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
FIFA World Cup preview: Who will take home the trophy?
Journalist and author Sandeep Menon explores the tactics, form and what to expect from the top contenders and underdogs to watch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off, the debate over who will lift football's biggest prize is intensifying. Are France truly the team to beat? Can challengers such as Spain, Argentina and Portugal dethrone them? Which dark horses and und
Political stability, India ties, economic crisis: Where is Bangladesh headed under BNP?
Bangladesh is at a critical political turning point under a BNP-led government. In this episode, we explore what the return of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party under Tarique Rahman means for political stability, governance, and institutions. We also examine India–Bangladesh relations, regional dynamics, and key economic challenges including inflation, reserves, and growth pressures.
Guest: Avin
In Focus-Parley | Should India incentivise bigger families?
For decades, Indian policymakers have encouraged population control, with the familiar slogan of ‘Hum Do, Humare Do’ (We two, our two). However, the recent drop in India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) — the average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime — has now dropped to 1.9, below the replacement rate of 2.1, with southern States seeing their TFR drop to 1.3. Last month, Andhra Pr
Foreign Portfolio exodus: What does it mean for domestic investors?
Foreign portfolio investors have taken out more than ₹2.6 lakh crore from Indian equities since January 2026. Aggregate foreign ownership in Indian stocks has fallen to 14.7% -- which is a 14-year low.
But domestic investors have pumped in around ₹4.5 lakh crore in the same period – the main reason why the markets haven’t collapsed due to the FPI withdrawals.
What is driving the record foreign
Falling fertility rate: Is India in danger of missing its demographic dividend?
India is going through a demographic transition. The proportion of its working age population is increasing, which means India has a great window of opportunity to boost economic growth – which is also known as the demographic dividend.
But without good governance and the right policies, India could miss this narrowing window.
In this episode, we unpack one question that could well determine I
Making history at Norway Chess: When Pragg beat Carlsen twice in his own backyard
R. Praggnanandhaa scripted one of the finest victories of his young career by becoming the first Indian to win Norway Chess, one of the world’s most prestigious classical tournaments. The 20-year-old fought back from near the bottom of the standings midway through the event, won four games in a row, and beat Magnus Carlsen twice on his way to the title in the Norwegian great’s own backyard.
What
Malviya Nagar hotel fire tragedy: Behind Delhi’s endemic failure to enforce safety norms
On Wednesday, 21 people were killed in a massive fire at a south Delhi hotel. And the next day, five people perished in another fire in the ICU of a hospital in Bihar. Such incidents are becoming too frequent in India.
The Delhi fire, in particular, has exposed huge gaps in the enforcement of basic fire safety and building norms. The Delhi government has now ordered all such commercial establish
India-Africa Summit and the lost decade: Can New Delhi catch up?
In this episode of In Focus, we speak with former diplomat Gurjit Singh about the evolution of India–Africa relations, China’s expanding footprint across the continent, India’s development partnership model, the role of the Indian diaspora in East Africa, and whether New Delhi has done enough to keep pace with Africa’s growing geopolitical and economic importance. A wide-ranging conversation on di
What you need to know about the Ebola outbreak
If it’s not one infectious disease, then it’s another. This month, the world was rocked with reports of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. On May 16, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC). So far, there have been 344 confirmed Ebola cases including 60 deaths in DRC, and 15 confirmed case
Making sense of TVK's victory: What does Vijay's win mean for Tamil Nadu's politics? | Part 2
In part two of this two-part interview, Pon Vasanth B.A., senior assistant editor with The Hindu, discusses with V. Geetha, feminist historian, translator and publisher, the campaign strategies used by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, the dominance of social media and campaign planners and the tendency to ridicule the supporters of Vijay as illiterates.
She also talks about the implications of TVK'
Making sense of TVK's victory: Why and how did Vijay win? | Part 1
In part one of this two-part interview, Pon Vasanth B.A., senior assistant editor with The Hindu, asks V. Geetha, feminist historian, translator and publisher, about her reading of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's victory in the 2026 Assembly election that stunned many.
She shares her thoughts on how Vijay's win represents a "contingent moment", the shortcomings of the DMK and the AIADMK, the sh
IPL 2026 review: What defined a season of records, runs and repeat champions?
The 2026 Indian Premier League season ended with Royal Challengers Bengaluru becoming only the third team in tournament history to successfully defend their title, with a dominant victory over Gujarat Titans in the final.But beyond RCB's emergence as the league's newest powerhouse, the season also sparked debates about the balance between bat and ball, the diminishing impact of spin on increasingl
If you are a trauma survivor, what does it take to heal?
Do you have frequent panic attacks? Are there behaviour patterns that you know you need to change but you can’t? Is your day to day life ruled by fear? Then it’s possible – though not a certainty – that you’re displaying symptoms of trauma.
According to govt estimates, more than 15 crore live with a mental health condition, and four out of five receive no treatment. Trauma, in particular, is a s
What can India's open prisons unlock that conventional jails never have?
"Prisoners do not cease to be bearers of constitutional rights upon incarceration." — The Supreme Court, in a February 2026 order, was pointed in its language as it directed States and UTs to develop a time-bound protocol for filling vacancies in Open Correctional Institutions (OCIs). The Delhi government has since been tasked to start work on an implementation strategy to restructure the open pri
Is increasing the Supreme Court’s sanctioned strength an effective way to reduce pendency?
On May 17, the President promulgated an ordinance increasing the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges. The ordinance is expected to be tabled during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The move came just days after the Union Cabinet approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, stating that the addition of four judges would enable the apex court to fun
Meta's encryption rollback: what's the scope for privacy on Instagram and beyond now?
Meta has ended support for end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram, effective May 8, 2026. The policy reversal, citing low adoption, comes against a backdrop of mounting regulatory pressure worldwide to crack down on illegal content — terrorism, piracy, child abuse material — exchanged through encrypted channels.
The implications stretch well beyond one platform or a rarely-used feature. When
CBSE's On-Screen Marking fiasco: An evaluator and a parent explain how it unfolded
The CBSE has been facing flak for its re-evaluation process for Class 12 Board exams this year. Parents and students have complained of a dysfunctional website, blurred answer sheets, and missing pages. At the heart of the controversy is the newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM), with thousands of complaints of unfair evaluation and faulty marking. The education minister has announced that the
Heat stress: Why are Indian cities the world's hottest?
According to a global heat map that recently went viral, almost 95 of the world’s 100 hottest places were in India. This summer, Indian cities are recording higher temperatures than even the deserts of West Asia and Africa. How come?
Climate change is certainly a factor. But it doesn’t exhaust the explanation for why India is so much hotter in April – even before the start of peak summer.
Thou
10 years of Disability Rights Act: Where does India stand on digital inclusion?
India has 30-35 million people with disabilities. It’s now ten years since the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Yet, accessibility remains a challenge – not only in the real world, but even in the digital one.
Most government websites have accessibility issues – meaning people with disabilities can’t fully use them. As India digitalises across public services, fina
In Focus-Parley | Should the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) be decentralized?
The cancellation and retest of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 has exposed deep cracks in India’s examination system. Allegations of paper leaks, corruption and repeated lapses by the National Testing Agency (NTA) has pushed lakhs of aspirants into uncertainty, stress and emotional exhaustion, raising urgent questions about transparency, accountability and the credibility of
Cockroach Janta Party: What does it mean to represent India’s ‘cockroaches’?
Abhijeet Dipke, a student of public relations in the US, woke up from uneasy dreams one morning and found himself transformed into a ‘gigantic cockroach’. He then founded the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), as a joke. But it quickly acquired a momentum of its own. In less than four days, it notched up more than 1.6 lakh members and 2 million followers on Instagram.
What makes the CJP interesting is
Is the IPL losing its appeal?
As the 2026 IPL heads toward its playoffs, questions are growing around whether the tournament still holds the same cultural grip it once did. While the league remains hugely valuable and widely watched, concerns around viewer fatigue, repetitive contests, lack of international superstars and the changing audience habits have sparked debate about the IPL’s evolving appeal.
In this episode of In F
Why Trump is in a strategic gridlock over Iran?
President Trump’s latest remarks on Iran and the sudden shift in U.S. messaging have once again placed West Asia on edge. Reports suggest key Gulf allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, played a role in pushing for diplomacy over immediate military escalation. But is this a temporary pause or the beginning of a larger geopolitical confrontation?
Guest: Stanly Johny, International Aff
Can CBT prevent future NEET paper leaks?
India’s largest medical entrance examination, NEET, is once again at the centre of a national discussion. Conducted for more than 20 lakh aspirants in a single sitting, the exam represents one of the biggest logistical exercises in India’s education system involving the printing, transport and storage of millions of physical question papers across thousands of centres.
For years, the National Tes
What were the biggest breakthroughs of the Trump-Xi Summit?
The two-day Trump–Xi summit in Beijing marked the first U.S. presidential visit to China in nearly nine years, bringing global attention to the future of U.S.-China relations.In this discussion, we break down the key takeaways from the summit, from trade and technology tensions to Iran, Taiwan, rare earth supplies, and the larger geopolitical implications for India and the Indo-Pacific.
Guest: An
How has India’s approach to FTAs evolved over the years?
After years of slow-moving negotiations, India’s trade policy has shifted gears. Over the past three and a half years, the country has signed a string of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to increase market access for Indian goods and services.
The latest, with New Zealand, may appear modest in isolation, but it is significant when looking at what has been happening over the last five to six years. W
In Focus-Parley | Is this the end of the road for the INDIA bloc?
Following the recent electoral setbacks faced by two of the largest constituents of the INDIA bloc, the DMK and the TMC, there is renewed debate over the future of Opposition politics in India. Do these developments signal a turning point for the INDIA bloc, or are they part of a longer structural shift in Indian politics? T
Is this the end of the road for the INDIA bloc? Here, we discuss the que
What's behind PM Narendra Modi's austerity call?
For the second time in a couple of days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the public to take some austerity measures: reduce fuel consumption, defer gold purchases, reduce foreign travel and consume less edible oil and fertilisers.
“The West Asia crisis is one of the worst in the decade; just as we overcame the COVID-19 pandemic, we will come out of this also,” he said while addressing an
Do India’s badminton stars deserve more recognition after Thomas Cup bronze?
Former India coach and Olympian U. Vimal Kumar joins the podcast to discuss India’s Thomas Cup campaign, player recognition, squad depth concerns and badminton’s new scoring system.
India returned from the Thomas Cup in Denmark with a bronze medal, its second podium finish in the last three editions of badminton’s premier men’s team event. But despite another strong campaign on the world stage, t
Hantavirus explained: The science behind the scare
A new health scare made headlines this week, after three persons died and several others fell sick aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The infection in this case, was hantavirus, something most people have not heard of. Passengers from the stricken ship disembarked today after it docked at the Canary islands, and are flying back to their home countries, many of which are imposing quarantine require
India-UK FTA: Does it pack enough to increase bilateral trade?
In this episode of In Focus podcast, London’s Lady Mayor Dame Susan Langley speaks with The Hindu’s Maharashtra Chief of Bureau Vinaya Deshpande about her maiden visit to India, the voices she heard from the financial and insurance service industry, and the opportunities for both the countries in view of the India – UK Free Trade Agreement. She is only the third woman to hold the Lord Mayor’s Offi
In Focus-Parley | Do abortion laws in India need overhauling?
The Supreme Court of India recently asked the Central government to amend the abortion law to remove the time limit on medical terminations of unwanted pregnancies in the case of minor rape victims. While this was observation was made while hearing the case of a 15-year-old rape survivor to terminate a 30-week pregnancy, it throws up broader questions of abortion access in India.
While in general
Tamil Nadu Election Results 2026: Can TVK break the DMK–AIADMK Duopoly?
The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election has delivered a verdict few anticipated. A political landscape long defined by the alternating dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has been decisively disrupted. At the centre of this churn is the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by C. Joseph Vijay, which has emerged as the single largest party in its electo
Assembly poll results: How do they alter the political calculus in India?
The assembly election results have sharply changed the political landscape in India, with the BJP set to form a government on its own for the first time in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee, the three-term chief minister often spoken of as the ‘real’ Opposition leader to the BJP, has ended up losing her own seat.
In Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) a two-year-old political start-up, has e
Why are negotiations between the U.S. and Iran stalled?
Negotiations between the United States and Iran have stalled due to deep disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program, economic sanctions, and regional influence. The U.S. wants stricter limits on uranium enrichment, while Iran demands sanctions relief. Mistrust built over decades, especially after the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, has made compromise difficult. Ongoing tensions in the Mi
Can high temperatures influence the sex of your baby?
We know by now that extreme heat can impact pregnancies in many ways. And with climate change contributing to extreme heat in India – and with parts of the country already reeling under scorching heat – this has become a significant health concern.
But what do we know about temperature and its link with sex ratio at birth? Can exposure to intense heat during pregnancy influence whether you have
In Focus-Weekend | What do tech disruption and stagnant wages mean for India’s middle class?
Is India’s middle class facing an economic crisis? A new book, ‘Breakpoint: The Crisis of the Middle Class and the Future of Work’ by Saurabh Mukherjea says that it is.
It argues that three factors have upended the consumption-driven model that powered the prosperity of India’s middle class since 1991. These are: technological disruption eliminating white collar job creation, wage stagnation ero
What are the political implications of 7 AAP MPs ‘merging’ with BJP?
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is facing a crisis. Seven of its 10 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, led by Raghav Chadha, have joined the BJP. Mr Chadha has framed this move as a “merger” with the BJP. Rajya Sabja Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan has already accepted the ‘merger’ claim. AAP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha has dwindled from 10 to 3.
AAP leaders have called this merger ‘illegal’. They want the seven
In Focus-Parley | Does the PIL jurisdiction need to be reconsidered?
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) emerged in the 1970s as a transformative judicial innovation aimed at widening access to justice for the poor and marginalised. This was achieved by relaxing the strict rules of standing to permit representative actions, and by broadening the scope of judicial notice to allow courts to take suo motu cognisance of public issues and convert them into litigation. Over
India’s temporal inequality: Why the poorer you are, longer the queue
We all know that India is one of the most unequal societies on the planet. But most debates around inequality are focussed on wealth and income inequality. But there is another form of inequality that isn’t talked about much – temporal inequality.
How much time a person spends waiting – determines how much time she has for other life-critical activities. In India, it is the poor who spend more ti
What are the key challenges in PoSH reporting and implementation?
The recent allegations of sexual harassment by eight female employees in Tata Consultancy Services’ (TCS) office in Nashik has brought renewed attention to workplace safety and grievance redressals of sexual harassment complaints. In this episode, Advocate Geeta Rameshashan joins us to discuss how the PoSH Act works, the limitations of internal committees, and what prevents women from reporting se
Why are Haryana's farmers resisting the new digital verification rules at mandis?
By the time farmers in Haryana were ready to head to the anaj mandis (grain markets) to sell their Rabi harvest, the rules of entry had been revised. The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board's March 28 directive introduced a new set of conditions for crop procurement — mandatory registration on the 'Meri Fasal Mera Byora' portal, Aadhaar-based biometric verification, and vehicle number regis
In Focus-Weekend | How AI could reshape the future of species
In this weekender episode, Adrian Wolfson talks us about his new book titled On the Future of Species. Artificial intelligence, he says, one day, could surpass Darwin’s evolutionary narrative on natural selection, and in this new world, he predicts AI not just editing, but authoring entirely new species using what he calls artificial biological intelligence.
While we have managed to piece togeth
Noida protest: Why do labour disputes get treated as ‘law and order’ issue?
Workers in the industrial belts of the NCR region and beyond have been agitating for better wages since February 2026
On April 13, a protest in Noida over salary disparities descended into violence. Around 50 vehicles were burn. Police resorted to lathi-charge. Over 300 workers were arrested. Many are still in jail, and serious charges have been framed against them. Trade union activists have cl
In Focus-Parley | Has a weakening of unionisation hurt workers?
Since March, the country has witnessed a number of agitations by workers, particularly by those in manufacturing sector. In the background of these protests for minimum wages, for expansion of social security ambit and against contractualisation of jobs, the role of trade unions have come up for discussion. There have been concerns about the impact of deunionisation on the workers.
In this episo
How to make India's metro systems serve our cities better?
India now operates the third-largest metro network in the world by length. But can scale alone make a transit system transformative? This episode explores whether the metros across 26 cities are being built to serve the larger needs of urban mobility.
We discuss what must align for metro networks to evolve from landmark infrastructure into the preferred, everyday choice for how most people move t
How will 'Indian Ozempics' change treatment for diabetes and obesity?
On March 20 this year, the patent for semaglutide, which is the active ingredient of blockbuster drug Ozempic, expired in India. The country was ready: nearly 40 generics are either in the market now or will be out soon. The story of Ozempic and weight-loss drugs falling under the GLP-1 category, is now a few years old, though studies continue to research how these drug impact the human body. Up u
Can a cancer therapy help treat autoimmune diseases?
CAR-T cell therapy, a breakthrough treatment that has transformed certain cancer outcomes, is now showing early promise in tackling autoimmune diseases. In a recent case in Germany, a patient with multiple severe autoimmune conditions entered treatment-free remission after receiving the therapy, raising fresh questions about its potential beyond cancer.
In this episode, we break down how CAR-T wo
As polls near, how is Tamil Nadu's economy doing?
Tamil Nadu is often seen as one of India’s strongest economic performers, recording 7.4% growth in 2025-26, with manufacturing registering real growth rate of 14.74% in 2024-25, well above the national average. Real growth stood at 11.2%, among the highest for major states. Exports have nearly doubled in just four years, and incomes remain among the highest in India.
The state is now aiming for a
Israel-Lebanon 10-day ceasefire: Will it hold?
As 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect from midnight of April 16, 2026. The truce, announced by US President Donald Trump, could offer some relief to Lebanese civilians who have been facing relentless attacks from Israeli air and ground forces since March.
More than 2,100 Lebanese have been killed in Israeli strikes since March 2026. The attacks – a combo of air and groun
In Focus Parley | Should the Mythos AI model raise cybersecurity alarms at governments and companies?
On April 7, the AI firm Anthropic, which makes the popular Claude product, said that a new model it’s been working on, Mythos, is so powerful at finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities that it would not release it publicly. Instead, the company said, it would share the model with tech firms that make the foundational critical software that are widely used across the economy.
The initiative, known a
Justice Kurian Joseph Committee Report explained: what are its recommendations?
Ashok Vardhan Shetty is one of the three members of the Justice Kurian Joseph Committee, appointed by the DMK government headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to study Union–State relations. The committee recently submitted Part 1 of its report to the Chief Minister, who has since tabled it in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Tamil Nadu has historically been very vocal about issues such as decentralisati
US-Iran war: Why did the Islamabad peace talks fail?
The Islamabad peace talks between the US and Iran failed to yield a peace deal after 21 hours of negotiations. Both the sides have blamed each other for the failure.
What exactly were the sticking points? What does the deadlock mean for the ceasefire? And how will the US attempt to blockade Iranian ports take shape?
Guest: Suhasini Haider, The Hindu’s Diplomatic Affairs Editor
Host: G Sampath
Why are Central banks not raising interest rates despite rising oil prices?
Traditionally, higher inflation leads to interest rate hikes to slow demand. This approach was used after the pandemic, when prices surged across major economies. But this time, the situation is more complex. The conflict in West Asia has pushed up energy prices and while that is driving inflation higher, it is also straining household budgets. As people spend more on essentials like fuel and elec
Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections: Can DMK retain power amid BJP’s push, AIADMK’s challenge, and Vijay’s TVK entry?
Tamil Nadu is heading into a crucial election, with the DMK government led by M. K. Stalin completing its first full term in office. While the party continues to foreground its welfare-driven “Dravidian model,” questions are being raised about governance, fiscal sustainability, and whether there is any perceptible anti-incumbency on the ground. The AIADMK is attempting to consolidate the oppositio
Can Cuba weather its worst crisis in decades?
Cuba is facing its worst crisis since the Soviet collapse. The Trump administration has imposed a de facto naval blockade, cutting off oil supplies for three months, triggering repeated electricity grid collapses, and leaving over 1,00,000 patients waiting for surgery. President Trump has spoken of "taking Cuba," while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for regime change.
In this conversat
Have elections in India become plutocratic?
As Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry head to the polls, India's vibrant democracy is on full display once again. But behind the rallies and roadshows, there’s a growing concern: elections are becoming increasingly expensive.With political parties spending heavily on campaigns, advertising, and outreach, the role of money in shaping electoral competition is under scrutiny. Data
What is behind U.S.- Iran ceasefire?
After a dramatic 24 hours that saw U.S. President Donald Trump shift from a stark warning of mass destruction to announcing a two-week pause in military action, a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is now in place. With Tehran calling it a victory, Washington framing it as mission accomplished, and Pakistan emerging as a key mediator, questions remain over what really changed, what the de
Will the 'No Kings' protest be a defining moment in Trump's second term?
On March 28, millions of people took to the streets across the U.S. under one banner — “No Kings” — marking one of the largest protest mobilisations in recent American history. What began as a loose coalition of advocacy groups has rapidly evolved into a broad-based movement cutting across issues such as civil liberties, immigration enforcement, foreign policy and the cost of living.With organiser
Should privacy be a tradable right?
India is a poor country, but it is ‘data-rich’. The dominant consensus today holds that data – including personal data -- should be exploited for economic growth. Is it possible that this consensus is wrong?
One outcome of this consensus is the ‘consent regime’, which paves the way for monetisation of personal data. You tick a box to give your ‘consent’ and that’s it, so far as your privacy is c
West Bengal elections: How will SIR voter deletions and anti-incumbency shape outcomes?
West Bengal is gearing up for assembly elections. Mamata Banerjee will face her toughest challenge, given the anti-incumbency factor of three terms. The BJP, in 2021, had cemented its position as the primary opposition, winning 77 seats to the Trinamool’s 215 seats. This time, unusually, but no longer surprisingly, the Election Commission has become a key character in the political narrative. The
Is cinema a positive influence in Tamil Nadu politics?
With elections in Tamil Nadu gearing up, one development drawing sharp attention is the entry of Vijay, whose political debut is expected to command a significant share of the vote. He comes from a long line of figures in the State who have transitioned from cinema to politics.
In Tamil Nadu, the film world and politics have mutually benefited each other. The Dravidian movement changed the face
Why has the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026 sparked such outrage?
The government introduced the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 on March 25. The Bill aims to amend the FCRA Act, 2010.
The main thrust of the amendment is the introduction of a ‘Designated Authority’, which will have the power to take over the assets of an NGO, if it fails to renew its FCRA-certificate on time, or even if it voluntarily surrenders it.
The Bill has sparked o
Assembly elections: Can the Left overcome anti-incumbency in Kerala?
The Left Front has been in power in Kerala since 2016. It is looking for a historic third consecutive term in power. But can it overcome the anti-incumbency that has built up over these ten years? The poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and in the recent local body elections might indicate that the LDF (Left Democratic Front) faces an uphill task. Does this mean that the Congress-led
The Tamil Nadu way: How to reverse India's creeping centralisation
Ashok Vardhan Shetty is one of the three members of the Justice Kurian Joseph Committee, appointed by the DMK government headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to study Union–State relations. The committee recently submitted Part 1 of its report to the Chief Minister, who has since tabled it in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Tamil Nadu has historically been very vocal about issues such as decentralisati
Has gold lost its safe haven status?
Gold usually rises during geopolitical crises, but this time, it’s falling. Why? In this episode of In Focus, we unpack what’s driving the recent drop in gold prices, from shifting interest rate expectations and a stronger U.S. dollar to liquidity pressures in global markets.
Has gold lost its safe-haven appeal, or is this just a temporary price correction after years of growth? Here we discuss t
Does India have enough health professionals to care for its rising senior population?
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the growing importance of the care economy – a rising demand for caregivers globally and an opportunity to train and skill young people to meet this demand. India stands at a unique position here – despite having the largest youth population in the world, it is also a rapidly ageing country. Estimates indicate that by 2050, we will have over 300
How do you make a living will?
The Supreme Court’s recent verdict in the case of Harish Rana, allowing for the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, as the 32-year-old had been in a persistent vegetative state for over a decade is a landmark judgement. It builds upon the framework of the Court’s own 2018 Constitution Bench guidelines, and it upheld the right to die with dignity. Following this, there has been a lot of discus
In Focus-Parley | Should men get paternity leave in India?
Last week, in a ruling on maternity leave for adoptive and surrogate mothers, the Supreme Court called on the Union government to examine the need for a formal law recognising paternity leave for all fathers, adoptive or biological. It noted that though parenthood is not a solitary function, fathers are often relegated to the periphery of their children’s lives, especially in infancy and early chi
What happens to the FIFA World Cup if Iran were to withdraw?
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just months away, an escalating war in West Asia has put FIFA in an unprecedented bind. With co-host United States directly involved in the conflict, uncertainty now surrounds the participation of the Iran national football team.
Iran’s request to move its matches to Mexico underlines how deeply geopolitics is beginning to affect the tournament. If Iran is forced to w
Is trump making a u-turn on Iran war?
Donald Trump’s five-day pause on striking Iran’s energy infrastructure does appear like a tactical U-turn—but not a full reversal. Just days after issuing a 48-hour ultimatum, he cited “productive” talks and stepped back, signalling possible de-escalation. However, U.S. attacks on other Iranian military targets continue, suggesting this is a limited pause rather than a policy shift.
Guest: Stan
Is the U.S. running out of missiles in the Iran-Israel war?
As the Iran–Israel conflict intensifies, a deeper question emerges: can the United States and its allies sustain this war?
In this episode, The Hindu’s data team examines the hidden economics and industrial limits behind modern warfare. From the cost mismatch between Iranian drones and U.S. interceptor missiles, to the strain on American stockpiles, the numbers tell a story of a conflict that may
West Asia conflict: Under what conditions would Iran agree to a ceasefire?
The war in West Asia has now entered its fourth week. US and Israel have continued their aerial bombings of Iran, and Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel and the GCC countries are ongoing.
This is a war of choice for US and Israel, but a war of survival for Iran. So far, much of the commentary on the conflict has been coming from Western sources – and even in India, it’s largely been from the p
Why was the National Transgender Council kept in the dark about the 2026 Amendment Bill?
The Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026 has sparked nationwide protests and a constitutional debate. In this exclusive interview, Kalki Subramaniam, Southern Regional Representative of the National Council for Transgender Persons, reveals how the Union Government drafted these changes without consulting the council itself.
We dissect the "red flags" of the amendment—from the removal of self-i
How far should governments go in using AI?
As governments begin deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in public administration, national security and policymaking, questions about its safe usage and accountability have taken centre-stage. The issue came into focus in the U.S. after reports revealed a dispute between the Pentagon and AI company Anthropic, which refused to remove safeguards that were in place to prevent mass surveilla
Assam Assembly elections: Is Himanta all set for a second term as CM?
The BJP has been in power in Assam for ten years. As the state goes to the polls, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is looking for a second term. Surprisingly, there has been little talk of anti-incumbency. Will the elections pivot on identity politics, or will economic issues take centrestage? How will the 2023 delimitation exercise impact the elections? Will the death of Zubeen Garg be a factor
LPG crisis: Is the Strait of Hormuz blockade India's biggest energy security test yet?
The rapidly escalating crisis in West Asia has sent shockwaves through the world's energy supply. Iran has effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel through which nearly a third of the world's LPG passes, after joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other leaders. The West Asian country has also hit Israel and American bases i
US-Israeli war on Iran: Will Trump escalate or exit?
As the war between the United States, Israel and Iran enters its third week, the conflict is widening with rising casualties and growing regional risks. With more than 2,100 people killed and American troops also targeted, the stakes are escalating. What options does America have now? Smriti Sudesh speaks with The Hindu’s International Affairs Editor Stanly Johny on where the war could be heading.
When a godman takes over your life: In Conversation with Priyamvada Mehra
Indians by and large are a highly religious people. But there are many other cultures that are as religious, if not more. What makes India unique in this regard is perhaps the abundance of self-styled godmen, and the mass followings they rapidly acquire.
Many of these godmen, or ‘gurus’, exploit the psychological and emotional vulnerabilities of their followers to amass massive wealth and politi
Why are farmers protesting against an India-US trade deal?
Last month, thousands of farmers across the country burnt symbolic copies of the India-US trade deal. They were protesting against the interim framework for a trade deal that India had signed with the US. While the Union government has emphasised that they have kept sensitive agriculture products out of the deal, farmers’ outfits and Opposition parties have said that the government has surrendered
