In Focus by The Hindu

CAR-T cell therapy, a breakthrough treatment that has transformed certain cancer outcomes, is now showing early promise in tackling autoimmune diseases. In a recent case in Germany, a patient with multiple severe autoimmune conditions entered treatment-free remission after receiving the therapy, raising fresh questions about its potential beyond cancer. In this episode, we break down how CAR-T works, why autoimmune diseases are so difficult to treat, and whether this approach could offer long-term remission or even a cure. We also look at the risks, costs and what this could mean for patients in India. Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Guest: Roshan Samuel Mathews, PhD candidate, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tamil Nadu is often seen as one of India's strongest economic performers, recording 7.4% growth in 2025-26, with manufacturing registering real growth rate of 14.74% in 2024-25, well above the national average. Real growth stood at 11.2%, among the highest for major states. Exports have nearly doubled in just four years, and incomes remain among the highest in India. The state is now aiming for a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2030, backed by rising incomes, expanding infrastructure, and a welfare model it argues actually drives growth. While unemployment levels have fallen, even as concerns persist around job quality, workforce participation, and potential disruption from automation and AI. There is also an ongoing debate over the fiscal sustainability and economic impact of welfare spending. What is driving Tamil Nadu's growth, and where are the gaps? With Tamil Nadu heading to the polls, we take a deep dive into the state's economy, its strengths, and the challenges that lie ahead. Guest: J. Jeyaranjan, Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission Host: Nivedita V Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect from midnight of April 16, 2026. The truce, announced by US President Donald Trump, could offer some relief to Lebanese civilians who have been facing relentless attacks from Israeli air and ground forces since March. More than 2,100 Lebanese have been killed in Israeli strikes since March 2026. The attacks – a combo of air and ground operations -- have injured over 7,000 people and displaced more than 1.2 million across Lebanon.  But even as the bombardment continued, with Hezbollah putting up enough resistance to slow Israeli troop advances, Lebanese and Israeli representatives gathered in Washington DC earlier this week for peace talks, and the ceasefire announced by Mr Trump was the outcome. Will it be respected by Israel and the Hezbollah militia, given reports of violations in the early hours of the ceasefire? How will Lebanon disarm Hezbollah – a key demand of the Israelis during the talks? And what is needed for this truce to yield long-term peace?  Guest: Iftikhar Gilani, senior Indian journalist based in Ankara, Turkey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On April 7, the AI firm Anthropic, which makes the popular Claude product, said that a new model it's been working on, Mythos, is so powerful at finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities that it would not release it publicly. Instead, the company said, it would share the model with tech firms that make the foundational critical software that are widely used across the economy. The initiative, known as Project Glasswing, has led to cybersecurity concerns at most firms, who must now contend with AI-enabled attackers using so-called “zero-day” exploits which are unknown even to a given piece of software's developers, and therefore are not patched through software updates. Mythos, Anthropic says, has already found — and enabled patches for — bugs over a decade old in software that has been intensely audited by humans and automated systems millions of times. The Hindu reported last week that the Union government and the Indian IT sector's main cybersecurity body are both studying the implications of Mythos. Guests: Aseem Jakhar and Sharda Tickoo Host: Aroon Deep Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashok Vardhan Shetty is one of the three members of the Justice Kurian Joseph Committee, appointed by the DMK government headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to study Union–State relations. The committee recently submitted Part 1 of its report to the Chief Minister, who has since tabled it in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.  Tamil Nadu has historically been very vocal about issues such as decentralisation, state autonomy and federalism. As early as 1969, the late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi appointed the Justice Rajamannar Committee to examine the relationship between the Centre and the States.  Against this backdrop, we speak to Mr. Shetty understand the recommendations and ideas presented in the report.  Guest: Ashok Vardhan Shetty, Fomer IAS, Member of Justice Kurian Joseph High-Level Committe on Union-State Relations  Host: Bhagavathi Sampath K J  Edited and produced by Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Islamabad peace talks between the US and Iran failed to yield a peace deal after 21 hours of negotiations. Both the sides have blamed each other for the failure. What exactly were the sticking points? What does the deadlock mean for the ceasefire? And how will the US attempt to blockade Iranian ports take shape? Guest: Suhasini Haider, The Hindu's Diplomatic Affairs Editor Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Traditionally, higher inflation leads to interest rate hikes to slow demand. This approach was used after the pandemic, when prices surged across major economies. But this time, the situation is more complex. The conflict in West Asia has pushed up energy prices and while that is driving inflation higher, it is also straining household budgets. As people spend more on essentials like fuel and electricity, they tend to cut back elsewhere.This creates a difficult balancing act. Could raising interest rates now risk pushing economies into a slowdown or even a recession? Or does holding back risk letting inflation persist? And how much of this hesitation is driven by uncertainty around the evolving conflict and energy markets? In this episode, we unpack these questions and examine why central banks are holding back and how this phase of inflation is different. We also look at what it could mean for growth and policy choices going forward. Guest: Professor Rohit Azad, who teaches Economics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University Host: Devyanshi Bihani Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tamil Nadu is heading into a crucial election, with the DMK government led by M. K. Stalin completing its first full term in office. While the party continues to foreground its welfare-driven “Dravidian model,” questions are being raised about governance, fiscal sustainability, and whether there is any perceptible anti-incumbency on the ground. The AIADMK is attempting to consolidate the opposition space even as leadership challenges persist. At the same time, the BJP has been trying to expand its footprint in a State where it has historically struggled, raising the question of whether Tamil Nadu remains a bipolar contest or is slowly becoming more competitive. Adding a new dimension to this election is the political entry of actor Vijay through his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which could potentially reshape voter dynamics, particularly among the youth.  So, how strong is the anti-incumbency sentiment against the DMK, if at all?  Can the AIADMK mount a credible challenge? How will leadership changes affect BJP's prospects?  And is Tamil Nadu still firmly bipolar, or are we witnessing the beginnings of a more fragmented political landscape?   Guest: R Kannan, former UN officer, and author of MGR: A Life, Anna: The Life and Times of C.N. Annadurai and The DMK Years: Ascent, Descent, Survival  Host: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cuba is facing its worst crisis since the Soviet collapse. The Trump administration has imposed a de facto naval blockade, cutting off oil supplies for three months, triggering repeated electricity grid collapses, and leaving over 1,00,000 patients waiting for surgery. President Trump has spoken of "taking Cuba," while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for regime change. In this conversation with Srinivasan Ramani of The Hindu, Cuba's Ambassador to India, Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, speaks about the devastating impact of the blockade on ordinary Cubans, the loss of Venezuela as Cuba's closest ally after the U.S. capture of President Maduro, the six-decade embargo's stranglehold on Cuba's economy, the ongoing negotiations with Washington, and Cuba's red lines. He also makes a direct pitch for Indian partnership in Cuba's energy transition and economic reform. Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry head to the polls, India's vibrant democracy is on full display once again. But behind the rallies and roadshows, there's a growing concern: elections are becoming increasingly expensive.With political parties spending heavily on campaigns, advertising, and outreach, the role of money in shaping electoral competition is under scrutiny. Data shows that nearly 93% of India's Members of Parliament are crorepatis, raising questions about whether access to political power is becoming more unequal. What does this mean for smaller parties and independent candidates? Is the system still a level playing field — and what would it take to fix it? Guests: M.R. Madhavan, Co-founder and president of the PRS Legislative Research and Rangarajan R is a former IAS officer and author of ‘Courseware on Polity Simplified' Host: Nivedita V Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a dramatic 24 hours that saw U.S. President Donald Trump shift from a stark warning of mass destruction to announcing a two-week pause in military action, a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is now in place. With Tehran calling it a victory, Washington framing it as mission accomplished, and Pakistan emerging as a key mediator, questions remain over what really changed, what the deal contains, and whether this is a genuine de-escalation or just a temporary pause before the next phase. Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Smriti Sudesh Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On March 28, millions of people took to the streets across the U.S. under one banner — “No Kings” — marking one of the largest protest mobilisations in recent American history. What began as a loose coalition of advocacy groups has rapidly evolved into a broad-based movement cutting across issues such as civil liberties, immigration enforcement, foreign policy and the cost of living.With organisers claiming participation in the millions across thousands of events, the protests represented one of the most significant expressions of political dissent since the return of Donald Trump to the White House.Is “No Kings” a genuinely grassroots uprising or a network-driven mobilisation? What role have issues like the Iran conflict and global democratic anxieties played in expanding its reach beyond the U.S.? And ultimately, can a decentralised protest movement convert its momentum into real political influence? Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Guest: Anisha Dutta, New York-based journalist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India is a poor country, but it is ‘data-rich'. The dominant consensus today holds that data – including personal data -- should be exploited for economic growth. Is it possible that this consensus is wrong? One outcome of this consensus is the ‘consent regime', which paves the way for monetisation of personal data. You tick a box to give your ‘consent' and that's it, so far as your privacy is concerned – it's now a tradable commodity. But is it ok to have markets for privacy? Or, is it similar to having markets for organs, or for blood donation, or for child labour? A new scholarly paper titled, ‘Data and Privacy: Putting markets in (their) place' uses the economic concept of “noxious markets” to question whether privacy should be a tradeable commodity at all. What if it isn't something that should be traded? Guest: Reetika Khera, Professor of Economics at IIT, Delhi Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Shot by Jude Weston & Almas Mohammad Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

West Bengal is gearing up for assembly elections. Mamata Banerjee will face her toughest challenge, given the anti-incumbency factor of three terms. The BJP, in 2021, had cemented its position as the primary opposition, winning 77 seats to the Trinamool's 215 seats. This time, unusually, but no longer surprisingly, the Election Commission has become a key character in the political narrative. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) ended up deleting more than 60 lakh voters. And in many constituencies, the number of voter deletions is greater than the margins of victory in previous elections. Another issue is the mass transfers in the state bureaucracy, which are unprecedented, and were challenged in court by the TMC. Mamata has used these developments to frame the polls as a fight between a besieged Bengal and Bengali ‘asmita' on one side, and a BJP-led Centre on the other. The BJP has been playing the anti-migrant card to polarise voters, and has also sought to target the TMC on corruption and misgovernance. Whose narrative will gain the upper-hand? What is happening with the lakhs of voter deletions? How will the SIR impact the outcome? We speak with Shiv Sahay Singh, The Hindu's Chief of Bureau in Kolkata. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With elections in Tamil Nadu gearing up, one development drawing sharp attention is the entry of Vijay, whose political debut is expected to command a significant share of the vote. He comes from a long line of figures in the State who have transitioned from cinema to politics. In Tamil Nadu, the film world and politics have mutually benefited each other. The Dravidian movement changed the face of cinema. C. N. Annadurai, founder of the DMK, and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi deeply influenced Tamil cinema. Cinema became a medium to propagate ideas of social reform. The dialogues Karunanidhi penned for Parasakthi, starring Sivaji Ganesan in the lead role, marked a clear departure from a cinema that had been largely dominated by songs. This helped the DMK secure power in Tamil Nadu. Similarly, M. G. Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, used cinema to meticulously cultivate an image that later helped him in politics, going on to become the Chief Minister of the State. But does entering politics necessarily guarantee success? And how crucial has cinema been in defining the political landscape of Tamil Nadu? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government introduced the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 on March 25. The Bill aims to amend the FCRA Act, 2010. The main thrust of the amendment is the introduction of a ‘Designated Authority', which will have the power to take over the assets of an NGO, if it fails to renew its FCRA-certificate on time, or even if it voluntarily surrenders it. The Bill has sparked outrage from Opposition parties and minority organisations. The CPM has said that the Bill represents an “attack on minorities” and that “the provisions of the Bill could result in takeover of minority places of worship and educational institutions.” Does this Bill violate the principles of natural justice? Are the fears of minorities justified? What will its impact be on civil society organisations and on human rights groups, if it goes through? We unpack the implications of this Bill in this episode of InFocus, and joining us is Noshir H. Dadrawala, a consultant who advises NGOs on compliance and regulatory issues. Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Left Front has been in power in Kerala since 2016. It is looking for a historic third consecutive term in power. But can it overcome the anti-incumbency that has built up over these ten years? The poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and in the recent  local body elections might indicate that the LDF (Left Democratic Front) faces an uphill task. Does this mean that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is the frontrunner? Many, however, would argue that the BJP is also a key player. Does that mean the electoral field in Kerala is now tripolar? What conclusions can we draw from the patterns of ticket distribution by the three major parties? Will the BJP's Christian outreach work? What would it mean nationally if the Left were to lose in the only state where it's in power? We speak with Dr J Prabhash, former professor of Political Science and former Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kerala. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashok Vardhan Shetty is one of the three members of the Justice Kurian Joseph Committee, appointed by the DMK government headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to study Union–State relations. The committee recently submitted Part 1 of its report to the Chief Minister, who has since tabled it in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.  Tamil Nadu has historically been very vocal about issues such as decentralisation, state autonomy and federalism. As early as 1969, the late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi appointed the Justice Rajamannar Committee to examine the relationship between the Centre and the States.  Against this backdrop, we speak to Mr. Shetty understand the recommendations and ideas presented in the report.    Guest: Ashok Vardhan Shetty, Fomer IAS, Member of Justice Kurian Joseph High-Level Committed on Union-State Relations  Host: Bhagavathi Sampath K J  Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gold usually rises during geopolitical crises, but this time, it's falling. Why? In this episode of In Focus, we unpack what's driving the recent drop in gold prices, from shifting interest rate expectations and a stronger U.S. dollar to liquidity pressures in global markets. Has gold lost its safe-haven appeal, or is this just a temporary price correction after years of growth? Here we discuss the question. Guest: Kavita Chacko, Research Head for India at the World Gold Council and B. Bhagwan Das, Former associate professor of Economics at Loyola College, Chennai Host: Areena Arora Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the growing importance of the care economy – a rising demand for caregivers globally and an opportunity to train and skill young people to meet this demand. India stands at a unique position here – despite having the largest youth population in the world, it is also a rapidly ageing country. Estimates indicate that by 2050, we will have over 300 million people aged over 60. With this, will come an increasing number of medical conditions related to old age. The question now is, do we have the health and care resources to cater to these growing population segment? Do we have enough geriatricians? Does our medical curriculum focus enough on geriatric medicine? Do we have adequate community care-based systems to take care of our senior citizens? Guest: Dr Arvind Kasthuri, Head of Unit, St John's Geriatric Centre and Professor, Department of Community Health, St John's Medical College, Bengaluru Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court's recent verdict in the case of Harish Rana, allowing for the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, as the 32-year-old had been in a persistent vegetative state for over a decade is a landmark judgement. It builds upon the framework of the Court's own 2018 Constitution Bench guidelines, and it upheld the right to die with dignity. Following this, there has been a lot of discussion about advanced medical directives or living wills, documents in which people can set out how they would like to be cared for, in the event of a terminal illness or in a situation where they cannot decide for themselves. So, what exactly is a living will? What do you need to do before you make one? And how do you go about making one? Guest: Dr M R Rajagopal, chairman Emeritus of Pallium India and Adjunct Professor of Global Oncology, Queen's University, Canada Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, in a ruling on maternity leave for adoptive and surrogate mothers, the Supreme Court called on the Union government to examine the need for a formal law recognising paternity leave for all fathers, adoptive or biological. It noted that though parenthood is not a solitary function, fathers are often relegated to the periphery of their children's lives, especially in infancy and early childhood, The Court termed this “a kind of injustice”. Should men be given paternity leave? Here, we discuss the question. Guests: Professor Ashwini Deshpande, who heads the Economics Department at Ashoka University, specialising in development economics, including gender and labour issuesSanjoy Ghose, a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India with extensive experience in labour law.  Host: Priscilla Jebaraj Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just months away, an escalating war in West Asia has put FIFA in an unprecedented bind. With co-host United States directly involved in the conflict, uncertainty now surrounds the participation of the Iran national football team. Iran's request to move its matches to Mexico underlines how deeply geopolitics is beginning to affect the tournament. If Iran is forced to withdraw, it would be the first such instance since 1950, raising serious questions about precedent, fairness and the limits of sporting neutrality. In this episode of In Focus, we examine what this means for FIFA, the host nations and the World Cup itself. Guest: Vijay Lokapally, veteran sports journalist Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump's five-day pause on striking Iran's energy infrastructure does appear like a tactical U-turn—but not a full reversal. Just days after issuing a 48-hour ultimatum, he cited “productive” talks and stepped back, signalling possible de-escalation. However, U.S. attacks on other Iranian military targets continue, suggesting this is a limited pause rather than a policy shift. Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Smriti Sudesh Edited and produced by Sharmada VenkatasubramanianCamera: Thamodharan B Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Iran–Israel conflict intensifies, a deeper question emerges: can the United States and its allies sustain this war? In this episode, The Hindu's data team examines the hidden economics and industrial limits behind modern warfare. From the cost mismatch between Iranian drones and U.S. interceptor missiles, to the strain on American stockpiles, the numbers tell a story of a conflict that may be harder to sustain than it appears. Are U.S. weapons systems being used faster than they can be replaced? And could these vulnerabilities have wider geopolitical consequences, especially with China controlling key resources used in missile production? Host: Nitika Francis Guest: Air Marshal Ravi Kapoor (Retd.), former AOC-in-C of the Indian Air Force's Central Air Command, to unpack the data, the strategy, and the risks ahead. Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The war in West Asia has now entered its fourth week. US and Israel have continued their aerial bombings of Iran, and Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israel and the GCC countries are ongoing.  This is a war of choice for US and Israel, but a war of survival for Iran. So far, much of the commentary on the conflict has been coming from Western sources – and even in India, it's largely been from the perspective of energy security – India's and everyone else's.  In this podcast, we try and understand the conflict at the level of the people, the situation, the mood, and the thinking within Iran – as it endures daily, and unrelenting, attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and political assassinations. Also, how can India secure safe passage of its vessels through the Strait of Hormuz?  Guest: Mehdi Razmahang, Assistant Professor with the Parliamentary Research Center of Iran Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026 has sparked nationwide protests and a constitutional debate. In this exclusive interview, Kalki Subramaniam, Southern Regional Representative of the National Council for Transgender Persons, reveals how the Union Government drafted these changes without consulting the council itself. We dissect the "red flags" of the amendment—from the removal of self-identification in favor of mandatory medical exams to the disproportionate sentencing for crimes against the community. Kalki explains how these regressive changes ignore the realities of poverty and healthcare access, effectively stripping away rights granted by the landmark NALSA judgment.From the exclusion of trans men to the "symbolic" nature of current policy-making, this discussion covers why Kalki is prepared to resign if this bill becomes law and her urgent plea to Members of Parliament to reject it. Guest: Kalki Subramaniam, Southern Regional Representative of the National Council for Transgender Persons. Host: Ragavi M Edited and produced by Ragavi M and Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As governments begin deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in public administration, national security and policymaking, questions about its safe usage and accountability have taken centre-stage. The issue came into focus in the U.S. after reports revealed a dispute between the Pentagon and AI company Anthropic, which refused to remove safeguards that were in place to prevent mass surveillance and the usage of autonomous weapons. The incident underscored a deeper tension between governments seeking to deploy AI systems and the companies that control them. As states collaborate more closely with AI companies, who ultimately governs the systems that govern us? Guests: Isha Suri, Research Lead at the Centre for Internet and Society, and Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia Pacific Policy Director and Senior International Counsel at Access Now, a nonprofit committed to defending digital rights Host: Areena Arora Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The BJP has been in power in Assam for ten years. As the state goes to the polls, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is looking for a second term. Surprisingly, there has been little talk of anti-incumbency. Will the elections pivot on identity politics, or will economic issues take centrestage? How will the 2023 delimitation exercise impact the elections? Will the death of Zubeen Garg be a factor? Will the Congress's focus on personal corruption of the state CM pay off?  Guest: Angshuman Choudhury, Researcher and writer from Assam, currently undertaking doctoral research jointly at the National University of Singapore and King's College London. Host: G. Sampath Edited by Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The rapidly escalating crisis in West Asia has sent shockwaves through the world's energy supply. Iran has effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel through which nearly a third of the world's LPG passes, after joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other leaders. The West Asian country has also hit Israel and American bases in the Persian Gulf, and also targeted oil and gas facilities in the region. The conflict has hit India particularly hard. The country imports a majority of its crude oil needs and nearly 90% of its LPG from that region and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has hit supply of all crude oil products. LPG has been the worst hit, as India does not hold a strategic reserves of the product. From commercial LPG shortages hitting restaurants and industries, to long queues at cylinder distribution centres, the crisis is playing out in real time. The government has moved fast, invoking the Essential Commodities Act, ramping up refinery production, and reaching out to alternative suppliers.  In this episode, we go beyond the immediate shortage and ask the harder questions. Why does India's storage infrastructure leave it so exposed to disruptions like this? Was the decision to reduce Russian oil purchases, widely seen as a concession to secure a US trade deal, a miscalculation that made this crisis worse? And with the government likely to absorb all additional costs, what kind of pressure does that put on India's finances? And, what would happen if crude hits $200 a barrel and the Hormuz disruption runs for months? Guest: Narendra Taneja, Energy expert  Host: Nivedita V Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the war between the United States, Israel and Iran enters its third week, the conflict is widening with rising casualties and growing regional risks. With more than 2,100 people killed and American troops also targeted, the stakes are escalating. What options does America have now? Smriti Sudesh speaks with The Hindu's International Affairs Editor Stanly Johny on where the war could be heading. Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Indians by and large are a highly religious people. But there are many other cultures that are as religious, if not more. What makes India unique in this regard is perhaps the abundance of self-styled godmen, and the mass followings they rapidly acquire.  Many of these godmen, or ‘gurus', exploit the psychological and emotional vulnerabilities of their followers to amass massive wealth and political power. They operate like cult-leaders, and control every aspect of their followers' lives. And a cult is a very different animal from a faith-based congregation – it initiates a total erasure of personality, and the follower becomes almost like a human version of AI, pre-programmed to obey the cult leader's bidding, no matter how harmful it might be.  In her riveting memoir, ‘The Cost of a Promised Afterlife' Priyamvada Mehra narrates the painful saga of growing up in a family torn apart by their blind devotion to a godman, and how she managed to liberate herself from the cult and brainwashing, and chart her own course in life.  In this episode of InFocus-Weekend, we discuss her book, her journey of self-healing from the trauma of being in an abusive cult, and why so many Indians continue to fall for unscrupulous godmen. Host: G. sampath Edited and produced by Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, thousands of farmers across the country burnt symbolic copies of the India-US trade deal. They were protesting against the interim framework for a trade deal that India had signed with the US. While the Union government has emphasised that they have kept sensitive agriculture products out of the deal, farmers' outfits and Opposition parties have said that the government has surrendered the interests of Indian farmers.  It is being said that cheap, highly subsidised American produce will flood Indian markets, depressing domestic prices and hitting rural incomes. But the government claims that the deal will have safeguards built in, and so Indian farmers have nothing to worry.  But farmers' organisations are planning to intensify their protests in the coming weeks. Why are they not convinced by the government's assurances? What are their concerns? And what are their demands?  Guest: Dr Ashok Dhawale, a member of the National Coordination Committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SM) and National President of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A major war has erupted in West Asia, with Israel, the U.S., and Iran locked in direct conflict. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel just before the country, along with the U.S., attacked Iran. India did not condemn the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Meanwhile, the war has resulted in rising energy prices, economic risks, and put at risk  the safety of hundreds of thousands of Indian families in the region. Is India tailing the U.S. in its West Asia policy? Here, we discuss the question. Tune in! Guests: Amb. Talmiz Ahmad, former Indian Diplomat. He served as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE & Kabir Taneja, Executive Director of Observer Research Foundation Middle East. Host: Smriti Sudesh Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A week after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the immediate shock has faded — but the consequences are still unfolding.The Court made clear that the Trump administration can not use emergency economic powers to redesign the country's trade policy, reaffirming that tariff authority rests with Congress. Within hours, the administration turned to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, imposing a temporary 10% tariff, which was later revised to 15%. Whether that move withstands legal scrutiny remains uncertain.There are several questions that remain unanswered — will businesses get refunds for the $160 billion collected under the now-invalid tariffs? Did countries that rushed into negotiations concede too quickly? And what does this mean for India, which made trade concessions only to see the tariffs collapse in court Guest: Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation Host: Nivedita V Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramnaian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India clinched a historic third T20 World Cup title with a commanding win over New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Standout performances underlined India's dominance, especially Sanju Samson's remarkable run through the knockout stages.But the final has also sparked debate. Was the batting-friendly pitch worthy of a World Cup summit clash? Should curators shape conditions to produce high-scoring spectacles, or does that undermine the balance between bat and ball? And how does Ahmedabad compare with iconic Indian venues like Wankhede or Eden Gardens when it comes to hosting cricket's biggest matches?In this episode of In Focus, veteran cricket journalist Pradeep Magazine talks about India's dominant campaign, the controversy around pitch preparation and the legacy of this champion side in the evolving landscape of world cricket. Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Guest: Pradeep Magazine, veteran cricket journalist and author Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Days after a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant threatened that “heads must roll” for the “reckless, irresponsible, motivated, contemptuous conduct and manner” in which the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, portrayed the judiciary as a venal institution in a Class 8 Social Science textbook, our guest, former Supreme Court judge, Justice Abhay S. Oka, takes a studied view of the controversy. The podcast discusses if the government, through the NCERT, used the textbook as an anti-judiciary propaganda tool to influence young minds in their formative years. The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the textbook's contents. It imposed a “complete ban” and ordered the withdrawal of the textbook in an order on February 26. It said the textbook's contents revealed “calculated” attempt to instill a sense of bias against the judiciary in the “impressionable minds” of young school children, and through them, to the society at large and even the future generations. The court has no intention to let go and has scheduled the suo motu case for further hearing on March 11, 2026. The episode also debates if the ban on the book amounted to judicial censorship. Under Article 19(2) of the Constitution, free speech can be restricted only through a law.  Finally, the discussion delves into the court's decision to initiate contempt action and going on a limb to make school principals “personally responsible” to “seize and seal” the copies of the textbook. Guest: Justice Abhay S. Oka, former Supreme Court judge Host: Krishnadas Rajagopal Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nepal's latest general election appears to mark one of the most significant political shifts in the country's recent history. For decades, Nepal's politics has been dominated by a handful of established parties and veteran leaders, with governments frequently changing and coalition politics shaping the country's governance. But the results of this election suggest that many voters particularly younger voters were ready for something different. The Rastriya Swatantra Party, a relatively new political force, is heading towards a sweeping victory, signalling a potential disruption of the traditional political order.
 At the centre of this political moment is Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen a rapper-turned-politician and former mayor of Kathmandu who has emerged as one of the most prominent faces of a new generation in Nepali politics. His rise reflects a broader mood of dissatisfaction with entrenched political elites and a growing demand for generational change in leadership. The strong performance of his party suggests that many voters are willing to place their trust in newer political actors who promise governance reforms and a break from the country's long-standing cycle of unstable governments.
 This election also comes in the aftermath of the youth-led protests that forced the resignation of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli last year, highlighting deep public frustration over corruption, governance failures and political stagnation. With Nepal having witnessed 14 governments in the past 18 years, the results are widely being interpreted as a moment of political reckoning for traditional parties such as the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).
 At the same time, developments in Nepal are being closely watched in the region, particularly in India, which shares deep political, economic and cultural ties with its Himalayan neighbour. Nepal's political trajectory has often had broader regional implications, not least because of its position between India and China, and the delicate balance it has historically maintained between the two.
 In this episode, we explore what Nepal's election results signal about the country's evolving political landscape. Sanjeev Satgainya offers insights into the forces behind this electoral surge, the decline of traditional political parties and the challenges that Nepal's next government will face.
 Guest: Sanjeev Satgainya Host: Shikha Kumari A Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most critical energy chokepoint. Every day, over 20 million barrels of oil which is roughly one-fifth of global supply pass through this narrow shipping corridor connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets. Now, rising tensions after U.S.- Israel attacks on Iran have raised fears of disruptions in this vital route. Iran has warned that the strait is off limits, while the United States has indicated it may deploy naval escorts for commercial oil tankers. Any escalation here could have serious consequences for global energy markets, oil prices, and major importers like India and China, both of which depend heavily on Gulf crude shipments passing through the strait. Guest: Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev. He retired from the Indian Foreign Service in 2013 after a 35-year diplomatic career during which he was Ambassador to three oil importing countries, Algeria, Norway and Nigeria. He continues to be interested in energy and west Asian geopolitics. He is currently president of eco-diplomacy and strategies, a Delhi based consultancy. Host: Devyanshi Bihani Data Support: Nitika Francis and Sambavi Parthasarathy Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition seeking criminal prosecution of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over divisive and communal speeches, as well as a now-deleted social media post that depicted him firing a gun towards an animated image of two Muslim men. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked that whenever elections approach, the court tends to become a political battleground, and consequently directed the petitioners to approach the Guwahati High Court instead. Earlier in January, another Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath indicated that hate speech matters long pending before the court since 2021 would be closed. These were cases in which the court had earlier directed police authorities to register suo motu FIRs in instances of hate speech. The bench, however, clarified that the parties remained free to pursue other legal remedies, including approaching the High Courts or seeking appropriate police action. We discuss whether there has been a discernible shift in the Supreme Court's approach towards curbing instances of hate speech, and whether legislative reforms may be required to deal with such communal rhetoric more effectively. Guests: Shahrukh Alam, advocate practicing before the Supreme Court, and Haris Beeran, advocate and Rajya Sabha MP. I welcome you both to the episode. Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know by now that ultraprocessed food is bad for our health. Consumption of a lot of it, has been linked to a number of health issues including hypertension, diabetes and obesity. But did you know that researchers are now finding links between ultraprocessed food and mental health? This is especially concerning considering the huge burden of mental health issues among young people in India and the gaps in access to care. The government is beginning to take note: the Supreme Court has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI to consider warning labels on the front of packaged foods and the Economic Survey this year called for high GSTs on processed foods. So what is the connection between UPFs and mental health? And why, despite all of the evidence, has India still not managed to put in place stringent warning labels for consumers? Guest: Dr. Arun Gupta, paediatrician, public health expert, and convenor of the Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest. He is also a former member of the PM's Council on India's Nutritional Challenges Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed last week in an attack by the US and Israel. Iran has declared 40 days of mourning. Muslims around the world have come out in large numbers to protest his killing and express their grief. In India, thousands of Muslims took to the streets in Kashmir, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Bhopal, among other places, to protest the killing. But beyond the Islamic or religious world, there is only a limited understanding of the man who became Iran's second Supreme Leader, after Ayatollah Khomeini, the cleric who led the Islamic revolution in 1979. Khameini led Iran for 36 years, both during the Iran-Iraq war and in the period after, when Iran had to deal with crippling western sanctions. Besides being a revered religious leader, he is also considered an anti-imperialist statesman who exerted immense religious and political influence in West Asia. What was his legacy, and what are the political, religious and geopolitical implications of his killing – for Iran, for the ongoing war in West Asia, and beyond? Guest: Ziya Us Salam from The Hindu's Delhi bureau Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has entered its third day, marked by intense aerial exchanges and escalating regional involvement. With Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's death, Iran has launched widespread retaliatory missile barrages targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the Gulf. The situation remainshighly vol atile, with potential for further spread amid calls for restraint from global powers. Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Smriti S Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we take a closer look at the issues shaping the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, which are expected to be announced soon by the Election Commission of India. Even before the formal declaration, the political temperature has begun to rise, with sharp exchanges between the Trinamul Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term in office, and its principal opponent, the BJP. But beyond the SIR controversy and the familiar flashpoints that have defined recent campaigns, what does the broader political landscape in West Bengal look like? What is the real state of play on the ground as parties gear up for a high-stakes contest? And as the Trinamul Congress attempts to extend its decade-long hold on power, could this turn out to be its toughest electoral battle yet? Guest: Sankhadip Das, the proprietor, editor of the Bangla language portal, the Wall.in, a very popular portal in Kolkata Host: Nistula Hebbar Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial intelligence has moved from experimentation to enterprise adoption in under two years, with industry estimates projecting AI services revenues of $10–12 billion in FY26 and rapid growth thereafter. Yet, this moment of expansion coincides with layoffs, automation, and the vulnerability of entry-level roles in India's IT and BPO sectors. It also coincides with India's top tech firms contracting AI products into their workflows. Is this transformation or disruption? Are we witnessing productivity gains, structural shifts, and early signs of displacement, all at the same time? And what does this mean for India's services-led growth model? Guests: Kishan Sundar and Alaganambi Welkin Host: Kunal Shankar Producer: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, the producers of a Netflix movie titled ‘Ghooskhor Pandat' were taken to court. A PIL had been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking a ban on the movie. The PIL had been filed by a man claiming to be the National Organisation Secretary of the Brahman Samaj of India. His petition argued that the movie portrayed the Brahmin community in a negative light, by “equating” bribe-taking with the title ‘Pandat'. It said it would provoke disharmony, and a law and order problem. The film's producers offered to relinquish the title, and release the movie under a different name. So, the case was closed. However, the associate judge on the Bench handling the case, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, has authored a separate opinion, where he has sought to restate first principles, dwelling on the themes of fraternity and free speech. On the one hand, the opinion states that it is “constitutionally impermissible” for state or non-state actors to “vilify or denigrate any community”. Many have expressed concerns that this could be used to impose further restrictions on free speech and artistic expression. But the judge has also observed that the effects of words must be judged from the standards of ordinary men of common sense and prudence, and not “on the basis of standards of people who always have a sense of insecurity, or of those who always perceive criticism as a threat to their power or position”. Free speech is the most critical element of a democracy, and there seems to be enough here for those who want to spin the opinion as pro-free speech or as anti-free speech. What is the broader context of this commentary, and what are its legal implications? Guest: Supreme Court advocate Deepak Joshi Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Mumbai hosted its first Climate Week, the spotlight is on how India's fast-growing cities will navigate the accelerating energy transition. Renewable power is now cheaper than ever, electric vehicles are expanding globally, and India has emerged as one of the world's largest generators of wind and solar energy. Yet the shift away from fossil fuels is proving uneven. Regulatory bottlenecks and financing gaps are slowing the pace of change even as electricity demand surges. That demand is set to climb further with the rapid expansion of AI and data centres, raising fresh questions about energy sources and long-term lock-ins. At the same time, Mumbai faces intensifying heatwaves, heavier rainfall and the long-term threat of sea-level rise, vulnerabilities that sit uneasily alongside large-scale infrastructure projects and rising air pollution levels. Urban planning choices made today, from coastal development to transport electrification, could determine whether the city builds climate resilience or compounds future risk. Can India's growth story remain compatible with its climate commitments? Will rising power demand from technology and infrastructure revive fossil fuel dependence, or accelerate clean electrification? Can India's financial capital turn climate pressure into an opportunity to lead? Guest: Helen Clarkson, CEO, Climate Group Host: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rare earth elements (REEs), a group of 17 minerals, have become central to global industry and geopolitics. They power electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, semiconductors, consumer electronics and advanced defence systems. While moderately abundant, they are difficult and expensive to extract and process. China has built overwhelming dominance in this sector, controlling nearly 90% of global processing and about 70% of production, despite holding only around 30% of global reserves. In 2025, China imposed a series of export restrictions on these elements, disrupting supply chains worldwide. Since then, supply restrictions have eased since then. For India, the vulnerability was stark. Despite holding around 8% of global reserves, the country produces less than 1% of global output and imports to meet its requirements. In a bod to increase domestic capacity, the government launched the ₹34,300-crore National Critical Mineral Mission in January last year, and followed up in the Union Budget this year. In her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government's plans to set up dedicated rare earth corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and manufacturing of Rare Earth Permanent Magnets. Can meaningfully reduce India's dependence on imports, strengthen strategic industries, and position the country as a serious player in global advanced-material supply chains? Guest: Shobhankita Reddy, Research analyst for the High Tech Geopolitics Programme, Takshashila Institute Host: Nivedita V Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Indian men's hockey team has begun 2026 — a year of major stakes — on a worrying note. Four matches in the Rourkela leg of the FIH Pro League ended in four defeats, including a humiliating 8–0 loss to Argentina. With the Asian Games in Japan and the Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium just months away, the results have raised uncomfortable questions. Are these early-season stumbles merely part of a longer preparation cycle, or do they point to serious issues in defence, goalkeeping, fitness and mentality? Should youngsters have been blooded in earlier? And how much pressure is mounting on coach Craig Fulton? In this episode of In Focus, we examine what went wrong in Rourkela, the search for stability in goal after P.R. Sreejesh, and why the core group of players who have been in the team for years need to be pulled up for the poor run of form. (Editor's note: This episode was recorded ahead of the Hobart leg of the FIH Pro League games) Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Guest: Uthra Ganesan, The Hindu's hockey correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week a landmark trial is underway in the United States, where Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram is being accused of deliberately getting young users addicted to its platforms. Google-owned YouTube is also part of the trial, which hinges on the mental health problems faced by a 20-year-old who has used social media and video content platforms since childhood. Two other similar trials are scheduled for later this year, as thousands of lawsuits blame social medial for the epidemic of mental health issues including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and suicide amongst young persons. So what does social medial really do to the young brain? Is its addiction similar to the addiction of other substances? And how can parents and youngsters safely navigate the increasingly digital and connected world we live in now? Guest: Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar Host: Zubeda hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his speech at the Munich Security Conference last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared the MAGA vision of American foreign policy -- which has been dubbed by some as ‘Make the West Great Again'. At one level, it marked a clear shift from the speech that Vice President JD Vance gave last year, when he accused Europe of suppressing freedom of speech and democracy. Rubio, in contrast, played up the shared history and civilisational values between the US and Europe. He painted a future where the West, under American leadership, will boldly assert itself as the dominant geopolitical force on the planet. He also spoke fondly of the five centuries of Western domination right up to the Second World War. What does the vision outlined by Rubio, and the seeming nostalgia for Western empire signify for the Global South? Does it mark the start of another phase of colonial-style extraction mounted on unilateralism and economic coercion? Where does a middle power like India figure in this scheme of things? Guest: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices