In Focus by The Hindu

Journalist and author Sandeep Menon explores the tactics, form and what to expect from the top contenders and underdogs to watch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup With the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off, the debate over who will lift football's biggest prize is intensifying. Are France truly the team to beat? Can challengers such as Spain, Argentina and Portugal dethrone them? Which dark horses and underdogs could spring a surprise in the tournament's new 48-team format? We discuss all these and also explore what it really takes to win a World Cup. Guest: Sandeep Menon, sports journalist and author Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bangladesh is at a critical political turning point under a BNP-led government. In this episode, we explore what the return of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party under Tarique Rahman means for political stability, governance, and institutions. We also examine India–Bangladesh relations, regional dynamics, and key economic challenges including inflation, reserves, and growth pressures. Guest: Avinash Paliwal, Author Host: Smriti Sudesh Edited and published by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, Indian policymakers have encouraged population control, with the familiar slogan of ‘Hum Do, Humare Do' (We two, our two). However, the recent drop in India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) — the average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime — has now dropped to 1.9, below the replacement rate of 2.1, with southern States seeing their TFR drop to 1.3. Last month, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced cash incentives of ₹30,000 and ₹40,000 to women having their third and fourth child respectively, in a bid to reverse that trend. Several other southern States have indicated that they also see the benefits of boosting population growth, though not through a cash payout. Should India incentivise bigger families? Guest: Aparajita Chattopadhyay and Neelanjan Sarkar Host: Priscilla Jebaraj Producer: Sharmada Venkatasubramian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foreign portfolio investors have taken out more than ₹2.6 lakh crore from Indian equities since January 2026. Aggregate foreign ownership in Indian stocks has fallen to 14.7% -- which is a 14-year low. But domestic investors have pumped in around ₹4.5 lakh crore in the same period – the main reason why the markets haven't collapsed due to the FPI withdrawals. What is driving the record foreign portfolio outflows? What does it mean for domestic investors – should they be worried? What should a domestic investor do in the light of this trend? Guest: Ashish Gupta, investment analyst, formerly Chief Investment Officer at Axis Mutual Fund. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer and editor: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India is going through a demographic transition. The proportion of its working age population is increasing, which means India has a great window of opportunity to boost economic growth – which is also known as the demographic dividend. But without good governance and the right policies, India could miss this narrowing window. In this episode, we unpack one question that could well determine India's economic future: Can we make our demographic dividend count, or will we, as a nation, grow old before we grow rich? Joining us today is well-known demographer Dr Apoorva Jadhav, who is a Non-resident Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Senior Fellow at the Population Reference Bureau, Washington, DC. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

R. Praggnanandhaa scripted one of the finest victories of his young career by becoming the first Indian to win Norway Chess, one of the world's most prestigious classical tournaments. The 20-year-old fought back from near the bottom of the standings midway through the event, won four games in a row, and beat Magnus Carlsen twice on his way to the title in the Norwegian great's own backyard. What makes Norway Chess different from other elite tournaments? How significant is this triumph for Praggnanandhaa? And how should we view Carlsen's poor showing in light of his recent performances? In this episode of In Focus, we also discuss the unique Armageddon format, the tournament's famous confessional booth, and the atmosphere surrounding one of the most innovative events on the global chess calendar. Guest: C. Shyam Sundar, Senior Assistant Editor, Sports Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Producer: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday, 21 people were killed in a massive fire at a south Delhi hotel. And the next day, five people perished in another fire in the ICU of a hospital in Bihar. Such incidents are becoming too frequent in India. The Delhi fire, in particular, has exposed huge gaps in the enforcement of basic fire safety and building norms. The Delhi government has now ordered all such commercial establishments in the area to be sealed, and it is reworking the law that governs Bed and Breakfast establishments. But is this too little too late? Is it enough to prevent such tragedies in the future? This accident raises many troubling questions, and joining us today are two reporters who were on the ground covering this tragedy for The Hindu, Shrimansi Kaushik and Suruchi Kumari. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer: Shiksha Jural Recorded by: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of In Focus, we speak with former diplomat Gurjit Singh about the evolution of India–Africa relations, China's expanding footprint across the continent, India's development partnership model, the role of the Indian diaspora in East Africa, and whether New Delhi has done enough to keep pace with Africa's growing geopolitical and economic importance. A wide-ranging conversation on diplomacy, strategy, and the future of the Global South. Why was the 4th India–Africa Forum Summit postponed, and what does the decade-long gap since the last summit reveal about India's engagement with Africa? Guest: Gurjit Singh, Former Ambassador of India to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia & the African Union Host: Aniket Singh Chauhan Producer: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If it's not one infectious disease, then it's another. This month, the world was rocked with reports of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. On May 16, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern' (PHEIC). So far, there have been 344 confirmed Ebola cases including 60 deaths in DRC, and 15 confirmed cases including one death in neighbouring Uganda. This time around, the outbreak has been caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. What is Ebola and why is there a high degree of concern about it? Do we have vaccines to treat Ebola? How concerned should India be, and what do we need to know as individuals? Guest: Dr. George M. Varghese, professor, infectious diseases, Christian Medical College, Vellore Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of this two-part interview, Pon Vasanth B.A., senior assistant editor with The Hindu, discusses with V. Geetha, feminist historian, translator and publisher, the campaign strategies used by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, the dominance of social media and campaign planners and the tendency to ridicule the supporters of Vijay as illiterates. She also talks about the implications of TVK's victory for the future of Tamil Nadu's politics, the "Dravidian consensus" and the unaddressed concerns of the Dalits in Tamil Nadu. Host: Pon Vasanth B.A., senior assistant editor, The Hindu Guest: V. Geetha, feminist historian, translator and publisher Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part one of this two-part interview, Pon Vasanth B.A., senior assistant editor with The Hindu, asks V. Geetha, feminist historian, translator and publisher, about her reading of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's victory in the 2026 Assembly election that stunned many. She shares her thoughts on how Vijay's win represents a "contingent moment", the shortcomings of the DMK and the AIADMK, the shrewdness of the TVK's campaign and other factors that played a role in this electoral outcome. Host: Pon Vasanth B.A., senior assistant editor, The Hindu Guest: V. Geetha, feminist historian, translator and publisher Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2026 Indian Premier League season ended with Royal Challengers Bengaluru becoming only the third team in tournament history to successfully defend their title, with a dominant victory over Gujarat Titans in the final.But beyond RCB's emergence as the league's newest powerhouse, the season also sparked debates about the balance between bat and ball, the diminishing impact of spin on increasingly flat pitches, and the growing challenge of keeping contests competitive in a high-scoring era. At the same time, teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as the breakout star of the tournament, while veterans Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar showed their enduring value on the biggest stage. In this episode of In Focus, we discuss the biggest talking points of the 2026 IPL season. Guest: Amol Karhadkar, deputy editor, sports Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have frequent panic attacks? Are there behaviour patterns that you know you need to change but you can't? Is your day to day life ruled by fear? Then it's possible – though not a certainty – that you're displaying symptoms of trauma. According to govt estimates, more than 15 crore live with a mental health condition, and four out of five receive no treatment. Trauma, in particular, is a silent epidemic in India. What is trauma? How does it impact life and relationships? And what are the pathways to healing? A new book, titled ‘Trauma Nation: Fighting India's Silent Epidemic' explores all these questions. It also includes detailed – and inspiring -- case studies of trauma survivors. We speak with the author of ‘Trauma Nation', Nishtha Lamba, Associate Professor of Psychology at Middlesex University, Dubai. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Prisoners do not cease to be bearers of constitutional rights upon incarceration." — The Supreme Court, in a February 2026 order, was pointed in its language as it directed States and UTs to develop a time-bound protocol for filling vacancies in Open Correctional Institutions (OCIs). The Delhi government has since been tasked to start work on an implementation strategy to restructure the open prison model in the national capital. The apex court's mandate came on a PIL addressing prison overcrowding, but in doing so, it opened a larger question about what punishment itself means in a constitutional democracy. If India were to finally scale up and reform its open prison model, could it meaningfully dent the overcrowding crisis? Or is the more urgent question whether OCIs need to be seen as far more deliberate spaces where the metrics go beyond just occupancy? Guest: Medha Deo, Director, Fair Trail Programme (Square Circle Clinic)  Host: Vibha B. Madhava Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On May 17, the President promulgated an ordinance increasing the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges. The ordinance is expected to be tabled during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The move came just days after the Union Cabinet approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, stating that the addition of four judges would enable the apex court to function more efficiently and facilitate “speedy justice”. According to data from the National Judicial Data Grid, pendency before the apex court currently stands at a staggering 93,966 cases. Is increasing the Supreme Court's sanctioned strength an effective way to reduce pendency? Guest: Prashant Reddy T. and Swapnil Tripathi discuss the question in a conversation Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meta has ended support for end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram, effective May 8, 2026. The policy reversal, citing low adoption, comes against a backdrop of mounting regulatory pressure worldwide to crack down on illegal content — terrorism, piracy, child abuse material — exchanged through encrypted channels. The implications stretch well beyond one platform or a rarely-used feature. When private messages are plaintext, the questions of who can access them and under what circumstances become critical. This episode also unpacks what it means for ordinary users, beyond the privacy-versus-safety framing. Guest: Mishi Choudhary, technology lawyer and founder of Software Freedom Law Centre (sflc.in) Host: Vibha B. Madhava Producer: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The CBSE has been facing flak for its re-evaluation process for Class 12 Board exams this year. Parents and students have complained of a dysfunctional website, blurred answer sheets, and missing pages. At the heart of the controversy is the newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM), with thousands of complaints of unfair evaluation and faulty marking. The education minister has announced that the CBSE will engage IIT experts to address the technical challenges. But are technical glitches the only problem? We get to the bottom of the controversy in this episode, and joining us today are two special guests – a CBSE evaluator, and a parent.  Guests: Kavita Sharma (name changed), is a teacher in a government CBSE school who worked as an evaluator this year using On-Screen marking. On Kavita's request, to protect her identity, we have not used her real name or her video in this episode.  Mohit Tomar, parent of a Class 12 student, has spent much of last week trying to get his son's exam papers re-evaluated. Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to a global heat map that recently went viral, almost 95 of the world's 100 hottest places were in India. This summer, Indian cities are recording higher temperatures than even the deserts of West Asia and Africa. How come?  Climate change is certainly a factor. But it doesn't exhaust the explanation for why India is so much hotter in April – even before the start of peak summer.  Though there is global warming, there is evidence that a lot of the warming is specific to India, and to the way India does development – through reckless tree-felling and deforestation, unchecked ecocide, and stacking up tree-scarce cities with cement, concrete, asphalt and glass to produce ‘urban heat islands'.  What exactly is the relationship between poor planning and heat stress in India? And what does it mean to incorporate heat resilience into urban planning?  Guest: Environmental expert Karthik Ganesan, Fellow at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Delhi Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India has 30-35 million people with disabilities. It's now ten years since the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Yet, accessibility remains a challenge – not only in the real world, but even in the digital one. Most government websites have accessibility issues – meaning people with disabilities can't fully use them. As India digitalises across public services, finance, education, and employment, inclusion cannot be an afterthought. Yet, inaccessible platforms and non-inclusive systems continue to limit equitable participation of persons with disabilities. On the eve of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (May 21), we discuss what digital inclusion really means in today's AI-led digital landscape. What are the gaps that the disabled face in India, and what will it take to build inclusion into systems from the get go? Guest: Diwakar Menon, Member of the Board at the Association of People with Disability, Bengaluru. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The cancellation and retest of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 has exposed deep cracks in India's examination system. Allegations of paper leaks, corruption and repeated lapses by the National Testing Agency (NTA) has pushed lakhs of aspirants into uncertainty, stress and emotional exhaustion, raising urgent questions about transparency, accountability and the credibility of national competitive exams. The Hindu looks at whether this high-stake, single day, single shift, all- India exam for admission to all medical courses in India should be decentralized. Guests: Dr. G.R. Ravindranath, founder and general secretary, Doctors' Association for Social Equality & Balaji Sampath, founder, AhaGuru, prepares students for NEET, JEE and Board exam through online courses. Host: Bindu Shajan Perappadan Producer: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abhijeet Dipke, a student of public relations in the US, woke up from uneasy dreams one morning and found himself transformed into a ‘gigantic cockroach'. He then founded the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), as a joke. But it quickly acquired a momentum of its own. In less than four days, it notched up more than 1.6 lakh members and 2 million followers on Instagram. What makes the CJP interesting is its popularity and connect among India's Gen Z. Can it develop into a platform that gives voice to the grievances of India's youth? Is it a flash in the pan? Can it make a political impact? We speak with the man behind the CJP phenomenon, Abhijeet Dipke. Guest: Abhijeet Dipke, Founding President - Cockroach Janta Party Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer: Shiksha Jural and Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the 2026 IPL heads toward its playoffs, questions are growing around whether the tournament still holds the same cultural grip it once did. While the league remains hugely valuable and widely watched, concerns around viewer fatigue, repetitive contests, lack of international superstars and the changing audience habits have sparked debate about the IPL's evolving appeal. In this episode of In Focus, we examine how IPL consumption patterns have changed over the years — from television to streaming, from full-match viewing to highlights and short-form content. Are flatter pitches and content saturation affecting fan engagement? And what must the IPL do to stay fresh in an increasingly crowded entertainment landscape? Guest: Jasdeep Pannu, broadcast expert and analyst Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump's latest remarks on Iran and the sudden shift in U.S. messaging have once again placed West Asia on edge. Reports suggest key Gulf allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, played a role in pushing for diplomacy over immediate military escalation. But is this a temporary pause or the beginning of a larger geopolitical confrontation? 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

India's largest medical entrance examination, NEET, is once again at the centre of a national discussion. Conducted for more than 20 lakh aspirants in a single sitting, the exam represents one of the biggest logistical exercises in India's education system involving the printing, transport and storage of millions of physical question papers across thousands of centres. For years, the National Testing Agency defended the single-shift pen-and-paper format as the “fairest” method of assessment. But recurring allegations of paper leaks and organised cheating networks have raised serious questions about whether the very scale of the system has now become its biggest vulnerability. Following the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 and the announcement of a re-examination, the Union Education Minister has said the exam will shift to a fully computer-based format from next year. But will CBT actually solve the deeper structural problems behind examination leaks? Is India prepared for a transition of this scale? And why do students continue to bear the emotional burden of institutional failures? In this episode, we unpack these questions and examine the growing debate around examination security, public trust, accountability and the future of high-stakes testing in India. Guest: Dr. Bibhu Anand, Chief Adviser, Federation of All India Medical Association Host: Devyanshi Bihani Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two-day Trump–Xi summit in Beijing marked the first U.S. presidential visit to China in nearly nine years, bringing global attention to the future of U.S.-China relations.In this discussion, we break down the key takeaways from the summit, from trade and technology tensions to Iran, Taiwan, rare earth supplies, and the larger geopolitical implications for India and the Indo-Pacific. Guest: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondent, The Hindu' Host: Smriti Sudesh Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of slow-moving negotiations, India's trade policy has shifted gears. Over the past three and a half years, the country has signed a string of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to increase market access for Indian goods and services. The latest, with New Zealand, may appear modest in isolation, but it is significant when looking at what has been happening over the last five to six years.  While it is true that New Zealand accounts for less than 1% of India's total trade, this FTA comes on the back of a series of successful trade deals with several countries. India has signed, or closed trade negotiations, seven other trade agreements in the past three and a half years or so. These include agreements with Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, the EFTA nations, the U.K., the EU, Oman. New Delhi has also sealed a trade deal with the U.S.  Taken together, these agreements suggest a shift from earlier FTAs, especially after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and wider geopolitical tensions. Older deals, such as those with South Korea or ASEAN economies, tended to involve broader tariff cuts across sectors, with the expectation that greater openness would increase trade. The newer agreements are more focused on sectors where India is competitive, along with revised tariff structures and stricter rules of origin. They also place greater emphasis on services, professional mobility, investment, and supply-chain diversification.  Guest: Arpita Mukherjee, Professor, ICRIER Host: Nivedita Varadarajan Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the recent electoral setbacks faced by two of the largest constituents of the INDIA bloc, the DMK and the TMC, there is renewed debate over the future of Opposition politics in India. Do these developments signal a turning point for the INDIA bloc, or are they part of a longer structural shift in Indian politics? T Is this the end of the road for the INDIA bloc? Here, we discuss the question. Guests: Prof. KK Kailash, Professor and former HOD of Political Science at the University of Hyderabad; Yashwant Deshmukh, Founder-Director of C-Voter Host: Sobhana K Nair Producer: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the second time in a couple of days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the public to take some austerity measures: reduce fuel consumption, defer gold purchases, reduce foreign travel and consume less edible oil and fertilisers. “The West Asia crisis is one of the worst in the decade; just as we overcame the COVID-19 pandemic, we will come out of this also,” he said while addressing an audience in Vadodara on May 11, 2026. On May 10, 2026, he called for collective participation to help the country withstand global economic uncertainties, supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures. He asked the public to reduce petrol and diesel consumption, promote the use of metro rail and public transport, car-pooling, and railway transport for freight movement, besides wider adoption of electric vehicles. He also spoke about strengthening India's economic resilience and promoting responsible living. How worried should we be? Guest: Prof. B. Bhagwan Das, Former Associate Professor of Economics, Loyola College, Chennai Host: Nivedita V Producer and editor: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former India coach and Olympian U. Vimal Kumar joins the podcast to discuss India's Thomas Cup campaign, player recognition, squad depth concerns and badminton's new scoring system. India returned from the Thomas Cup in Denmark with a bronze medal, its second podium finish in the last three editions of badminton's premier men's team event. But despite another strong campaign on the world stage, the achievement received surprisingly little attention back home, prompting sharp reactions from players about the lack of recognition for their sporting achievements in India.In this episode of In Focus, we look into India's Thomas Cup run, the rise of young talent like Ayush Shetty, concerns over squad depth in singles and doubles, and the controversy surrounding the semifinal match order against France. We also discuss the Badminton World Federation's decision to introduce the new 15-point scoring system from 2027 and whether it is actually good for the sport. Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new health scare made headlines this week, after three persons died and several others fell sick aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The infection in this case, was hantavirus, something most people have not heard of. Passengers from the stricken ship disembarked today after it docked at the Canary islands, and are flying back to their home countries, many of which are imposing quarantine requirements. The World Health Organization, which has been keeping tabs on this situation has recommended, but not mandated a 42-day quarantine once the passengers have landed. It has also said there is no cause for panic as this not another Covid-19 like situation and the overall risk to the general public is low. But what is hantavirus, who is at risk of contracting it and how is it treated? Guest: Dr Neha Rastogi Panda,  senior consultant, infectious diseases, Fortis Hospital, Gurugram Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer & editor: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of In Focus podcast, London's Lady Mayor Dame Susan Langley speaks with The Hindu's Maharashtra Chief of Bureau Vinaya Deshpande about her maiden visit to India, the voices she heard from the financial and insurance service industry, and the opportunities for both the countries in view of the India – UK Free Trade Agreement. She is only the third woman to hold the Lord Mayor's Office in its 837-year history, and she is the first to go by the title of Lady Mayor. She is the global ambassador for the UK's financial and professional services. The Lady Mayor's key observation is that regulation can be simplified in India. She also highlighted that there is a lack of understanding in the UK about the potential of the Indian markets. Beyond the implementation of the FTA, she thinks there is need to lead conversations about successful case studies and real stories of businesses from both the sides, to make people invest. Terming her visit to UIDAI as one of the most interesting meetings in India, she said she was impressed with India's Aadhaar roll-out. She said that though UK wants to look at a universal ID system, she was not sure if the country will follow up on Aadhaar. Batting for diversity and inclusion in the financial services, she put the onus equally on women to step up and seek challenging roles. Guest: Dame Susan Langley, lady Mayor of London Host: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Video: Aditya Shirsekar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court of India recently asked the Central government to amend the abortion law to remove the time limit on medical terminations of unwanted pregnancies in the case of minor rape victims. While this was observation was made while hearing the case of a 15-year-old rape survivor to terminate a 30-week pregnancy, it throws up broader questions of abortion access in India. While in general there is a belief is that abortion is legal and easily available, the ground reality is a little different. Abortion is legal only under certain circumstances and given certain conditions – it is not freely available to anyone who chooses to have it. Access to it is also uneven and patchy across the country. It also not permitted, unless there is severe foetal anomaly or a risk to the mother's life, beyond 24 weeks. Over the past decade or so, hundreds of cases have ended up in court seeking terminations on unwanted pregnancy. Why is this happening? Is there a case to be made to lift time limits altogether? And do we, in India, need to move from a criminal framework for a health service to a health and rights -based framework? Guests: Prof Dipika Jain, Executive Dean & Professor of Law, Director, Centre for Justice, Law and Society, Jindal Global Law School; Dr Alka Barua, Abortion Theme Lead and Steering Committee member, CommonHealth India Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election has delivered a verdict few anticipated. A political landscape long defined by the alternating dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has been decisively disrupted. At the centre of this churn is the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by C. Joseph Vijay, which has emerged as the single largest party in its electoral debut, falling short of a majority, but clearly ahead of both Dravidian majors. The scale of the upset is hard to overstate. The sitting Chief Minister, M. K. Stalin, has lost his own seat. The AIADMK has ceded ground even in its traditional western strongholds. And the Bharatiya Janata Party, despite its national prominence, has seen its presence in the State shrink dramatically. What we are witnessing is not just a reshuffling of seats, but a deeper churn in voter preferences, one that appears to cut across caste, region, and established party loyalties. So how should we read this verdict? Is this simply a wave election driven by anti-incumbency and a charismatic new entrant, or does it signal a more fundamental realignment in Tamil Nadu's politics? Are we looking at the weakening of identity-driven mobilization that has long underpinned Dravidian parties, or its reinvention through a new political vehicle? And what does this mean for the future of the State's political order? Guest: R. Kannan, political analyst and author of MGR: A Life, The DMK Way, and The Life and Times of C. N. Annadurai Host: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The assembly election results have sharply changed the political landscape in India, with the BJP set to form a government on its own for the first time in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee, the three-term chief minister often spoken of as the ‘real' Opposition leader to the BJP, has ended up losing her own seat. In Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) a two-year-old political start-up, has emerged as the single largest party, leaving both the Dravidian behemoths, DMK and the AIADMK, in the dust. TVK chief and actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay is expected to become the next Chief Minister, though questions remain about government formation. While the Congress-led UDF returned to power in Kerala, the NDA retained power in Assam and Puducherry. How do we read these mandates? What do the outcomes mean for the BJP, for the Opposition, and the Indian polity as a whole? Guest: Anand Mishra, Political Editor, Frontline. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer and Editor: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Negotiations between the United States and Iran have stalled due to deep disagreements over Iran's nuclear program, economic sanctions, and regional influence. The U.S. wants stricter limits on uranium enrichment, while Iran demands sanctions relief. Mistrust built over decades, especially after the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, has made compromise difficult. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East further complicate efforts to reach a stable agreement. Guest: Stanly Johny Host: Smriti Sudesh Producer: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know by now that extreme heat can impact pregnancies in many ways. And with climate change contributing to extreme heat in India – and with parts of the country already reeling under scorching heat – this has become a significant health concern. But what do we know about temperature and its link with sex ratio at birth? Can exposure to intense heat during pregnancy influence whether you have a boy or a girl? A recent research paper seems to suggest it might – it shows that high temperatures in the months before birth, could be linked with fewer male births. Guest: Jasmin Abdel Ghany, Nuffield Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellow in Sociology, Nuffield College, Oxford and lead author of the research paper Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is India's middle class facing an economic crisis? A new book, ‘Breakpoint: The Crisis of the Middle Class and the Future of Work' by Saurabh Mukherjea says that it is. It argues that three factors have upended the consumption-driven model that powered the prosperity of India's middle class since 1991. These are: technological disruption eliminating white collar job creation, wage stagnation eroding purchasing power, and explosive household debt, which exceeds levels seen in US and China. At the same time, India's graduate unemployment stands at 29%. If the middle class is in crisis, what does it mean for the India growth story? Will AI lead to a total collapse, or will it help in a positive transformation? Can the middle class dig itself out of its current hole? We speak with the author of Breakpoint, Saurabh Mukherjea. Host: G Sampath Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is facing a crisis. Seven of its 10 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, led by Raghav Chadha, have joined the BJP. Mr Chadha has framed this move as a “merger” with the BJP. Rajya Sabja Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan has already accepted the ‘merger' claim. AAP's strength in the Rajya Sabha has dwindled from 10 to 3.  AAP leaders have called this merger ‘illegal'. They want the seven MPs to be disqualified under the anti-defection provisions of the law. It is expected that they will take the matter to court.  Are the anti-defection provisions of the Tenth Schedule inadequate? Will a legal challenge from AAP prove successful? And what are the political implications of this loss for the AAP in Punjab? We speak with political commentator Neerja Chowdhury. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Public Interest Litigation (PIL) emerged in the 1970s as a transformative judicial innovation aimed at widening access to justice for the poor and marginalised. This was achieved by relaxing the strict rules of standing to permit representative actions, and by broadening the scope of judicial notice to allow courts to take suo motu cognisance of public issues and convert them into litigation. Over time, however, concerns have been raised about the misuse of this jurisdiction for partisan ends. More recently, during the ongoing proceedings in the Sabarimala reference case, the Union government has urged the Supreme Court to reconsider the PIL framework altogether, citing the rise of “agenda-driven litigation.” Does the PIL jurisdiction need to be reconsidered? Here, we discuss the question. Guest: Anuj Bhuwania and Talha Abdul Rahman Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik Producer: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know that India is one of the most unequal societies on the planet. But most debates around inequality are focussed on wealth and income inequality. But there is another form of inequality that isn't talked about much – temporal inequality. How much time a person spends waiting – determines how much time she has for other life-critical activities. In India, it is the poor who spend more time waiting in queues – waiting for essential services like healthcare, rations, and in government offices. Digitisation was supposed to fix this by cutting waiting time. But has it done so? Or has ‘Digital India' benefited the already time-rich, while further depleting the resources of the poor? Is this lopsided digital governance by accident, or by design? Guest: Ankush Pal, a sociologist trained at the London School of Economics, who works on urban spatiality, caste epistemology, and social movements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The recent allegations of sexual harassment by eight female employees in Tata Consultancy Services' (TCS) office in Nashik has brought renewed attention to workplace safety and grievance redressals of sexual harassment complaints. In this episode, Advocate Geeta Rameshashan joins us to discuss how the PoSH Act works, the limitations of internal committees, and what prevents women from reporting sexual harassment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By the time farmers in Haryana were ready to head to the anaj mandis (grain markets) to sell their Rabi harvest, the rules of entry had been revised. The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board's March 28 directive introduced a new set of conditions for crop procurement — mandatory registration on the 'Meri Fasal Mera Byora' portal, Aadhaar-based biometric verification, and vehicle number registration via the e-Kharid app. The State government says the measures are aimed at curbing fraud and improving transparency. Farmers see it as a bureaucratic maze that, whether by intent or effect, slows the procurement process to a point where the Minimum Support Price (MSP) becomes harder, and sometimes impossible, to claim.On April 11, farmers staged demonstrations across the State, calling for the compliance burden to be re-evaluated. Can digital governance work if it places the weight of reform on the farmer? When the State modernises to fix systemic fraud, who pays the price? Host: Vibha B. Madhava Guest: G.S. Mann, member of the India chapter of the Global Farmer Network and a former journalist. Producer: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekender episode, Adrian Wolfson talks us about his new book titled On the Future of Species. Artificial intelligence, he says, one day, could surpass Darwin's evolutionary narrative on natural selection, and in this new world, he predicts AI not just editing, but authoring entirely new species using what he calls artificial biological intelligence. While we have managed to piece together the genomes of simple organisms like viruses, we will eventually write out the genome of our own species to help eradicate disease and lengthen our lifespan. Along the way, he says, we could even resurrect the extinct woolly mammoth and the dodo. The book is both dystopian and full of hope. Tune in to know how AI can reshape the future of species. Host: Divya Gandhi Producer: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Workers in the industrial belts of the NCR region and beyond have been agitating for better wages since February 2026 On April 13, a protest in Noida over salary disparities descended into violence. Around 50 vehicles were burn. Police resorted to lathi-charge. Over 300 workers were arrested. Many are still in jail, and serious charges have been framed against them. Trade union activists have claimed that the workers were demonstrating peacefully and had no incentive to resort to violence. State governments are mandated to revise the minimum wage rate every five years. But the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments hadn't done so for over 10 years. But now, following the workers' protests, they have announced modest hikes. What really went down on April 13 in the Noida strike? What has been the on-ground impact of the four new Labour Codes notified by the government? How challenging it is for workers in India to agitate peacefully for their rights? Guest: Shreya Ghosh from the Centre for Struggling Trade Unions (CSTU) Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Edited and produced by: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since March, the country has witnessed a number of agitations by workers, particularly by those in manufacturing sector. In the background of these protests for minimum wages, for expansion of social security ambit and against contractualisation of jobs, the role of trade unions have come up for discussion. There have been concerns about the impact of deunionisation on the workers. In this episode of In Focus-Parley, we discuss the issue of deunionisation and woes of workers Guests: Kingshuk Sarkar, Professor and Area Chair for general management and economics, Goa Institute of Management; Fredy K Thazhath, National President, Trade Union Centre of India. Host: Jigeesh AM Producer: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India now operates the third-largest metro network in the world by length. But can scale alone make a transit system transformative? This episode explores whether the metros across 26 cities are being built to serve the larger needs of urban mobility. We discuss what must align for metro networks to evolve from landmark infrastructure into the preferred, everyday choice for how most people move through their cities — from last-mile connectivity and station area design, to fare policy and unified transport authorities. Further, if all of this can bridge the gap between metro ambition and impact. Guest:  Shalini Sinha, Professor of Faculty Planning at CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and Centre Head of the Centre of Excellence in Urban Transport (CoE-UT) Host: Vibha B. Madhava Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On March 20 this year, the patent for semaglutide, which is the active ingredient of blockbuster drug Ozempic, expired in India. The country was ready: nearly 40 generics are either in the market now or will be out soon. The story of Ozempic and weight-loss drugs falling under the GLP-1 category, is now a few years old, though studies continue to research how these drug impact the human body. Up until now, its costs had put it out of the reach of most Indians. That has changed now, with the costs of the generics much lower than that of the original. In a country where nearly a quarter of the population is either overweight or obese and where 1 in 10 adults live with diabetes, how is this going to impact obesity and diabetes treatment? And should these drugs be all we rely on? Listen in. Guest: Dr. V. Mohan, chairman, Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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