Shows / In Focus by The Hindu
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
- In Focus by The Hindu
Should India join Trump’s Board of Peace?
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Decoding SC’s ruling on Tiger Global’s tax ruling
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Weekend | Talking entrepreneurship with ‘Ground Breaker’ Kanwal Rekhi
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What Canada PM Mark Carney said: Official obituary of the rules-based global order?
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Parley | Does Trump's Greenland plan signal the end of NATO?
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What can an ‘autistic’ Barbie represent when neurodivergence has no single look?
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What Maduro’s capture means for the world
On January 3rd, The United States of America launched Operation Absolute Resolve bombing the city of Caracas in Venezuela and capturing the sitting president…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Jana Nayagan vs. the CBFC: What goes behind censoring 720 hours of film?
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Why are specific acid attack survivors excluded from disability rights in India?
Acid attack survivors are recognised as persons with a specified disability under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act (RPwD), 2016. This acknowledges…
- In Focus by The Hindu
China’s mega-dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo: How will it affect India?
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Iran protests explained: What’s driving the unrest?
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Why India struggles with cadaver organ donation
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Is denying bail to Khalid and Imam a departure from judicial precedent?
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Removal of Maduro: Decoding the latest chapter in US interventionism
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Indore deaths: What ails the water supply systems in India
At least eight people have died, hundreds were hospitalised and thousands more were affected after consuming contaminated water in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in a…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Insurance Bill 2025: What’s in it for policyholders?
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Parley | Is the 10-minute delivery model necessary?
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…
- In Focus by The Hindu
How is AI redefining the case for personality rights legislation in India
India does not have a codified law that recognises or regulates personality rights, particularly concerning artificial intelligence (AI). In 2025 alone…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Thiruparankundaram Murugan Temple Karthigai Deepam Row: What is behind the dispute?
Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple is one of the six abodes of Tamil god Murugan. Set in Madurai, the ancient capital of Pandyas, it has found reference in…
- In Focus by The Hindu
From aviation to digital markets: why tighter regulation is needed to curb duopolies
The recent disruption India’s aviation sector due to IndiGo's crew shortage has thrown up questions about the concentration of powers in the hands of a few in…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Indian tennis in 2026: Bengaluru Open and beyond
The Bengaluru Open is the most prestigious event on the tennis calendar in India. It is an ATP 125 Challenger. Although Challengers are tier 2 in the ATP rung…
- In Focus by The Hindu
The Aravalli debate: Is it impossible to protect fragile ecosystems in India?
The Aravallis are the green lungs of northern India. They are a defensive wall that protects the fertile Indo-Gangetic plains from desertification – from an…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Has housing become prohibitively expensive in Indian cities?
Roti, kapda aur makaan (roti, clothes, and housing) has been a political promise for generations. Now, with housing becoming increasingly expensive, makaan has…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Beyond Mamdani’s Inauguration: What’s in store for the Democratic party in 2026
Zohran Mamdani, an avowed socialist, will be sworn in as New York City’s new mayor on January 1. His rise has revived old debates about the future of the U.S…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What defined 2025 for India and the world, and what awaits us in 2026
2025 tested India and the world on multiple fronts. Politics dominated the discourse, global trade shocks rattled economies, climate stress pushed cities to…
- In Focus by The Hindu
India’s SHANTI Bill: Does it pass the smell test on nuclear safety?
The essence of nuclear governance is safety. That’s not only because any accident can destroy thousands of lives – it’s also because the harm unfolds over…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Ten years on, has the Paris Climate Accord delivered?
This year marks ten years since the Paris Agreement, the climate pact that redefined global climate action. In 2015, nearly 200 countries signed on to a…
- In Focus by The Hindu
From firefighting to managed decline: why the RBI let the rupee breach 90
In early December 2025, the Rupee slipped past the ₹90 per dollar mark. While this drop is labelled as 'psychologically significant,' the underlying economic…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Why do reports of attacks on Christians spike around Christmas in India?
Every year around Christmas, reports of attacks on Christian worshippers surface from different parts of India. This year, there were numerous reports of…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Can propaganda be great art?
The age-old question of whether works created with explicit ideological intent can achieve artistic greatness has long divided critics, artists, and audiences…
- In Focus by The Hindu
VB-GRAMG Bill: Will it destroy the world’s most successful workfare program?
The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAMG) Bill, 2025 has received the President’s assent. This Bill replaces the Mahatma…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Explained: Why is India’s NHRC accreditation being downgraded from ‘A’ to ‘B’
India’s top human rights body, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), is going to have its accreditation status downgraded -- from ‘A’ to ‘B’. The Global…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Weekend | ‘Sick Nation’: Are you eating your way into metabolic dysfunction?
Everyone knows someone with diabetes or heart disease or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It’s impossible to find somebody who doesn’t have at least one…
- In Focus by The Hindu
How can India navigate the new wave of trade protectionism?
Data shows that India’s exports increased by over 15 percent in November year-on-year, the country’s fastest growth in three years. India’s total exports…
- In Focus by The Hindu
IPL 2026 auction: Why did teams splurge on uncapped players?
The Indian Premier League 2026 mini-auction delivered record spending and a clear shift in team priorities, as franchises splurged on Indian domestic talent…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Parley | Is the Artificial Intelligence boom a bubble?
Global spending on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is projected to reach $375 billion this year and and $500 billion by 2026, according to the UBS. That raises a…
- In Focus by The Hindu
India’s new labour codes explained: Why are trade unions upset?
On the 21st of November, the government of India has brought in 4 labour codes to reform and replace the 29 existing laws in the country They are Code on…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Does the WHO’s “benchmark” of 1 doctor per 1,000 people actually exist?
For years, India’s political debates, parliamentary discussions, and health-policy arguments have leaned heavily on a simple figure of one doctor per 1000…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Why did India get a 'C' grade from IMF?
In its recent assessment, the International Monetary Fund India’s national accounts statistics, which includes key figures such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP)…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Russia-Ukraine war: Is the 28-point Trump peace deal dead in the water?
It will soon be four years since Russia invaded Ukraine. As the conflict drags on, neither side seems ready for a compromise. But President Donald Trump has…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Indigo’s ‘cancel culture’: Is India’s aviation sector jinxed?
Indigo’s mass cancellations have disrupted the lives of thousands of passengers. This company is not a newbie or a start-up. It is India’s largest airline…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Parley | Is the falling rupee a cause for alarm?
Over the last few days, the rupee exchange rate has fallen below ₹90 a dollar and has largely stayed at that level. Now, with Parliament running, a lot of the…
- In Focus by The Hindu
India vs South Africa: What the Test collapse and ODI fightback reveal
India’s home season against South Africa has been nothing short of dramatic, from a bruising Test whitewash to a spirited comeback in the ODIs. But beneath the…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Is India staring at a superbug threat?
A recent report released by the World Health Organization, stated something that experts in India have been warning about for years: antimicrobial resistance…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Delhi’s toxic air: Can it ever be fixed?
Every winter, India’s capital city turns into a gas chamber. There is a sharp spike in cases of people reporting respiratory complaints. Children’s schooling…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Weekend | Artillery at Kargil: How India’s guns turned the tide
From high-altitude warfare, extreme weather and the shock of Pakistan’s surprise occupation of the heights, to the evolution of artillery tactics that changed…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Digital Gender-Based Violence in India: Why are survivors struggling for justice?
With the rise in telecom and internet penetration in India, technology-based crimes are on the rise. While financial fraud and digital arrests are the focus of…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Sanchar Saathi episode: Is India lowering expectations on consent and privacy?
Earlier this week, the Department of Telecommunications ordered smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices. It also told…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Parley | Do we need to change how cities are governed in India?
The rise of Zohran Mamdani as the Mayor of New York City in the United States has brought focus to the lack of visibility of similarly elected civic officials…
- In Focus by The Hindu
On reasonable accommodations: Why a rights-based approach is needed to make workplaces disability inclusive
December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an annual observance established by the United Nations in 1992. The 2025 theme is…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Norris, Piastri, Verstappen: Breaking Down F1’s Thrilling 2025 Title Battle
The 2025 Formula One season has delivered one of the most thrilling championship battles in over a decade. What looked like a straight McLaren shootout between…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Health insurance: Decoding the mismatch between claims filed and settled
What is going on with health insurance claims? According to recent data from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the volume of…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Weekend | Inside Mumbai’s battle against the underworld w/ D. Sivanandhan IPS (Retd.)
In this weekender episode, we take you back to a time when Mumbai was living under the shadow of the underworld- when extortion calls, gang wars, and contract…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Why are mumps cases spiking in India and can the vaccine help?
What comes to mind when someone says the word ‘mumps’? You’re vaguely remembering that it’s supposed to be a mild, childhood illness, one that you haven’t…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Did COP30 deliver on the expectations?
The annual UN Climate Conference, COP30, concluded in Belem, Brazil, last week. The final text of the outcome did not mention "fossil fuels" at all, and did…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Parley | Are the labour codes labour friendly?
On November 21, the Union Labour Ministry announced the implementation of the four labour codes: The Code on Wages, 2019; The Industrial Relations Code, 2020…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Presidential reference: Is the Supreme Court’s opinion a blow against federalism?
A 5-judge Bench of the Supreme Court has given its opinion on the 16th Presidential Reference. This Reference pertained to the discretionary powers of the…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What does Kerala’s Zero Extreme Poverty announcement really mean
Kerala has declared that it has “eradicated extreme poverty,” identifying over one lakh people as the final few remaining in this category in the State. But…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Ryan Williams case: Can foreign-born players solve Indian football’s woes?
Australian-born footballer Ryan Williams has given up his Australian passport to take Indian citizenship and join the national team. His move has reopened a…
- In Focus by The Hindu
In Focus-Weekend | What Happened to Daniel Naroditsky in the Online Chess Era?
When the world shut down during the pandemic, chess migrated to screens and found a new pulse. The game sped up, audiences multiplied and Grandmaster Daniel…