In Focus by The Hindu

The Hindu
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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.

  1. 6H AGO

    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 Cards (EPIC) with Aadhaar.  This linking is supposed to be voluntary, but there is some confusion as to whether the voter will really have any choice in the matter.  There are also concerns that linking EPIC with Aadhaar could lead to voter profiling, selective disenfranchisement, targeted campaigns, data privacy violations, and possibly undermine the autonomy of the Election Commission. Are these concerns valid or are they overblown? Guest: Usha Ramanathan, human rights activist who has worked extensively on Aadhaar-related exclusions and rights violations.  Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian.

    55 min

  2. 3D AGO

    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 and 2025. This year, cancer numbers were estimated to hit 15.7 lakh. A worrying trend in this rise, is the spike in cancer cases among young persons. We know of and we are battling risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption and obesity and while these are still responsible for a significant chunk of cancers in India, other factors such as environmental pollution are now also beginning to play a role. Air pollution, forever chemicals in our water and soil and the increasing consumption of ultra-processed food are all being studied for their links to cancer. How much do we know about these factors? What does the research say about their links to cancer? Could some of these chemicals be responsible for the rise in cancers in India? What can we, as individuals do, about this? Guest: Dr. Krithiga Shridhar, head, cancer epidemiology unit, Centre for Chronic Disease Control. New Delhi Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian.

    33 min

  3. 5D AGO

    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 Shinde were not liked by the latter’s supporters, who responded with violence – vandalising the venue where Kamra had performed, with the police not intervening to protect private property. Kamra has been inundated with threat calls. The Maharashtra government has also threatened to freeze Kamra’s bank accounts, and has demanded an apology. But Kamra has said will not apologise, and that he is not afraid of “the mob.” Guest: Punit Pania, Mumbai-based stand-up comedian, also known for political humour. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian.

    45 min

  4. 6D AGO

    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 case has been filed against the ATP, the WTA, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The lawsuit alleges that professional tennis players are being exploited and abused by the unfair business practices of the sport’s governing bodies. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that the ATP, WTA and others are running the sport in violation of the US’s anti-trust laws. Among other things, it also calls for a more equitable distribution of the revenue generated by the sport, a less gruelling calendar, and more transparency in the anti-doping and anti-corruption investigative processes followed by the ITIA. What are the likely implications of this lawsuit and will it help bring about reform in the way the sport is organised? Guest: Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the PTPA. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian.

    49 min

  5. MAR 22

    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 Gurugaon and with plans to expand to other cities over two years. The launch, while praised in some quarters and criticised in others has thrown into focus a larger question: why does India not have a national emergency service helpline and an adequate number of ambulances to cater to its population? Considering that we are a country with one of the highest road traffic accidents in the world and a growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, this critical aspect of medical care seems to be neglected: emergency services at present are provided by private hospitals, at a cost, by emerging services such as Blinkit, also at a cost, and when provided by the government are uneven and fragmented across the country. What are the issues around emergency services in India? Do we have adequate numbers of vehicles for our population and an equal number of trained paramedics and driver? Do we need a framework to regulate this sector? Guest: Rama Baru, retired professor of social medicine and community health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Jude Francis Weston

    23 min

  6. MAR 18

    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 officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to the ceasefire proposal with caution. He has said that he agrees with it in principle but any ceasefire offer must address the root causes of the ‘crisis’. So, what does the ceasefire deal offer Russia and Ukraine? Will Russia agree to this ceasefire proposal in the coming days? And what are the likely key sticking points that could come in the way of a deal? Guest: Stanly Johny, The Hindu’s International Affairs Editor. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian.

    34 min

  7. MAR 17

    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 paradigm where the US was the prime guarantor of European security. Three quick, successive developments have underscored this departure. First came US Vice President J.D. Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference in mid-February, where he said that the biggest threat to Europe’s security is “from within”. Second, the very public spat between Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, after which President Donald Trump announced that the US was pausing military and intelligence aid to Ukraine. Finally, Zelenskyy buckling under the pressure, and agreeing to a US-sponsored offer of a 30-day ceasefire deal with Russia. All these developments have made it clear that Europe will need to completely rethink its security-related assumptions that governed its relationship with the US under a capacious NATO umbrella. Is the trans-Atlantic alliance due for a comprehensive reset? Can Europe continue to outsource its security needs to the US, or does it need to mobilise more actively to achieve self-reliance? What adjustments does Europe need to make, and what kind of a security architecture does Europe need to work towards? Guest: Marta Mucznik, Senior EU Analyst, Advocacy & Research, International Crisis Group, Brussels. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Edited by Jude Francis Weston

    44 min

  8. MAR 14

    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 in goods and $66.19 billion in services trade. 17.7% of India’s exports are to the US. In 2024, India enjoyed a goods trade surplus to the tune of $45.7 billion. American exports into India also face a higher rate of tariffs than India’s exports to the US. Now President Donald Trump has said that the US will mirror Indian tariffs from April 2. This means tariffs on Indian goods will increase substantially. If this does happen, how will it affect Indian industry? Should India get into a trade war or pre-emptively lower its tariffs on US goods? More critically, what are the implications of reciprocal tariffs for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) – is the US getting out of WTO? Guest: economist Neeraj Kaushal, Professor at the School of Social Work, Columbia University. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian.

    42 min
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    About

    A podcast from The Hindu that delves deep into current developments with subject experts, and brings in context, history, perspective and analysis.

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    • Creator
      The Hindu
    • Years Active
      2020 - 2025
    • Episodes
      968
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © The Hindu
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      In Focus by The Hindu

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