EPTFor those not familiar with what has happened BBC has a good summary.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49234708
+ Show Spoiler [Extracted sections of the article] +
What's happened now?
In the first few days of August, there were signs of something afoot in Kashmir.
Tens of thousands of additional Indian troops were deployed, a major Hindu pilgrimage was cancelled, schools and colleges were shut, tourists were ordered to leave, telephone and internet services were suspended and regional political leaders were placed under house arrest.
But most of the speculation was that Article 35A of the Indian constitution, which gave some special privileges to the people of the state, would be scrapped.
The government then stunned everyone by saying it was revoking nearly all of Article 370, which 35A is part of and which has been the basis of Kashmir's complex relationship with India for some 70 years.
How significant is Article 370?
The article allowed the state a certain amount of autonomy - its own constitution, a separate flag and freedom to make laws. Foreign affairs, defence and communications remained the preserve of the central government.
As a result, Jammu and Kashmir could make its own rules relating to permanent residency, ownership of property and fundamental rights. It could also bar Indians from outside the state from purchasing property or settling there.
In the first few days of August, there were signs of something afoot in Kashmir.
Tens of thousands of additional Indian troops were deployed, a major Hindu pilgrimage was cancelled, schools and colleges were shut, tourists were ordered to leave, telephone and internet services were suspended and regional political leaders were placed under house arrest.
But most of the speculation was that Article 35A of the Indian constitution, which gave some special privileges to the people of the state, would be scrapped.
The government then stunned everyone by saying it was revoking nearly all of Article 370, which 35A is part of and which has been the basis of Kashmir's complex relationship with India for some 70 years.
How significant is Article 370?
The article allowed the state a certain amount of autonomy - its own constitution, a separate flag and freedom to make laws. Foreign affairs, defence and communications remained the preserve of the central government.
As a result, Jammu and Kashmir could make its own rules relating to permanent residency, ownership of property and fundamental rights. It could also bar Indians from outside the state from purchasing property or settling there.
The government is also moving to break up the state into two smaller, federally administered territories. One region will combine Muslim-majority Kashmir and Hindu-majority Jammu. The other is Buddhist-majority Ladakh, which is culturally and historically close to Tibet.
This follow up piece discusses the sentiment in the area. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49294301
It is important to note that the times tensions between India and Pakistan is at their most tense is usually when the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has been in majority rule positions. Since that is the current case there is a chance they will keep escalating the situation as well, making for an interesting situation to follow.
If somebody more knowledgable could give a better summary I would be thankful.
I personally find it noteworthy since it mirrors a lot of the trends we have seen from right wing hard-liners globally, from Russia, China to the USA (as a few examples). A centralisation of power and disregard for civil rights. Most of the time this seems successful though this case has the potential to spiral out of control since Pakistan is at the border and would like the region to be under their rule, thus likely helping any insurrection movements.
