3 Things

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Ravik Bhattacharya about an investigation that was conducted by him and The Indian Express' Atri Mitra regarding 11 universities that were established by the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal in 2017 and 2018. Ravik shares what he saw at these universities, the state of affairs, what they lacked and more. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about India changing its mind about hosting the COP33 summit in 2028. In 2023, when the COP summit was held in Dubai PM Modi made an offer to host COP33 in India, however, now it has been learnt that India does not want to go ahead with that. Amitabh shares why that is the case. (14:25)Lastly, we talk about Indian Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's visit to Qatar amid the Iran war ceasefire. (27:56)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Anil Sasi about a major milestone in India’s nuclear programme, as the Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam attains criticality, marking a significant step in the country’s long-term three-stage nuclear energy strategy.Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Sukalp Sharma about why the West Asia ceasefire has not fully eased the energy shock, especially for import-dependent countries like India, with continued risks around supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. (13:35)And in the end, we take a look at the first big round of polling across Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, as key political contests unfold ahead of results next month. (24:00)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Ravik Bhattacharya about the anger that people have in West Bengal against the SIR. West Bengal is going to have its assembly election later this month and even currently the fate of 60 lakh voters hangs in the balance. Ravik talks about the protests that are happening, how people are reacting to this and how people are feeling helpless. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Amrita Nayak Dutta about a new addition to India's nuclear submarine fleet - INS Aridaman. It is the third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine after INS Arihant and INS Arighaat. Amrita talks about the submarine, its unique features and the significance of these submarines in terms of India's security. (15:07)Lastly, we talk about an incident where two minors were killed inside their house in Manipur and how this has led to protests in the Bishnupur district of the state. (23:10)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Sukrita Baruah about the upcoming Assam Assembly Election, where the BJP-led alliance is seeking another term on the back of welfare schemes and political consolidation, while the Congress attempts to rebuild its position amid internal challenges.Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Varinder Bhatia about a series of financial frauds across Chandigarh and Haryana, where investigators say a common template was used to siphon off government funds through multiple banks, exposing systemic loopholes. (17:40)And in the end, we look at a case from Jammu that has drawn attention to alleged recruitment rackets sending young men into the Russia-Ukraine War, after a 24-year-old from the region died on the frontlines under unclear circumstances. (27:35)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He shares the recent developments, everything that is going on, President Trump's speech and what all predictions can be made for the upcoming days as far as the war is concerned.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Jatin Anand about AAP leader Raghav Chadha being removed from the position of party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha. He talks about the reasons that the party has given for doing this, what this step means, and what Raghav Chadha had to say about the same. (16:11)Lastly, we talk the government of Odisha increasing the percentage of reserved seats for SC, ST and SCBC students. (26:41)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Parul Kulshrestha about how tighter safety norms for sleeper buses have brought Rajasthan’s traditional bus body manufacturing industry to a standstill, with small workshops struggling to adapt to new compliance requirements.Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Amitabh Sinha about Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the Moon’s neighbourhood in more than five decades, and what this test flight means for future lunar landings planned later this decade. (14:10)And in the end, we look at how the Supreme Court of India has sharply criticised the West Bengal government over violence against judicial officers in Malda, raising concerns about the protection of the judicial process. (26:55)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduceda and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Nikhila Henry about the upcoming Kerala elections and the current situation in the state. She elaborates on the campaigns being conducted by the parties, the predictions for the elections, what makes this one different and more. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Jayprakash S. Naidu about the situation in Chhattisgarh's remote areas that have experienced Maoist dominance over the years. He shares how the Defence Ministry's BRO has been building roads and bridges to connect these remote areas to the more prominent regions of the state. (14:18)Lastly, we talk about the Lok Sabha passing the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which will change the capital of the state. (22:47)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda, and Ichha Sharma Edited and mixed by Suresh PawarLinks to our episodes that cover the upcoming elections:Assam: https://indianexpress.com/audio/3-things/assam-bjp-red-faced-odisha-farm-unrest-and-iaf-to-get-114-rafael-jets/10529424/West Bengal: https://indianexpress.com/audio/3-things/a-minority-front-in-bengal-farmers-on-strike-and-raga-slams-india-us-deal/10527502/Tamil Nadu:https://indianexpress.com/audio/3-things/vijays-political-entry-khameneis-death-and-welfare-scheme-lapses/10563878/ https://indianexpress.com/audio/3-things/tamil-nadus-poll-mandate-pakistan-as-peacemaker-and-a-rare-birth/10608553/

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Udit Misra about the economic fallout of the ongoing West Asia conflict, as an interim outlook highlights which economies are being hit the hardest and what risks lie ahead for countries like India.Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Vineet Bhalla about how courts are increasingly questioning the use of Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with judges warning against turning failed but consensual relationships into criminal cases and stressing the need to prove intent to deceive from the outset. (22:10)And in the end, we look at the stampede at the Maa Sheetla Temple that claimed several lives, once again raising concerns about crowd management and administrative preparedness at large public gatherings in India.Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Legal Affairs Editor Apurva Vishwanath about the Gujarat Assembly passing the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill. She explains the bill, what it entails and how similar it is to the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code. Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Bijin Jose about artificial intelligence and how humans are increasingly becoming dependent on it. He shares how people now prefer talking to AI chatbots, share their thoughts and doubts instead of talking to their friends and family and how is that impacting their communication and social skills. (11:58)Lastly, we give you an update on the war situation in West Asia. (23:15)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarCheck out our conversation on using AI for Therapy, with The Indian Express' Heena Khandelwal:https://indianexpress.com/audio/3-things/iim-calcutta-rape-case-using-ai-for-therapy-and-a-severe-shortage-of-staff/10126734/

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Arun Janardhanan about how the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly Election is shaping up differently this time, with a fragmented, multi-cornered contest replacing the traditional DMK vs AIADMK binary. Next, we turn to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, where Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary between the US and Iran. The Indian Express’ Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy explains how this mediation role evolved, what it signals for regional diplomacy, and how it affects India’s strategic interests. (16:15)And in the end, we look at a rare conservation breakthrough, as a Great Indian Bustard chick is born in Gujarat for the first time in a decade, offering hope for the revival of one of India’s most endangered species. (26:35)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express