In Focus by The Hindu
A podcast from The Hindu that delves deep into current developments with subject experts, and brings in context, history, perspective and analysis.
Episodes
Anti-SIR protests: Springboard for an Opposition comeback?
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said there are “no parallel protests”, there is only one protest – demanding the rollback of SIR, and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Leaders from almost every INDIA bloc party joined the Congress-led march to the Supreme Court on Monday, drawing massive crowds from all over the country.
Has the alleged ‘vote chori’ issue finally mana
New research has linked 12% of cancer cases to infections: what does this mean?
We’re used to thinking of cancer as something for which there is no known cause and we know that risk factors include using tobacco and excessive alcohol as well as obesity. And while of these factors are true, what we may not have realised is that infections could also, in some cases, lead to cancers. A new study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer or IARC, has now found
Central Delhi lockdown: How did Jantar Mantar turn a protest site?
All roads, it seems, lead to the good old Jantar Mantar. Or do they, considering many of them are closed these days. Built in 1724, Jantar Mantar was not always the preferred site for anyone with a prayer, petition or protest on mind. The protest sites at various times in the past were at Boat Club where one remembers anti cow slaughter protests some 50 years ago followed by those during the Babri
Election Commission Controversy: Who authorised the modified Form 6?
The big Election Commission of India (ECI) story that made headlines this week is the Form 6 controversy. Who authorised the modifications to Form 6, which is used for enrolling new voters?
The Election Commission has been claiming all along that the changes had the Supreme court’s approval. But on October 5th, the Supreme Court clarified that it had not approved any Form 6 modifications. Does th
In Focus-Parley | Are legal guarantees insufficient in abolishing untouchability?
In August this year, the performance of a "purification" ritual by certain Hindu groups in Uttarakhand, at the location where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who belongs to a Dalit community, addressed a public rally, led to a national conversation on the practice of untouchability. This discourse was shaped as Opposition Congress leaders accused the ruling BJP dispensation of practicing ca
From AI to Super Intelligence: Trump's new American AI Agenda
On September 29, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the country's top technology business leaders as he embarked on a project to rename artificial intelligence (AI) as "Super Intelligence" and "SI”.
There, he announced the White House Accord on Super Intelligence, which was signed by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, XAI CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jen
Is NCERT Rewriting Medieval Indian History for Class 9?
Last week the NCERT revised its book on medieval history for Class 9 students. The book, Understanding Society: India and Beyond, presents a long span of 700 years from 1000 AD to 1700 as one of resistance and resilience, a period when the Rajputs, the Jats, the Sikhs and the Ahoms resisted foreign invasions. The period is presented as the one in which the "Indian society not only defended itself
Can India make cancer care more affordable?
The Supreme Court has called out the rampant profiteering in the healthcare sector, including cancer medication. Terming the overpricing of essential cancer medicines as “broad, daylight dacoity”, the court said, “This is carnage. Plain and simple. The cancer drug is priced at an MRP of Rs 27,000 despite being supplied to retailers for Rs 2,700.” Ten times higher markup! It also suggested capping
Kaziranga’s Eco-sensitive Zone: What could a smaller buffer mean for wildlife and development?
Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is at the centre of a debate over how much protection should extend beyond its boundaries. The Assam government has proposed a site-specific Eco-Sensitive Zone of around 1-3 km in different stretches, replacing the 10-km buffer currently applicable to Kaziranga.
In this episode, we unpack what an Eco-Sensitive Zone actually does, why these zo
U.S.-China : A new superpower détente?
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met last week for a summit aimed at easing tensions between the world’s two largest economies. The meeting produced agreements on trade and rare earths, along with unusually warm public messaging from both sides. But major differences over Taiwan, technology and the broader strategic rivalry remain.
The summit comes at a time when Mr. T
In Focus-Parley | Should ECI take action against those filing forms for mass deletions?
As Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls Phase 3 unfolds, a surge in Form 7 applications, the mechanism for seeking deletion of names, in Karnataka has raised an alarm. More than 4,000 such forms were filed in the state, with 1,363 in one place coming from just ten electors, many reportedly targeting Muslim names. Uttarakhand has seen objections filed in an ERO’s name without his knowledge
Can India’s cities rise to the looming demographic challenge?
India is entering a demographic window of opportunity. For the next 15 years or so, our ratio of our working age population to the dependent population will be the highest. This is a historic opportunity to convert this demographic dividend into economic dividend.Now, cities are the engines of economic growth. To make our demographic dividend count, we need to create urban dividend. This basically
India vs Brazil: Is the spectacle worth the cost?
Joy Bhattacharjya discusses the scale and cost of organising the fixture, India’s decision to prioritise Brazil over the ASEAN Cup and the wider debate over the AIFF’s priorities Brazil are coming to India for a high-profile friendly in Kolkata, but what does the game really mean for Indian football? The high costs involved and India's decision to pull out of the inaugural ASEAN Cup to accommodate
From KYC to AI models: Is India losing its digital sovereignty?
Technology, and especially AI, are no longer just a tool for humans. Today they control our choices, shape our daily routines, and determine how we invest our energies. This is true at the level of the individual, and also at the level of the nation-state.
While at the individual level, the key question concerns freedom, for the nation-state, it’s more about sovereignty – does India get to indepe
Weekend Bonus episode | Where have the birds gone? with Asad Rahmani
In this special weekend bonus episode, we have a crossover with the Hindu's Rearview podcast.
Common birds are no longer common. Rural landscapes now host fewer Black Drongos and Indian Rollers; Nightjars call less frequently from the edges of forests; Black-shouldered Kites perch less often on telegraph wires; Eagles are scarcer in the skies; and Harriers patrol protected grasslands in dwindling
Should ongoing SIR be junked and pre-SIR voter rolls restored
From the beginning, civil society and section of political parties have questioned an exercise of such enormous scale, one that was presented as an effort to clean up the electoral rolls and identify suspected foreign nationals, but has already led to more than 13 crore names being deleted at the draft stage.Those concerns have now moved beyond the SIR, into the functioning of the Election Commiss
In Focus-Parley | Should permanent membership and veto powers of the UN Security Council be abolished?
In the ongoing session of the UN General Assembly, France has made a proposal to enhance the functioning of the UN, especially in dealing with the requirement for collective security and the use of veto. France has been advocating that the use of veto in the UN Security Council should be “regulated” when it comes to dealing with humanitarian criss, like in Sudan or in Lebanon or genocide. France b
How will the tussle within the Tata Group play out?
The Tata Group is facing its most consequential governance crisis in decades. N. Chandrasekaran, who had announced his departure, has now been reappointed by the Tata Sons board, even as the Tata Trusts, which control 66% of the holding company, challenge that decision. At stake is more than a chairman or a listing: it is a contest over who controls India’s largest business house, how its governan
Can India Keep Buying Russian Oil Amid US Pressure?
Why is India continuing to buy Russian crude despite growing pressure from the United States? And what happens if Washington imposes steep tariffs on Indian exports over those purchases?
In this episode of The Hindu’s InFocus, we spoke to Professor Anuradha Chenoy, Adjunct Professor at the Jindal School of International Affairs and former Dean and Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School
Bonus episode: How the UAE projects power across the Gulf and beyond
In this special bonus episode at In Focus we have a special crossover episode featuring the Hindu's Global Faultlines podcast with Sharmada Venkatasubramanian and Stanly Johny.
The UAE has emerged as one of the most influential powers in West Asia, using diplomacy, trade, investment and strategic partnerships to extend its influence far beyond the Gulf. But its relationships with Saudi Arabia, I
Longing for an Elsewhere: the cultural impulses of our Development Model
In this episode of In Focus Weekend Podcast, we speak to Chandan Gowda, a noted sociologist. He is currently the Dean of School of Liberal Arts, Vidyashilp University, Bengaluru. He has formerly worked with National Law School of India University Bengaluru, Azim Premji University and Institute of Social and Economic Change.
His recent book "Longing for an Elsewhere: Mysore and the making of Indi
2026 Asian Games: Can India improve on its best ever medals tally from 2023?
The 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou saw India’s best ever performance – we came back with 107 medals, including 28 gold medals, and we finished fourth on the medals table, behind only China, Japan and South Korea.
The 2026 Asian Games will officially kick off in from September 19, and the big question is: can improve on its performance?
In this episode, we preview ’s prospects, and joining us is Ut
Does the BRICS summit signify a shift for Indian foreign policy?
With a strong pushback against unilateral western sanctions; criticism of Israel over the killing of civilians, the attacks on Lebanon, and the forced occupation of Palestinian territory; and support for United Nations reform as well as a BRICS payment mechanism, the New Delhi Declaration of 2026 has been likened to India’s foreign policy from its non-aligned past. But was it a compromise by New D
Saving the Western Ghats | Part 2
The Western Ghats in India is a mountain range that is considered next only to the Himalayas in terms of being a biological treasure trove with a high degree of endemism and scenic beauty. It has also been declared as one of the world’s hotspots of biodiversity. However, in recent times, it has been in the news for threats to its unique ecosystem, especially with every episode of an ecological dis
Is BRICS coming of age?
The recent BRICS summit in New Delhi, held under India’s presidency, brought together an expanded grouping at a time of major geopolitical and economic shifts. The summit sought to deepen cooperation among its members while navigating their often divergent strategic interests.
West Asia, in particular, posed a significant diplomatic challenge. The New Delhi Declaration addressed the situation in
Exclusive | Is the United Nations broken?: Antonio Guterres on reforming the world body
The Security Council is paralysed, and Superpowers haven’t recognized there are limits to their power says UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in his most scathing comments about the culture of “impunity” and divisiveness that besets global leadership.
This episode, we have an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, the UNSG, who demits office at the end of the year weighed i
Hugging Face attack: Can ‘rogue agents’ bring about AI Armageddon?
Doomsday scenarios of an ‘AI takeover’ have been part of popular lore for a long time. Skynet, Terminator, and Agent Smith are fictional icons of this narrative. What may seem a paranoid fantasy appears to have unfolded in real life, with the recent hacking incident involving AI infrastructure platform, Hugging Face.
OpenAI was conducting a cyber-evaluation of some of its AI models, and according
Iran takes escalation dominance
The Iran war has entered another dangerous phase, with the confrontation between Tehran and Washington increasingly spilling into the Persian Gulf. Iran has stepped up attacks on shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. has intensified efforts to restrict Iranian oil exports. At the same time, questions over Iran’s nuclear programme remain unresolved, and tensions are rising across Leb
Should the use of Gen AI be banned among younger students in schools?
Recently, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a one-year moratorium on generative AI tools for public school students through Class 8 for the 2026-27 academic year. Officials argued that young children require human connection and independent problem-solving skills instead of relying on algorithms. Should the use of Gen AI be banned among younger students?
Guests: Lavina Jaswani a
Saving the Western Ghats
The Western Ghats in India is a mountain range that is considered next only to the Himalayas in terms of being a
biological treasure trove with a high degree of endemism and scenic
beauty. It has also been declared as one of the world’s hotspots of biodiversity. However, in recent times, it has been in the news for threats to its unique ecosystem, especially with every episode of an ecological di
OBC reservations: Should ‘creamy layer’ be junked in favour of sub-categorisation?
The implementation of the creamy layer doctrine for OBC reservations has been beset with complications. A Supreme Court judgement on March 11 essentially held that Union government has been doing it all wrong all these years, and that their income/wealth test was subjecting a section of OBC applicants to “hostile discrimination”.
The Supreme court gave the government six months to implement its o
Bonus episode: Is Israel winning?
This is a special bonus episode featuring the Hindu's Global Faultlines podcast where Sharmada venkatausbramanian is in conversation with Stanly Johny.
Israel has fought multiple wars and military campaigns since October 7, in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, while expanding its military and intelligence operations across the region. But military reach does not necessarily translate into strategic victor
What are cancer 'vaccines' and will they revolutionise treatment?
There’s been a lot of excitement in the cancer research field recently. Preliminary results from a trial with patients who had melanoma or skin cancer, showed that a ‘cancer vaccine’ had been successful in reducing the recurrence of melanoma tumours. This vaccine, called instamaren autogene, is based on mRNA technology – the same tech that was used to manufacture Covid vaccines during the pandemic
From 3rd at Olympics to 8th at World Cup: What’s ailing Indian hockey?
Much was expected from the Indian men’s hockey team after back to back bronze medals at the highest level of the sport – the Olympic Games. The core of the team that took part in the recently concluded World Cup was the same as the one that medalled at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Yet we struggled against the top teams at the recently concluded World Cup.
Despite having a coach in Craig Fulton who
In Focus-Parley | Are brands overreacting to manufactured outrage?
Last week, jewellery brand Giva withdrew an advertisement it made for Raksha Bandhan after netizens criticised actress Kriti Sanon’s outfit as too revealing for a traditional festival. The incident is the latest in a series of brands backtracking on their advertisements following backlash that is often religiously or communally charged.
Given India’s current socio-political climate, are brands o
Freebies or Rights: What is India's approach to welfare spending?
The resilience of a nation’s economy is determined by the quality of its human capital. Other things being equal, a country with a healthy and educated population will grow much faster than one with a semi-literate and undernourished one.
And yet, has historically, and consistently, under-invested in health and education – neglecting them even in years of high economic growth. There is a strong t
Ukraine war: Is Russia testing NATO’s resolve?
As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fifth year, the conflict shows little sign of ending. Russia and Ukraine continue to intensify drone and missile attacks, while efforts for a possible diplomatic breakthrough remain uncertain. Is Vladimir Putin under growing pressure? How has the nature of the war changed, what is driving the escalation?
Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The
More sugar, different labels: How global food brands treat the Indian market
“Do you not want people to be healthy?” That was the question the Supreme Court put to the FSSAI earlier this month, while hearing a case over warning labels on the front of packaged food, for foods high in sugar, salt, and fat. The Court questioned why the regulator had delayed implementing stronger warnings, particularly when the issue directly concerns public health and children.The question be
Weekend Bonus episode: The Mathematics and Loneliness of DD Kosambi w/Prof. Ram Ramaswamy
This is a special weekend crossover episode featuring the Hindu's Rearview podcast.
Did Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi solve the Riemann Hypothesis - one of mathematics's greatest puzzles? Was Kosambi, who wrote one of the most influential books on studying Indian history, ignored by both mathematicians and historians? Is he India's Alan Turing?
This week we interview Prof Ram Ramaswamy, whose biog
What a waste: Can India get rid of its garbage mountains?
India has a waste management problem. Though we reportedly collect 90% of our municipal solid waste, nearly 40% does not enter formal processing. Due to this large share that is out of the formal processing system, most Indian cities have garbage mountains – open dump sites and landfills. These dump sites have been linked to groundwater contamination and other public health risks. Critically, they
In Focus-Parley | Is English a foreign language in India?
The Supreme Court has been discussing linguistics this month, while hearing challenges to the CBSE’s three-language formula, which mandates that two of the three must be native Indian languages, a category that does not include English. The Bench has been debating whether English should be considered a foreign language in India, given its long history in the country, and its role as a link languag
Cash transfers for women: Do they challenge gender norms on unpaid care work?
Unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) for women have become extremely popular. So far, more than 14 states have done it, benefiting 120 million women. The monthly payouts range from Rs833 to Rs2,500. State governments spend more than Rs2 lakh crore annually on such schemes.
But at the same time, at least six such states projected a revenue deficit for 2025-26, pointing to the growing fiscal pressur
Can you get dementia from long-term exposure to traffic noise?
Road traffic noise is a major environmental pollutant. Indian cities are cacophonous. They are not designed to insulate residents from sustained exposure to traffic noise. A new research paper has found a worrying link between traffic noise exposure and dementia, and also cognitive impairment. The paper, titled ‘Association of road traffic noise exposure with dementia or cognitive impair
How water stressed are Indian cities?
This year, residents in several Indian cities -from Mumbai to Bengaluru - have experienced a shortage in water supply. India's big cities are expanding in terms of size and population. This has also meant a strain on existing resources such as land and water. We have already seen cities such as Bengaluru attempting to implement restrictions on use of potable water for non-potable purposes. But do
Chronic kidney disease: Why has a Parliamentary committee called for mandatory testing?
It’s one of those conditions that has no symptoms during its early stages, meaning that by the time it is diagnosed, it could be very late: chronic kidney diseases, or CKD, has been in the news recently after a Parliamentary Standing Committee tabled a report on this condition in the Rajya Sabha earlier this month, and made a series of 66 recommendations. Significantly, the committee recommended d
Are IAS officers in key positions the biggest hurdle to police reforms?
“The biggest hurdle to police reforms comes from the bureaucracy itself – IAS officers who hold key positions at the Centre and in all departments of the governments and local bodies in the states,” writes Yashovardhan Azad in his new book, ‘Policing the Republic: An Inside View of How India Fights Corruption and Crime, and Protects Rights.’
Mr Azad, a former IPS officer who has served as specia
In Focus-Parley | Can free public technology break the private coaching industry?
In his 2026 Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government will roll out free online coaching for competitive exams using India’s digital public infrastructure. The announcement was made in a bid to reach out to the Gen-Z youth, especially following the widespread student protests against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak. The object
Bonus episode: Yemen explained: How the Houthis shook the U.S.-Saudi axis
In this bonus episode of the In Focus podcast we have an excerpt from Global Faultlines, the Hindu's international affairs podcast.
Yemen is no longer just the site of a devastating civil war. The Houthis have emerged as a powerful regional actor, capable of threatening Saudi Arabia, Israel and one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.
In this episode, we examine how the Houthis tr
Do metro cities have space for pedestrians?
What does it say about our cities when the Supreme Court has to remind governments that people have a fundamental right to walk?
The Court’s recent judgment on footpaths has put a very basic question back on the table - who does the city actually make space for, the pedestrian or the vehicle?
In cities like Bengaluru, the answer is visible on the street. Footpaths are taken over by parking,
Why are tribal students still dropping out of school in Kerala?
Kerala is known for its high literacy rate and strong public education system. Yet, several tribal communities in the State continue to face barriers in accessing and completing education. According to the 2011 Census, the Cholanaickan community in Kerala had a literacy rate of just 15.3%, pointing to the wide gaps that persist within the State.In this episode, we look at which tribal communities
Three common medicines have been declared carcinogenic. What does this mean for patients?
Last week, startling headlines hit the news. Three commonly prescribed medicines, hydrochlorothiazide, used to treat high blood pressure, voriconazole, an antifungal medicine and tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant were classified as carcinogenic, or cancer causing, to humans. The classification was made by the International Agency for Research on Cancer or IARC, which is the World Health Organizatio
Are Satellite Towns the way ahead to decongest our megacities?
The Karnataka Government has been championing a project to build a nearly 10,000 acre Live-Work-Play greenfield city on its outskirts in Bidadi, which has become a political flashpoint as farmers oppose land acquisition.
All our mega cities seem to be saturated, overpopulated and congested. As a country we seem to be looking at ways of decongesting them. As Bengaluru seeks to embark on a similar
In Focus-Parley | Are traditional parties unable to understand the grammar of Gen Z politics?
Days after India’s youth-led protests forced the resignation of India’s Union Minister of Education, Members of Parliament found themselves speaking in the language of the protestors. For instance, Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde accused the opposition of being “MIA” - missing in action - and feeling the “FOMO”, or the fear of missing out, before eventually becoming “delulu”.
However, the Gen Z were
How does India view the Mecca pact?
The Mecca Defence Pact between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan marks a significant shift in West Asia’s security landscape. What does the agreement mean for India, and could it reshape the regional balance of power? In this episode of In Focus, we look at how India views the Mecca Pact, its implications for India-Pakistan tensions, Türkiye’s role, Saudi Arabia’s strategic calculations, and the
MDR charges on UPI transactions: Necessity or revenue grab?
Indians make around 24 billion UPI (Unified Payments Interface) transactions a month. The combined value of these payments is nearly Rs30 trillion. UPI is at the heart of India’s digital public infrastructure. The best thing about UPI payments: they are free.
But now this could change. The government recently passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. This Bill,
Girl's death in China: Does gene editing therapy need better regulation?
The scientific world was rocked last month, when the case of a six-year-old girl who died in China, surfaced. The child was believed to have Snijders Blok-Campeau syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a mutation in the CHD3 gene. The condition affects intellectual development, but its severity varies widely. The girl’s parents sought an experimental treatment led by neuroscientist
The Ken-Betwa protest: Is there really surplus water to transfer?
The Ken-Betwa Link Project, India's first river-linking project, has once again come under the spotlight amid protests by villagers, many from tribal communities, who fear displacement and question the rehabilitation process. But beyond the immediate protests lies a larger debate over the science, hydrology and long-term viability of the project. In this episode, we unpack how the project is
In Focus-Parley | Should the Commonwealth Games be scrapped?
The recently concluded Commonwealth Games were unlike the usual multidisciplinary sporting extravaganzas that we are used to seeing. A late replacement to Victoria as host, the Glasgow Games were more akin to an abridged version with fewer events and fewer participants. India finished fourth on the medal table, a commendable performance given that most of the sports that over the years have formed
Why has India's hockey jersey turned saffron?
For decades, blue has been synonymous with Indian sport. So why has Hockey India decided to replace it with saffron as the primary colour of the men's national team's jersey ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup? The move has sparked criticism from former players, administrators, fans and politicians, raising questions that go far beyond the design of a kit.
In this episode of In Focus, we look at ho
In Conversation with Neha Bora: Does NEP-2020 aid or destroy GenZ’s dreams?
Neha Bora has emerged as a charismatic student leader and one of the key faces of the Jantar Mantar protests. She is the national president of AISA, the All India Students Association, which is affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation.
We speak with her about the impact of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 on India’s higher education system, what it mean
Article 370 abrogation: Seven years on, what has changed in Kashmir?
Exactly seven years ago on August 5th, 2019, the Union government abrogated Article 370, and subsequently, Jammu & Kashmir became a Union Territory, ruled directly from New Delhi.
Legislative assembly elections were held in September 2024 but the newly elected government did not have meaningful legislative or administrative powers.
When it revoked Article 370, the government made two promises:
Is India's consumption story powering growth or hiding risks?
What is the driving force of any economy? It is you and me! It’s the money we work so hard to earn and have fun spending. In fact, private consumption accounts for nearly 61.5% of India's GDP. Last year alone, consumer spending grew by 7.7%. This makes households one of the biggest contributors to India’s growth story.
Meanwhile, household debt has climbed to 45.5% of GDP, with unsecu
When livelihoods melt away: Should heat stress be recognised as a human rights issue?
Through three harsh summer months this year, about 40 households across Delhi maintained a 'Garmi Khata' — a handwritten weekly log of what extreme heat did to their health, income and daily routines. That citizen documentation drive has now culminated in a formal submission to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in July.The submission asks the NHRC to admit the registries as evidence, for
In Focus-Parley | Have fast-track courts delivered on the promise of speedy justice?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement to set up fast-track courts to hear paper leak cases has once again brought these specialised courts into focus and revived the debate over whether they are the silver bullet to India's chronic judicial delays. Both the government and the judiciary have, over the years, relied on fast-track courts to expedite the trial of specific categories of high-prio
Maharashtra Farm Bill: Does it really empower women farmers?
Maharashtra has become the first state in India to bring about a legislation for the empowerment of women farmers. The Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026, has been passed by both the Houses. It gives a broader definition of women farmers and de-links agricultural identity from land ownership. But while the Bill claims to address decades of systemic economic exclusion of women, it lea
Right to peaceful protest: Is it being strangled by ‘permission raj’?
The right to assemble peacefully is a fundamental right guaranteed to every citizen under the Constitution of India. But more often that not, this right has diminished into something that can only be exercised with permission from the police or the government
The state can, and does, deny permission arbitrarily, and if the citizens go ahead anyway, it ends up giving a legal justification for rep
Why did Houthis join war?
Why did the Houthis enter the conflict now? This video explains the group's motivations, its ties with Iran, why it resumed attacks on Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping, and how the escalation could reshape the Yemen war and regional security. We also examine the impact on global trade, oil markets, and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The H
VB GRAM G vs MNREGA: Which burdens States more?
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (or VB-G RAM G) has replaced the 21-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (or MGNREGA).
The VB-G RAM G Act provides a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work (up from 100 days under MGNREGA). Howe
Listening to Cockroaches: Why the ‘GenZ’ Jantar Mantar protest is different from any seen before
“What if all the cockroaches come together?” That was the one-line tweet, put out by Boston-returned Abhijeet Dipke, on May 16, 2026. In less than two months, we are witness to the ‘cockroaches’ – India’s youth -- coming together to protest at Jantar Mantar, and in different parts of the country.
But this student protest against endemic exam paper leaks is not the first show of mass dissent
QDENGA: Can the new Japanese vaccine end the dengue menace in India?
India has finally approved a vaccine for dengue. This is significant because India, in the last five years alone, has recorded over 1 million cases and at least 1,500 deaths due to dengue.
Dengue is hyperendemic in India, which makes it a huge public health challenge. A vaccine, in this context, could make a big difference.
Named QDENGA, the new vaccine has been developed by Takeda Biopharmace
In Focus-Parley | Is corruption the biggest threat to India's future?
Corruption has shaped elections, toppled governments and sparked some of the biggest public protests in independent India.
Digitalisation has transformed the way citizens interact with the government. The Right to Information Act promised greater transparency. But has corruption reduced? Or has it evolved into a different leviathan, one that is far more difficult to detect?
This question i
Spain wins the World Cup, but did FIFA favour Argentina?
Spain are world champions once again after a dominant FIFA World Cup campaign, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final. But beyond the result, the tournament has sparked fierce debate over contrasting footballing philosophies, refereeing decisions and the narratives that shaped the competition.In this episode of In Focus, we unpack Spain's rise under Luis de la Fuente, how their possession-based game
Fuelling a pushback: Is India mismanaging the switch to E20 petrol?
The nationwide rollout of E20 petrol has become a political issue. As people complain of engine damage and lower mileage, the Opposition has accused the government of forcing E20 petrol on people.
Citizens and consumers generally have two demands: one, do not force E20 on everyone but give people the option to buy pure petrol; and two, reduce the price of E20 petrol to reflect its lower calorifi
Bonus episode | How the war on Iran changed the Gulf security order
The war on Iran may be over, but its consequences are only beginning to reshape the Persian Gulf. For decades, Gulf monarchies have balanced security partnerships with the United States, pragmatic engagement with Iran, and ambitious plans to transform themselves into global economic hubs. The conflict has put that strategy to its biggest test yet.
In this episode of Global Faultlines, we examine
When Africa Comes to America: How will rising Black Immigration transform US
A new book by Neeraj Kaushal, Professor of Social Policy at Columbia University, titled When Africa Comes to America: How the Next Wave of Immigrants Will Transform the United States’, argues that “the future of the United States is in Black Africa”.
One revealing datapoint from the book: four times more Black African immigrants arrived in the US between 1990 and 2020 than were brought as slaves
How has the use of VAR impacted FIFA World Cup 2026?
In 2016, The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which oversees the laws of the game, approved trials for video referees. This edition marks the third time that VAR has been used in World Cups starting with the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This World Cup has also seen numerous instances where lovers of the game have been up in arms regarding the interventions of VAR. Nevertheless, the Ro
In Focus-Parley | Does national recognition come belatedly for south Indian artistes?
Are South Indians overlooked for the Padma Awards and national awards. The issue regained prominence following the death of legendary playback singer S. Janaki, who had declined the Padma Bhushan, arguing that the honour had come far too late in her career. She maintained that artists should be recognised when they are at the height of their creative powers rather than in old age or after their de
El Nino again: How to climate-proof Indian agriculture?
The El Nino phenomenon is back this year, which means, a deficient monsoon in India. This, in turn, means a challenging time for Indian farmers.
Less rainfall is bad news for India on multiple fronts -- it dampens agricultural output, dents rural demand, worsens heat stress, and affects hydropower generation, among other things, all of which together could have cascading effects on the economy.
Bonus episode | Did India read the war on Iran wrong?
Since October 7, West Asia has witnessed a cascade of crises, from the war in Gaza, attacks on Red Sea shipping, to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran. Together, these events have reshaped the region’s geopolitical landscape.
For India, the stakes are particularly high. New Delhi has spent years cultivating close ties with Israel, Iran
B'lore abuse: Why is early childhood care an unregulated space in India?
Allegations of abuse and mistreatment of children at a daycare facility run on the campus of a tech company in Bangalore have sent shockwaves across the country. Videos of children allegedly being forced into washing machines and locked in bathrooms have emerged sparking widespread outrage and concerns.
The larger question here, is how safe are the hundreds of creches and daycare facilities bein
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