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.
141episodes
Episodes
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Justice Kurian Joseph Committee Report explained: what are its recommendations?
Apr 1501:23:45Tap to summarizeAshok Vardhan Shetty is one of the three members of the Justice Kurian Joseph Committee, appointed by the DMK government headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to study Union–State relations. The committee recently submitted Part 1 of its report to the Chief Minister, who has since tabled it in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Tamil Nadu has historically been very vocal about issues such as decentralisation, state autonomy and federalism. As early as 1969, the late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi appointed the Justice Rajamannar Committee to examine the relationship between the Centre and the States. Against this backdrop, we speak to Mr. Shetty understand the recommendations and ideas presented in the report. Guest: Ashok Vardhan Shetty, Fomer IAS, Member of Justice Kurian Joseph High-Level Committe on Union-State Relations Host: Bhagavathi Sampath K J Edited and produced by Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →US-Iran war: Why did the Islamabad peace talks fail?
Apr 1400:42:45Tap to summarizeThe Islamabad peace talks between the US and Iran failed to yield a peace deal after 21 hours of negotiations. Both the sides have blamed each other for the failure. What exactly were the sticking points? What does the deadlock mean for the ceasefire? And how will the US attempt to blockade Iranian ports take shape? Guest: Suhasini Haider, The Hindu’s Diplomatic Affairs Editor Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Why are Central banks not raising interest rates despite rising oil prices?
Apr 1300:26:14Tap to summarizeTraditionally, higher inflation leads to interest rate hikes to slow demand. This approach was used after the pandemic, when prices surged across major economies. But this time, the situation is more complex. The conflict in West Asia has pushed up energy prices and while that is driving inflation higher, it is also straining household budgets. As people spend more on essentials like fuel and electricity, they tend to cut back elsewhere.This creates a difficult balancing act. Could raising interest rates now risk pushing economies into a slowdown or even a recession? Or does holding back risk letting inflation persist? And how much of this hesitation is driven by uncertainty around the evolving conflict and energy markets? In this episode, we unpack these questions and examine why central banks are holding back and how this phase of inflation is different. We also look at what it could mean for growth and policy choices going forward. Guest: Professor Rohit Azad, who teaches Economics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University Host: Devyanshi Bihani Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections: Can DMK retain power amid BJP’s push, AIADMK’s challenge, and Vijay’s TVK entry?
Apr 1000:27:53Tap to summarizeTamil Nadu is heading into a crucial election, with the DMK government led by M. K. Stalin completing its first full term in office. While the party continues to foreground its welfare-driven “Dravidian model,” questions are being raised about governance, fiscal sustainability, and whether there is any perceptible anti-incumbency on the ground. The AIADMK is attempting to consolidate the opposition space even as leadership challenges persist. At the same time, the BJP has been trying to expand its footprint in a State where it has historically struggled, raising the question of whether Tamil Nadu remains a bipolar contest or is slowly becoming more competitive. Adding a new dimension to this election is the political entry of actor Vijay through his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which could potentially reshape voter dynamics, particularly among the youth. So, how strong is the anti-incumbency sentiment against the DMK, if at all? Can the AIADMK mount a credible challenge? How will leadership changes affect BJP's prospects? And is Tamil Nadu still firmly bipolar, or are we witnessing the beginnings of a more fragmented political landscape? Guest: R Kannan, former UN officer, and author of MGR: A Life, Anna: The Life and Times of C.N. Annadurai and The DMK Years: Ascent, Descent, Survival Host: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Can Cuba weather its worst crisis in decades?
Apr 900:38:33Tap to summarizeCuba is facing its worst crisis since the Soviet collapse. The Trump administration has imposed a de facto naval blockade, cutting off oil supplies for three months, triggering repeated electricity grid collapses, and leaving over 1,00,000 patients waiting for surgery. President Trump has spoken of "taking Cuba," while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for regime change. In this conversation with Srinivasan Ramani of The Hindu, Cuba's Ambassador to India, Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, speaks about the devastating impact of the blockade on ordinary Cubans, the loss of Venezuela as Cuba's closest ally after the U.S. capture of President Maduro, the six-decade embargo's stranglehold on Cuba's economy, the ongoing negotiations with Washington, and Cuba's red lines. He also makes a direct pitch for Indian partnership in Cuba's energy transition and economic reform. Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Have elections in India become plutocratic?
Apr 900:28:32Tap to summarizeAs Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry head to the polls, India's vibrant democracy is on full display once again. But behind the rallies and roadshows, there’s a growing concern: elections are becoming increasingly expensive.With political parties spending heavily on campaigns, advertising, and outreach, the role of money in shaping electoral competition is under scrutiny. Data shows that nearly 93% of India’s Members of Parliament are crorepatis, raising questions about whether access to political power is becoming more unequal. What does this mean for smaller parties and independent candidates? Is the system still a level playing field — and what would it take to fix it? Guests: M.R. Madhavan, Co-founder and president of the PRS Legislative Research and Rangarajan R is a former IAS officer and author of ‘Courseware on Polity Simplified’ Host: Nivedita V Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →What is behind U.S.- Iran ceasefire?
Apr 800:32:13Tap to summarizeAfter a dramatic 24 hours that saw U.S. President Donald Trump shift from a stark warning of mass destruction to announcing a two-week pause in military action, a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is now in place. With Tehran calling it a victory, Washington framing it as mission accomplished, and Pakistan emerging as a key mediator, questions remain over what really changed, what the deal contains, and whether this is a genuine de-escalation or just a temporary pause before the next phase. Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Smriti Sudesh Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Assembly elections: Can the Left overcome anti-incumbency in Kerala?
Apr 100:47:37Tap to summarizeThe Left Front has been in power in Kerala since 2016. It is looking for a historic third consecutive term in power. But can it overcome the anti-incumbency that has built up over these ten years? The poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and in the recent local body elections might indicate that the LDF (Left Democratic Front) faces an uphill task. Does this mean that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is the frontrunner? Many, however, would argue that the BJP is also a key player. Does that mean the electoral field in Kerala is now tripolar? What conclusions can we draw from the patterns of ticket distribution by the three major parties? Will the BJP’s Christian outreach work? What would it mean nationally if the Left were to lose in the only state where it’s in power? We speak with Dr J Prabhash, former professor of Political Science and former Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kerala. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Tamil Nadu way: How to reverse India's creeping centralisation
Mar 3100:38:44Tap to summarizeAshok Vardhan Shetty is one of the three members of the Justice Kurian Joseph Committee, appointed by the DMK government headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to study Union–State relations. The committee recently submitted Part 1 of its report to the Chief Minister, who has since tabled it in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Tamil Nadu has historically been very vocal about issues such as decentralisation, state autonomy and federalism. As early as 1969, the late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi appointed the Justice Rajamannar Committee to examine the relationship between the Centre and the States. Against this backdrop, we speak to Mr. Shetty understand the recommendations and ideas presented in the report. Guest: Ashok Vardhan Shetty, Fomer IAS, Member of Justice Kurian Joseph High-Level Committed on Union-State Relations Host: Bhagavathi Sampath K J Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Has gold lost its safe haven status?
Mar 3000:43:35Tap to summarizeGold usually rises during geopolitical crises, but this time, it’s falling. Why? In this episode of In Focus, we unpack what’s driving the recent drop in gold prices, from shifting interest rate expectations and a stronger U.S. dollar to liquidity pressures in global markets. Has gold lost its safe-haven appeal, or is this just a temporary price correction after years of growth? Here we discuss the question. Guest: Kavita Chacko, Research Head for India at the World Gold Council and B. Bhagwan Das, Former associate professor of Economics at Loyola College, Chennai Host: Areena Arora Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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