3 Things

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Vineet Bhalla about a PIL before the Delhi High Court challenging the use of facial recognition technology and AI-powered surveillance at the Cockroach Janata Party protests in Delhi, and the larger constitutional questions it raises about privacy, free speech and the right to protest.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Shubham Tigga about the latest Jharkhand Public Service Commission controversy, why the 14th Combined Civil Services Examination is under investigation, and why recruitment exams in the state have repeatedly been mired in allegations of irregularities over the past two decades. (09:15)

And in the end, we look at why Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary returned a ₹99 lakh horticulture subsidy he received under a scheme administered by his own ministry, and how the episode has renewed questions about conflict-of-interest safeguards in government schemes. (24:25)

Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Sohini Ghosh about a ruling given by the Delhi High Court regarding copyrights and AI in India. The case was filed by news agency ANI which accused OpenAI of using its copyrighted material to train ChatGPT. She talks about the ruling, what it means for creators and what can be expected going forward.

Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about India becoming the third country in the world, to successfully place satellites into orbit using a rocket developed by a private company. She talks about Mission Aagman and Vikram-1, India's first privately developed launch vehicle. (15:43)

Lastly, we talk about the Cockroach Janta Party questioning the government regarding the cases filed against the protesters in Delhi and other BJP-ruled states. (27:40)

Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, 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 devastating floods in Assam that have claimed dozens of lives, displaced lakhs of people, and triggered one of the state's largest rescue operations in recent years. She explains what has made this year's floods particularly severe, the scale of the destruction, and the challenges that still lie ahead.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Mohamed Thaver about a sophisticated "boss scam" in Mumbai, where a senior company executive transferred more than Rs 10 crore after receiving WhatsApp messages that appeared to come from his employer. We discuss how the fraud unfolded, why companies remain vulnerable, and what businesses can do to prevent similar cyberattacks. (11:05)

And in the end, we look at former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's first appearance in Parliament after his resignation, where he received a rousing welcome from BJP MPs even as the Opposition protested and repeatedly disrupted Lok Sabha proceedings. (23:45)

Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Jatin Anand about Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. He discusses the events of the past week and how they culminated in the government accepting the demands of the students and the Cockroach Janta Party, who had been protesting for over a month.

Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Heena Khandelwal about how the arrival of a bureaucrat in Mumbai led to a major crackdown on Maharashtra's food industry. She explains how, in less than two months, the state's Food and Drug Administration carried out multiple inspections across the state and seized food stocks worth nearly Rs 50 crore. (14:26)

Lastly, we talk about the floods caused by heavy rainfall in Gujarat, which have claimed nearly 40 lives and left many others injured or missing. (25:25)

Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced by Ichha Sharma, Niharika Nanda, and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Udit Misra about why education’s share of the Union Budget has steadily declined over the past decade, what that reveals about the government’s priorities, and how underinvestment may be shaping everything from exam leaks to faculty shortages amid the ongoing student protests.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Maulshree Seth about the demolition order issued against Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, why thousands of students have launched an indefinite protest, and what the move could mean for the future of higher education in the region. (16:10)

And in the end, we look at why Uttarakhand Technical University cancelled two examinations after an external paper setter allegedly leaked questions to students, reigniting concerns over exam integrity in the state. (25:45)

Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar