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
Tesla Finally Lands in India: Is It Too Late?
Back in 2016, Tesla began taking preorders from Indian customers with no timeline for delivery. Now, nine years later, it’s officially arrived — but much has…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Does the wellness industry in India need more regulation?
The buzzword of late, has been wellness. Wellness in mind and body is something all of us strive for. But wellness has also become an entire industry in itself…
- In Focus by The Hindu
QS rankings and Indian universities: Are they meaningful or just window dressing?
According to the Union Education Ministry, Indian universities have achieved their best-ever performance in the World University Rankings 2026. The rankings…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Nipah virus and Kerala: What is the connection
Nipah virus is not new to Kerala: the State is experiencing it’s eighth outbreak since 2018 this July. So far, there have been four confirmed cases: of these…
- In Focus by The Hindu
AI 171 Crash: Fuel Cutoff and a Fatal Plunge
On a June morning, Air India flight AI171 lifted off from Ahmedabad, bound for London. The aircraft was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner — among the most advanced…
- In Focus by The Hindu
The Nimisha Priya Case: Decoding death penalty laws
Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, was scheduled to be executed in Yemen today on July 16, as per reports, but the execution has now been postponed after…
- In Focus by The Hindu
The Sandal Scandal: Of Birks, Crocs, and Fakes | Part 2
There’s been a lot of action in the world of footwear fashion – especially legal action involving claims and counter-claims about cheap fakes of expensive…
- In Focus by The Hindu
The Sandal Scandal: Of Birks, Crocs, and Fakes | Part 1
There’s been a lot of action in the world of footwear fashion – especially legal action involving claims and counter-claims about cheap fakes of expensive…
- In Focus by The Hindu
The terms and conditions of Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs
As the U.S. wraps up its 90-day tariff pause, the pressure is on — but many of America’s key trading partners, including India, haven’t signed trade…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Gujarat Bridge Collapse: Another Warning, More Lives at Risk
A bridge collapsed in Gujarat on July 9, killing at least thirteen people. The Gambhira Bridge, which connected the Anand and Vadodara districts, gave way…
- In Focus by The Hindu
July 9 General Strike: What do India’s workers want?
India’s ten central trade unions – barring the Sangh-affiliated Bharatiy Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) came together to call for a general strike in July 9. Workers from…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What was the rationale for the fuel ban on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) in Delhi
From July 1st onwards, Delhi started enforcing a fuel ban on End-of-Life Vehicles or ELVs. In Delhi, this means diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Is the government reluctant to ensure better road safety for its citizens?
With the monsoon session of Parliament scheduled for the 21st of this month, road safety activists in the country have begun a push towards demanding more…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Does the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar risk mass disenfranchisement?
The Election Commission of India is going to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Bihar is due to hold Assembly elections…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Wimbledon 2025: Preview and analysis
Wimbledon 2025 kicks off on June 30. Can Carlos Alcaraz make it three championship titles in a row? Or will Novak Djokovic manage to get his 25th Slam and…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Why are short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) so dangerous?
When we think of climate and global warming, what comes to mind is carbon emissions, and how to decarbonise the economy. Lately, another front in the fight…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Israel, Iran, and the US: What were their calculations behind the ceasefire?
After 12 days of exchanging intense strikes and counter-strikes, Israel and Iran have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire. The ceasefire was first announced by…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Is India's extreme heat impacting pregnancies?
With the blistering temperatures that most of India is suffering under, it should come as no surprise that May 2025 was the second-warmest month of May since…
- In Focus by The Hindu
India as the world's fourth largest economy: What the numbers tell us
According to the latest projections by the IMF, India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy. Government officials, including the CEO of NITI Aayog B.V.R…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Has Israel’s objective in attacking Iran shifted – from de-nuclearisation to regime change?
On June 13, Israel launched an all-out war against Iran. It carried out what has been described as a ‘decapitation strike” – taking out much of the country’s…
- In Focus by The Hindu
World Crocodile Day: Appraising 50 years of Crocodile Conservation in India
India began its Crocodile Conservation programme in 1975, and this year marks 50 years of this initiative, one that has been more successful than most. India…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What are the risks of the government's proposed 'mixopathy' move?
The Central government recently proposed starting an integrated course – MBBS and Ayurveda medicine, at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Article 143: What is the context of the Presidential reference to SC regarding TN Governor case?
Article 143 of the Constitution allows the President to seek the Supreme Court’s opinion on matters of law. This provision has been invoked by President…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What do you need to know about the Covid-19 spike in India?
Yet again, we are talking about a virus we would much rather forget – Covid-19 is in the news with over 4,300 cases and over deaths as of June 4. New…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What are the implications of Ukraine’s unprecedented drone attacks deep inside Russian territory?
At a time when Russia and Ukraine have been exchanging peace proposals, seemingly in a bid to start direct peace talks, Ukraine has carried out an…
- In Focus by The Hindu
How healthy are India’s State legislatures?
India is a union of states — a structure enshrined in the Constitution that gives States a central role in legislating critical areas like health, agriculture…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Canada post-elections: Can PM Carney bring about a reset in relations with India?
It’s been a month since Canada’s federal elections. Canadians have voted in a Liberal government, although a minority one, for the fourth straight time. They…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Is Manipur ready for a ‘popular government’ yet?
Manipur has been under President’s rule since February 13, 2025. But this week, a group of 10 MLAs met the Governor and informed him that they would like to…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Are advertising and easy access driving rising sugar consumption among Indian children?
The Central Board of Secondary Education, or CBSE, recently mandated the establishment of sugar boards at all its schools. These boards will tell children how…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Does India’s alleged forced repatriation of Rohingya refugees breach international law?
Earlier this month, reports surfaced alleging that Indian authorities had transported dozens of Rohingya refugees to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and…
- In Focus by The Hindu
French Open 2025: Preview and analysis of the Men’s and Women’s Draw
The French Open, the only Grand Slam played on clay, kicks off this Sunday in Paris. This is a historic French Open also because it’s the first one to be held…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Could India-U.K. trade deal be a template for other FTAs?
There has been a lot of excitement around the India-U.K. trade deal — PM Narendra Modi termed the deal a "historic milestone" while announcing that both…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Why did India restrict imports from Bangladesh to just two ports?
Trade-related tensions between India and Bangladesh have been rising. In a seemingly retaliatory move, India has restricted the import of certain goods from…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Were the 21 lakh 'excess deaths' in 2021 caused by the Covid19 pandemic?
After a nearly four-year delay, the Central government finally released a whole lot of reports about India’s births, deaths and health indicators for the year…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Atmospheric memory: How do monsoons ‘remember’ the past?
How do monsoons really work? What makes them plentiful some years, but vanish completely in others, causing drought-like conditions? Climate scientists have…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What are the implications of India’s ‘new normal’ in fighting cross-border terrorism?
On May 7, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ in response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 in which 26 civilians were killed. Over three days, India…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Petitions challenging Waqf Act in SC: What concerns are flagged for adjudication?
The petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, are set for hearing on May 15. They will be heard by a Bench led by the Chief Justice designate B.R…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Is climate change increasing the levels of toxic arsenic in our rice?
When it comes to food, most Indians cannot imagine a day without rice. Lunch is rice, and rice is lunch – and rice is also sometimes breakfast or dinner or…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What does it mean for India to conduct a caste census?
The Union cabinet has announced that the next population Census will also include questions on caste. This is a sharp departure from the ruling BJP’s…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Are the extinct dire wolves really back?
The world of science was rocked early last month when U.S. company Colossal Biosciences announced that it had resurrected the dire wolf—a species that went…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Is a candidate winning an election ‘unopposed’ unconstitutional?
According to Section 53 (2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, if there is only candidate contesting an election, then she can be declared elected…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Aamir Aziz-Anita Dube controversy: What does the copyright law say?
In a controversy that seems to have divided the art world in India, Mumbai-based poet-activist Aamir Aziz has accused well known artist Anita Dube of using his…
- In Focus by The Hindu
How can India strengthen the foundations of its justice delivery system?
Recently, a debate about appointing judges has gained momentum in light of cash allegedly being found in the house of a Delhi High Court judge. What began as a…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What can we expect from the US-Iran nuclear talks?
For the first time since 2018, the United States and Iran are holding high level negotiations. What Iran wants is clear: an end to US sanctions, and resumption…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What is Type 5 diabetes and why is it of concern in India?
Even as India grapples with its estimated 101 million cases of Type 2 diabetes, a new type of diabetes has recently hit the headlines – Type 5. At the…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What are the concerns with the Income Tax Bill, 2025?
The Income Tax Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha recently. It seeks to modernise and simplify the Income Tax Act, 1961. While the Bill is indeed…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What are the factors at play in content moderation
Every day, millions of posts are made online — tweets, videos, memes, reels. Some content is violent, misleading, or even dangerous. This is where content…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Why are health insurance premiums so high in India?
Customers of private health insurance policies in India have noticed a worrying trend – their premium costs are shooting up, and, going by the many stories on…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Why is torture prevalent in Indian policing even though it is illegal?
A new report by the NGO Common Cause and Lokniti- Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) has surveyed the attitudes towards torture by policemen…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What does Generative AI mean for the working classes?
The internet has been flooded with AI-generated images in the style of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio founded by the famous Japanese director Hayao…
- In Focus by The Hindu
How can India counter Trump's tariffs?
On April 2, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new set of tariffs against countries that, according to him, charged high tariffs and imposed…
- In Focus by The Hindu
How does Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act weaken the RTI?
The Right to Information Act was a historic piece of legislation that gave ordinary citizens a legally enforceable means to seek information about the…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Understanding the concerns over EPIC-Aadhaar linkage
On March 18, 2025, the Election Commission of India announced that its officials will hold talks with UIDAI experts for linking the Electoral Photo Identity…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Could environmental pollution be behind the rise in cancers in India?
Cancers are rising and rising fast in India. The Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Cancer Registry Programme estimated a 12% increase between 2020…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Kunal Kamra incident: Is vandalism as a response to political humour getting normalised in India?
India is up in arms again, over the words of a stand-up comedian known for political jokes. Kunal Kamra’s remarks on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Unpacking the PTPA’s class action lawsuit against tennis’s governing bodies
The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) and 22 players have filed a class action lawsuit against the sport’s governing bodies in a US court. The…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Why does India not have a national emergency helpline?
Blinkit, a quick commerce company was recently in the news after it announced the launch of its 10-minute ambulance service, to be rolled out, beginning in…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What’s in the 30-day ceasefire proposal for Russia, Ukraine and Europe?
Ukraine and the US have jointly proposed a 30-day ceasefire deal to Russia. They reached an agreement following a meeting between Ukrainian and American…
- In Focus by The Hindu
Can Europe adapt to the trans-Atlantic reset sparked by Trump’s America First foreign policy?
The Trump administration’s trans-Atlantic policy has made a sharp break from that of the Biden administration, and in fact, from the entire post-World War II…
- In Focus by The Hindu
What are the implications of Trump’s threat to ‘mirror’ India’s tariffs?
The United States is India’s biggest trading partner. In 2023, the U.S.-India bilateral trade in goods and services stood at $190.08 billion -- $123.89 billion…