Podcast
In Focus by The Hindu
Hosted by The Hindu · EN
A podcast from The Hindu that delves deep into current developments with subject experts, and brings in context, history, perspective and analysis.
119episodes
Episodes
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Bonus episode | Did India read the war on Iran wrong?
2d ago00:41:12Tap to summarizeSince 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, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states while pursuing a policy of strategic autonomy and multi-alignment. But as rivalries sharpen and instability becomes more persistent, can India continue to balance relationships with competing powers? Or does this new regional reality demand a rethink of its long-term strategy? Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →B'lore abuse: Why is early childhood care an unregulated space in India?
3d ago00:19:23Tap to summarizeAllegations 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 being run by private operators across the country? What laws, regulations and standards are followed here? Why is India’s investment into early childhood care so abysmal? And importantly, why is childcare still seen as a family issue rather than a public concern? Guest: Chirashree Ghosh, Executive Director, Policy and Partnership, Mobile Creches, an organisation working in the field of early childhood development. Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →How does the Opposition's role change in an ‘electoral autocracy’? with Yogendra Yadav
6d ago01:00:32Tap to summarizeIn recent years, democracy research institutes have been categorising India as a ‘partly free’ democracy, with the V-Dem Institute of the University of Gothenburg classifying India as an “electoral autocracy” from as far back as 2019. For India’s Opposition parties, will the business-as-usual electoral politics suffice in an ‘electoral autocracy’, especially when they can go longer count on a level playing field? Political scientist, psephologist, activist, politician and columnist Yogendra Yadav has been arguing that the transition of Indian democracy from “competitive authoritarianism” to “electoral autocracy” requires the Opposition to reimagine politics, and to switch from a politics of electoral contestation to a “politics of resistance”. But what does this mean in practical terms, and are India’s Opposition parties ready for it? Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Recorded by : Jude Weston and Saif Ali Ekram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →In Focus-Parley | Should India restart dialogue with Pakistan?
1w ago00:31:16Tap to summarizeIndia and Pakistan have not been in a dialogue since 2016 when talks broke after the terror attacks at Pathankot and subsequently at Uri. The previous twelve years have witnessed major attacks at Pahalgam (2025) and Pulwama (2019) and that apart there were several smaller terror attacks. Earlier this month, a group of eminent citizens led by Gandhian O.P. Shah drafted a joint appeal to the leaders of India and Pakistan urging them to restart dialogue. This has restarted a public debate on whether it is the right time for both India and Pakistan to sit down for talks. Guest: Former MP Mani Shankar Aiyar, who is a signatory to the letter and Tara Kartha, former Director at the National Security Council Secretariat. Excerpts from the conversation. Host: Kallol Bhattacherjee Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Are the U.S. and Iran returning to full-scale war?
1w ago00:28:27Tap to summarizePresident Donald Trump has declared the Iran ceasefire 'over', casting new doubt on the future of the June 17 agreement. With nuclear negotiations stalled, tensions rising across West Asia, and questions over sanctions, NATO divisions and the risk of renewed military action, what comes next? We examine the future of U.S.-Iran relations, Tehran's strategy, the prospects for diplomacy, and whether the region is heading toward another major conflict. 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
Transcribe →Is digitalisation aiding land grab from Dalit and tribal farmers?
1w ago00:29:43Tap to summarizeThe Indian state has been digitalising land records across the country for many years now, and more aggressively since 2016 as part of the Digital India Initiative. There is growing evidence, however, that rather than empowering vulnerable communities, digital governance has often had the effect of dispossessing them of their rights – seen most clearly in the context of Aadhaar and KYC-related withholding of welfare benefits and MGNREGA wages - and it seems to be happening again with land records digitalisation. Ground reports from Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand by Sushmita, an independent journalist, indicate that digitalisation of land records has aided the dispossession of Dalit and Adivasi farmers by local elites operating in cahoots with corrupt officials. We speak with Sushmita on the impact of land digitisation on vulnerable communities. Guest: Sushmita, Independent journalist Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Camera: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Who is accountable for mistakes in the IVF sector?
1w ago00:27:44Tap to summarizeA recent case of assisted reproduction hit the headlines a couple of weeks ago, after a couple from Gurugram alleged publicly that their twin babies, born through IVF, were not genetically theirs. The case has created shockwaves, and subsequently, a Delhi court to file a case and probe the allegation. The case has once again put the spotlight on the assisted reproduction sector in India, a sector that has grown dramatically over the past couple of decades. After several years of no regulations, the Central government, in 2021, passed two legislations, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, both of lay down legislation for this sector. But how well are these acts being implemented on the ground? Why and how are cases of alleged embryo mix-ups occurring? Why are surrogacy scams continuing to occur in parts of the country? How does the law deal with parentage in such cases? Guest: Radhika Thapar Bahl, founder and advocate, Fertility Law Care Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Should NEET be scrapped – Part 3: How does a paper leak happen?
1w ago00:48:48Tap to summarizeNEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is a high stakes, high pressure exam that can make or mar the careers and fortunes of entire families. At least 14-NEET-linked suicides were reported this year, and the Tamil Nadu government’s official position is that NEET should be scrapped. In Part 1 of this series, we looked at whether NEET as a system is aligned with India’s social goals. In the second episode, we unpacked NEET’s real relationship with merit. And in Part 3, we drill down to the examination itself, and the paper leak that sparked a retest. Guest: Professor Rajeev Kumar, who has taught Computer Science at IIT, Kharagpur and IIT Kanpur, among other places, and has been a whistleblower against malpractices in our higher education system. Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →U.S.-Iran tensions return: is the MoU already failing?
2w ago00:30:23Tap to summarizeThe United States and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to halt fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease the naval blockade, and reduce tensions in the Gulf. But within weeks, the agreement is facing conflicting interpretations, new security incidents, and growing uncertainty. Guest: Raja Karthikeya, Head of West Asia studies, Takshashila Institution Host: Smriti Sudesh Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Should NEET be scrapped – Part 2: Does NEET undermine merit?
2w ago00:20:09Tap to summarizeNEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is a high stakes, high pressure exam that can make or mar the careers and fortunes of entire families. At least 14-NEET-linked suicides were reported this year, and the Tamil Nadu government’s official position is that NEET should be scrapped. Is a highly centralised MCQ-format exam the best way to assess the merit of a medical education aspirant? In Part 1 of this series, we looked at whether NEET as a system is aligned with India’s social goals. In the second episode, we unpack NEET’s relationship with merit. Joining us today is Professor T Sundararaman, a public health expert based in Puducherry. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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