3 Things

First, we talk to The Indian Express’ Maulshree Seth about the stampede that happened at the Maha Kumbh Mela. She shares details of the casualties, rescue operations and how changes and arrangements have been made after this incident.

Next, The Indian Express' Bijin Jose talks about the newly launched Chinese AI models by Deepseek. He shares how the models were developed, why they are being liked by people worldwide and why the US feels these models could pose a threat. (13:01)

Finally, we talk about a tragic accident where an American Airlines regional passenger jet with 64 people aboard collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport.(24:29)

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 30th of January and here are the headlines.

The Indian government has announced its plan to create a domestic large language model under the IndiaAI Mission, a Rs 10,370 crore initiative. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the development today. To support this, 10 companies, including Yotta, Jio Platforms, and Tata Communications, will supply 18,693 GPUs. Yotta alone will provide nearly half of these chips, totaling 9,216 units, to help build the AI model.

Arvind Kejriwal has challenged BJP and Congress leaders to drink Yamuna river water after the Election Commission intervened in his claims about river poisoning. The EC had asked Kejriwal to clarify his accusations of ammonia pollution and provide factual evidence of the alleged poisoning. The commission is also seeking more specific details about the nature, quantity, and source of contamination, with Kejriwal facing scrutiny for his allegations.

A Canadian report dismissed claims of foreign involvement in the disinformation campaign surrounding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Nijjar. Relations between India and Canada soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being behind Nijjar's murder in June 2023. India strongly rejected the accusations, calling them politically motivated, which led to the expulsion of diplomats from both countries, further damaging bilateral ties.

A political controversy erupted in Goa after the BJP government ordered South Goa SP Sunita Sawant to relinquish her charge. The Congress party accused the transfer of being politically motivated due to Sawant’s inquiry about Bajrang Dal leaders. The government has temporarily assigned Tikam Singh Verma, SP of the anti-narcotics cell, to oversee South Goa. Sawant was appointed in February 2024, and an official transfer order has yet to be issued.

A tragic collision occurred between an American Airlines plane and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington D.C. on Wednesday night. The plane, carrying 64 people, collided with the helicopter, which had three soldiers aboard. President Trump was briefed on the accident, and emergency operations were launched. All flights were suspended, and rescue teams, including firefighters, were engaged in operations on the Potomac River. 18 fatalities were confirmed, though details remain unclear.

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

First, The Indian Express’ Nihal Koshie tells us how, despite the ongoing sexual harassment trial against former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the WFI continues to function from his bungalow in Delhi.

Next, The Indian Express’ Jayprakash Naidu explains why a man from Chhattisgarh has been struggling to bury his father in his village (11:24).

Finally, The Indian Express’ Sohini Ghosh reports on a Delhi couple whose bank accounts were frozen for over three years without explanation—until they discovered the reason (17:45).

Hosted, written and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Additional help from Ichha Sharma
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 29th of January and here are the headlines.

Following a stampede-like incident at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed concern over the tragedy, offering condolences and ensuring the injured are receiving treatment. Opposition parties criticized the government for mismanagement and the prioritization of VIPs over common devotees. Despite these tensions, Adityanath assured the public that the situation is under control, urging pilgrims to remain cautious as the mela continues.

The Haryana government has decided to file a case against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for his claims that the BJP government is poisoning Delhi's water supply. The statement has sparked panic across both states, prompting Haryana officials to take legal action. Kejriwal faces further backlash as Haryana's Chief Minister demands an apology or faces a defamation suit, intensifying political tensions between AAP and the BJP in both Haryana and Delhi.

The Indian government has launched the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), a Rs 16,300 crore initiative to reduce the country’s dependency on foreign mineral imports. The mission focuses on domestic exploration, mining, and processing of essential minerals to support technological growth and industrial needs. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the importance of securing India’s mineral future as the nation seeks to strengthen its economic infrastructure and ensure sustainability in key industries.

The Joint Committee of Parliament has adopted its report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, despite criticism from Opposition MPs about the rushed process and lack of sufficient review time. The bill, which proposes changes to the management of Waqf properties, has sparked disagreement within the committee. Opposition leaders have raised concerns about the short notice to review the 655-page report, accusing the government of undermining parliamentary procedures in the final stages of the bill's consideration.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a major milestone by completing its 100th satellite launch, placing the NVS-02 navigational satellite in orbit. This success underlines India’s growing space capabilities, with ISRO having launched 548 satellites, including a significant number of foreign satellites. The milestone highlights India’s increasing role in global space exploration and its commitment to advancing its navigation systems, further cementing ISRO's reputation as a leader in space technology.

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

First, we talk to The Indian Express’ Kanchan Vasdev about the drug problem that exists in Punjab. She shares the seriousness of the situation and why the government of Punjab has asked for Rs 600 crore from the centre for dealing with the spread of substance abuse.  

Next, The Indian Express' Divya A shares details of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. She talks about the discussion that they had regarding irregular immigration and how around 20,000 Indians might get deported on the grounds of them being illegal immigrants. (10:07)

Finally, we talk about five Indian fishermen getting injured after Sri Lankan Navy opened fire on them near Delft Island. (21:44)

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 28th of January and here are the headlines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will no longer rely on exporting raw materials to be processed abroad and sold back as finished goods. Speaking at Odisha’s Utkarsh Odisha conclave, Modi emphasized that India’s economic growth must focus on innovation and quality manufacturing. He also highlighted recent Coldplay concerts in Mumbai and Ahmedabad as proof of the potential for live events to boost the economy, underscoring the shift towards a self-sufficient, value-added production ecosystem.

Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal urged PM Modi to introduce a nationwide law banning loan waivers for billionaires. He criticized the government for waiving loans of the wealthy while ordinary citizens bear high taxes. Kejriwal suggested that ending these waivers could lower income tax, GST rates, and remove taxes on essential goods. He called the practice a scandal and demanded an end to what he called "unfair financial relief for the rich."

Five Indian fishermen were injured when the Sri Lankan Navy opened fire near Delft Island on Tuesday. Two of the fishermen sustained serious injuries and were hospitalized in Jaffna, while three others suffered minor injuries. India lodged a strong protest with the Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi, and the Indian High Commission in Colombo also raised the issue with the Sri Lankan government. The remaining fishermen were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Maharashtra’s long-awaited civic elections will be delayed further as the Supreme Court scheduled the next hearing on petitions regarding OBC reservations for February 25. The delay has disappointed political parties and aspirants preparing for the polls. The Pune Municipal Corporation has been under an administrator since the previous body’s term ended in 2022. Parties are now facing additional uncertainty as the civic polls remain stalled due to ongoing legal challenges over reservations.

US President Donald Trump confirmed that PM Narendra Modi is likely to visit the White House in February following a phone conversation between the two leaders. Trump described the relationship between the US and India as “very good” and said they discussed various issues, including illegal immigration. While India has not officially confirmed the visit, Trump said Modi would “do what’s right” regarding immigration matters, signaling potential discussions during the upcoming visit.

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

In light of the Uttarakhand government implementing the Uniform Civil Code yesterday, we are revisiting an episode that originally aired last year (8 February, 2024), when the state first passed it in the Assembly. In this episode, we discussed in detail the changes it proposes, the concerns it raises, and why the BJP chose Uttarakhand as the first state for its implementation.

Guests: The Indian Express’ Apurva Vishwanath, Avaneesh Mishra, and Liz Mathew
Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

On the occasion of Republic Day, we revisit three key debates—on secularism, reservations, and the cow—that were passionately argued by our founding fathers during the drafting of the Constitution.

(Please note that our next episode will be released on the 28th of January).

Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Additional help from Ichha Sharma
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 24th of January and here are this week’s headlines.

A Sealdah court on Monday sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment for raping and murdering a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in August. Roy was convicted on Saturday, nearly six months after his arrest. The court imposed a Rs 50,000 fine and ordered the West Bengal government to pay Rs 1.7 million in compensation to the victim’s family. Junior doctors at RG Kar expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict.

Chalapati, a 62-year-old Maoist leader, was killed in an encounter on Tuesday with security forces near the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. Known for his rapid rise through the ranks, Chalapati orchestrated several high-profile attacks, including the 2018 killing of TDP MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, he was believed to be the mastermind behind the deadly attack in Araku Valley, which also targeted former MLA Siveri Soma. His wife, Aruna, allegedly led the Maoist group involved in the murders.

At least 12 passengers were killed and 10 injured on Wednesday after they jumped off the Pushpak Express in panic following rumors of a fire onboard. The passengers were run over by the Karnataka Express traveling on an adjacent track in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. Around 30-35 people are suspected to have jumped. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep grief, paying tribute to the victims. Rescue operations were launched with ambulances and railway vans deployed at the scene.

Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its manifesto on Wednesday with a focus on middle-class welfare. Party chief Arvind Kejriwal highlighted seven demands to be included in the Union Budget, urging transformative reforms in education, healthcare, and senior citizen welfare. Kejriwal emphasized the need to prioritize the middle class, proposing changes to taxation and policies that would improve quality of life for Delhi's working families and address their pressing concerns.

On his first day after swearing in as the US President, Donald Trump signed an executive order limiting immigration laws, including birthright citizenship on Tuesday. The new policy restricts automatic U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil, requiring at least one parent to be a U.S. citizen, green card holder, or military member. This change may impact millions of Indian-Americans, complicating their pursuit of permanent residency, as birthright citizenship was a crucial pathway to citizenship for many foreign-born children.

Meanwhile, at least nine Palestinians were killed and 40 others were left wounded after Israel launched a major military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday. The operation came as Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza entered its third day, bringing the 15-month conflict to a halt. On Monday, the top general in Israel resigned, citing security failures that led to Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he is considering going to the Middle East, but not immediately amid the return of hostages, while reiterating that the attack on Israel by Hamas should not have happened.

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

First, we talk to The Indian Express’ Dheeraj Mishra about the Jalgaon train accident. He shares details of what happened and how the 12 passengers died. He also talks about the political reactions and the initial investigation. 

Next, The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt shares details of USA's withdrawal from the World Health Organisation. She talks about the monetary blow that the organisation will be facing and how this will impact the WHO as a whole. (10:11)

Finally, we talk about an Indian short film being nominated in the Best Short Film (Live Action) category at the 97th Academy Awards. (21:07)

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