3 Things

First, Indian Express’ Mohamed Thaver explains how, despite a warning from the Supreme Court last year, authorities in Maharashtra have yet to take action in several hate speech cases across the state.

Next, Indian Express’ Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy shares the key highlights from the recently concluded Quad summit, including U.S. President Joe Biden’s hot mic moment and how India addressed the concerns of the group (12:28).

Finally, Indian Express Sujit Bisoyi tells us about the alleged assault and sexual abuse case that took place inside a police station in Odisha, which has sparked nationwide outrage and a political storm (22:10).

Hosted, written 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 Flora Swain.
Today is the 24th of September and here are the headlines.


Shortly after the High Court dismissed his plea, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today called the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam case a “sham”, and “revenge politics of the BJP and JDS”. This comes after the high court dismissed a petition filed by Siddaramaiah against an approval granted by Governor Thawarchand Gehlot to three private individuals to file cases of corruption against him over a MUDA land grant to his wife. Siddaramaiah asserted and I quote, “This is a fight against the revenge politics of Narendra Modi-led BJP government. Our judicial struggle against this revenge politics of BJP and JDS will continue. I have faith in the court."


The Supreme Court today dismissed the Punjab government’s appeal challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order quashing its decision to expand the definition of ‘NRI quota’ for undergraduate medical admissions to include relatives of non-resident Indians. The apex court was hearing appeals challenging the high court’s September 10 order quashing the notification issued by the Punjab government on August 20. The notification expanded the NRI quota to include even distant relatives “such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins” of NRIs for admissions under the 15 per cent quota for this group in admissions in medical colleges.


Actor-legislator M Mukesh was formally arrested today on rape charges but released on bail later on the back of an anticipatory bail he secured from an Ernakulam court earlier this month. The development came hours after the Kerala High Court denied anticipatory bail to fellow actor and former Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) general secretary Siddique on similar allegations. In her complaint, a former woman actor in the Malayalam film industry had alleged that Mukesh, a two-time Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA from Kollam Assembly constituency, had raped her in 2010 at his flat in Kochi promising a membership in the actors’ association AMMA.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has instructed authorities to initiate a ‘Dust-free Delhi’ drive within 7-10 days to combat air pollution ahead of the winter season. Key agencies, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Public Works Department, and the Delhi Jal Board, have been tasked with addressing road dust, a major contributor to air pollution, particularly due to dried-up mud and silt following a lack of rainfall. MCD, IFCD and DJB are required to coordinate and move out the silt or mud for disposal.


Harini Amarasuriya was officially sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister today, marking a historic moment as she became the first woman to hold the office since Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 2000. The ceremony took place in the capital, Colombo, where the 54-year-old leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) took her oath of office administered by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dissanayake also appointed a new cabinet of four members, including himself. In her new role, Amarasuriya has been assigned several crucial portfolios that include Justice, Education, Labour, Industries, Science and Technology, Health, and Investment.

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

First, we talk to Indian Express’ Amit Kamath about the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest where the Indian team gave an incredible performance. He decodes the win and shares more about the 'Golden Generation' of Chess.

Next, Indian Express’ Sweety Adimulam informs us about a massive infrastructural project that is coming up in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The Ring Road project is said to decongest Mumbai and make commute much easier. (15:45)

And in the end, we talk about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three day visit to the US and his speech at the UN Summit of the Future. (25:11)

Hosted, written and produced 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 23rd of September and here are the headlines.

The Indian Express has obtained exclusive details about Mumbai’s Ring Road masterplan, developed by MMRDA, which outlines an extensive network of road connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). This ambitious plan stretches from the Vadodara border in Gujarat to Alibaug in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, encompassing Navi Mumbai and Thane. The intricate network includes roads, flyovers, reclaimed coastal routes, bridges, and underwater tunnels, all designed to alleviate the city’s notorious traffic bottlenecks by 2029. Once completed, this infrastructure project is expected to significantly transform the island city and its surrounding areas. It will not only reduce congestion but also enhance public transport accessibility, making travel more convenient for residents and commuters alike.

Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya said today that the Centre is looking into the recent incident involving the death of an employee of Ernst & Young (EY) India and has sought information from state authorities. The report is expected to be submitted in the next 7-10 days, following which the government will take any action, he said. He further added, “We will have to study the results of the report. We have already sought information from the state officers. We’ll be able to tell more about it when the report comes."

The Supreme Court today set aside the Madras High Court order which said that merely storing child pornographic material without any intention to transmit it would not constitute an offence under the POCSO Act. A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the High Court “committed an egregious error in passing the impugned judgment.” The judgement also called upon Parliament to “seriously consider to bring about an amendment to the POCSO for the purpose of substituting the term “child pornography” with “child sexual exploitative and abuse material” (CSEAM) to “reflect more accurately on the reality of such offences”.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi took charge as Delhi’s eighth Chief Minister, becoming the youngest leader to do so. While assuming her post, she said that she will work as a caretaker CM, like “Bharat did for Ram in Ramayana”. Pointing towards an empty chair placed beside her, she added: “this is the Chief Minister’s seat and it will remain empty till Kejriwal becomes CM again.” The BJP decried the move, asking Kejriwal if he will “run the government with a remote control”.

The Film Federation of India, the apex body responsible for selecting India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Film Category at the 97th Academy Awards, announced Laapataa Ladies as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards at an event in Chennai on Monday. Directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan, Laapataa Ladies chronicles the story of two young newlywed brides, who get exchanged during a train ride to their husband’s homes. The film starred Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Srivastava and Nitanshi Goel. Twelve Hindi films, 6 Tamil and 4 Malayalam films were among the 29 films vying for the honour of being India’s official entry for 97th Oscar ceremony.

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

First, Indian Express’ Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy discusses the recent coordinated attacks in Lebanon, where thousands of pagers and hand-held radios exploded, resulting in at least 37 deaths and over 3,500 injuries. He explains the implications for the region and the concerns it raises for New Delhi.

Next, Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt highlights the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance and addresses common misconceptions about antibiotics (10:36).

Finally, we hear from Indian Express’ Nihal Koshie talks about Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s transition into politics (21:25).

Further listening: Vinesh Phogat transitions from mat to political stage

Hosted and written by Shashank Bhargava
Produced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha Sharma

As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Central Square Foundation - we bring to you the second part of this five part series where we will speak to experts in the field of EdTech to understand, how access to educational technology solutions can transform learning in the classroom and aid in shaping the overall learning and development of a child in school and at-home.

Findings from a recent household-level survey conducted across families from low-income settings by Central Square Foundation, showed that EdTech reach in rural households was at 85 per cent, with nearly one-third of the households having access to ONE smartphone. Growing smartphone penetration, and India's position as the largest mobile data consumer in the world, make it an ideal ground for using technology to support learning.

In this episode, Niharika Nanda will be in conversation with Gouri Gupta, Project Director for EdTech at CSF, Sashwati Banerjee, the Founder of Top Parent and Priyanka Aggarwal, a parent from Haridwar, Uttarakhand who has been using EdTech for over two years to support her child's learning at home.

Hosted and produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Link to episode 1 of our five part series with CSF:

https://indianexpress.com/audio/3-things/the-rss-bjp-rift-rise-in-indian-asylum-seekers-and-a-bid-to-muzzle-press/9550762/

As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Central Square Foundation - we're excited to bring to you the second part of this series where we will speak to experts in the field of EdTech to understand, how access to educational technology can transform overall learning in the classroom and at-home. In order to ensure learning outcomes for all children are met CSF has been working towards system-led reforms to ensure quality access to school education to children across India.

The episode will be out tomorrow, the 21st September. The conversation will be available on our website indianexpress.com and everywhere you get your podcasts. Make sure you listen. To listen to the first episode, check out the link provided in the description.

Now, on with the show.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 20th of September and here are the headlines of the week.

Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned on Tuesday, paving way for Atishi to be the third woman CM of the national capital. CM-designate Atishi handed over the letter of support from the Aam Aadmi Party MLAs to L-G VK Saxena, staking claim to head the government. After party members chose her to lead the government, an emotional Atishi thanked Kejriwal for his trust in her, saying such opportunities are unique to AAP, where a first-time politician can rise to this level. She also reiterated the party’s confidence in the outgoing chief minister, saying, quote “Delhi has only one CM and his name is Arvind Kejriwal.” unquote.

The Union Cabinet has cleared the proposal to hold simultaneous elections in India, as recommended by a high-level committee headed by ex President Ram Nath Kovind. Addressing media persons, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said simultaneous polls would be held in two phases. In the first phase, Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections will be conducted simultaneously, while the second phase will cover local body elections, within 100 days of general elections. The Kovind committee had recommended that the government take a “one-time transitory measure”, which would require the Union government to identify an “appointed date” immediately after a Lok Sabha election. All state assemblies that go to poll after the said date would have their terms expire with the Parliament.

As junior doctors’ protests continue, decorators on Wednesday night were seen removing tents, bamboo sticks, and pedestal fans from the protest site in front of Swasthya Bhavan. Protestors now claim that “external pressure” is causing decorators, who had installed fans for them, to now take them down. A junior doctor exclaimed “It could be an effort to demoralise us,”, “but we would like to clearly say that for a protest, we don’t need all this. We can protest from anywhere and in any possible way.” Junior doctors announced their decision to continue their protest and cease work after a six-hour meeting with government officials on Wednesday night.

Choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, popularly known as Jani Master in the Telugu film industry, was arrested from Goa on Thursday days after he was accused of sexual assault by a junior choreographer who worked with him, An FIR was registered against him under rape charges on 16th of September in Hyderabad. A day later, sections of the POCSO Act were added to the case on the basis of claims that the complainant was a minor when he allegedly sexually assaulted her for the first time.

On the global front, two months after former president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot at in a rally, the FBI foiled what appeared to be a second assassination attempt on Sunday while Trump was golfing on his course in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to the Secret Service, agents spotted a person with a firearm near the golf club and immediately opened fire. CNN, Fox News and The New York Times have identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Row-th of Hawaii, citing unnamed law enforcement officials.

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

First, we talk to Indian Express’ Damini Nath about the implementation of One Nation, One Election. She talks about the recommendations of the Ramnath Kovind committee and when and how will simultaneous polls be held in India now that the Union Cabinet has approved the committee’s recommendations.

Next, Indian Express’ Nikhil Ghanekar informs us about a gas and oil exploration project that received it's first stage clearance for an exploration drilling in Assam's eco-sensitive zone. (8:33)

And in the end, we talk about India’s response to a media report on the diversion of defense exports to Ukraine. (17:33)

Hosted, written and produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Central Square Foundation - we're excited to bring to you the second part of this series where we will speak to experts in the field of EdTech to understand, how access to educational technology can transform overall learning in the classroom and at-home. In order to ensure learning outcomes for all children are met CSF has been working towards system-led reforms to ensure quality access to school education to children across India.
The episode will be out this Saturday, the 21st September. The conversation will be available on our website indianexpress.com and everywhere you get your podcasts. Make sure you listen. To listen to the first episode, check out the link provided in the description.

Now, on with the show.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 19th of September and here are the headlines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing an election rally in Srinagar reiterated his government’s promise to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, assuring the people that the BJP would fulfil this commitment. He emphasized BJP’s commitment to making Jammu and Kashmir free from terror. “The bumper voting in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections has rejected the parties that sympathise with stone pelting and terrorism.” He assured the crowd of his government’s focus on generating local employment, stating, “It’s my pledge that the new generation will not suffer under the rule of three families.”

As junior doctors’ protests continue, decorators on Wednesday night were seen removing tents, bamboo sticks, and pedestal fans from the protest site in front of Swasthya Bhavan. Protestors now claim that “external pressure” is causing decorators, who had installed fans for them, to now take them down. “It could be an effort to demoralise us,” said a junior doctor, “but we would like to clearly say that for a protest, we don’t need all this. We can protest from anywhere and in any possible way.” Junior doctors announced their decision to continue their protest and cease work after a six-hour meeting with government officials Wednesday night.

Days after the family of a 26-year-old employee alleged that “work pressure” at her firm led to her death, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje Thursday said that the Labour Ministry has taken up the complaint and is investigating the claims. Anna Sebastian Perayil was a CA who worked with S R Batliboi, a member firm of Ernst and Young (EY) Global, at Pune’s Yerawada. She died on July 20 while undergoing treatment at a city hospital, where she was admitted after she felt uneasy and complained of exhaustion.
Choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, popularly known as Jani Master in the Telugu film industry, was arrested from Goa days after he was accused of sexual assault by a junior choreographer who worked with him, officers said Thursday. An FIR was registered against him under rape charges on September 16 in Hyderabad. A day later, sections of the POCSO Act were added to the case on the basis of claims that the complainant was a minor when he allegedly sexually assaulted her for the first time.

Continuing with the restrictions on international work permits, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday announced a new set of restrictions for international students. He wrote on X and I quote, “We’re granting 35% fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another 10%. Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down. We’re reducing the number of low-wage, temporary foreign workers and shortening the duration of their work terms. We adjusted the program after the pandemic, but the labour market has changed. We need businesses to invest in Canadian workers.

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

Link to episode 1 of our five part series with CSF:

https://indianexpress.com/audio/3-things/the-rss-bjp-rift-rise-in-indian-asylum-seekers-and-a-bid-to-muzzle-press/9550762/

First, Indian Express' Apurva Vishwanath explains why Umar Khalid remains in jail four years after his arrest under the stringent UAPA.

Next, following the recent wolf attacks in UP’s Bahraich district, Indian Express' Jay Mazoomdar discusses the history of such attacks in India and what experts recommend to manage these conflicts (16:56).

And finally, we provide an update on the J&K assembly elections that began yesterday, with Indian Express' Naveed Iqbal sharing the significance of these polls (27:52).

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

Further listening - A special segment with the Central Square Foundation