In Focus by The Hindu

A major war has erupted in West Asia, with Israel, the U.S., and Iran locked in direct conflict. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel just before the country, along with the U.S., attacked Iran. India did not condemn the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Meanwhile, the war has resulted in rising energy prices, economic risks, and put at risk  the safety of hundreds of thousands of Indian families in the region. Is India tailing the U.S. in its West Asia policy? Here, we discuss the question. Tune in! Guests: Amb. Talmiz Ahmad, former Indian Diplomat. He served as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE & Kabir Taneja, Executive Director of Observer Research Foundation Middle East. Host: Smriti Sudesh Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A week after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the immediate shock has faded — but the consequences are still unfolding.The Court made clear that the Trump administration can not use emergency economic powers to redesign the country's trade policy, reaffirming that tariff authority rests with Congress. Within hours, the administration turned to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, imposing a temporary 10% tariff, which was later revised to 15%. Whether that move withstands legal scrutiny remains uncertain.There are several questions that remain unanswered — will businesses get refunds for the $160 billion collected under the now-invalid tariffs? Did countries that rushed into negotiations concede too quickly? And what does this mean for India, which made trade concessions only to see the tariffs collapse in court Guest: Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation Host: Nivedita V Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramnaian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India clinched a historic third T20 World Cup title with a commanding win over New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Standout performances underlined India’s dominance, especially Sanju Samson’s remarkable run through the knockout stages.But the final has also sparked debate. Was the batting-friendly pitch worthy of a World Cup summit clash? Should curators shape conditions to produce high-scoring spectacles, or does that undermine the balance between bat and ball? And how does Ahmedabad compare with iconic Indian venues like Wankhede or Eden Gardens when it comes to hosting cricket’s biggest matches?In this episode of In Focus, veteran cricket journalist Pradeep Magazine talks about India’s dominant campaign, the controversy around pitch preparation and the legacy of this champion side in the evolving landscape of world cricket. Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Guest: Pradeep Magazine, veteran cricket journalist and author Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Days after a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant threatened that “heads must roll” for the “reckless, irresponsible, motivated, contemptuous conduct and manner” in which the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, portrayed the judiciary as a venal institution in a Class 8 Social Science textbook, our guest, former Supreme Court judge, Justice Abhay S. Oka, takes a studied view of the controversy. The podcast discusses if the government, through the NCERT, used the textbook as an anti-judiciary propaganda tool to influence young minds in their formative years. The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the textbook’s contents. It imposed a “complete ban” and ordered the withdrawal of the textbook in an order on February 26. It said the textbook’s contents revealed “calculated” attempt to instill a sense of bias against the judiciary in the “impressionable minds” of young school children, and through them, to the society at large and even the future generations. The court has no intention to let go and has scheduled the suo motu case for further hearing on March 11, 2026. The episode also debates if the ban on the book amounted to judicial censorship. Under Article 19(2) of the Constitution, free speech can be restricted only through a law.  Finally, the discussion delves into the court’s decision to initiate contempt action and going on a limb to make school principals “personally responsible” to “seize and seal” the copies of the textbook. Guest: Justice Abhay S. Oka, former Supreme Court judge Host: Krishnadas Rajagopal Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nepal’s latest general election appears to mark one of the most significant political shifts in the country’s recent history. For decades, Nepal’s politics has been dominated by a handful of established parties and veteran leaders, with governments frequently changing and coalition politics shaping the country’s governance. But the results of this election suggest that many voters particularly younger voters were ready for something different. The Rastriya Swatantra Party, a relatively new political force, is heading towards a sweeping victory, signalling a potential disruption of the traditional political order.
 At the centre of this political moment is Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen a rapper-turned-politician and former mayor of Kathmandu who has emerged as one of the most prominent faces of a new generation in Nepali politics. His rise reflects a broader mood of dissatisfaction with entrenched political elites and a growing demand for generational change in leadership. The strong performance of his party suggests that many voters are willing to place their trust in newer political actors who promise governance reforms and a break from the country’s long-standing cycle of unstable governments.
 This election also comes in the aftermath of the youth-led protests that forced the resignation of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli last year, highlighting deep public frustration over corruption, governance failures and political stagnation. With Nepal having witnessed 14 governments in the past 18 years, the results are widely being interpreted as a moment of political reckoning for traditional parties such as the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).
 At the same time, developments in Nepal are being closely watched in the region, particularly in India, which shares deep political, economic and cultural ties with its Himalayan neighbour. Nepal’s political trajectory has often had broader regional implications, not least because of its position between India and China, and the delicate balance it has historically maintained between the two.
 In this episode, we explore what Nepal’s election results signal about the country’s evolving political landscape. Sanjeev Satgainya offers insights into the forces behind this electoral surge, the decline of traditional political parties and the challenges that Nepal’s next government will face.
 Guest: Sanjeev Satgainya Host: Shikha Kumari A Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical energy chokepoint. Every day, over 20 million barrels of oil which is roughly one-fifth of global supply pass through this narrow shipping corridor connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets. Now, rising tensions after U.S.- Israel attacks on Iran have raised fears of disruptions in this vital route. Iran has warned that the strait is off limits, while the United States has indicated it may deploy naval escorts for commercial oil tankers. Any escalation here could have serious consequences for global energy markets, oil prices, and major importers like India and China, both of which depend heavily on Gulf crude shipments passing through the strait. Guest: Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev. He retired from the Indian Foreign Service in 2013 after a 35-year diplomatic career during which he was Ambassador to three oil importing countries, Algeria, Norway and Nigeria. He continues to be interested in energy and west Asian geopolitics. He is currently president of eco-diplomacy and strategies, a Delhi based consultancy. Host: Devyanshi Bihani Data Support: Nitika Francis and Sambavi Parthasarathy Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition seeking criminal prosecution of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over divisive and communal speeches, as well as a now-deleted social media post that depicted him firing a gun towards an animated image of two Muslim men. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked that whenever elections approach, the court tends to become a political battleground, and consequently directed the petitioners to approach the Guwahati High Court instead. Earlier in January, another Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath indicated that hate speech matters long pending before the court since 2021 would be closed. These were cases in which the court had earlier directed police authorities to register suo motu FIRs in instances of hate speech. The bench, however, clarified that the parties remained free to pursue other legal remedies, including approaching the High Courts or seeking appropriate police action. We discuss whether there has been a discernible shift in the Supreme Court’s approach towards curbing instances of hate speech, and whether legislative reforms may be required to deal with such communal rhetoric more effectively. Guests: Shahrukh Alam, advocate practicing before the Supreme Court, and Haris Beeran, advocate and Rajya Sabha MP. I welcome you both to the episode. Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know by now that ultraprocessed food is bad for our health. Consumption of a lot of it, has been linked to a number of health issues including hypertension, diabetes and obesity. But did you know that researchers are now finding links between ultraprocessed food and mental health? This is especially concerning considering the huge burden of mental health issues among young people in India and the gaps in access to care. The government is beginning to take note: the Supreme Court has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI to consider warning labels on the front of packaged foods and the Economic Survey this year called for high GSTs on processed foods. So what is the connection between UPFs and mental health? And why, despite all of the evidence, has India still not managed to put in place stringent warning labels for consumers? Guest: Dr. Arun Gupta, paediatrician, public health expert, and convenor of the Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest. He is also a former member of the PM’s Council on India’s Nutritional Challenges Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed last week in an attack by the US and Israel. Iran has declared 40 days of mourning. Muslims around the world have come out in large numbers to protest his killing and express their grief. In India, thousands of Muslims took to the streets in Kashmir, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Bhopal, among other places, to protest the killing. But beyond the Islamic or religious world, there is only a limited understanding of the man who became Iran’s second Supreme Leader, after Ayatollah Khomeini, the cleric who led the Islamic revolution in 1979. Khameini led Iran for 36 years, both during the Iran-Iraq war and in the period after, when Iran had to deal with crippling western sanctions. Besides being a revered religious leader, he is also considered an anti-imperialist statesman who exerted immense religious and political influence in West Asia. What was his legacy, and what are the political, religious and geopolitical implications of his killing – for Iran, for the ongoing war in West Asia, and beyond? Guest: Ziya Us Salam from The Hindu’s Delhi bureau Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has entered its third day, marked by intense aerial exchanges and escalating regional involvement. With Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's death, Iran has launched widespread retaliatory missile barrages targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the Gulf. The situation remainshighly vol atile, with potential for further spread amid calls for restraint from global powers. Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Smriti S Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we take a closer look at the issues shaping the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, which are expected to be announced soon by the Election Commission of India. Even before the formal declaration, the political temperature has begun to rise, with sharp exchanges between the Trinamul Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term in office, and its principal opponent, the BJP. But beyond the SIR controversy and the familiar flashpoints that have defined recent campaigns, what does the broader political landscape in West Bengal look like? What is the real state of play on the ground as parties gear up for a high-stakes contest? And as the Trinamul Congress attempts to extend its decade-long hold on power, could this turn out to be its toughest electoral battle yet? Guest: Sankhadip Das, the proprietor, editor of the Bangla language portal, the Wall.in, a very popular portal in Kolkata Host: Nistula Hebbar Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial intelligence has moved from experimentation to enterprise adoption in under two years, with industry estimates projecting AI services revenues of $10–12 billion in FY26 and rapid growth thereafter. Yet, this moment of expansion coincides with layoffs, automation, and the vulnerability of entry-level roles in India’s IT and BPO sectors. It also coincides with India’s top tech firms contracting AI products into their workflows. Is this transformation or disruption? Are we witnessing productivity gains, structural shifts, and early signs of displacement, all at the same time? And what does this mean for India’s services-led growth model? Guests: Kishan Sundar and Alaganambi Welkin Host: Kunal Shankar Producer: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, the producers of a Netflix movie titled ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ were taken to court. A PIL had been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking a ban on the movie. The PIL had been filed by a man claiming to be the National Organisation Secretary of the Brahman Samaj of India. His petition argued that the movie portrayed the Brahmin community in a negative light, by “equating” bribe-taking with the title ‘Pandat’. It said it would provoke disharmony, and a law and order problem. The film’s producers offered to relinquish the title, and release the movie under a different name. So, the case was closed. However, the associate judge on the Bench handling the case, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, has authored a separate opinion, where he has sought to restate first principles, dwelling on the themes of fraternity and free speech. On the one hand, the opinion states that it is “constitutionally impermissible” for state or non-state actors to “vilify or denigrate any community”. Many have expressed concerns that this could be used to impose further restrictions on free speech and artistic expression. But the judge has also observed that the effects of words must be judged from the standards of ordinary men of common sense and prudence, and not “on the basis of standards of people who always have a sense of insecurity, or of those who always perceive criticism as a threat to their power or position”. Free speech is the most critical element of a democracy, and there seems to be enough here for those who want to spin the opinion as pro-free speech or as anti-free speech. What is the broader context of this commentary, and what are its legal implications? Guest: Supreme Court advocate Deepak Joshi Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Mumbai hosted its first Climate Week, the spotlight is on how India’s fast-growing cities will navigate the accelerating energy transition. Renewable power is now cheaper than ever, electric vehicles are expanding globally, and India has emerged as one of the world’s largest generators of wind and solar energy. Yet the shift away from fossil fuels is proving uneven. Regulatory bottlenecks and financing gaps are slowing the pace of change even as electricity demand surges. That demand is set to climb further with the rapid expansion of AI and data centres, raising fresh questions about energy sources and long-term lock-ins. At the same time, Mumbai faces intensifying heatwaves, heavier rainfall and the long-term threat of sea-level rise, vulnerabilities that sit uneasily alongside large-scale infrastructure projects and rising air pollution levels. Urban planning choices made today, from coastal development to transport electrification, could determine whether the city builds climate resilience or compounds future risk. Can India’s growth story remain compatible with its climate commitments? Will rising power demand from technology and infrastructure revive fossil fuel dependence, or accelerate clean electrification? Can India’s financial capital turn climate pressure into an opportunity to lead? Guest: Helen Clarkson, CEO, Climate Group Host: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rare earth elements (REEs), a group of 17 minerals, have become central to global industry and geopolitics. They power electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, semiconductors, consumer electronics and advanced defence systems. While moderately abundant, they are difficult and expensive to extract and process. China has built overwhelming dominance in this sector, controlling nearly 90% of global processing and about 70% of production, despite holding only around 30% of global reserves. In 2025, China imposed a series of export restrictions on these elements, disrupting supply chains worldwide. Since then, supply restrictions have eased since then. For India, the vulnerability was stark. Despite holding around 8% of global reserves, the country produces less than 1% of global output and imports to meet its requirements. In a bod to increase domestic capacity, the government launched the ₹34,300-crore National Critical Mineral Mission in January last year, and followed up in the Union Budget this year. In her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government's plans to set up dedicated rare earth corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and manufacturing of Rare Earth Permanent Magnets. Can meaningfully reduce India’s dependence on imports, strengthen strategic industries, and position the country as a serious player in global advanced-material supply chains? Guest: Shobhankita Reddy, Research analyst for the High Tech Geopolitics Programme, Takshashila Institute Host: Nivedita V Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Indian men’s hockey team has begun 2026 — a year of major stakes — on a worrying note. Four matches in the Rourkela leg of the FIH Pro League ended in four defeats, including a humiliating 8–0 loss to Argentina. With the Asian Games in Japan and the Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium just months away, the results have raised uncomfortable questions. Are these early-season stumbles merely part of a longer preparation cycle, or do they point to serious issues in defence, goalkeeping, fitness and mentality? Should youngsters have been blooded in earlier? And how much pressure is mounting on coach Craig Fulton? In this episode of In Focus, we examine what went wrong in Rourkela, the search for stability in goal after P.R. Sreejesh, and why the core group of players who have been in the team for years need to be pulled up for the poor run of form. (Editor's note: This episode was recorded ahead of the Hobart leg of the FIH Pro League games) Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Guest: Uthra Ganesan, The Hindu's hockey correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week a landmark trial is underway in the United States, where Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram is being accused of deliberately getting young users addicted to its platforms. Google-owned YouTube is also part of the trial, which hinges on the mental health problems faced by a 20-year-old who has used social media and video content platforms since childhood. Two other similar trials are scheduled for later this year, as thousands of lawsuits blame social medial for the epidemic of mental health issues including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and suicide amongst young persons. So what does social medial really do to the young brain? Is its addiction similar to the addiction of other substances? And how can parents and youngsters safely navigate the increasingly digital and connected world we live in now? Guest: Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar Host: Zubeda hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his speech at the Munich Security Conference last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared the MAGA vision of American foreign policy -- which has been dubbed by some as ‘Make the West Great Again’. At one level, it marked a clear shift from the speech that Vice President JD Vance gave last year, when he accused Europe of suppressing freedom of speech and democracy. Rubio, in contrast, played up the shared history and civilisational values between the US and Europe. He painted a future where the West, under American leadership, will boldly assert itself as the dominant geopolitical force on the planet. He also spoke fondly of the five centuries of Western domination right up to the Second World War. What does the vision outlined by Rubio, and the seeming nostalgia for Western empire signify for the Global South? Does it mark the start of another phase of colonial-style extraction mounted on unilateralism and economic coercion? Where does a middle power like India figure in this scheme of things? Guest: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last weekend, the Indian Super League (ISL), the highest league in Indian football, kicked off after months of uncertainty. The disruption, which compelled some clubs to halt their operations and consigned the players and coaches to a state of desperation, emanated from the absence of a commercial partner for the league once the Master Rights Agreement between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) expired in December. The Indian football team, which is 141st in the FIFA rankings, failed to even qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after a loss to Singapore last October. The contrast with cricket in India could not be starker. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest and most powerful cricket board in the world right now, and India’s cricketers enjoy demigod status across the length and breadth of the country. Does football suffer because of cricket? Guests: Abhik Chatterjee, CEO of ISL club Kerala Blasters; Yannick Colaco co-founder of FanCode (the media rights partner of the ISL) Host: Vivek Krishnan Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Japan’s strategic posture is undergoing one of its most consequential transformations since the end of the Second World War. Long defined by its pacifist Constitution and its reliance on the United States for security guarantees, Japan built its global identity as an economic power that exercised influence largely through trade, technology and diplomacy. Over the past decade, however, shifting regional dynamics, particularly China’s rise and growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific, have prompted a reassessment in Tokyo about the country’s defence capabilities, alliance structures and strategic autonomy. This reassessment has accelerated under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, whose leadership marks both a symbolic and political milestone as Japan’s first woman prime minister. Often associated with the conservative legacy of Shinzo Abe, Takaichi has signalled continuity in strengthening Japan’s security architecture while also projecting a more assertive political style. Her tenure raises important questions about how far Japan is willing to reinterpret constitutional constraints, expand defence spending and recalibrate its role within the U.S.–Japan alliance. At the same time, Japan finds itself navigating an increasingly complex external environment. Strategic competition between the United States and China, evolving regional security partnerships and debates over economic security and supply chain resilience have all influenced Tokyo’s policy choices. For countries such as India, which views Japan as a central pillar of its Indo-Pacific strategy, these shifts carry significant diplomatic and economic implications. In this episode, we explore what Japan’s changing strategic identity means in practical terms: whether Takaichi represents continuity or disruption in Japan’s post-war trajectory, how Tokyo is balancing alliance commitments with a desire for greater autonomy, and what these developments signal for the broader Indo-Pacific order. Guest: Sanjaya Baru, Policy Analyst, economist, and writer. Host: Shikha Kumari Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices