3 Things

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about the the 26th SCO Summit which was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan this year and was attended by leaders of all ten SCO member states, including India, China, Russia and Pakistan. He talks about India's presence at the summit and the issues PM Modi raised.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Kiran Parashar about a new law in Bengaluru that could allow parts of the city's protected park land to be used for public utilities. He talks about the amendment and the opposition the amended law is facing from the residents of the city. (11:28)Lastly, we talk about retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, being appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. (24:37)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express.

First, we speak to The Indian Express' National Legal Affairs Editor Apurva Vishwanath about the unusual complaint against Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice S P Sharma, the allegations of administrative misconduct, and what the controversy reveals about the informal functioning of the collegium system.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Ankita Deshkar about the 13-day protest by tribal students in Maharashtra, the hostel rules that prompted the agitation—including an age cap and allegations involving pregnancy tests—and the demands that remain unresolved. (16:40)And in the end, we look at the alleged gangrape of a 17-year-old girl aboard a Delhi sleeper bus, how the vehicle continued operating despite 11 traffic challans and apparent safety violations, and whether post-Nirbhaya requirements concerning CCTV cameras, panic buttons and GPS tracking are being enforced. (29:40)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 speak with The Indian Express' Asad Rehman who talks about a political controversy following a shuddhikaran hawan that happened at Haldwani's Ramlila Maidan two days after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally at the same venue. He discusses how Rahul Gandhi has called it an act of untouchability and the made a demand for registering an FIR.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Divya Goyal about the condition of English language education in Punjab's government schools caused by a shortage of qualified English teachers and the repercussions this shortage is having.Lastly, we talk about football legend Lionel Messi announcing his retirement from international football with the Argentina National Team.Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Drishti Jain about the police crackdown on factory workers protesting for higher wages in Noida, why many spent weeks in jail despite courts finding insufficient evidence against them, and the lasting impact on their families.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Parul Kulshrestha about a government school near Jaipur where children were studying alongside farm animals despite having a school building, and how public attention prompted the authorities to allocate funds for repairs. (14:45)And in the end, we look at the Samyukta Kisan Morcha's week-long Chandigarh–Mohali mobilisation, the routes and preparations planned for participating farmers, and their demands concerning river waters, MSP, debt relief and agricultural policy. (23:25)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy and Nikhil Ghanekar about flash floods in Nepal. Nikhil discusses the possible reasons behind the floods and why they are so catastrophic and Shubhajit details India's efforts to help Nepal manage the situation. Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Aditi Raja about the Gujarat Public Service Commission's Sales Tax Inspector examination and how one question in the exam turned into a larger debate over answer keys and how public service commissions frame questions. (10:24)Lastly, we discuss why Russia, one of the world's biggest crude producers and refiners, has been forced to import gasoline from abroad, including from India. (21:12)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Purnima Sah about Maharashtra's new anti-conversion law, why Christian congregations are asking worshippers to sign self-declaration forms, and the concerns surrounding disruptions and monitoring of prayer meetings.ext, we speak to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about Intismeran, a personalised cancer vaccine that has shown promising results against skin cancer, how it works alongside immunotherapy, and whether similar treatments could eventually become accessible in India. (12:50)And in the end, we look at Cricket Australia's decision to allow former Mumbai Under-19 cricketer Anaya Bangar to play women's community cricket following her gender transition, and the different eligibility rules governing transgender participation at the community and elite levels. (23:35)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Brendan Dabhi about the latest Chandipura virus outbreak in Gujarat, where 25 children have died and 39 have been confirmed infected. But the biggest question that medical professionals and researchers can't answer is where the virus is coming from.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Sujit Bisoyi about a cargo ship that sank off the coast of Odisha, leaving 22 seafarers missing. He talks about the ship, the search and rescue operations, the two crew members who have been rescued and the investigation. (12:23)Lastly, we discuss the Delhi Police's decision to expand its information-gathering efforts and collect more specific intelligence ahead of every planned protest, as a takeaway from the CJP protests. (19:21)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Shubham Tigga about why Jharkhand's 26-day protest over alleged recruitment-exam irregularities ended, how a High Court stay complicated the government's response, and what the cancellation and suspension of dozens of recruitment processes mean for candidates.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about US Ambassador Sergio Gor's visit to Jammu and Kashmir, what his remarks signal about Washington's position on the region, and their significance for India-US ties. (14:05) And in the end, we examine an unverified audio clip in which fugitive gangster Goldy Brar purportedly claims involvement in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a case that triggered a major diplomatic crisis between India and Canada. (23:50) Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

Earlier this month, Maharashtra allowed practitioners of homeopathy who have completed a specific bridge course to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council — a body traditionally meant for doctors practising modern medicine.The move has sparked protests from doctors, including strikes by the Indian Medical Association that disrupted outpatient services and elective surgeries.Why has Maharashtra introduced this change? Why are doctors so concerned about it? And what does scientific evidence actually tell us about homeopathy?In this episode, we speak to The Indian Express' health reporter Anonna Dutt, who has been closely following the developments, to understand the controversy and what it could mean for healthcare in Maharashtra.You can watch the video edition of the show here.Produced, writen, and hosted by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Dheeraj Mishra about an audit of Indian non suburban railway stations conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General. He shares the issues and lapses highlighted during the audit, the concerns they raise and the steps the government is taking. Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Pratip Acharya about the Dharavi redevelopment project and the requirement to clear the Deonar landfill for it. He discusses the challenges the project faces, the delay in clearing the landfill, the prescribed timeline and the current status of the project. (11:10)Lastly, we discuss the Supreme Court reconsidering the University Grants Commission regulations aimed at preventing caste discrimination in higher education institutions and why it has put the government in a politically difficult position. (19:30)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Man Aman Singh Chhina about three Bills passed by the Punjab government to establish private digital open universities, why the state says they could transform education, and the concerns raised over their compliance with UGC regulations.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Ritu Sharma about how a food safety complaint at an Ahmedabad school developed into a wider controversy over books by Malala Yousafzai and Anne Frank, and what happened to the original investigation. (07:55)And in the end, we look at the United States' possible review of its travel advisory for Kashmir, what US Ambassador Sergio Gor said about the region's security and tourism potential, and the significance of his meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. (18:00)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express.

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Deeptiman Tiwary about  the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment or the FCRA bill which is facing objections from the opposition and Church groups. He discusses how the bill has been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, what this means and the political significance of the same.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about NASA inviting ISRO to join its Moon Base Programme. Amitabh talks about the programme, its significance for India and why NASA requires international partners for the making it happen. (15:28)Lastly, we talk about Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announcing the decision to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination and all exams conducted by the testing agency TSR Data Processing Private Limited. (23:15)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Pratip Acharya about the deadly landslide in Mumbai's Kurla, why repeated warnings about the vulnerable hillside went unaddressed, and what the tragedy reveals about the city's failure to mitigate known landslide risks.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Sujit Bisoyi about the steady erosion of Odisha's coastline, the districts most severely affected, and what the shrinking shoreline means for coastal communities and their livelihoods. (12:20)And in the end, we look at the BJP's major organisational reshuffle, including Smriti Irani's return to the central leadership, Amit Malviya's removal as social media convener, and the party's attempt to give greater prominence to women and younger leaders. (20:15)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

Today on the show, we take a break from our usual programming to bring you a complete guide on what your health checkup should include—regardless of your age, sex, or lifestyle.The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt breaks down which tests are an absolute must, which ones are unnecessary, how often you should get them done, and whether a good result on paper means you can skip a visit to the doctor.This episode was originally recorded in May last year, but the conversation remains just as relevant.Hosted, produced and written by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about a bill being brought by the government to replace the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,1940. She talks about the bill, why it requires an overhaul and why the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry is opposing the new bill. Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Ishika Gupta about Maharashtra's new bike and taxi rules and how they will impact food delivery and quick commerce platforms which initially operated largely under central consumer and social security laws. (11:19)Lastly, we talk about Tata Trusts starting the process of finding a successor to N Chandrasekaran, who will step down as chairman of Tata Sons when his current term ends in 2027. (18:50)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Atri Mitra about the police cases and serious allegations surrounding Sebaashray, the healthcare initiative closely associated with Abhishek Banerjee's Diamond Harbour Model, and why he has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Sabah Virani about plans for Third Mumbai, a new urban centre spanning 124 villages, the protests surrounding land acquisition, and whether the project can improve connectivity and ease pressure on Mumbai. (08:05)And in the end, we look at Karnataka's year-long ban on the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of gutka, pan masala and other products containing tobacco or nicotine, and how the measure will be enforced across the state. (17:05)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Siddharth Upasani about the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 which proposes that banks and payment system providers should be allowed to charge merchants a fee for certain UPI and RuPay debit card transactions.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Pragynesh about a crime network that used fake documents and bank deals to target people looking to buy premium properties in Delhi. This case involves a man who scammed one of the biggest real estate companies in the capital using a Rs 200 crore property in the heart of the city. (15:30)Lastly, we give you an update on the August 4 incident involving an Air India flight that suddenly lost about 300 feet in altitude and injured 17 people. (25:06)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headline sof the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' National Legal Editor Apurva Vishwanath about the Bombay High Court's conviction of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in a 2013 rape case, why it overturned his earlier acquittal, and its observation that the notion of a “perfect victim” is a myth.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Purnima Sah about the series of protests affecting Maharashtra's healthcare system, including attacks on medical workers, staffing shortages and opposition to allowing certain homeopathy practitioners to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council after completing a bridge course. (18:20)And in the end, we look at the indefinite postponement of voting for seven seats in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir amid violent protests, allegations of electoral manipulation, a sweeping security crackdown and mounting international concern. (30:25)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 speak with The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about an Indian Express investigation into the Research Development and Innovation Fund. This is a new fund introduced by the government to provide financial support to companies and startups working on cutting edge research in critical technology areas such as AI, semiconductors, quantum technology, robotics, healthcare and defence.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about Sheikh Hasina's first virtual media interaction in Delhi. He discusses the statements she made, Bangladesh's reaction to them and how this event could impact India-Bangladesh relations. (12:27)Lastly, we talk about the caste census to be conducted alongside the population enumeration phase of the Census and how caste related data will be collected. (27:30)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about NOTTO's new real-time portal and mobile application for organ transplants, how it will create a nationwide waiting list and match donors with recipients, and the challenges it may face.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Santosh Singh about Prashant Kishor's victory in the Bankipur bypoll, how he breached one of the BJP's safest urban strongholds, and what the result could mean for Bihar's politics. (14:55)And in the end, we examine how the expansion of India's rape law in 2013 became central to the prosecution and conviction of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal, who has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. (21:40)Hosted by Ichha Sharma Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Raakhi Jagga who talks about the protests happening in Punjab, where people from different groups like employee unions, contractual workers, and unemployed youth are demanding better wages, regular recruitment, and the fulfilment of promises made by the government.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Vineet Bhalla about a Supreme Court mandate from 2020 according which CCTV cameras were to be installed in police stations to monitor and curb custodial torture and deaths. He discusses the requirement for these CCTVs and the implementation of the mandate. (16:50)Lastly, we talk about former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who made her first public media appearance in two years from New Delhi, stating she would return to Bangladesh despite the fear of arrest. (26:55)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express