In Focus by The Hindu

The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical energy chokepoint. Every day, over 20 million barrels of oil which is roughly one-fifth of global supply pass through this narrow shipping corridor connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets. Now, rising tensions after U.S.- Israel attacks on Iran have raised fears of disruptions in this vital route. Iran has warned that the strait is off limits, while the United States has indicated it may deploy naval escorts for commercial oil tankers. Any escalation here could have serious consequences for global energy markets, oil prices, and major importers like India and China, both of which depend heavily on Gulf crude shipments passing through the strait. Guest: Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev. He retired from the Indian Foreign Service in 2013 after a 35-year diplomatic career during which he was Ambassador to three oil importing countries, Algeria, Norway and Nigeria. He continues to be interested in energy and west Asian geopolitics. He is currently president of eco-diplomacy and strategies, a Delhi based consultancy. Host: Devyanshi Bihani Data Support: Nitika Francis and Sambavi Parthasarathy Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition seeking criminal prosecution of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over divisive and communal speeches, as well as a now-deleted social media post that depicted him firing a gun towards an animated image of two Muslim men. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked that whenever elections approach, the court tends to become a political battleground, and consequently directed the petitioners to approach the Guwahati High Court instead. Earlier in January, another Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath indicated that hate speech matters long pending before the court since 2021 would be closed. These were cases in which the court had earlier directed police authorities to register suo motu FIRs in instances of hate speech. The bench, however, clarified that the parties remained free to pursue other legal remedies, including approaching the High Courts or seeking appropriate police action. We discuss whether there has been a discernible shift in the Supreme Court’s approach towards curbing instances of hate speech, and whether legislative reforms may be required to deal with such communal rhetoric more effectively. Guests: Shahrukh Alam, advocate practicing before the Supreme Court, and Haris Beeran, advocate and Rajya Sabha MP. I welcome you both to the episode. Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know by now that ultraprocessed food is bad for our health. Consumption of a lot of it, has been linked to a number of health issues including hypertension, diabetes and obesity. But did you know that researchers are now finding links between ultraprocessed food and mental health? This is especially concerning considering the huge burden of mental health issues among young people in India and the gaps in access to care. The government is beginning to take note: the Supreme Court has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI to consider warning labels on the front of packaged foods and the Economic Survey this year called for high GSTs on processed foods. So what is the connection between UPFs and mental health? And why, despite all of the evidence, has India still not managed to put in place stringent warning labels for consumers? Guest: Dr. Arun Gupta, paediatrician, public health expert, and convenor of the Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest. He is also a former member of the PM’s Council on India’s Nutritional Challenges Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed last week in an attack by the US and Israel. Iran has declared 40 days of mourning. Muslims around the world have come out in large numbers to protest his killing and express their grief. In India, thousands of Muslims took to the streets in Kashmir, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Bhopal, among other places, to protest the killing. But beyond the Islamic or religious world, there is only a limited understanding of the man who became Iran’s second Supreme Leader, after Ayatollah Khomeini, the cleric who led the Islamic revolution in 1979. Khameini led Iran for 36 years, both during the Iran-Iraq war and in the period after, when Iran had to deal with crippling western sanctions. Besides being a revered religious leader, he is also considered an anti-imperialist statesman who exerted immense religious and political influence in West Asia. What was his legacy, and what are the political, religious and geopolitical implications of his killing – for Iran, for the ongoing war in West Asia, and beyond? Guest: Ziya Us Salam from The Hindu’s Delhi bureau Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has entered its third day, marked by intense aerial exchanges and escalating regional involvement. With Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's death, Iran has launched widespread retaliatory missile barrages targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the Gulf. The situation remainshighly vol atile, with potential for further spread amid calls for restraint from global powers. Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Smriti S Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we take a closer look at the issues shaping the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, which are expected to be announced soon by the Election Commission of India. Even before the formal declaration, the political temperature has begun to rise, with sharp exchanges between the Trinamul Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term in office, and its principal opponent, the BJP. But beyond the SIR controversy and the familiar flashpoints that have defined recent campaigns, what does the broader political landscape in West Bengal look like? What is the real state of play on the ground as parties gear up for a high-stakes contest? And as the Trinamul Congress attempts to extend its decade-long hold on power, could this turn out to be its toughest electoral battle yet? Guest: Sankhadip Das, the proprietor, editor of the Bangla language portal, the Wall.in, a very popular portal in Kolkata Host: Nistula Hebbar Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial intelligence has moved from experimentation to enterprise adoption in under two years, with industry estimates projecting AI services revenues of $10–12 billion in FY26 and rapid growth thereafter. Yet, this moment of expansion coincides with layoffs, automation, and the vulnerability of entry-level roles in India’s IT and BPO sectors. It also coincides with India’s top tech firms contracting AI products into their workflows. Is this transformation or disruption? Are we witnessing productivity gains, structural shifts, and early signs of displacement, all at the same time? And what does this mean for India’s services-led growth model? Guests: Kishan Sundar and Alaganambi Welkin Host: Kunal Shankar Producer: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, the producers of a Netflix movie titled ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ were taken to court. A PIL had been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking a ban on the movie. The PIL had been filed by a man claiming to be the National Organisation Secretary of the Brahman Samaj of India. His petition argued that the movie portrayed the Brahmin community in a negative light, by “equating” bribe-taking with the title ‘Pandat’. It said it would provoke disharmony, and a law and order problem. The film’s producers offered to relinquish the title, and release the movie under a different name. So, the case was closed. However, the associate judge on the Bench handling the case, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, has authored a separate opinion, where he has sought to restate first principles, dwelling on the themes of fraternity and free speech. On the one hand, the opinion states that it is “constitutionally impermissible” for state or non-state actors to “vilify or denigrate any community”. Many have expressed concerns that this could be used to impose further restrictions on free speech and artistic expression. But the judge has also observed that the effects of words must be judged from the standards of ordinary men of common sense and prudence, and not “on the basis of standards of people who always have a sense of insecurity, or of those who always perceive criticism as a threat to their power or position”. Free speech is the most critical element of a democracy, and there seems to be enough here for those who want to spin the opinion as pro-free speech or as anti-free speech. What is the broader context of this commentary, and what are its legal implications? Guest: Supreme Court advocate Deepak Joshi Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Mumbai hosted its first Climate Week, the spotlight is on how India’s fast-growing cities will navigate the accelerating energy transition. Renewable power is now cheaper than ever, electric vehicles are expanding globally, and India has emerged as one of the world’s largest generators of wind and solar energy. Yet the shift away from fossil fuels is proving uneven. Regulatory bottlenecks and financing gaps are slowing the pace of change even as electricity demand surges. That demand is set to climb further with the rapid expansion of AI and data centres, raising fresh questions about energy sources and long-term lock-ins. At the same time, Mumbai faces intensifying heatwaves, heavier rainfall and the long-term threat of sea-level rise, vulnerabilities that sit uneasily alongside large-scale infrastructure projects and rising air pollution levels. Urban planning choices made today, from coastal development to transport electrification, could determine whether the city builds climate resilience or compounds future risk. Can India’s growth story remain compatible with its climate commitments? Will rising power demand from technology and infrastructure revive fossil fuel dependence, or accelerate clean electrification? Can India’s financial capital turn climate pressure into an opportunity to lead? Guest: Helen Clarkson, CEO, Climate Group Host: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rare earth elements (REEs), a group of 17 minerals, have become central to global industry and geopolitics. They power electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, semiconductors, consumer electronics and advanced defence systems. While moderately abundant, they are difficult and expensive to extract and process. China has built overwhelming dominance in this sector, controlling nearly 90% of global processing and about 70% of production, despite holding only around 30% of global reserves. In 2025, China imposed a series of export restrictions on these elements, disrupting supply chains worldwide. Since then, supply restrictions have eased since then. For India, the vulnerability was stark. Despite holding around 8% of global reserves, the country produces less than 1% of global output and imports to meet its requirements. In a bod to increase domestic capacity, the government launched the ₹34,300-crore National Critical Mineral Mission in January last year, and followed up in the Union Budget this year. In her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government's plans to set up dedicated rare earth corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and manufacturing of Rare Earth Permanent Magnets. Can meaningfully reduce India’s dependence on imports, strengthen strategic industries, and position the country as a serious player in global advanced-material supply chains? Guest: Shobhankita Reddy, Research analyst for the High Tech Geopolitics Programme, Takshashila Institute Host: Nivedita V Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Indian men’s hockey team has begun 2026 — a year of major stakes — on a worrying note. Four matches in the Rourkela leg of the FIH Pro League ended in four defeats, including a humiliating 8–0 loss to Argentina. With the Asian Games in Japan and the Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium just months away, the results have raised uncomfortable questions. Are these early-season stumbles merely part of a longer preparation cycle, or do they point to serious issues in defence, goalkeeping, fitness and mentality? Should youngsters have been blooded in earlier? And how much pressure is mounting on coach Craig Fulton? In this episode of In Focus, we examine what went wrong in Rourkela, the search for stability in goal after P.R. Sreejesh, and why the core group of players who have been in the team for years need to be pulled up for the poor run of form. (Editor's note: This episode was recorded ahead of the Hobart leg of the FIH Pro League games) Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Guest: Uthra Ganesan, The Hindu's hockey correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week a landmark trial is underway in the United States, where Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram is being accused of deliberately getting young users addicted to its platforms. Google-owned YouTube is also part of the trial, which hinges on the mental health problems faced by a 20-year-old who has used social media and video content platforms since childhood. Two other similar trials are scheduled for later this year, as thousands of lawsuits blame social medial for the epidemic of mental health issues including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and suicide amongst young persons. So what does social medial really do to the young brain? Is its addiction similar to the addiction of other substances? And how can parents and youngsters safely navigate the increasingly digital and connected world we live in now? Guest: Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar Host: Zubeda hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his speech at the Munich Security Conference last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared the MAGA vision of American foreign policy -- which has been dubbed by some as ‘Make the West Great Again’. At one level, it marked a clear shift from the speech that Vice President JD Vance gave last year, when he accused Europe of suppressing freedom of speech and democracy. Rubio, in contrast, played up the shared history and civilisational values between the US and Europe. He painted a future where the West, under American leadership, will boldly assert itself as the dominant geopolitical force on the planet. He also spoke fondly of the five centuries of Western domination right up to the Second World War. What does the vision outlined by Rubio, and the seeming nostalgia for Western empire signify for the Global South? Does it mark the start of another phase of colonial-style extraction mounted on unilateralism and economic coercion? Where does a middle power like India figure in this scheme of things? Guest: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last weekend, the Indian Super League (ISL), the highest league in Indian football, kicked off after months of uncertainty. The disruption, which compelled some clubs to halt their operations and consigned the players and coaches to a state of desperation, emanated from the absence of a commercial partner for the league once the Master Rights Agreement between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) expired in December. The Indian football team, which is 141st in the FIFA rankings, failed to even qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after a loss to Singapore last October. The contrast with cricket in India could not be starker. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest and most powerful cricket board in the world right now, and India’s cricketers enjoy demigod status across the length and breadth of the country. Does football suffer because of cricket? Guests: Abhik Chatterjee, CEO of ISL club Kerala Blasters; Yannick Colaco co-founder of FanCode (the media rights partner of the ISL) Host: Vivek Krishnan Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Japan’s strategic posture is undergoing one of its most consequential transformations since the end of the Second World War. Long defined by its pacifist Constitution and its reliance on the United States for security guarantees, Japan built its global identity as an economic power that exercised influence largely through trade, technology and diplomacy. Over the past decade, however, shifting regional dynamics, particularly China’s rise and growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific, have prompted a reassessment in Tokyo about the country’s defence capabilities, alliance structures and strategic autonomy. This reassessment has accelerated under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, whose leadership marks both a symbolic and political milestone as Japan’s first woman prime minister. Often associated with the conservative legacy of Shinzo Abe, Takaichi has signalled continuity in strengthening Japan’s security architecture while also projecting a more assertive political style. Her tenure raises important questions about how far Japan is willing to reinterpret constitutional constraints, expand defence spending and recalibrate its role within the U.S.–Japan alliance. At the same time, Japan finds itself navigating an increasingly complex external environment. Strategic competition between the United States and China, evolving regional security partnerships and debates over economic security and supply chain resilience have all influenced Tokyo’s policy choices. For countries such as India, which views Japan as a central pillar of its Indo-Pacific strategy, these shifts carry significant diplomatic and economic implications. In this episode, we explore what Japan’s changing strategic identity means in practical terms: whether Takaichi represents continuity or disruption in Japan’s post-war trajectory, how Tokyo is balancing alliance commitments with a desire for greater autonomy, and what these developments signal for the broader Indo-Pacific order. Guest: Sanjaya Baru, Policy Analyst, economist, and writer. Host: Shikha Kumari Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents killed two American citizens in Minnesota in January 2026. At least 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025. The Trump administration has deported more than 500,000 people since January 2025. The budget for ICE is more than twice that of the FBI – making it the largest funded federal policing machine in the US. As the Trump administration continues its hiring spree for ICE – with more than $100 billion set aside for immigration enforcement activities – ICE agents are acquiring a reputation for brutality and gratuitous violence. Already, cities across the US have seen protests and neighbourhood squads organising against ICE patrols. With questions being raised about violations of American constitutional rights, many fear that ICE’s violent tactics could lead to broader civil strife. Is that a real danger? What are the social and economic implications of this crackdown? And how much political support do these operations targeting undocumented immigrants really enjoy? Guest: Joyojeet Pal, Professor in the School of Information at University of Michigan Host: G Sampath Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The expiration of the New START treaty, the last active nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, marks a significant shift in the global security landscape. For more than a decade, the treaty placed verifiable limits on deployed strategic nuclear warheads and maintained inspection and data‑exchange mechanisms between the two countries. With these provisions no longer in force, longstanding channels of transparency and communication have effectively paused, raising practical questions about how both nations will approach strategic stability going forward. The end of New START comes at a time when U.S.–Russia relations have been strained by broader geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and the suspension of inspections since 2023. At the same time, evolving technologies such as hypersonic weapons, missile defence systems, and cyber capabilities are reshaping the strategic environment. These developments, combined with shifting political dynamics, have influenced both the relevance and limitations of traditional bilateral arms control frameworks. In this episode, we examine what the absence of New START means in practical terms: how the two major nuclear powers might adapt their policies, how emerging powers like China factor into future discussions, and what this moment indicates about the broader state of global arms control. Ambassador Rakesh Sood provides context on the treaty’s history, the factors leading to its expiration, and the considerations that may shape future approaches to managing nuclear risks in an increasingly multipolar environment. Guest: Rakesh Sood, Former Ambassador Host: Shikha Kumari A Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 99% of humanity lives in nation states. But nations are less than 200 years old, and today many countries are sliding into xenophobia, debt and a cost of living crisis. With the liberal ideas that underpinned the nation-state system -- human rights, dignity, security for all – in retreat, millions are feeling abandoned by the nation-state, and turning to cross-border migration in desperation. At the same time, nation states are proving ill-equipped to handle urgent planetary threats such as climate change and ecological collapse. Is the nation-state system in decline? Will it be, or can they be, replaced by a new system? Novelist and essayist Rana Dasgupta explores these themes in ‘After Nations: The Making and Unmaking of a World Order’, a fascinating historical and political analysis of the nation state. He spoke to The Mag about his new book, and what a ‘post-nation’ future might look like. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producers: Shiksha Jural and Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After months of administrative paralysis, the Indian Super League 2025-26 season finally kicks off in February 2026, but this is no ordinary season.With the collapse of the AIFF's commercial partnership, slashed budgets, mass pay cuts and a condensed four-month format, Indian football finds itself at a crossroads.What does this truncated version of the tournament mean for players and clubs? Are fewer foreigners this season good or bad for the league? And how deep has the crisis cut into the Indian football pyramid?Football veteran Pradhyum Reddy previews the season ahead and also unpacks the sorry state of affairs of Indian football’s top-flight league and how the crisis has impacted the football ecosystem. Guest: Pradhyum Reddy, coach and commentator Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Edted by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kerala and Tamil Nadu, scheduled to have Assembly elections soon, and stressed the need for a double-engine government. The term double-engine government refers to having the same political party (in this case, the Bharatiya Janata Party or its allies in the National Democratic Alliance) in power at both the Centre and in a State. Critics of this model include Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who has asked how Opposition-ruled States are doing well without a double-engine government. Does a double-engine government ensure growth? Louise Tillin and Yamini Aiyar discuss the question in a conversation moderated by Sai Charan. Edited excerpts:Does the discourse around a double-engine government imply an inherent bias against non-BJP/non-NDA governments in the States? Guests: Louise Tillin is Professor of Politics at King’s India Institute, LondonYamini Aiyar is former President and Chief Executive of the Centre for Policy Research and senior visiting fellow at Brown University Host: Sai Charan Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court’s landmark judgement recognising the right to menstrual health and hygiene as a fundamental right grabbed headlines all of last week. Why was this recognition needed? Because thousands of girls continue to drop out of school every year in our country due to a lack of clean, safe toilets with access to running water. And because periods continue to be shrouded in stigma and silence despite nearly half the population of the country experiencing them.What exactly does the judgement state? How important is it to sensitise boys and start conversations in schools? And how does period poverty impact women across the board in India? Guest: Poonam Muttreja, executive director, Population Foundation of India Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bangladesh will have its general elections on February 12. Nearly 2,000 candidates will contest on 300 seats of the Jatiya Sangsad. Alongside the parliamentary vote, electors will also vote in a referendum – on whether or not to adopt the July National Charter. Bangladesh has two major legacy parties -- the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and the Awami League. With the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League banned from contesting, the two main players are the BNP, which is contesting from 288 seats, and the Jamaat-e-Islami, which is seeking 224 seats. There is also the student-led National Citizens Party (NCP), which will contest in 32 seats, as part of an alliance with the BNP. What are the main issues in this election? What’s at stake for the minorities in Bangladesh? What are the prospects for the non-legacy parties? Guest: Kallol Bhattacharjee from The Hindu’s Delhi bureau, who joins us from Dhaka. Host: G Sampath Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In late January and early February this year, coordinated attacks across multiple districts in Pakistan’s Balochistan province marked one of the most intense phases of violence in decades. The Balochistan Liberation Army described the offensive as Operation Herof Phase II—a “Black Storm”—involving simultaneous strikes on security installations, transport routes, and administrative targets. For Pakistan’s security establishment, the attacks raise urgent questions about control, intelligence, and the protection of strategic assets. For the region more broadly, they have revived long-standing debates about political marginalization, economic exclusion, and the unresolved history of Balochistan’s integration into the Pakistani state. So what exactly is unfolding in Balochistan? Is this a turning point in a decades-old insurgency, or a sharper expression of a conflict that was never truly resolved? And what does the latest escalation mean for regional stability, foreign investment, and the prospects, if any, of a political solution? Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 28, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) National President Ajit Pawar died in a tragic air crash, leaving behind state politics in flux. Within a week, his wife was hurriedly sworn in as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of the country’s richest state. There has also been one-upmanship between the two NCPs for control of the party, amid speculation about the ‘invisible hand’ of the BJP, sparking a debate on whether the two NCPs will reunite, and what the future has in store.In this InFocus episode, we speak with veteran journalist and founding editor of the People's Archive of Rural India (PARI), P Sainath. Host: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit Produced and edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, during the joint session of the Karnataka legislature, Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot walked out of the House after reading only a few lines of his customary address prepared by the State Cabinet. The Chief Minister accused the Governor of violating his constitutional obligation and indicated that the government was considering approaching the courts. The incident followed similar developments in two other Opposition-ruled States. In DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu, Governor R. N. Ravi walked out of the Assembly without delivering his inaugural address. In LDF-ruled Kerala, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar omitted portions of the speech cleared by the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet. Should the practice of Governors addressing the State legislatures be scrapped? Guests: P.D.T. Achary and Alok Prasanna Kumar Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced on social media that India and the US have agreed on a historic trade deal, or at least the broad framework for one. Under the agreement, the US will reduce tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%. India will reduce tariffs on all American goods to zero, and eliminate all non-tariff barriers. Trump also announced that India has agreed to import American goods worth $500 billion. To put this figure in perspective, American imports to India are currently at $50 billion. Also, US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has claimed that, under this deal, India will import huge volumes of American farm products, “pumping cash into rural America”, and reducing America’s agricultural trade deficit with India, which stnds at $1.3 billion. One year ago, US tariffs on Indian imports averaged 2-3%, while Indian tariffs on American imports ranged from 5% to 30%. India’s duties on US agri-imports averaged 39%. So, does an agreement where India’s tariffs come down to zero while American tariffs on Indian goods go up (from 2-3% in Jan 2025 to 18% in Jan 2026) constitute a ‘good deal’ for India? Will this deal fix India’s foreign capital outflows problem and restore investor sentiment? What does it mean from the vantage point of India’s key economic priority – generating employment? Guest: Prof. Arun Kumar, Economist and Former Professor, CESP, JNU Host: G Sampath Edited by Shiksha Jural Recorded and produced by Jude Weston and Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 13, the University Grants Commission (UGC) notified new regulations to promote equity and protect from discrimination students from SC/ST/OBC communities and other marginalised categories. These are the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. These regulations are an updated version of the UGC’s campus equity rules passed in 2012. This revision was the outcome of a Supreme Court order. But the new rules sparked a wave of protests from the upper castes, and the Supreme was quick to pass a stay order. Why were these new regulations passed? What explains the protests against them? What exactly is ‘reverse discrimination’ – a fear expressed by the protesters? Guest: Professor Sukhadeo Thorat, former chairman of the University Grants Commission Host: G Sampath Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week proved to be a whirlwind for Americans and Europeans and for those observing events around the world. The week began with Trump’s tariff threat against eight European countries that opposed his claims of U.S. control over Greenland. It then escalated with the EU mulling over a trade bazooka and Trump doubling down on claims over Greenland. He even shared a post on Truthsocial showing Greenland as a part of the U.S. And then at Davos, Trump emphasised the importance of Greenland again to the U.S. But the week ended with Trump discarding his tariff threats, though Greenland is still in the cards. Guest: Mr. D Raghunandan, who is with the Delhi Science Forum and the All India People's Science Network. Host: Nitika Francis Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just 10 days after the New Year, news hit the headlines of a software engineer found dead in her home in Bengaluru. The police initially suspected her death was due to a fire that broke out in her apartment, but later arrested an 18-year-old man. Police said that the man, who was the victim’s neighbour, assaulted her and then set fire to house. The reason? The woman rejected his sexual advances. This is not a unique case: hundreds of assaults, murders and acid attacks are routinely reported across the country all because women have said no to men.What drives men in India to injure or kill when they are rejected? What role does our society upbringing play in this? Do movies that glorify stalking contribute to the problem Host: Zubeda Hamid Guest: Prasanna Gettu, co-founder of the Chennai-based International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC) Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has tabled the Economic Survey 2025–26, offering the first official snapshot of where India’s economy stands—and where it’s headed next. The Survey pegs India’s potential growth at around 7%, flags a slight moderation in GDP growth next year, and lays out the government’s thinking on everything from inflation and exports to jobs, infrastructure, manufacturing, and welfare.But beyond the headline numbers, what really matters is how to read this document. Is India’s growth story holding up in a slowing global economy? What reforms are need to to make the government's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision a reality? Guest: Trishna Sarkar, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Dr BR Ambedkar College, University of Delhi Host: Nivedita V Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With less than 48 hours to go before India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, tables the Union Budget in Parliament for the 2026–27 fiscal. Kunal Shankar, The Hindu’s Deputy Business Editor, speaks to colleagues Soundariya Preetha, who has tracked India’s MSMEs for over two decades — based out of Coimbatore, and Lalatendu Mishra, who has followed the markets and the Reserve Bank of India for just as long, and is based out of Mumbai. They discuss how the customary Economic Survey, settled by Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran, has been received by India's small businesses and the markets. They also talk about what these sectors are looking for in the Union Budget amid tariff headwinds visibly straining India's largest export sector - the MSMEs; and the volatility wrecked onto the markets as foreign investors exit Indian markets in droves and a precipitous depreciation of the rupee against the U.S. dollar. Host: Kunal Shankar Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India's Ministry of Finance is set to scrap curbs on Chinese firms bidding for government contracts, which were introduced in 2020, following a deadly clash between the country's troops in the Galwan Valley. Now that India is showing a change of heart, the Ministry's actions beg the question: Will removing curbs on Chinese FDA help India? Here, we discuss. Tune in! Guests: Mr. Shyam Saran, former Foreign Secretary to the Government of India and currently President of the India International Centre, and Mr. Santosh Pai, partner at Dentons Link Legal and an honorary fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies Host: Nitika Francis Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bangladesh is out of the ICC T20 World Cup starting next month. It will be replaced by Scotland. Cricketing observers have slammed the sport’s governing establishment for mismanaging the issue. It all began when Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman on BCCI orders. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) did not take kindly to this. It banned the telecast of IPL 2026 in Bangladesh. And subsequently, it asked for all its league matches in India to be shifted to Sri Lanka, which is the co-host. The ICC refused the request. Bangladesh refused to participate unless its demand was met. The ICC brought in Scotland in its place. The entire sequence of events has raised many questions: Is the ICC guilty of ‘double standards’? Could Bangladesh’s request have been accommodated? Is cricket’s role in the sub-continent changing? Guest: Amol Karhadkar from The Hindu’s Sports Bureau Host: G Sampath Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are plenty of questions swirling around US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. Trump has extended invitations to dozens of countries to join this outfit, including India. But many, including his European allies, are yet to confirm their participation. Interestingly, Norway, Denmark and Sweden have refused, while Pakistan and the UAE have already said ‘yes’. Is this Board of Peace only about Gaza reconstruction? Or is this about setting up a parallel body to settle global conflict on American terms? Is Trump trying to create a new UN, as Brazilian President Lula has alleged? Most importantly, should India join this Board, or stay away? Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent Supreme Court ruling has put the process of how India taxes foreign investors in focus. The top court ruled in favour of the Income Tax Department by setting aside the Delhi High Court’s judgment quashing the tax demand of Tiger Global. Tiger Global ⁠and Indian tax authorities have been locked in a legal tussle over its 2018 stake sale in Flipkart to Walmart worth ₹14,440 crore $1.6 billion. The deal was part of the ‌U.S. retail company’s $16 billion acquisition of Flipkart that year. Indian tax authorities ‍argued Tiger Global wrongly used the India-Mauritius tax avoidance treaty to not pay any tax on its profits, the investment firm argued it can do so as the treaty exempted such a transaction. The tax authorities say the Tiger Global Mauritius units served merely as a conduit for Tiger Global U.S., a description the investment ⁠firm says is incorrect. The Supreme Court has been hearing the case since January 2025 and the ruling has raised wider questions about tax treaties, anti-avoidance rules, and how India balances tax fairness with investor confidence. Guest: Vinod Joseph, Partner, Investment Funds practice at Economic Laws Practice Host: Nivedita V Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is a legend in the world of entrepreneurship. He began his adult life as an immigrant student in the US, way back in the 1960s. He started his own company in the US tech space at a time when Indian-Americans were not particularly known for entrepreneurship. In 1987, he became the first Indian-American founder to take a venture-backed company public on the Nasdaq. He was also the first Indian-American to serve as a top executive in a multi-billion-dollar Silicon Valley giant, blazing a trail that would be followed by the likes of Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella. Subsequently, he set up The IndUS Enterpreneurs (TiE) a non-profit to mentor entrepreneurs in the US and India. He has been a hugely successful venture capitalist and angel investor. And now, at the sprightly young age of 80, he is out with a memoir that talks about his entrepreneurial journey: ‘The Ground Breaker: Risks, Rewards, and Lessons from a legendary Entrepreneur’. Guest: Kanwal Rekhi, Indo-American businessman and venture capitalist Host: G Sampath Edited by Shiksha Jural Produced by Shiksha Jural and Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People of the Global South have long argued that the so-called rules-based international order is a fiction. That it was only ever applied selectively, with the big powers doing the selection. But now, for the first time, there is official acknowledgement of this fiction from a prominent Western leader. In an extraordinary speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly stated that even the ‘pretence’ of a rules-based order is over, and that this is not a moment of transition but ‘rupture’. Taking potshots at President Donald Trump’s weaponisation of tariffs, he said that the new definition of a country’s sovereignty is its ability to withstand pressure from the big powers. His speech has resonated with many across the world, and has become a talking point in strategic circles. But are his remarks just great content, or will they prove consequential? Should India be taking a leaf out of Carney’s book, especially when dealing with the big powers? Guest: Suhasini Haider, The Hindu’s Diplomatic Affairs Editor. Host: G Sampath Recorded by Aniket Singh Chauhan Edited and produced by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Days after the January 3rd U.S. attack on Venezuela and the capture of its sitting President Nicolas Maduro, U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his push to seize Greenland, calling it an absolute necessity for the U.S. national security. On January 17, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on eight European countries over their support for Greenland. This ambiguity revives imperial undertones and tests NATO’s Article Five pledge. Does Trump's Greenland plan signal the end of NATO, and what does it mean for European security? Guest: C. Raja Mohan, journalist, academic, and a foreign policy analyst; T.G. Suresh, associate professor at the Centre of Political Studies, JNU Host: Smriti Sudesh Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a new Barbie in town. She avoids direct eye contact, makes repetitive physical movements in social settings, and her pretty purple dress is comfortable and free from irritating seams. Her pink headphones -- they're more than just a fashion statement. Mattel, the multinational toy company, has launched an ‘autistic’ Barbie as part of its range of “inclusive” dolls. It has partnered with the U.S.-based Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) to create an intentional set of features that aim to reflect experiences typically invisible in mainstream toy aisles. In today's episode, we go beyond the marketing dimension to discuss what an autistic Barbie could mean for autism awareness, inclusion, and long-term care initiatives in India. Guest: Dr. Nidhi Singhal, Director of Research and Training at Action for Autism (National Centre for Autism) Host: Vibha B Madhava Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 3rd, The United States of America launched Operation Absolute Resolve bombing the city of Caracas in Venezuela and capturing the sitting president Nicolas Maduro. He has been accused of Narco terrorism. He is now jailed in New York. Meanwhile, Trump has stated that he would be effectively running the country for the benefit of both U.S. and Venezuela. He also said that he would open the country for American Oil companies. The recent developments in Venezuela is said to have huge political ramifications not only for Latin America but across the world. Tune in! Guest: Tariq Ali, political activist, filmmaker, and writer Host: Bhagavathi Sampath Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The release of Jana Nayagan, the high-budget farewell film of actor-politician Vijay, has reached a legal and bureaucratic impasse that threatens a ₹500 crore investment. The film was diverted to a Revising Committee just days before its planned January 2026 debut. This last-minute intervention fuelled allegations of a "political conspiracy" intended to stifle Vijay’s entry into politics. This was not an isolated event but part of a massive trend in Indian cinema. Data show that between 2017 and 2025, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has altered more than 720 hours of film content. Data shows that 76% of these modifications were outright deletions, totaling nearly 550 hours of footage removed from public view. Tune in to know the mechanics behind these "silent scissors" in this episode of In Focus. Guest: Aroon Deep, a journalist and tech correspondent at The Hindu Host: Nitika Francis Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acid attack survivors are recognised as persons with a specified disability under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act (RPwD), 2016. This acknowledges external disfigurement, but overlooks cases of forcible ingestion of acid wherein injuries are internal and often invisible. Recently, the Supreme Court heard a plea by an acid attack survivor, Shaheen Malik, to formally recognise such acid attack survivors under the protective umbrella of the RPwD Act. The Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked the Centre to consider a comprehensive policy framework. In this episode, we explore the inclusion of acid attack survivors and the intersection of their rights, both as "victims" fighting for justice under criminal law, and persons with disabilities navigating the system to access compensation, healthcare, and employment benefits. Host: Vibha B Madhava Guest: Madiah Shahjar, Programme and Legal Associate at Brave Souls Foundation, and the advocate who represented Shaheen Malik in the SC plea hearings. Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China is building the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet. This river flows into Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang, and it is one of the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra in Assam. Further down, it becomes the Jamuna river in Bangladesh. This dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo is a trans-boundary project that would have an impact on downstream countries. China, however, has claimed that the dam’s unique design will ensure that there is no adverse impact on lower riparian countries. How valid are China’s claims? Will the waters be diverted? Will it cause flooding in India? How will this project affect the Brahmaputra, one of the last, great free-flowing rivers in the world? And more broadly, what could be the impact on India’s North East? Guest: Samrat Choudhury, Journalist and Author Host: G Sampath Shot, produced, and edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran is once again witnessing protests on its streets, triggered by a severe economic squeeze as inflation surges and the rial continues to lose value. What began as protests over livelihoods—most visibly among merchants in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar—has begun to intersect with deeper questions about governance, legitimacy, and the state’s ability to manage crises. This unrest is unfolding amid renewed U.S. sanctions, growing regional isolation, the continued dominance of the Revolutionary Guard, and the uncertainty of an impending leadership transition—factors that together place unusual strain on the Iranian system. How deep is Iran’s economic crisis, and what makes this moment different from earlier protest cycles? How is the state balancing conciliatory signals with violent crackdowns? And what do these protests tell us about Iran’s political stability and the paths that lie ahead? Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, India has struggled to improve its record on deceased organ donation, even as thousands of patients wait for transplants. This is despite data showing strong willingness among people to donate their organs after death.In this episode, we examine two paradoxes in India’s organ donation system. Why do cadaver organ donations remain low despite high posthumous willingness? And why do women make up a larger share of donors, while men dominate among organ recipients? We also explore where the system breaks down — from hospital protocols and transplant coordination to family consent at the time of death. We also look at the sharp gender imbalances in donation and receipt. Guest: Dr. Amalorpavanathan, retired vascular surgeon who played a pioneering role in building Tamil Nadu’s cadaver organ donation programme Host: Devyanshi Bihani Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court on January 5, 2025, declined to grant bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, notwithstanding their incarceration for nearly six years without the commencement of trial. The court held that the constitutional guarantee of personal liberty is not “absolute”, and remains subject to the stringent bail regime prescribed under special statutes such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A Bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria, however, granted conditional bail to five other co-accused, observing that the allegations against them indicated conduct of a subsidiary or facilitative nature, thereby warranting differential treatment. What are the implications of the ruling? Does the ruling depart from settled bail jurisprudence? Does treating allegations of road blockades as “terrorist acts” risk emboldening governments to weaponise the law to criminalise dissent? Guest: Vrinda Grover, Supreme Court advocate Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 3rd, 2026, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela and arrested President Nicolás Maduro. Relations between the U.S. and Venezuela strained since the Cold War era, and worsened after Hugo Chávez came to power in 1999, and deteriorated further with U.S. sanctions imposed from 2006 onward. The arrest of Maduro marks a dramatic escalation of ties. Maduro has long been in Washington’s crosshairs. In 2020, the U.S. indicted him on multiple charges during Donald Trump’s first term. Now, Maduro has been charged with this wife, son and three others. So why did Washington act now? Tune in! Guest: Srinivasan Ramani, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu. Host: Nivedita V Recorded by Shivaraj S Produced and edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At least eight people have died, hundreds were hospitalised and thousands more were affected after consuming contaminated water in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in a tragedy that has rocked the nation and also severely dented the image of Indore as a clean city. The case has now gone to court, and while the government claims the situation is under control, local residents allege that the death toll is much higher, and the water is still not safe. Tragically, the residents say they had been raising the issue of the unsafe water much before the deaths occurred, but no action was taken. At present, the cause is believed to be contamination through sewage leaking into the water pipeline supplying a residential area. But why does the issue of contaminated water arise again and again in India? What is wrong with our water supply and delivery systems? And why is it that we are still unable to provide clean drinking water to millions of Indians? Guest: Pradip KalbarAssociate Professor Environmental Science and Engineering Department (ESED), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Parliament has passed the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025. It is being touted as a game changer, especially with the move to allow 100% FDI in insurance companies. The government also says that the act strengthens the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI), and the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). How would 100% FDI improve the claims experience for the ordinary citizen, the buyers of insurance? For long, they have been grappling with problems such as unfairly rejected claims, mis-selling of insurance, and hidden exclusions. Does the Bill hold out hope on these counts? Guest: Shilpa Arora, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Insurance Samadhan, a platform that helps policy-holders resolve insurance issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On December 31, more than a lakh gig and platform workers held a strike. In a memorandum to Union Labour Mansukh Mandaviya, their unions demanded that the that the 10 to 20-minute service delivery system should be immediately withdrawn to prioritise worker safety. The Union government sees the four Labour Codes, which was implemented recently, as an answer to the problems of gig workers, especially for bringing them into the ambit of social security. The strike also threw light on the need to create more job opportunities in sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture. Is the 10-minute delivery model necessary? Here we discuss the question. Guest: Kamal Karanth is cofounder of XPheno, a specialist staffing company; Prashant Kamal is National General Secretary, Yuva Hallabol Host: Jigeesh AM Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices