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.
137episodes
Episodes
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Why do industrial accidents keep happening in India?
Jun 3000:16:14Tap to summarizeEvery time a major industrial accident occurs, compensation is announced, inquiry committees are formed and investigations begin. Yet similar tragedies continue to recur across factories, warehouses, construction sites and industrial establishments.Recent weeks alone have seen the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant explosion, the collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Kolkata, septic tank deaths in Delhi and an ammonia leak in Tiruvallur. While each incident has its own immediate cause, they also point to deeper structural problems in occupational safety, regulation and enforcement.Adding to these concerns are significant gaps in accident reporting itself. Official datasets maintained by different government agencies often do not match, several States do not consistently report industrial accidents, inspection rates have declined and key regulatory bodies continue to face staff shortages.In this episode, we examine why industrial accidents continue to recur despite an extensive legal framework. We discuss the role of inspections, data collection, contractor safety, institutional coordination and the reforms needed to move from reacting to disasters to preventing them in the first place. Guest: Dr. V. Ramana Dhara, Occupational Medicine expert Host: Devyanshi Bihani Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →₹200 Pension in 2026? A look at India's old age pension schemes
Jun 2900:22:57Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we have a conversation with Neha Lodha, a a Senior Resident Fellow at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, where she leads research and policy work on financial, economic, and corporate laws. We spoke about the future of social security in India, examining whether the country's pension framework is keeping pace with an ageing population. The conversation explores the constitutional obligations of the State, the shrinking value of the Centre's ₹200 pension, and whether millions of elderly Indians are being excluded from welfare through outdated eligibility rules. Guest: Neha Lodha, a Senior Resident Fellow at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy Host: Nitika Francis Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →What does Starmer's resignation mean for Britain, Labour and India?
Jun 2700:27:45Tap to summarizeFrom a historic election victory to an early exit from Downing Street, Starmer's resignation highlights the growing challenges facing Britain's political system. In this video we discuss Labour's future, the race for new leadership, economic pressures, public services, and the implications for India-U.K. relations. Guest: Sriram Lakshman, Foreign Correspondent, The Hindu Host: Smriti Sudesh Edited and produced by Jude Weston and Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Wimbledon 2026 preview: Is Sinner the overwhelming favourite yet again?
Jun 2600:33:40Tap to summarizeWith Wimbledon 2026 set to start this Monday, there have been three hot topics of discussion: who will make the most of Carlos Alcaraz’s absence, can Jannik Sinner withstand the hot conditions, and Serena Williams’ return to the singles draw through a wild card. We speak with former professional player and coach of India’s Davis Cup team, Nandan Bal. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →In Focus-Parley | Should Indian seafarers stop serving on sanctioned ships?
Jun 2500:43:22Tap to summarizeWhile merchant ships across the world have been manned by Indian seafarers, officers, engineers and crew for years, recent conflicts have suddenly brought Indian seafarers into focus. A recent flashpoint was when the U.S. attacked three ships allegedly carrying Iranian cargo, on the grounds that they were sanctioned vessels. Three Indian seafarers were killed in those attacks. More recently, when the British detained a Russian-linked vessel that was supposedly under Western sanctions in the English Channel, the Indian captain was arrested. This raises an important question: should Indian seafarers continue serving on these so-called sanctioned ships? Guests: Ajith SukumaranRetd. Additional Director General of Shipping; Biswanath GuptaAssociate Professor, Jindal Global Law School Host: M. Kalyanaraman Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →From Barcelona Messi to Argentina Messi: How has the football icon evolved?
Jun 2500:33:50Tap to summarizeCoach Pradhyum Reddy shares insights on Lionel Messi's late-career exploits at the FIFA World Cup, and how players like him and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to break records at their age Lionel Messi has spent nearly two decades rewriting football’s record books. Yet, four years after finally lifting the World Cup with Argentina, the 39-year-old is once again captivating fans on football’s biggest stage and adding new milestones to his extraordinary career. In this episode of In Focus, we look at Messi’s evolution from the Barcelona superstar who dominated European football to the Argentina icon who conquered the international game. We also discuss his latest World Cup record, what has changed in his game and leadership over the years, and how he has continued to perform at the highest level alongside Cristiano Ronaldo well into his late 30s. The conversation also explores what young footballers in India can learn from Messi’s journey and reflects on the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup. Guest: Pradhyum Reddy, football coach and commentator Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Decoding India’s polycrisis: Ailing economy, broken education system, acute unemployment
Jun 2400:58:42Tap to summarizeThe term ‘polycrisis’ denotes a scenario where multiple crises occur at the same time. A new book titled ‘India Out of Work: Rethinking India’s Growth Story’, written by two economists, Santosh Mehrotra and Jajati Parida, argues that India is facing a polycrisis -- a structural economic crisis, an employment crisis, and the education system crisis, and looming overall of all of these, a potential demographic crisis. How did India land up in a polycrisis and what is the way out? Guest: Santosh Mehrotra, a professor of economics who has worked with the Planning Commission and the United Nations Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Did Trump’s Iran deal sideline Israel?
Jun 2300:28:37Tap to summarizeThe first round of direct US-Iran talks has concluded in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, marking a major diplomatic development in the West Asia. Mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, the negotiations come as U.S. President Donald Trump pursues a dual-track strategy: engaging Tehran through diplomacy while keeping the threat of military action firmly on the table. But the talks have raised difficult questions in Israel. In this podcast episode, we examine Israel's growing strategic dilemma and more. Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Smriti Sudesh Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Iran, visas and politics: How is FIFA handling U.S. excesses at the World Cup?
Jun 2200:43:52Tap to summarizeA discussion with Srinivasan Ramani on the controversies surrounding the 2026 World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino's response and what ‘sportswashing’ looks like in this edition. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has delivered dramatic matches, surprise results and compelling storylines. But beyond the football, the tournament has also become a flashpoint for debates about geopolitics, immigration and access. Iran's participation has been overshadowed by the fallout of a wider regional conflict, while visa denials and travel restrictions have raised questions about who gets to be part of football's biggest global event. As the United States hosts the tournament alongside Mexico and Canada, critics have accused FIFA of failing to uphold its own message that football "unites the world". Has the Iranian contingent been treated fairly? Is this World Cup one of the least accessible for global fans in the tournament’s history? What will the legacy of this edition be for the game? And has FIFA done enough to push back against the terms dictated by a host nation? Guest: Srinivasan Ramani, Deputy National Editor, The Hindu Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →In Conversation with Romila Thapar: Is Hindutva compatible with democracy?
Jun 2000:49:38Tap to summarizeRomila Thapar, an extraordinary scholar known for shaping our understanding of ancient Indian history, and for instituting critical inquiry at the heart of Indian historiography, has come out with an expansive memoir, titled ‘Just Being’. In this special edition of InFocus-Weekend, she speaks about her new book, the past, the present, and traces the role and impact of Hindutva in India’s present back to its roots in discredited colonial theories. 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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