3 Things

[Note for our listeners: Today’s show will be almost entirely in Hindi. We will resume our regular programming in English starting next week.]

बिहार में निर्वाचन आयोग की स्पेशल इंटेंसिव रिवीजन (SIR) प्रक्रिया ने मतदाताओं में चिंता और उलझन बढ़ा दी है। इस प्रक्रिया के तहत चुनाव से कुछ ही महीने पहले पुरानी मतदाता सूची रद्द कर नई सूची बनाई जा रही है। नतीजा यह हुआ कि पहली ड्राफ़्ट सूची में से ही लाखों नाम काट दिए गए। लोग अपने वोट देने के अधिकार को लेकर परेशान हैं और पूरे राज्य में अफ़रा-तफ़री का माहौल है। इस एपिसोड में The Indian Express के संतोष सिंह की ज़मीनी रिपोर्टिंग के ज़रिए हम समझेंगे कि यह विवादित क़दम क्यों उठाया गया और इसका असर कितना बड़ा है।

होस्ट और प्रोड्यूसर: शशांक भार्गव
साउंड एडिट और मिक्स: सुरेश पवार

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy breaks down what the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signals about evolving India–China ties, the friction and convergence in forums like BRICS and SCO.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt on how the Indian Council of Medical Research is expanding wastewater surveillance to track outbreaks of diseases and how this public health tool could provide early warning signals in 50 cities across India. (16:25)

And finally, we turn to rural Haryana, where The Indian Express' Sukhbir Siwach explains a rare Supreme Court-supervised recount has reversed the outcome of a 2022 sarpanch election. (26:13)

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

In recent weeks, Telangana has been shaken by revelations that the phones of at least 600 people were allegedly tapped ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. Investigators say the surveillance, carried out during the BRS government’s tenure, targeted opposition leaders, political workers, and journalists during the sensitive pre-election period. 

Today on the show, The Indian Express’ Nikhila Henry joins us to look at what we know about the case so far, what investigators suggest about the scale and intent of the tapping, and the larger concerns it raises.

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

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Sukrita Baruah about a case of missing coal. 2 lakh metric tonnes of illegally mined coal has gone missing from two villages in Meghalaya. She shares the controversy that this has led to and the investigation that is happening in the case.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Nikhil Ghanekar about the global plastics treaty and the failure to forge it. For the second time in eight months, countries have failed to finalise the treaty and create rules that every nation should abide by in order to reduce plastic production and pollution. (12:34)

Lastly, we talk about the government's plans regarding the GST regime and the amount that would be levied on online gaming. (20:02)

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Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First we talk to The Indian Express’ Amrita Nayak Dutta about India’s military academies, where hundreds of cadets over the years have been forced to leave training due to life-altering disabilities and what happens to cadets who are medically discharged.

Next, The Indian Express’ Arun Sharma talks about Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, where flash floods swept through a crowded yatra route, destroying bridges, camps, and leaving dozens missing. (14:01)

And in the end, we look at Kerala’s newly released draft policy for elderly persons, which outlines a multi-pronged approach including local care cadres, a dedicated Vayojana Commission, and a budgetary mandate for elder welfare. (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 week by The Indian Express