In Focus by The Hindu

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 is disrupted. They can’t go out and play. The elderly can’t take their morning walks. And the state does very little to address what is evidently a public health emergency. Beijing had exactly the same problem – but no longer. It took measures to solve it. India has big claims to be a rising power. But our government and bureaucracy have been unable to deliver on the most basic of requirements for life – breathable air. Why are we in this situation? What can be done? Guest: Vimlendu Jha, environmentalist Host: G Sampath Recorded, produced, and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 the course of the conflict, his memoir Artillery’s Thunder: The Untold Kargil Story recounts the lesser-known, ground-level realities of Operation Vijay. In this conversation, he also reflects the parallels between Kargil and modern precision warfare, and shares insights into the operational challenges faced by soldiers in the world’s highest battlefield. What made the artillery’s role so decisive? How did units innovate under fire? And what does this tell us about India’s preparedness for future high-altitude conflicts? Guest: Major General (Retd.) Lakhwinder Singh, author of Artillery’s Thunder: The Untold Kargil Story Host: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit, Maharashtra Chief of Bureau, The Hindu Produced and edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 the conversation, a less talked-about issue is that of digital gender-based violence. A new report, titled Experiencing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in India: Survivor Narratives and Legal Responses, highlights testimonies from survivors who have experienced violence enabled by digital tools. The report highlights how digital tools are being used to harass and shame people based on gender or sexuality and shows that online violence is not just a virtual problem, it affects lives and has a profound impact on mental health and personal safety. What is TFGBV, and who is most impacted? Why does justice remain out of reach for many survivors, and what systemic and social changes are urgently needed to tackle the issue. Guest: Manjusha Madhu of Breakthrough, who is the lead co-author and co-researcher of the report, published by Equality Now and Breakthrough. Host: mandira Moddie Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this week, the Department of Telecommunications ordered smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices. It also told them to ensure that the app’s functionalities are not disabled. It said this would protect users from cyber-fraud and phone theft. But within two days, the government revoked this order. It justified the withdrawal by citing a surge in acceptance of the app. But the revocation was preceded by a tremendous pushback against the original order – from digital rights activists as well as the Opposition. They said it was an attempt to vastly expand the scope of state surveillance. How do we contextualise this entire episode? Tune in! Guest: Apar Gupta, founder director of Internet Freedom Foundation. Host: G Sampath Produced and edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Indian cities. Why do citizens in urban areas of India have no elected official to turn to in times of crisis or to help improve civic infrastructure and amenities? The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the governing civic body of Mumbai, is set to have elections in 2026 after several years. In Telangana, 27 municipalities are being merged into the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has been divided into five corporations. Will these measures help improve governance of cities? Do we need to change how cities are governed in India? Guests: Thoniparambil Raghunandan, Former IAS officer and a consultant on decentralisation and planning; Anant Maringanti, Director of Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change at the University of Minnesota Host: Serish Nanisetti Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an annual observance established by the United Nations in 1992. The 2025 theme is "fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress". In this episode, we examine India's Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and the principle of reasonable accommodation. Under Section 2(y), reasonable accommodation means "any necessary and appropriate modification and/or adjustment" that enables PwDs to enjoy their rights equally with others, without imposing a "disproportionate or undue burden."Yet despite clear policy mandates, it remains treated as a "nice to have" by many organisations and public institutions. Why do implementation gaps persist? What costs—physical, emotional, and social—do employees with disabilities bear? And what will it take to move beyond tick-box compliance toward genuine inclusion? Guest: Amran Ali, Executive Director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), and a prominent voice in the disability rights movement. Host: Vibha B Madhava Recorded by Jude Weston and Tayyab Hussain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri took a dramatic turn after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where both drivers were disqualified for technical infringements.That stunning twist, combined with Max Verstappen’s late-season surge and seven consecutive podiums, has transformed the fight into a genuine three-way showdown going into the final race at Abu Dhabi.This episode of InFocus unpacks how the 2025 season shaped up into a captivating three-horse race, the team dynamics that defined McLaren’s back-to-back Constructors’ Championship, as well as a disappointing first year for Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari. Guest: Rishikesh Ramachandran, former racer and journalist Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 claims filed rose 21.8% in the financial year 2025, but the total amount settled by insurers increased by only 12.88 %. This stark mismatch has spilled over social media – where stories of claims going unsettled, settled for lower amounts of being endlessly delayed, are rife. Adding to this issue is the steep rise in health insurance premiums. Earlier this year, the IRDAI, had directed that premiums for senior citizens not be revised by over 10% a year – this came after senior citizen premiums were going up by 50 or 60% in many cases. Why is there a growing mismatch between claims filed and settled? How much of an effect does the rising cost of medical services play in this? Do both the insurance sector and private hospitals need better, more stringent regulation? Guest: Prof. Indranil M., professor and health economist, at OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat Host: Zubeda hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 killings were part of daily life. We are joined by one of the key officers who led the operations that broke the backbone of Mumbai’s mafia networks. As he talks about his book The Brahmastra Unleashed, we unpack what was really happening on the streets, what changed within the police force, and how the city slowly took back control. What Mumbai looked and felt like during the peak of gang dominance? How the police tracked and tackled major gangs? What’s the truth behind “encounter specialists” versus the myths created by cinema? All in this episode. Tune in. Guest: D. Sivanandhan IPS (Retd.), Former Police Commissioner of Mumbai Host: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit, Maharashtra Chief of Bureau, The Hindu Shot by Emmanual Karbhari and Aditya Shirsekar Produced and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 perhaps heard about in a long time. The fact is however, that there are thousands of mumps cases being reported in India every year. And this is not just limited to one or two States — cases occur across the country. A vaccine for mumps has been available for over 50 years now — in fact, India manufactures and exports this vaccine to other countries, and yet, it is not part of our country’s universal immunisation programme for children. So why are mumps cases spiking in India? What does the mumps viral illness do to the body? And is there a case to be made out to include the mumps vaccine in routine immunisations for children? Guest: Dr. Vipin M. Vashishtha, Past National Convener of the IAP Committee on Immunisation and Director of Mangla Hospital & Research Center, Uttar Pradesh Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 not strengthen financial commitments. However, voluntary plans announced by the COP30 President to create roadmaps to transition away from fossil fuels and to stop deforestation show some hope. In this episode of InFocus, we speak with Zerin Osho, director of India Programme at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, to break down the results of COP30. Guest: Zerin Osho, director of India Programme at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development Host: Priyali Prakash Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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; The Code on Social Security, 2020; and The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. Several trade unions have expressed concern over the notification of the four labour codes, with many of them demanding that they be revoked. Are the labour codes labour-friendly? Here we discuss the question. Guests: Amarjeet Kaur,General Secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress; R. Mukundan, Managing Director & CEO, Tata Chemicals Limited Host: A.M. Jigeesh Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Governor and the President. The Supreme Court said that no timelines can be fixed for Governors or the President to act on Bills passed by State legislatures. It also said there can be no ‘deemed assent’. But it added that in cases where the Governor’s inaction “is prolonged, unexplained and indefinite” there will be ‘limited judicial scrutiny”. This advisory opinion of the Supreme Court contradicts its own judgement of April 8, in State of Tamil Nadu vs Governor of Tamil Nadu & Union of India. In this case, the two-judge Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, had held said that the Governor cannot exercise a “pocket veto” by indefinitely sitting on Bills, and they fixed a three-month timeline for them to act on the Bills. What happens to this judgement now? Former Chief Justice B.R. Gavai did clarify that the opinion given in a Presidential judgement did not overrule a judgement. Nonetheless, the question remains: given that a Supreme Court judgement declares the law, what happens to the April 8 judgement now? Does the Court’s ‘opinion’ mean that the Centre now enjoys a default ‘pocket veto’ on state laws? Does it mean Governors can sit on any Bill as long as they like, waiting for the state to go to court? Guest: Krishnadas Rajagopal, The Hindu’s Legal Correspondent. Host: G. Sampath Shot, produced, and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 what does “extreme poverty” actually mean, and is it possible for a State to eradicate it? This episode unpacks the definitions, the methodology used by the State, the gap between Kerala’s estimates and the Central government’s Antyodaya Anna Yojana’s numbers, and the wider questions this raises about poverty measurement and verification. The conversation also looks at whether States should set their own criteria, what an ideal poverty tracking system should look like, and how journalists can independently assess such claims. Guest: Prof. R. Ramakumar, Former Dean of the School of Development Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and a non-ministerial member of the Kerala government’s State Planning Board Host: Devyanshi Bihani Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 long-standing debate on whether India should rely on foreign-born players and those of Indian origin to strengthen the squad, or if this undermines the country’s grassroots development and talent pipeline. In this episode, we discuss what this shift means for the sport in India, whether India should rope in OCIs, if the struggling national team would benefit from this change and how Indian football is coping with a stalled ISL season. Guest: Amitabha Das Sharma, The Hindu’s sports reporter Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 “Danya” Naroditsky became an unusually humble and accessible teacher in a space that often rewards sharpness over gentleness. But the digital arena carried its own tensions. Chess engines grew stronger and suspicion spread. So when former world champion Vladimir Kramnik accused Naroditsky of cheating, the chess community split. So, how did speed and doubt shape a landscape where the game never really ends and what did that world do to those inside it? Guests: Viswanathan Anand, five-time World Chess Champion; Dr. Kenneth Regan, expert on chess-cheating detection; Dr. Michael Rich, digital wellness researcher; Krish Rastogi, young player shaped by online chess’s rise Host: Anupama Chandrasekaran Shot by: Thamodharan B Production Assistance: Anupama Chandrasekaran Produced and Edited by: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As IPL teams submitted their final retention lists ahead of the December mini-auction, the league witnessed one of its most dramatic reshuffles in years — major releases, headline trades, and two giants, CSK and KKR, signalling sweeping squad revamps. In this episode of In Focus, we break down the big moves, from the sensational Samson–Jadeja–Curran swap to price-correction calls, Punjab’s stability-first approach, and RCB’s calm after their maiden title. How are teams shaping their auction strategies, and what does it tell us about the season ahead? We also track emerging trends, purse strengths, and the key players expected to trigger bidding wars on December 16. Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Guest: Amol Karhadkar, The Hindu’s sports reporter Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh has handed a death sentence to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The tribunal found her guilty of crimes against humanity. It convicted held her of ordering the killing of anti-government protesters between June and August 2024. Sheikh Hasina fled to Delhi last year when her government fell. She has lived in exile ever since. But now she is a wanted criminal in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government wants India to extradite her. Will India agree to do so? Does this mark the end of Hasina’s political career? With national elections due in February, what does this tribunal verdict mean for domestic politics in Bangladesh? What does it mean for the future of Awami League, the party Hasina leads? Guest: Kallol Bhattacherjee from The Hindu’s Delhi bureau. Host: G. Sampath Recorded by Aniket Singh Chauhan Produced and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The recent rationalisation of Goods and Services Tax brought cheer to consumers, but triggered another row between the Centre and some States, which fear a decline in revenue collection. Opposition-ruled States have been at loggerheads with the Centre over Centrally sponsored schemes, release of disaster relief funds, and the Finance Commission's recommended share. Some of these issues have also reached the Supreme Court. The fallout in the Centre-State relations has triggered debates over the essence of Indian federalism, which, the Supreme Court has said, is a basic structure of the Constitution. Is federalism in retreat under single-party hegemony? Guests: Yamini Aiyar and A. Kalaiyarasan Host: Sharath S. Srivatsa Edited by Sharmada venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another assembly election is done and dusted. And the Opposition has lost yet again – this time it was decimated. The NDA won 202 out of the 243 seats in Bihar, with a vote share of 46.5%. The Mahagathbandhan could secure only 35 seats, with a vote share of 37.6%. Before the results were out, no one had predicted that the NDA would cross 200 seats. But post-facto, we are hearing sophisticated hypotheses about the so-called ‘index of unity’, caste arithmetic, etc that apparently benefited the NDA. And once again, the Election Commission’s role is in the spotlight, especially with the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. What does this verdict mean for Bihar, and for the Opposition parties, which, in 2026, face a series of assembly elections preceded by SIR, just like in Bihar? Guest: Professor Kumar Sanjay, who teaches history at Swami Shraddhanand College. Delhi. Host: G. Sampath Shot by Tayyab Hussain Produced and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices