3 Things

First, we discuss the new set of UGC anti-discrimination rules for Indian universities now paused by the Supreme Court. We speak to The Indian Express' Vidheesha Kuntamalla about what these rules aimed to change, why they've sparked backlash, and what happens next.Next, we discuss a less-talked-about economic risk, public health. The Indian Express' Udit Misra tells us why economists are warning that failing health metrics could derail India's economic ambitions. (11:50)And in the end, we look at the latest updates in the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering probe into the Anil Ambani group, with fresh assets worth ₹1,885 crore attached. (25:50)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, The Indian Express' Ravi Dutta Misra explains the significance of the free trade agreement between India and the EU, and what India will need to do to actually benefit from it.Next, The Indian Express' Nikhila Henry reports on the spate of stray dog killings in Telangana and what her ground reporting reveals about one such mass killing in the village of Yacharam (16:20).And finally, The Indian Express' Shubhangi Khapre looks at the vacuum left in the NCP after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash yesterday (24:58).Hosted by Shashank BhargavaWritten 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' National Chief of the Bureau Ritika Chopra about a high-level government meeting that discussed introducing official protocols for India's national song, Vande Mataram and how this may shape its legal and political standing ahead of the 150th anniversary.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Brendan Dabhi about a new state-funded BSL-4 lab in Gujarat, only the second civilian facility of its kind in India, and what it means for the country's ability to respond to deadly outbreaks. (15:30)Lastly, we look at a disturbing case of caste-based violence in Jharkhand's Dhanbad, where a Dalit sanitation worker was allegedly assaulted after refusing to work without pay. (23:20)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' Mihir Vasavda about how a growing number of athletes and coaches are saying that training outdoors in India is becoming less about performance and more about basic survival in the toxic winter air and extreme summer heat. And what this means when India has put in its bid for Olympics 2036.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Himanshu Harsh about the Bihar police uncovering an illegal SIM network which was allegedly being used to reroute international calls and carry out cyber fraud, with links to countries like Cambodia and Thailand.Lastly, we talk about how extortion rackets are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with shooters taking instructions through encrypted apps and never knowing who is really behind the orders.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

On the occasion of Republic Day, we revisit three key debates—on secularism, reservations, and the cow—that were passionately argued by our founding fathers during the drafting of the Constitution. (This episode was originally released on 25th January 2025).Hosted and produced by Shashank BhargavaAdditional help from Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Sohini Ghosh about a recent Delhi High Court ruling that cleared the way for a cheaper version of Nivolumab, a patented cancer drug, raising questions about the balance between public health and patent rights in India.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Kanchan Vasdev about why Punjab farmers want the security fence near the Pakistan border moved and what the government's in-principle agreement means for land access and national security. (13:25)Lastly, we take a look at a case from Lucknow, where police say a woman tried to frame her husband in a cow slaughter case to be with her lover and how it led to legal trouble for three police officers as well. (21:50)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' Nikhila Henry about a case against a sitting Catholic bishop. In 2018, Bishop Franco Mulakka faced sexual assault allegations, and eight years after the allegations, the nun who made these allegations has decided to step out of anonymity and is now speaking publicly as Sister Ranit M J.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Vikas Pathak about Nitin Nabin, the youngest BJP National President. He shares how his career in the party progressed, why he was elected for the post and what his election signifies. (14:00)Lastly, we talk about the J&K police summoning an Indian Express reporter. (24:57)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 talk to The Indian Express' Anil Sasi about how the US's dramatic military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is less about narco-trafficking and more about oil and why even oil giants are hesitant.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Jayprakash Naidu about the ongoing protest by thousands of midday meal cooks in Chhattisgarh, who are demanding a living wage and basic dignity in their work. (15:10)Lastly, we look at a communal flare-up in Assam's Bodoland region that led to violence, arrests, and the suspension of internet services. The Indian Express' Sukrita Baruah joins us with the latest. (23:10)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' Parul Kulshrestha about a video that went viral and led to a major political controversy in Rajasthan. The video featured a Booth Level Officer claiming that he was being pressured to delete hundreds of voters from voter rolls that are being created afresh under the SIR. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Saman Husain about the increase in the number of women entering the Indian gig economy. She talks about the challenges they face, how it benefits them and how it works. (12:54)Lastly, we talk about Nitin Nabin being elected as the BJP National President. (28:41)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 talk to The Indian Express' Girish Kuber about the BJP-Shiv Sena's sweeping municipal poll win in Maharashtra and what it reveals about the shifting contours of urban politics in the state.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Vineet Bhalla about a split Supreme Court verdict on Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and how it reopens the long-standing debate between shielding honest officers and enabling timely probes. (11:45)Lastly, we discuss the DGCA's record penalty on IndiGo for widespread flight disruptions in December, and what it tells us about accountability in the aviation sector. ((21:40)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced 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' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about the appointment of Sergio Gor as the new United States ambassador, and the impact his appointment can have on the relationship between the two countries and the stalled trade deal.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Shubham Tigga about deadly killings in Jharkhand by an elephant that have once again brought the conflict between humans and wildlife into sharp focus. The elephant has allegedly been responsible for the death of 20 people in the West Singhbhum district. (11:48)Lastly, we talk about the ongoing protests in Iran, their escalation and an announcement by US President Donald Trump. (24: 35)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Rinku Ghosh about how Delhi's toxic winter air may be helping the spread of a dangerous, antibiotic-resistant superbug.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Harish Damodaran about the underground parasite quietly decimating India's mustard crop and why that matters for edible oil imports. (15:45)Lastly, we speak to The Indian Express' Soumyarendra Barik about the government asking quick commerce companies to drop their 10-minute delivery deadline, citing concerns over gig worker safety. (25:18)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' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent visit to India, his meeting with PM Modi and the agreements that have been signed between the two countries.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about the failure of the Indian Space Research Organisations' PSLV-C62 mission. He shares what the mission was about, the information that we have about what happened and the significance it holds for ISRO. (16:38)Lastly, we talk about an incident involving an Indian student studying in the US and a lawsuit that followed. (25:45)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Mihir Vasavda about the case of Ankush Bhardwaj, a shooting coach recently booked under the POCSO Act. Mihir explains how the case surfaced, the gaps in safeguarding athletes, and why this incident has reignited concerns about coach-athlete power dynamics in Indian sport.Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Kanchan Vasudev about the killing of a kabaddi promoter in Punjab and how it points to the sport's rising association with big money, violence, and gang influence. (12:15)Lastly, we talk to The Indian Express' Anand Mohan J about a government-funded cancer research project in Madhya Pradesh that's now under scrutiny for financial irregularities and questionable spending. (23:20)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' Tanushree Bose about how last week the Enforcement Directorate carried out raids at ten locations linked to election management firm I-PAC, which is handling the Trinamool Congress's poll campaign.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Varinder Bhatia about the improvement in the sex ratio of Haryana and how it has gone from 834 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011 to 923 in 2015, which is close to the national average of 933. (15:28)Lastly, we speak we talk about the concerns that have been raised by Tamil Nadu ahead of the upcoming budget. (25:33)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about Jammu, where a heated controversy over admissions to a new medical college has now grown into a bigger question...whether the college should be running at all.Next, The Indian Express' Kiran Parashar talks about a young woman's murder case that has sent shockwaves across Karnataka. (13:45)In the end, we talk about a proposed US law that could hit countries like India with a 500% tariff. (26:15)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' National Legal Editor Apurva Vishwanath about bail being given to five out of the seven accused in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots case. She shares the reasoning given by the court for not giving bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam and how the order expands the definition of terrorism. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Aiswarya Raj about protests that have been going on in Uttarakhand regarding the Ankita Bhandari murder case that happened back in 2022. She talks about a new set of videos and audio that have surfaced and why they have led to a new wave of protests across the state. (18:41)Lastly, we speak about the Special Intensive Revision being conducted by the Election Commission of India and updates that have been released. (29:25)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Sukrita Baruah about Assam, where the government has brought back a law from 1950 and is using it for the first time. Next, The Indian Express' Jayprakash S Naidu talks about Chhattisgarh, where vandalism of Christmas decorations inside a mall has sparked a larger political and communal controversy. (13:50)In the end, we take a look at the ED's searches linked to a climate advocacy group and what the agency says it is investigating. (21:05)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Anand Mohan about the deaths and hospitalisations that have happened in Indore due to contaminated water. He shares about the current situation, the investigation and the government's response. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Ravi Dutta Mishra about the situation of Indian exports post the implementation of the 50% tariffs by the US. He talks about how the exports have been impacted and the other factors that have been responsible for the growth and drop in the exports. (16:19)Lastly, we speak about K Kavitha, the former leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti and daughter of BRS chief and former CM K Chandrashekar Rao, who has quit as a Member of the Legislative Council and launched a sharp attack on the party founded by her father. (26:37)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarLinks for our episode in association with XLRI:https://indianexpress.com/audio/3-things/xlri-the-legacy-of-creating-efficient-and-empathetic-leaders/10356006/ https://youtu.be/tPNOMSEvZqg?si=zJOjr1EZajt6bexK

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

In the final episode of our 2025 rewind, we zoom out to the world and what it forced India to confront.From the highs and hard edges of Trump 2.0 and tariffs, to a new redline on Pakistan after Pahalgam, to churn in Nepal and Bangladesh, India's neighbourhood looked anything but stable. Today, we're joined by The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy breaks down what changed, why it matters, and the biggest diplomatic tests waiting in 2026.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

This week we are talking about the biggest moments of 2025 and what all we can look forward to in 2026. Till now we have discussed the trends that shaped politics, sports, entertainment, and health.Today, we have with us The Indian Express' Karan Mahadik, who shares how the AI landscape evolved during the year, the major success and failures that it experienced and the way it impacted our lives.Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

As the year comes to a close, we wrap up 2025 with a special year-ender episode. In this edition of Express Sports hosted by Mihir Vasavda, Vinayakk Mohanarangan, and Amit Kamath, we speak to journalists and editors from The Indian Express newsroom, not from the sports desk, about the sporting moments that stayed with them this year. From iconic wins and unforgettable matches to personal favourites that sparked joy, debate, or disbelief, our colleagues share what made 2025 memorable for them as sports fans.Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar