3 Things

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

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, The Indian Express' Asad Rehman  talks about the Mahagathbandhan which is in disarray just days ahead of polling. With infighting on at least 12 seats and a delayed CM announcement, the alliance's cohesion is under serious question.Next, The Indian Express' Ritika Chopra discusses a new government scheme to attract Indian-origin faculty settled abroad amid a global talent race. (18:20)And finally, we report on an SIT investigation in Karnataka's Aland constituency that has uncovered a voter deletion scam ahead of the 2023 state elections. (27:55)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 explains why economists are concerned about skyrocketing gold prices and what gives gold its enduring value as a commodity.Next, The Indian Express' Ritu Sarin shares the findings of her investigation tracing the money trail of a digital fraud, raising questions about the role of banks in such transfers (14:25).And in the end, we highlight the latest promises made by Bihar's Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, ahead of the assembly elections (27:55).Hosted, written and produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, The Indian Express' Nikhila Henry discusses one of the most significant turning points in India's decades long fight against left wing extremism.Next, The Indian Express' Mihir Vasavda talks about India hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and what that means for its Olympic ambitions. (12:25)In the end, we also take a look at why Karnataka's caste survey is now facing resistance. (19:55)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

During the festive season, people across the country come together to celebrate, with food—sweet, savory, and deep-fried—often taking center stage. While these treats are fine in moderation, we often indulge more than we should. But how much is too much, and are there ways to make our celebrations healthier?To explore these questions, we speak to Dr Ritika Samaddar, Regional Head, Nutrition And Dietetics, Max Super Speciality Hospital (Delhi).(This episode originally aired on the 30th October, 2024).Hosted and produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

As part of our ongoing collaboration with Central Square Foundation, we are excited to bring to you the fourth episode of our five part series where we talk about the evolving landscape of AI in Education.The National Education Policy 2020 marks a bold shift in how we think about technology in learning. It envisions a future where students build not just digital literacy, but also computational thinking and AI fluency — and where teachers are empowered with the tools, training, and support to integrate AI into their curriculums meaningfully and responsibly. To understand how this is being implemented, we'll be joined by Gouri Gupta, Sr. Project Director of EdTech who leads CSF's work in EdTech and AI and Professor Balaraman Ravindran, Head, Wadhwani School of Data Science & AI (WSAI), IIT Madras who is one of India's top AI researchers and has helped shape India's AI policy framework and currently advises the Reserve Bank of India on the uses of AI in finance. Hosted and produced by Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarLinks to the previous episodes of our series with CSF:Episode 1Episode 2Episode 3

First, The Indian Express' Sophiya Mathew talks about the Supreme Court's partial lift on the years long ban on firecrackers while allowing green variants on a trial basis in one of the world's most polluted cities. Next, we are joined by The Indian Express' anonna Dutt to discuss the Nobel prize winning discovery that redefined our understanding of the immune system and how it protects our body without harming it. (17:44)Lastly, we take a look at US President Donald Trump's claim that India would no longer buy Russian oil, and how India has reacted to that claim. (26:31)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about China's recent announcement regarding cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 7 to 10 per cent by 2035 from its peak levels. He shares the significance of this announcement and what it means for the global fight against climate change.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Arun Sharma about a 100 crore rupees scandal that has been uncovered in Jammu and Kashmir regarding licenses that were given for gun possession. (16:04)Lastly, we talk about the suicide case of a Dalit IPS officer from Haryana, and why it has raised even more questions about the matter. (25:22)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda, Ichha Sharma and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarEpisodes with CSF:Episode 1Episode 2Episode 3

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Deeptiman Tiwary about the seat sharing arrangement within the National Democratic Alliance for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections. He shares the number of seats that each party has gotten and the significance that it holds.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about the Karnataka state cabinet approving the Karnataka Menstrual Leave Policy 2025, which allows one day of paid leave each month for women working in all government offices, as well as industries like IT and textiles. She shares why this decision matters and the concerns regarding it. (17:56)Lastly, we talk about Google announcing its biggest ever investment in India: A 15 billion dollar plan to build an artificial intelligence data centre in Andhra Pradesh over the next five years. (25:48)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day The Indian Express

First, The Indian Express' Udit Misra talks about the Indian economy and why many experts are surprised by the fact that it appears to be doing well.Next, we are joined by The Indian Express' Saman Hussian who explains how a man allegedly killed his entire immediate family for the payout from their insurance policies, and why this may not be an isolated incident. (15:54)Lastly, we discuss a rare moment of optimism in a 2 year conflict, Israel and Hamas begin a fragile truce under a deal brokered by US President Donald Trump. (26:49)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, we talk to The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's first official visit to India. He shares what this visit means and how significant this visit is for India's foreign policy. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Tanushree Bose about another case of sexual assault reported in West Bengal. A MBBS student from a private medical college in Paschim Bardhaman district has allegedly been sexually assaulted in a jungle near the campus. Tanushree shares the details of the case and the investigation. (16:56)Lastly, we talk about a case of caste based humiliation that has happened in Madhya Pradesh due to an AI generated image and a social media video. (28:12)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Sweety Kumari about the devastation that has happened in West Bengal due to heavy rains. Sweety shares details of how the situation unfolded, the impact the rains have had and the rescue operations. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Sujit Bisoyi about the communal unrest in Odisha's Cuttack where violence broke out while a procession was happening for the immersion of Goddess Durga's idols to mark the end of Durga Puja. (10:46)Lastly, we talk about the promise made by RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav as the Bihar elections approach. (20:04)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda, Ichha Sharma and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In this bonus episode, we speak to Shyamal Majumdar, editor at Financial Express about the unfolding turmoil within one of India's most trusted business groups, the Tata Group, and what this internal rift means for corporate governance and investor confidence. At the centre of this crisis is a split within the Tata Trusts, which controls a majority stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of the group.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' National Legal Editor Apurva Viswanath talks about the attack that disrupted proceedings before Chief Justice BR Gavai over his remarks on Khajuraho temple complex.Next, Girish Kuber, the editor of the Marathi daily Loksatta talks about Maharashtra's Marathwada region, where record breaking rainfall has turned one of India's most drought prone areas into a flood zone. (10:00)In the end, we also take a quick look at the developments in Kerala, where the ED has raided the homes and offices of Malayalam film stars as part of a probe into alleged luxury car smuggling violations. (21:12)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar