The Big Fight

The enormity of the Wayanad tragedy is still not clear. With each day, the death count keeps on increasing. At least 200 people are still missing. NDTV is also running a campaign to support the survivors of this horrific tragedy. In this week's Big Fight, we ask, What are the lessons learnt from Wayanad landslides? And can we prepare ourselves to avoid another catastrophe? Watch the full show on NDTV.

The first Budget of Modi 3.0 will be presented next week. The Budget expectations are running high among all sectors. The current environment for the capital markets is highly favorable, characterised by an overwhelmingly optimistic sentiment among investors. As always, politics and economics go hand in hand. In this edition of The Big Fight, we talk about the politics of the Budget and expectations that states have from Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and why do non-BJP ruled states continue to speak about discrimination much before the budget is presented. 

The National Entrance cum Eligibility test that's NEET controversy continues to hog the headlines. But, beyond headlines, it's the uncertainty which concerns aspirants and their parents. This year's NEET faces several questions - paper leaks, impersonation, cheating and other irregularities. In this edition of the Big Fight, we decode 'The NEET Dilemma'. Tune in to the full show on NDTV.

The tragedy in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras in which 121 people were killed in a stampede when they went to attend a satsang of the godman Bhole Baba once again brings to the forefront the phenomenon of godmen, mystics and saints - not unique by any means to only India, but a problem, many feel at so many levels. Who are these godmen? What are their true credentials? Why are vulnerable people made to believe them? In this show on Left, Right & Centre - we discuss 'The Godmen Phenomenon'.

It was the first week of the inaugural session of the 18th Lok Sabha, 543 representatives of people of India showcasing the diversity and complexities of our nation entered the new Parliament. The BJP-led NDA has the mandate but the Opposition too is big on numbers and has the opportunity to push for debates. With daggers drawn between the Opposition and the Treasury benches in the very first week who is reading the mandate correctly?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is in the eye of a storm. The umbrella body that conducts 15 major exams is facing a big test itself. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said the question paper leak of UG-NET - an exam that was cancelled - was an institutional failure. Two back-to-back exam controversies have amplified long-simmering doubts among sections of higher education faculty whether the NTA has the right composition and adequate capacity to conduct nationwide tests that are crucial for careers. Has the time come to review this one-agency exam system?

It's an elite exam and is in the eye of a massive storm. This week NEET hogged headlines for all the wrong reasons - from allegations of paper leaks to malpractices. It's just one exam and 24 lakhs appeared for it. There are over 60 toppers - a bunch of them from just one centre scoring 720 out of 720 marks, which was unimaginable to date. Hundreds scored 719 and 718 marks, which is impossible in the NEET marking scheme. The National Testing Agency has said that these scores were due to grace marks given to some students at some centres where there were glitches and students lost time. The Supreme Court ordered a retest for the 1,563 students who got the grace marks. However, the larger aspirant community wants the exam scrapped and is demanding a retest for all. The issue has also become political with the Opposition, especially the DMK, upping the ante and demanding that the NEET be scrapped totally. They are also threatening to raise the issue in the upcoming session of the Parliament. The Education Minister met a group of students and their parents and assured them. In an exclusive interview, Dharmendra Pradhan ruled out the scrapping of NEET and insisted that the exam was clean. The larger question is: IS NEET actually clean? Who is playing with the lives of lakhs of aspirants and what is the way forward?

The era of alliance is back in India. With a message that a majority is needed to run the government, but consensus is needed to run the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spelt out his vision for the coalition partners, as he emphasized he will pursue consensus. The new NDA government will be sworn in on Sunday. In this week's Big Fight with Marya Shakil, we look at the return of the coalition era. Watch the full show on NDTV.

As the battle for 2024 enters the slog overs, there are 5 states this Lok Sabha election that could decide if the NDA will really go 400 paar - UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Karnataka. In this edition of 'The Big Fight' with Marya Shakil we decode, 'The 2024 deciders - 5 states that hold the key in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls'.

Arvind Kejriwal was released from Delhi's Tihar Jail Friday evening - 50 days after he was jailed on corruption charges linked to the alleged liquor policy scam and hours after the Supreme Court granted bail till June 1. The Aam Aadmi Party's leader's release means he can now campaign for the AAP, and the INDIA bloc, in the ongoing election, in which Delhi's seven seats will vote on May 25. He is to surrender by June 2. What will be its implications? Watch Big Fight  

The Gandhis have given up the Amethi seat and fielded a party loyalist from the seat. With this, for the first time in years, a non-Gandhi is contesting from Congress in Amethi. On the Big Fight, we debate, whether bastions have become the Achilles heel for politicians in the evolving political landscape of India.

A recent survey by Lokniti-CSDS delves into the political preferences of first-time voters. It was done in January. The data suggests that BJP has a substantial lead with 70 % support indicating a widespread belief among the first-time voters that the BJP is best suited for national governance. Are first-timers leaning towards PM Modi? Watch Big Fight.

In this week of The Big Fight with Marya Shakil, we discuss the BJP's dash of nationalism in 2024 campaign. The question we ask on the show tonight: "How strong are BJP's forts?" Let's debate.

In this edition of The Big Fight with Marya Shakil, we discuss the Electoral bonds theory. Electoral Bonds were to make the poll process transparent, instead they have been declared unconstitutional and arbitrary. The bonds allowed donors and parties to keep their association hidden from the public - only the State Bank of India could track the donations. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud set the tone for the verdict by stressing that "information about funding of political parties is essential for the effective exercise of the choice of voting". The question we ask, 'Can the relationship between Money and politics be ever transparent?'  

With just weeks to go before the general elections, women voters have taken centre stage again. There is competitive populism among political parties to woo this crucial vote bloc. Tonight, on this special episode of The Big Fight with Marya Shakil we have an all-women panel to decode how women are becoming the game-changers ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.