund operates for a decade, with fresh US military aid counting toward the American side.
• Prior assistance before signing (February 2025) is not counted.

Why Now? Strategic Context

• Sustaining Aid: Guarantees continued US support amid concerns over long-term commitment.
• Geopolitical Signal: Underscores US resolve to back a sovereign, prosperous Ukraine and deter Russian advances.
• Resource Security: Secures US access to minerals vital for defence, technology, and green energy supply chains.

Negotiation Highlights

• February draft stalled after a heated Oval Office meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy.
• Ukraine secured amendments to protect its EU-accession path and ensure a balanced partnership.
• Final approval by Ukraine’s Cabinet; awaiting Parliament ratification before coming into effect.

Challenges & Considerations

• Parliamentary Approval: Implementation hinges on Ukraine’s legislature.
• Market Fluctuations: Mineral prices can affect fund revenues.
• Environmental & Social Safeguards: Need for transparent, sustainable mining practices to avoid community conflicts.

By aligning resource access with a reconstruction mandate, this landmark deal offers a replicable model of win-win economic partnership—one that sustains a war-torn nation while securing critical supplies for strategic industries

Follow us on Telegram @StudyOAS to stay updated with the best daily current affairs and boost your exam preparation.