3 Things

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Vikas Pathak about Women's Reservation and the new constitutional amendment that the government wants to bring in order to be able to implement it. He talks about the challenges the government could face in the process and more.

Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Nikhila Henry about a landslide in Kerala's Wayanad that has killed three people and left many missing. She talks about the landslide, how it happened, why it is being called a man-made disaster and more. (15:50)

Lastly, we talk about a man who has been arrested by the Raipur police and claims that he has been scamming hotels since the last 30 years. (25:25)

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’ Kanchan Vasadev about the controversy over Punjab’s anti-sacrilege law, after MLAs admitted they passed the Bill without reading it, reigniting questions about legislative scrutiny, the anti-defection law, and the role of Select Committees in lawmaking.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Amrita Nayak Dutta about the changes the armed forces are seeking to the Agnipath scheme, why they want to retain a larger proportion of Agniveers permanently, and what that could mean for the future of military recruitment. (11:05)

And in the end, we look at the suspension of a staff member at the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee amid allegations of irregularities in handling donations, and the wider probe ordered by the Uttarakhand government into how offerings at Badrinath Dham are being managed. (18:30)

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' Devansh Mittal about an unusual problem faced by e-rickshaw drivers in Delhi, where their vehicles suddenly stop working in the middle of road because they are being controlled by certain Bluetooth applications. 

Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Parul Kulshrestha about a number of mosques being demolished in Rajasthan's Barmer and Bikaner. She talks about the demolitions, how the situation has brought people of different faiths together, and the reactions it has received. (8:46)

Lastly, we discuss concerns over child sexual abuse videos being promoted on Instagram. (16:10)

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’ Varinder Bhatia about the controversy surrounding Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after the Akal Takht’s verdict on an alleged video, the subsequent police investigation into forged forensic reports, and where the case goes from here.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Maulshree Seth about the widening investigation into the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which has now expanded beyond missing cash to questions about recruitment, security, financial oversight, and the functioning of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. (12:50) 

And in the end, we look at what is driving the intense spell of rain across western and central India after the season’s first low-pressure system formed over the Bay of Bengal, triggering landslides, flooding, and multiple deaths. (24:30) 

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

With inflation being a persistent concern for people, The Indian Express’ Udit Misra joins us to answer three questions: Do the prices of things always have to go up? Would we be better off if, instead of prices going up, they actually went down? And what can the government actually do to make things more affordable?

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

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express