3 Things

First, The Indian Express' Damini Nath explains 'One Nation One Election' at length. She shares the details of the amendments required to implement it, the reaction that it received in the Lok Sabha and all the recent developments.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Abhinaya Harigovind who shares the recommendations of the high level committee that was created post the NEET UG paper leak. She talks about the ways recommended by the committee in which the entrance exam process can be made more like the election process. (13:27)

Finally, we talk about a Navy craft losing control and hitting a ferry off the Mumbai coast causing 13 deaths. (23:23)

Produced and hosted by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catch-Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express, and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 18th of December, and here are the headlines:

Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha Adjourned Amid Ruckus Over Amit Shah's Comments
Proceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned on Tuesday following a ruckus over Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks about Dr. BR Ambedkar. The Congress strongly criticized the introduction of the 'One Nation, One Election' bill, calling for its immediate withdrawal. Despite this, the bill was introduced after a vote in the Lok Sabha via an electronic voting system, with Speaker Om Birla overseeing the process.

Modi Defends Amit Shah, Slams Congress Over Ambedkar Remarks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Opposition's accusations that Union Minister Amit Shah insulted Dr. BR Ambedkar, claiming Congress's "rotten ecosystem" spread malicious lies to cover up its misdeeds. Modi said the Congress, led by a single dynasty, had humiliated Ambedkar's legacy and the SC/ST communities. His remarks, posted on X, accused Congress of trying to erase Ambedkar’s contributions and criticized its tactics to hide its past failures.

Kejriwal Announces ‘Sanjeevani Yojana’ Ahead of Delhi Elections
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal unveiled the 'Sanjeevani Yojana' on Wednesday, promising free medical care for all citizens over 60, in both government and private hospitals. The scheme is seen as a counter to the BJP-led Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which provides secondary and tertiary healthcare to economically vulnerable families. Kejriwal aims to attract senior voters ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

CAG Report Finds Undue Benefits to Maharashtra Road Contractors
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed that Maharashtra road contractors received undue benefits worth Rs 203 crore due to reduced penalties imposed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). An audit found that NHAI violated concession agreements in projects in Nanded and Thane districts, which resulted in lower damage recoveries than stipulated. The CAG report, tabled in Lok Sabha on December 16, highlighted violations of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines by NHAI.

Ravichandran Ashwin Announces Retirement from International Cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier spinner, announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane. The 38-year-old spinner, who played in the second Test in Adelaide, revealed his decision following an emotional chat with former India captain Virat Kohli. Ashwin, who is India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker with 537 wickets, thanked the fans and expressed that his appearance in Brisbane would be his last day representing India on the international stage.

This was the Catch-Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, The Indian Express’ Suanshu Khurana joins us to discuss the legacy of the legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, who passed away at a hospital in San Francisco on Sunday.

Next, The Indian Express’ Apurva Vishwanath explains the Supreme Court’s latest directive to the district court regarding the Places of Worship Act (15:20).

Finally, The Indian Express’ Jagdeep Singh Deep discusses the tragedy in Georgia, where 11 Indian nationals lost their lives (24:02).

Hosted, written and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day from The Indian Express.

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Ajoy Sinha Karpuram about Telugu actor Allu Arjun's arrest by the Hyderabad police. He talks about the incident that happened on the eve of the release of Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa 2: The Rule, that led to charges being filed against the actor.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Dheeraj Mishra who talks about the Railways Amendment Bill 2024. He shares how similar or different it is from the pre-existing railway acts. He also explains the new bill and how it can be beneficial. (9:37)

Finally, we talk about Cyclone Chido, which is being considered the most powerful cyclone in nearly a century to hit the French archipelago of Mayotte. (19:13)

Produced and hosted by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 16th of December and here are the headlines.

Kharge Accuses Modi of Misleading the Nation on Nehru’s Letter
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused Prime Minister Modi of distorting facts about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s letter on reservation, demanding an apology. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on India’s constitutional journey, Kharge also criticized BJP leaders for their "bhakti" towards Modi, claiming it was leading India towards dictatorship. He called for a return to democratic values and the safeguarding of the Constitution's spirit.

Sri Lankan President Dissanayake Reaffirms Commitment to India’s Security
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assured Prime Minister Modi on Monday that Sri Lanka’s territory will not be used for actions harmful to India. After their meeting in Delhi, Dissanayake expressed gratitude for India’s support during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, with Modi highlighting the USD 4 billion in aid. The leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties, covering areas such as defense, infrastructure, and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Letter Requests Return of Nehru Papers Taken in 2008
Historian Rizwan Kadri has written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, requesting his help in retrieving important Nehru papers taken by a representative of Sonia Gandhi in 2008. The papers include Nehru’s correspondence with notable figures such as Edwina Mountbatten, Albert Einstein, and JP Narayan. The matter was raised in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society’s meeting in February. Kadri emphasized the historical significance of these documents for public access and preservation.

Legendary Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain Dies at 73
Renowned tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, a five-time Grammy Award winner, passed away on Sunday at the age of 73 due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Hussain, a celebrated figure in Indian classical music, received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002, and Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He was also honored with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, one of the highest lifetime honors for artists in India.

Israel to Close Embassy in Ireland Over Genocide Case Support
Israel has announced it will close its embassy in Ireland after Dublin supported a petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing genocide. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israeli policies” for backing the case. In response, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris stated that Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights, and supports a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, emphasizing Ireland's commitment to international law.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

Last week, 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju made history by becoming the youngest world chess champion. He claimed the title after defeating 32-year-old Chinese chess grandmaster Ding Liren in the final match of the 18th World Chess Championship, held in Singapore.

The championship spanned nearly three weeks, with Gukesh and Ding battling it out across 14 intense games. In today’s episode, we discuss the key moments of the championship, uncover what propelled Gukesh to this remarkable achievement, and discuss the significance of his victory for India’s growing chess community.

Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 13th of December and here are the headlines.

Bangladesh confirmed on Tuesday that 88 incidents of communal violence targeting minorities, mostly Hindus, occurred after the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Interim government spokesman Shafiqul Alam said 70 people were arrested in connection with the attacks. This announcement came after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri raised concerns about the safety of minorities during talks with Bangladeshi officials, calling the incidents regrettable. The violence has drawn significant international attention and criticism.

In a tragic incident in Mumbai, a BEST bus crashed into 22 vehicles, killing seven and injuring 49. The accident took place near Anjuman-E-Islam School in Kurla West around 9:30 pm. Investigators revealed that the driver, Sanjay More, hit cars, two-wheelers, and even a police van. Police are still determining whether more vehicles were involved. The accident, one of the city's worst, has shocked locals and raised questions about traffic safety in crowded areas.

After 13 years of civil war and decades of Assad family rule, Syria’s rebel group, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has taken control of the country’s governance. A meeting between rebel leaders and outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali confirmed the handover of power to the rebel-led Salvation Government. This momentous shift offers hope to Syrian refugees abroad, although uncertainty looms over the country’s future stability as it transitions from decades of autocratic rule. The situation remains fragile, with global eyes on Syria’s next steps.

18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju upstaged China’s Ding Liren in the final game of their best-of-14-games to become the youngest ever world chess champion on Thursday in Singapore. In 2018, Gukesh became the third-youngest grandmaster in history at 12 years and seven months. In April, earlier this year, Gukesh stunned the world by winning the eight-man Candidates tournament in Toronto and became the youngest ever challenger for the world championship.

The Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to two Bills, one of which is a nod to the “one nation, one election” plan of the BJP-led Central government. Since coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been advocating for the plan to hold elections to Lok Sabha, all state Legislative Assemblies, and urban and rural local bodies at the same time. A high-level committee, headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind, in March this year recommended simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as the first step followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Asad Rehman about the protests being carried out by the Opposition in the Parliament to get the government to discuss the Gautam Adani bribery case. Congress has adopted varied methods of protests, Asad talks about them and shares how they are executed.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Parul Kulshreshtha who explains why the farmers of Punjab and Rajasthan have been protesting. She shares their concerns regarding the pollution of Buddha Nullah, a stream that drains into the Sutlej and how it is impacting people's health and crops. (9:27)

Finally, we talk about India's D Gukesh becoming the youngest World Chess Champion. (18:00)

Produced and hosted by Niharika Nanda

Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 12th of December and here are the headlines.

In a significant ruling on Thursday, the Supreme Court directed that civil courts cannot hear cases challenging the ownership and title of places of worship. This includes major disputes like the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura. The court clarified that no new suits can be filed, and no interim or final orders, including surveys, will be allowed until further hearings. Several similar suits are pending in different locations across India.

On Thursday, the Union Cabinet approved two crucial bills related to holding simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies. One bill proposes a constitutional amendment, while the other seeks to align assembly elections in Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. These bills are expected to be introduced in the current Parliament session. This development follows months of discussions after the Kovind-led committee's recommendations on simultaneous elections.

Thursday saw chaos in both Houses of Parliament. The Lok Sabha was adjourned after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised allegations about Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s alleged ties to billionaire George Soros. Opposition MPs protested fiercely, even climbing the Speaker's dais. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned after a disruption over a motion by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury, leading to further tension in the parliamentary proceedings for the day.

Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal announced that the Mahila Samman Rashi Scheme will increase the monthly allowance for women to Rs 2,100, up from Rs 1,000, if AAP is re-elected. The scheme, approved by Chief Minister Atishi's Cabinet, is aimed at supporting women’s financial empowerment. The announcement is seen as part of the AAP's strategy to secure women’s votes in the upcoming elections.

In a clash between security forces and alleged Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, seven Maoists were killed early Thursday. The encounter, which lasted over seven hours, took place in the dense jungles of Abujhmad, a heavily forested and un-surveyed area. The police are continuing search operations to confirm the number of casualties and recover weapons. The region has long been a hotspot for Maoist insurgents, making security operations challenging.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.