3 Things

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Arun Janardhanan about how the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly Election is shaping up differently this time, with a fragmented, multi-cornered contest replacing the traditional DMK vs AIADMK binary. Next, we turn to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, where Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary between the US and Iran. The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy explains how this mediation role evolved, what it signals for regional diplomacy, and how it affects India's strategic interests. (16:15)And in the end, we look at a rare conservation breakthrough, as a Great Indian Bustard chick is born in Gujarat for the first time in a decade, offering hope for the revival of one of India's most endangered species. (26:35)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

India is growing at a breathtaking speed. Expressways stretch across states, start-ups become unicorns overnight, and the ambition of Viksit Bharat fuels policy, business, and public imagination alike. However, this fast-paced development must be carefully aligned with sustainability to ensure long-term, inclusive progress.The Indian Express brings to you our second episode in association with XLRI, Xavier School of Management, where we discuss how India can develop while keeping sustainability in mind.In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Tata L. Raghu Ram, professor at XLRI Jamshedpur, and a Member, Jharkhand State Board for Wildlife and Dr. Kalyan Bhaskar, Associate Professor at XLRI Jamshedpur, who has been part of several government committees on circular economy and e-waste management. Both our guests have insights to share on progress that remains inclusive and sustainable.Hosted by Roshun PovaiahProduced by Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarTap here to listen our first episode with XLRI

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Ravik Bhattacharya about the upcoming West Bengal elections. He talks about the campaigns being carried out by the TMC and the opposition, the hurdles that the parties can face, the situation following the Special Intensive Revision and more.  Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Vikas Pathak about the Women's Reservation Act 2023 and how the government is trying to implement it. The BJP-led NDA government recently suggested a plan to make sure that the act is executed and the required reservation is done, Vikas talks about the plan and the hurdles in the way. (8:56)Lastly, we talk about a case in the US where a jury has found Meta Platforms and YouTube liable for designing addictive social media products that harmed a young user's mental health. (19:14)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Nikhila Henry about a proposed amendment to India's transgender persons law that has triggered protests across the country. Next, we turn to Gujarat, where bootleggers are using stretches of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to smuggle liquor into the state. The Indian Express' Aditi Raja explains how these networks operate, the methods used to evade detection, and how enforcement agencies are responding. (12:30)And in the end, we look at how the Centre is preparing for the fallout of the West Asia conflict, with the Cabinet Secretariat of India setting up seven empowered groups to monitor risks across sectors including energy, supply chains, and logistics. (25:45)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' Zeeshan Shaikh and Drisht Jain about the LPG crisis that has been caused due to the ongoing war in West Asia. They share the situation on ground, how the shortage is impacting eateries and the lower-icome households and the measures that have been taken by the state and the central government. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Kanchan Vasdev about Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's demand of Rs 1.44 lakh crore from Rajasthan on the pretext that the state has been taking water from river Sutlej since 1960. She talks about the pre-independence agreement that supported this argument and how things have changed over the years. (15:38)Lastly, we talk about the government considering cutting online content blocking timeline to one hour. (23:34)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Shubhajit Roy about the escalating conflict involving United States, Iran, and Israel, and why it is now being seen as a widening regional war. Next, we turn to the growing debate over India's GDP numbers after a new data series released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation raised fresh concerns about how economic growth is being measured. The Indian Express' Udit Misra explains why discrepancies persist and what this means for policymaking and credibility. (15:25)And in the end, we look at the government's latest effort to operationalise the Women's Reservation Act, including a proposal to expand the Lok Sabha to 816 seats to enable one-third reservation for women. (26:30)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' Sukrita Baruah about veteran Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi joining the BJP and being fielded as a candidate from the party in the Assam polls. She talks about him and his stint in the party and the significance of this change. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about weight loss drug Semaglutide and its availability due to the expiration of its patent. She talks about the medication, its impact, and the rising problem of obesity in India and the world. (11:31)Lastly, we talk about a case of manual scavenging that cost three people their lives in Raipur. (20:35)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Nibhary Thakur about a probe by the National Investigation Agency involving seven foreign nationals accused of conspiring to carry out terrorist activities in India. Next, we talk about the United States working on a new tariff framework after its Supreme Court struck down the use of IEEPA for imposing global duties. The Indian Express' Ravi Dutta Misra explains what this means for ongoing trade negotiations with India. (07:20)And in the end, we look at a top-level resignation at HDFC Bank, where former Chairman Atanu Chakraborty stepped down citing ethical concerns, raising questions about developments within the bank over the past two years. (12:30)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' Amaal Sheikh about an investigation conducted by The Indian Express regarding bail orders in cases involving dowry deaths. She talks about the dowry death provision, where it applies and what the investigation found out about the pattern in the examined cases and the system of giving bail. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Devansh Mittal, about AI data centres that are being built in India. He talks about their importance and significance, how they are being built, the kind of impact that they can have on the growth of AI in India and on the environment and more. (11:20)Lastly, we talk about the proposal to ban non-Hindus from Badrinath and Kedarnath Dhams and 45 other temples. (22:25)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava 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 petition before the Supreme Court of India that highlights a legal gap, leaving acid ingestion survivors outside the scope of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. Next, we turn to Bihar, where Nitish Kumar has moved to the Rajya Sabha, paving the way for a new Chief Minister after nearly two decades. The Indian Express' Deputy Editor Liz Mathew explains what this transition means for the BJP, JDU, and the state's political balance. (09:15)And in the end, we look at the death of an Indian student in Canada. Gurkirat Singh Manocha from Ujjain was allegedly assaulted and run over in Fort St. John, with authorities now investigating the incident. (19:35)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' Damini Nath about the 60 lakh people whose fate hangs in the balance as the West Bengal elections approach. These are the people whose names could not make it to the electoral roll post the Special Intensive Revision and their eligibility is still disputed. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about the satellite system that is responsible for providing us with positioning data while we use navigation systems. She talks about the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, and how it has been facing challenges since its inception. (8:33)Lastly, we talk about a fire in a government hospital in Odisha that killed 10 people. (18:54)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Sukalp Sharma about how tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are beginning to affect India's LPG supply chain. With nearly 55% of India's LPG consumption linked to imports that pass through the region, we look at what the government is doing to protect household supply and prevent hoarding.Next, we turn to India's northern frontier, where China has constructed hundreds of “Xiaokang” villages close to the Line of Actual Control, many near Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian Express' Amrita Nayak Dutta explains what these settlements mean strategically and how India has responded. (15:10)And in the end, we look at the poll schedule announced by the Election Commission of India for five Assembly elections this year, including West Bengal which will vote in two phases this time instead of eight as in 2021. (21:15)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 talk to The Indian Express' Kiran Parashar and Heena Khandelwal about the LPG shortage across multiple states in India due to the West Asia conflict and the impact that it is having on restaurants, eateries, residential schools and more. They highlight the situation on ground and the solutions that are being put to use currently. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about India's very first case of passive euthanasia. She shares about a recent order that was given by the Supreme Court of India regarding the case of a patient who had been in a vegetative state since 2013 and what this verdict means for future cases. (15:41)Lastly, we talk about a new oil refinery that was announced by President Donald Trump which has a unique Indian connection. (26:10)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced 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 to The Indian Express' Brendan Dabhi about how the conflict in West Asia is beginning to disrupt fuel supply chains in India, with Gujarat's Morbi ceramic cluster facing potential production shutdowns due to shortages of propane and natural gas.Next, The Indian Express' Vineet Bhalla explains an unusual case before the Karnataka High Court, where a sitting judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, A H M D Nawaz, has approached an Indian court seeking removal of allegedly defamatory articles from the internet under the right to be forgotten.(09:00)And in the end, we look at a Comptroller and Auditor General of India report that raises serious concerns about the condition of the Ganga in Uttarakhand, flagging untreated sewage, failing treatment plants, and worsening water quality between Devprayag and Haridwar. (17:20)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 to The Indian Express' Soumyarendra Barik about why states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are considering banning social media for children, following the example set by Australia. We look at how such a ban might work in India and what the Centre and tech companies are saying about the proposal.Next, we turn to the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran — and why it could threaten India's food security. The Indian Express' Harish Damodaran explains how disruptions in West Asia could affect fertiliser supplies that Indian agriculture depends on. (15:50)And in the end, The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha explains why the Rs 1,600-crore LIGO-India project in Maharashtra's Hingoli district remains stuck, even though the observatory is meant to be part of the global network detecting gravitational waves predicted by Albert Einstein. (26:30)Hosted by Shashank BhargavaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we listen to an excerpt from the Express Sports podcast as Mihir Vasavda speaks with The Indian Express' Sandip G and Devendra Pandey about India's emphatic 96-run win over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final.Next, The Indian Express' Atri Mitra explains the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has flagged document discrepancies and procedural lapses, putting nearly 30 lakh voter records under re-verification. (14:35)And in the end, we look at the Delhi excise policy case, which has returned to the Delhi High Court after the CBI challenged a trial court order discharging Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and 21 others. (23:58)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced 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' Sukalp Sharma about the conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel and how it has severely disrupted oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which is the world's most important oil transit chokepoint. With the conflict entering its ninth day, concerns are growing about oil prices shooting up and how India plans on dealing with it.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about an agreement that has been finalised between India and Canada regarding the supply of uranium, the significance that the deal holds and what this means as far as India and Canada's bilateral relations are concerned. (13:42)Lastly, we talk about a resolution put forward by the Opposition to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. (23:10)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headline of the week by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Divya A about the 8.8 million Indians who live across various countries in the Gulf, including Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE and how they have been impacted by the ongoing war between Iran and US and Israel.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Raakhi Jagga about a water-borne disease outbreak in Punjab's Ferozepur and how the authorities and the government are working in order to improve the situation. (12:45)Lastly, we talk about IRIS Dena, the Iranian vessel that was torpedoed by a US submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka.(22:30)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda, and Ichha Sharma Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Arun Janardhanan about how actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is disrupting Tamil Nadu's long standing DMK-AIADMK duopoly ahead of Assembly elections and why established parties are taking this new entrant seriously.Next, The Indian Express' Asad Rehman explains why Iran's Supreme Leader had a following in India and how his death has shaped reactions here. (14:32)And in the end, we look at an audit that flags serious gaps in the implementation of Centre's two welfare schemes in Bihar. (25:27)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced 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' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about the crisis that has been going on between Iran and Israel, which has caused the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He talks about him, the situation in Iran, the response of the citizens of the country and the way forward.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Sujit Bisoyi about how the paddy procurement system of Odisha has failed a farmer, who sadly passed away while waiting for his paddy to be sold. He talks about the farmer, what caused his death, the probe and how the paddy procurement system of the state works.Lastly, we talk about Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to India and talks about a free trade agreement between the two nations.Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced 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 to The Indian Express' Sohini Ghosh about a Delhi court order discharging Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the CBI's excise policy case. What does this mean for the investigation, and how does it affect the ED's parallel case?Next, we turn to the Panama, Paradise and Pandora Papers investigations, where The Indian Express' Investigative journalist Ritu Sarin explains what it means that Rs 14,600 crore in offshore wealth exposed by these probes has now been brought to tax. (12:55)And in the end, we look at the deadly industrial explosion near Nagpur that killed at least 16 workers at an explosives manufacturing unit. (20:10)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' Legal Affairs Editor Apurva Vishwanath about the concerns that have been raised by TMC MP Dola Sen regarding the Special Intensive Revision going on in West Bengal and what the Supreme Court had to say about it. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about AI entering the medical sphere. She highlights how AI can be put to use in the healthcare sector, the benefits that it can have the challenges that medical professionals might face due to the same. (9:06)Lastly, we give you updates regarding the class 8 NCERT textbook controversy that arose because it had a section titled "Corruption in Judiciary". (19:35)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar