3 Things

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Alok Singh about the investigation into the Delhi Red Fort blast. He shares the recent developments in the case, gives updates about the accused, and shares why the investigation agencies are feeling that its a broader conspiracy. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Vineet Bhalla about the rules and regulations in India regarding cannabis. He shares how bhang, even though it comes within the ambit of cannabis, is an exception. He also talks about NDPS Act and the consequences one may face if found cultivating or in possession of cannabis. (14:19)Lastly, we talk about Jammu and Kashmir's State Investigation Agency conducting a raid on the office of Kashmir Times, one the region's oldest English newspaper houses. (23:56)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda, Ichha Sharma, and Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar 

The headlines of the day by The indian Express

First, The Indian Express' National Legal Editor Apurva Vishwanath talks about Uttar Pradesh government's decision to withdraw a case against those accused in the 2015 Dadri lyncing incident.Next, we speak to the Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy who discusses the death sentence handed to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and the diplomatic dilemma it poses for India. (10:40)In the end, we take a look at the deportation and arrest of Gangster Anmol Bishnoi, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique. (24:40)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and produced by Vijay Doipodhe

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Soumyarendra Barik about artificial intelligence and the concerns that it is raising regarding government officials using it for getting information for formulating policies, writing speeches, and other similar tasks.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Jayprakash S. Naidu about one of the most feared maoist battlefield commanders Madvi Hidma being killed in an encounter in Bastar. He shares the impact he had on the maoist movement and the significance of his death. (14:49)Lastly, we talk about Prashant Kishor publicly admitting defeat and taking responsibility for his party losing in the Bihar election. (25:17)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Vijay Doiphode

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, The Indian Express' Sweety Kumari talks about a large organized cybercrime network that the West Bengal police says it has uncovered.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Kanchan Vasdev about the growing rift between the AAP led Punjab government and the Centre over flood relief funds. (09:10)Lastly, we take a look at India's first ever LPG import deal with the United States, a move that could reform the country's energy strategy. (21:08)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Vijay Doiphode

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to veteran journalist and The Indian Express' contributing editor Neerja Chowdhury about the results of the Bihar elections and what is in store for Nitish Kumar and the NDA now that they have defeated the Mahagathbandhan in the assembly elections.  Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about the current status of TB cases in India according to the Global TB report 2025. She talks about India's target to eliminate TB entirely from the country and how close we are to that target and the challenges that India faces in achieving that goal. (17:12)Lastly, we talk about an explosion that happened in Nowgam police station on the outskirts of Srinagar that killed 9 people and left 29 injured. (27:09)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Vijay Doiphode

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Rinku Ghosh who talks about how air pollution affects two of the most vulnerable groups: newborn babies and pregnant women.Next, The Indian Express' Parul Kulshresthe discusses Rajasthan's move to roll back its decades-old two child rule for local elections, and why women rights groups in the state are critical of the move. (14:45)Lastly, we take a look at Punjab where the police have busted a Pakistan backed grenade attack module operating out of Ludhiana. (23:22)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, The Indian Express' Deeptiman Tiwary talks about how Bihar's liquor ban has affected the state and why reactions to it are sharply divided along gender lines.Next, The Indian Express' Raakhi Jagga explains why stakeholders in Punjab are protesting the draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and why the state government has stayed silent on the issue (11:06).And finally, we bring you updates on the Delhi Red Fort blast case and hear from The Indian Express' Naveed Iqbal about the ongoing crackdown in Jammu and Kashmir (20:16).Hosted by Shashank BhargavaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

We begin with discussing the blast near Delhi's Red Fort that claimed at least 13 lives joined by The Indian Express' Alok Singh who also explains what investigators believe may be its link to a terror module busted in Faridabad.Next, The Indian Express Mohomed Thaver talks about a nationwide ticketing scam that has exposed how illegal software networks are gaming the railway booking system. (10:55)In the end, we also take a look at the Supreme Court's latest verdict in the 2006 Nithari case acquitting Surendra Koli of all charges in the case. (21:10)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, The Indian Express' Udit Misra joins us to discuss the state of Bihar's economy and how it compares with other states in the country.Next, The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha explains why COP30 has set a rather modest goal for itself, and what that means for global climate action (14:10).And in the end, The Indian Express' Pritish Raj talks about the government's plan to dismantle the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi to make way for a sports city (24:02).Hosted by Shashank BhargavaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

Every year, thousands of ambitious students across India prepare for one of the most challenging MBA entrance exams in the country: the Xavier Aptitude Test. And at the heart of this exam is one of India's most respected Business schools-XLRI – Xavier School of Management.In our first episode in association with XLRI, we talk about XAT and how it evaluates future leaders. In this conversation, we will be joined by Professor Rahul K. Shukla, Convenor, XAT & Admissions - XLRI Jamshedpur, who has spent years guiding students through not just the exam, but also the journey that follows.Hosted by Roshun PovaiahEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarProduced by Niharika Nanda

First, we talk about Maharashtra, where The Indian Express' Alok Deshpande discusses the controversy over a 40 acre land parcel has triggered political tremors that have reached the doorstep of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.Next, The Indian Express' Kanchan Vasdev talks about why a government bungalow in Chandigarh has become the latest flashpoint between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party. (13:30)In the end, we also discuss the political row brewing in West Bengal, where the BJP and Trinamool Congress are clashing over the legacies of Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. (22:40)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Asad Rehman about Rahul Gandhi's latest allegations of large scale voter manipulation in Haryana's 2024 Assembly elections and why he's calling it the biggest case yet of what he describes as vote chori.Next, The Indian Express' Jayprakash Naidu talks about a train crash in Chhattisgarh that killed 11 people and what the initial inquiry has revealed about what went wrong. (16:40)In the end, we talk about why the ED has attached assets belonging to cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikar Dhawan in a money laundering probe linked to a betting platform. (21:38)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

As Bihar enters the first phase of polling, we take stock of the state's political landscape with The Indian Express' National Opinion Editor, and discuss the entry of Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj, the baggage weighing down Tejashwi Yadav, and why, even after 20 years in power, many voters still have their hopes pinned on Nitish Kumar.Hosted and produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Manraj Grewal Sharma about a major drop in Indian visa acceptances in Canada. She shares why Canada has rejected 74% of the student visa applications from India, the impact it's having on Indian students and Canadian universities.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about the recent developments in US-China relations, what they signify and how they might impact India and the rest of the world. (11:33)Lastly, we talk about a collision between a passenger train and a goods train in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur that killed eight people. (20:10)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, The Indian Express' Mihir Vasavda and Vinayakk Mohanarangan talk about the night Indian cricket had waited decades for, when Harmanpreet Kaur and her team made history, lifting the World Cup and giving Indian women's cricket its 1983 moment.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about ISRO's launch of its heaviest communication satellite yet, a breakthrough that marks a new phase of India's space independence. (14:20)Lastly, we discuss India's first ever National Household Income Survey, a massive new data exercise that could finally tell us what Indians actually earn. (20:55)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Aishwarya Raj about the situation of Uttarakhand's healthcare infrastructure. She shares that as the state gears for celebrating the 25th year of its formation, the status of the healthcare services and infrastructure still raises concerns.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Udit Misra about the value of rupee against US dollars, how the fall of the rupee impacts the general public and why they should be concerned. (11:18)Lastly, we talk about Tamil Nadu's CM MK Stalin convening a meeting of 44 parties that landed on a consensus to challenge the Election Commission's  Special Intensive Revision in the Supreme Court. (16:54)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

As part of our ongoing collaboration with Central Square Foundation, we are excited to bring to you the fifth and final episode of our series where we talk about the learnings and best practices from the NIPUN Bharat Mission and its future in the country.It has been over four years since the NIPUN Bharat Mission launched and ushered in significant strides in learning outcomes among children from pre-primary to Grade 3. This is the age when children develop the crucial skills of reading, and performing basic math, which are vital for sustaining lifelong learning and shaping their future development.To understand what steps would be required in the coming years to ensure that all children achieve NIPUN competencies in Literacy and Numeracy, along with strategies for scaling the learning level outcomes, we'll be joined by Shaveta Sharma-Kukreja, CEO & Managing Director, Central Square Foundation who leads the foundation's work in Foundational Literacy &  Numeracy, Early Childhood Education, EdTech & School governance.Hosted and produced by Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarLinks to the previous episodes of our series with CSF:Episode 1Episode 2Episode 3Episode 4

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Shubham Tigga about a case that has emerged in Jharkhand, where five children suffering from Thalassemia went for their regular blood transfusion and came back HIV positive. He talks about the state government's reaction, the hospital's response and the investigation that is happening. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Pavneet Singh Chadha about the concerns around tourism in Goa. Since a social media controversy broke out last year about Goa's tourism infrastructure, the tourism stakeholders of the state have been concerned about the footfall during its peak tourist season. (13:40)Lastly, we talk about Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in South Korea. (26:35)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda, Ichha Sharma, and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, The Indian Express' Deeptiman Tiwary talks about Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party and how the political-analyst-turned-politician is trying to distinguish himself from others ahead of the upcoming Bihar polls.Next, The Indian Express' Anjali Marar explains the cloud-seeding method that the Delhi government hopes will help reduce pollution, and why experts believe it's a flawed technique (18:54).And finally, we bring you an update on the case involving two Australian cricketers who were sexually harassed in Indore last week (29:44).Hosted by Shashank BhargavaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarAdditional Links:1) CSF |  Green Shoots of Progress for Uttar Pradesh2) CSF | Academic and Governance Inputs for NIPUN Bharat Mission3) CSF |  The need for better Public Disclosure in schools4) CSF | The evolving space for AI in Education

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Chief of National Bureau Ritika Chopra about the Election Commission's new nationwide voter roll revision, what it aims to fix, and how it differs from the controversial Bihar exerciseNext, The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy talks about the US and the EU's latest sanctions on Russia and what they could mean for India's oil imports and energy strategy. (16:55) Lastly, we also talk about why Bihar's Prashant Kishor has received an EC notice just a day after The Indian Express revealed that he's registered as a voter in two states. (27:25)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Vineet Bhalla about the BCCI approaching the Supreme Court and a case that has the potential to criminalise match-fixing, a problem that has plagued cricket in India for many many years. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Amrita Nayak Dutta, who shares how during Operation Sindoor, many Pakistani drones entered the Indian airspace, and raised concerns about India's security systems. The Indian military is now making efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities by procuring high quality air defence radars. (12:48)Lastly, we talk about the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announcing the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision that will be held nationwide.  (23:23)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt explains about the food regulator banning all beverages falsely claiming to contain the ORS solution.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Nikhila Henry who discusses the Kurnool bus accident that claimed 20 lives and what a new forensic report has now revealed about how it happened. (12:48)In the end, we talk about Patna's Gandhi Maidan which has now been shut down ahead of elections. (19:40)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar