3 Things

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

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Shubhangi Khapre about the RSS's intensified outreach to Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and why Mohan Bhagwat's interaction with nearly 2,000 teenagers is being viewed as a response to the organisation's growing disconnect with young people.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Pratip Acharya about why Mumbai pumped more than 4,000 crore litres of rainwater into the Arabian Sea during a spell of extreme rainfall, and whether the city could store or reuse such water in the future. (11:55)And in the end, we look at an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi that abruptly lost around 300 feet after encountering turbulence, injuring 13 passengers and four crew members and prompting an investigation by the DGCA. (22:15)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

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Mihir Vasavda about the recent change in the jersey colour for the Indian men's and women's Hockey teams. He discusses the new colour, what Hockey India and the teams said about it, and the negative response it is receiving. Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about a new drug that can potentially help fight cervical cancer. The medication, SHetA2, is still in the early stages of development. She shares details about it, how it will work ,and when it will be available for purchase. (11:05)Lastly, we discuss Prashant Kishor's victory in Bihar's Bankipur bypoll which ended the BJP's three-decade-long hold over the constituency. (19:24)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' Amitabh Sinha about why India wants to renegotiate the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, what has changed since the agreement was placed in abeyance, and whether the two countries can continue sharing river waters without a formal arrangement.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Harish Damodaran about why farmers in Rajasthan are challenging the GI tags granted to Unjha Jeera and Unjha Fennel, and what the dispute reveals about how geographical indications are awarded and whom they benefit. (17:50)And in the end, we look at a proposed railway expansion through the Satpura–Melghat tiger landscape, which has received in-principle wildlife clearance despite concerns over its impact on crucial animal corridors and questions surrounding the project's proposed wildlife crossings. (27:55)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' Vikas Pathak about the new anti-cheating bill that was passed in the Lok Sabha this week. He shares the provisions of the bill, the concerns and questions that were raised by the opposition and the response given by the centre. Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Pragyanesh about the official records regarding the use of an anti-riot gun in the CJP protests. He shares what the records say, what an anti-riot gun is, how it works and the people who have been impacted by it. (8:37)Lastly, we discuss the Delhi government approving the withdrawal of the FIRs registered against the protesters but with a condition. (20:19)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' Vineet Bhalla about a PIL before the Delhi High Court challenging the use of facial recognition technology and AI-powered surveillance at the Cockroach Janata Party protests in Delhi, and the larger constitutional questions it raises about privacy, free speech and the right to protest.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Shubham Tigga about the latest Jharkhand Public Service Commission controversy, why the 14th Combined Civil Services Examination is under investigation, and why recruitment exams in the state have repeatedly been mired in allegations of irregularities over the past two decades. (09:15)And in the end, we look at why Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary returned a ₹99 lakh horticulture subsidy he received under a scheme administered by his own ministry, and how the episode has renewed questions about conflict-of-interest safeguards in government schemes. (24:25)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' Sohini Ghosh about a ruling given by the Delhi High Court regarding copyrights and AI in India. The case was filed by news agency ANI which accused OpenAI of using its copyrighted material to train ChatGPT. She talks about the ruling, what it means for creators and what can be expected going forward.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about India becoming the third country in the world, to successfully place satellites into orbit using a rocket developed by a private company. She talks about Mission Aagman and Vikram-1, India's first privately developed launch vehicle. (15:43)Lastly, we talk about the Cockroach Janta Party questioning the government regarding the cases filed against the protesters in Delhi and other BJP-ruled states. (27:40)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' Sukrita Baruah about the devastating floods in Assam that have claimed dozens of lives, displaced lakhs of people, and triggered one of the state's largest rescue operations in recent years. She explains what has made this year's floods particularly severe, the scale of the destruction, and the challenges that still lie ahead.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Mohamed Thaver about a sophisticated "boss scam" in Mumbai, where a senior company executive transferred more than Rs 10 crore after receiving WhatsApp messages that appeared to come from his employer. We discuss how the fraud unfolded, why companies remain vulnerable, and what businesses can do to prevent similar cyberattacks. (11:05)And in the end, we look at former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's first appearance in Parliament after his resignation, where he received a rousing welcome from BJP MPs even as the Opposition protested and repeatedly disrupted Lok Sabha proceedings. (23:45)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' Jatin Anand about Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. He discusses the events of the past week and how they culminated in the government accepting the demands of the students and the Cockroach Janta Party, who had been protesting for over a month.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Heena Khandelwal about how the arrival of a bureaucrat in Mumbai led to a major crackdown on Maharashtra's food industry. She explains how, in less than two months, the state's Food and Drug Administration carried out multiple inspections across the state and seized food stocks worth nearly Rs 50 crore. (14:26)Lastly, we talk about the floods caused by heavy rainfall in Gujarat, which have claimed nearly 40 lives and left many others injured or missing. (25:25)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Ichha Sharma, Niharika Nanda, and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Udit Misra about why education's share of the Union Budget has steadily declined over the past decade, what that reveals about the government's priorities, and how underinvestment may be shaping everything from exam leaks to faculty shortages amid the ongoing student protests.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Maulshree Seth about the demolition order issued against Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, why thousands of students have launched an indefinite protest, and what the move could mean for the future of higher education in the region. (16:10)And in the end, we look at why Uttarakhand Technical University cancelled two examinations after an external paper setter allegedly leaked questions to students, reigniting concerns over exam integrity in the state. (25:45)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

Early childhood development lays the foundation for a child's future, with the first five years playing a crucial role in shaping brain development, emotional well-being, language skills, and overall health. Experiences during this period have a lasting impact on a child's ability to learn, adapt, and thrive.Realising these benefits, however, depends on consistent and adequate financing. Investments in early childhood programmes help children develop to their full potential while enabling women to participate in the workforce.As part of our ongoing collaboration with Mobile Creches, we bring to you the fifth and final episode of the series, where we talk about prioritising funding Early Childhood Development.To have this conversation, we are joined by Shekufeh Zonji, who is the Global Technical Lead at Early Childhood Development Action Network. She has worked extensively for Early childhood development and rural development and has a background in Comparative and International Education.Hosted and Produced by Niharika NandaEdited and Mixed by Suresh Pawar Links to episode in association with Mobile Creches:Episode 1Episode 2Episode 3Episode 4

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Vikas Pathak and Vineet Bhalla about Union Home Minister Amit Shah's plan to introduce an amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Parliament, which might change the legal status of Vande Mataram.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Arun Sharma about allegations of adulteration and possible misappropriation of silver donations made by the devotees at the Vaishno Devi Temple, after a similar controversy broke out over donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. (13:09)Lastly, we talk about what the government officials have to say about the demand for resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan with regards to the NEET paper leak. (22:05)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar Links for our episodes with Mobile Creches:Episode 1Episode 2Episode 3Episode 4

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Alok Singh about how the Cockroach Janta Party's protest over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak escalated into violent clashes in Delhi, why police were caught off guard, and how the confrontation has now widened into a larger political battle.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about this year's World AI Conference in Shanghai, where China used the global gathering to push its vision for artificial intelligence governance and position itself as a leader in shaping international AI rules. (14:25)And in the end, we look at Santhal filmmaker Ravi Raj Murmu's historic National Award win for Angen, the first Santhali-language film to receive the Best Debut Film of a Director honour, and what it means for the representation of Adivasi stories in Indian cinema. (25:23)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

With the government's unprecedented decision to take down the film Satluj from an OTT platform, we answer three questions: What law was used to do it? What does this mean for other films and online content? And what story is the film trying to tell?Guests: The Indian Express' Apurva Vishwanath, Manraj Grewal Sharma, and Shubhra Gupta.Hosted, produced and written by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Pragynesh about the removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi High Court order cited by the police, and how the protest has evolved ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Shubham Tigga about the death of a 75-year-old tuberculosis patient in Jharkhand, whose family spent months trying to access his own ₹8,000 pension savings because of an unresolved e-KYC issue. (18:45)And in the end, we look at the Monsoon Session of Parliament, where the Opposition plans to raise issues ranging from the NEET paper leak and Sonam Wangchuk's protest to the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation controversy, even as shifting political equations reshape the balance inside Parliament. (29:30)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Alok Deshpande about an announcement made by Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP). Working party president and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule said that the party would support the Centre's proposed delimitation Bill, but with one condition, that it must provide for a 50% increase in Lok Sabha seats across all states. Alok talks about the condition, what it means for the party and more. Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Dheeraj Mishra about India's first hydrogen train that will be inaugurated by PM Modi, today. He discusses what it means for the Indian Railways, why it is a milestone, how it is environment friendly, and how a hydrogen train works. (9:54)Lastly, we talk about mission Aagman, India's first-ever attempt to use a privately developed launch vehicle to place a payload into orbit. (20:14)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Ichha Sharma and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The healdines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Purnima Sah about Maharashtra FDA's warning over skin-lightening creams found to contain dangerously high levels of mercury and lead, why these toxic ingredients continue to be used, and what consumers should watch out for.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about Icodec, the world's first once-a-week insulin shot, recently launched in India, and what it could mean for diabetes treatment by reducing the burden of daily injections for many patients. (13:35)And in the end, we look at a video from Melbourne that has drawn attention to tensions within the Indian diaspora after a purported confrontation between pro-Khalistan protesters and a BJP supporter during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Australia. (24:35)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar