In Focus by The Hindu

With the blistering temperatures that most of India is suffering under, it should come as no surprise that May 2025 was the second-warmest month of May since records began. But what is of greater concern now, is how this heat is going to affect our future generations --  a new study has found that India recorded an average of six additional days of dangerously high temperatures for pregnant women every year over the last five years. What is this extreme heat doing the bodies of mothers to be? How does heat affect pregnancy outcomes? What will it mean for the near future, as India continues to experience heat waves?

Guest: Prof Jane Hirst Chair in Global Women's Health, The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London and Visiting Professor in Global Women's Health, University of Oxford

Host: Zubeda Hamid

Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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According to the latest projections by the IMF, India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy. Government officials, including the CEO of NITI Aayog B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, have expressed confidence that India could soon overtake Germany to claim the third spot. Adding to the optimism, the World Bank recently reported that extreme poverty in the country fell to 5.3% in 2022–2023. A recent report by SBI noted that the poverty rate in India could now be in the range of 4%. 

But what do these numbers mean for the broader population?

Guest: Partha Chatterjee, Dean of Academics at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, and Professor, Department of Economics, Shiv Nadar University.

Host: Nivedita V

Edited by Jude Francis Weston

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On June 13, Israel launched an all-out war against Iran.

Iran responded with missile strikes of its own, targeting Tel Avi and Haifa among other sites and military targets. While more than 200 people have been killed in Iran, more than 20 casualties have been reported

The two sides have been trading steadily escalating strikes since, and now Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing hard for the US to join his war. How credible is Israel’s justification for

Guest: Stanly Johny, The Hindu’s International Affairs Editor.

Host: G. Sampath

Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian.

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India began its Crocodile Conservation programme in 1975, and this year marks 50 years of this initiative, one that has been more successful than most.

India is home to three main kinds of crocodile species – the gharial, the salt water crocodile or salties, and the muggers. These species face increasing threats from habitat loss, poachers, pollution, riparian agriculture, artificial embankments, construction of barrages and dams, and illegal sand-mining.

On the eve of World Crocodile Day, which falls on June 17, we look back at 50 years of crocodile conservation, the status of these endangered species as of today, and what is in store with the recent launch of the New Gharial Project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Guest: Professor B.C. Choudhury, eminent wildlife scientist who has worked on crocodile conservation since 1975.

Host: G Sampath

Edited by Jude Francis Weston

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The Central government recently proposed starting an integrated course – MBBS and Ayurveda medicine, at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry. This proposed move has evoked a strong response from the Indian Medical Association who has said this unscientific mixing of various systems of medicine will benefit neither doctors, nor patients.

This is not the first move to mix traditional and modern systems of medicine in India – other such measures for instance, have included proposals to allow traditional medical practitioners to prescribe modern medicine after a short course.

What are the risks of mixing alternative systems of medicine with the MBBS course? Is there a benefit to integrated systems and if so, how should these be brought in? Has any other country managed to successfully combine alternative systems with modern, evidence based medicine?

Guest: Rajeev Jayadevan is the Chairman, Research Cell, Kerala State IMA, Past President, IMA Cochin

Host: Zubeda Hamid

Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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Article 143 of the Constitution allows the President to seek the Supreme Court’s opinion on matters of law. This provision has been invoked by President Droupadi Murmu to raise 14 questions on a recent Supreme Court judgement. It concerns a case filed by the Tamil Nadu government against its Governor, who had withheld assent to 10 bills indefinitely. The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the Tamil Nadu government, laying down a three-month timeline for Governors and the President to act on Bills passed by the State legislatures.

The larger context of this development is the ongoing tussle between the Union government and Opposition-ruled States, with many wondering if this Presidential reference represents a political pushback from the Union government.

Historically, what has been the logic for such references? How is this particular Presidential reference different in its substance from a review petition? Is the Supreme Court bound to take it up or can it decline the reference?

Guest: Supreme Court advocate Deepak Joshi

Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu

Recorded by Jude Francis Weston and Tayyab Hussain

Edited by Jude Francis Weston

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Yet again, we are talking about a virus we would much rather forget – Covid-19 is in the news with over 4,300 cases and over deaths as of June 4. New sub-variants, descendent from the Omicron lineage first reported at the end of 2021, are believed to be driving the spike in cases. So far however, a majority of the cases have been mild, with very few requiring hospitalisation, according to the government.

Is Covid-19 here to stay? Do we have any reason to be concerned about the new variants? Do we need vaccines or booster shots again? And, what as individuals, can we do to stay safe?

Guest: V. Ramasubramanian, consultant infectious diseases specialist, Apollo Hospital, Chennai and medical director, Capstone Multispecialty Clinic, Chennai

Host: Zubeda Hamid

Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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At a time when Russia and Ukraine have been exchanging peace proposals, seemingly in a bid to start direct peace talks, Ukraine has carried out an unprecedented drone attack deep inside Russian territory.

This attack comes when Ukraine and Russia have just agreed on a prisoner swap deal. But there has been little progress on peace talks. On the military front, too, there have been no dramatic changes in the frontlines, and that trend seems likely to continue.

What are the implications of Ukraine’s unprecedented drone strikes? How serious are the damages for Russia? Will Russia President Vladimir Putin be under pressure to retaliate harder or will he be more amenable to come to the negotiating table?

Guest: Stanly Johny, The Hindu’s International Affairs Editor.

Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu.

Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian.

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India is a union of states — a structure enshrined in the Constitution that gives States a central role in legislating critical areas like health, agriculture, and public order. But how well are India’s State Assemblies functioning?

A new report by PRS Legislative Research that examines how 31 State Assemblies performed in 2024 has found that States passed over 500 Bills, yet most Assemblies met for just 20 days and spent around 100 hours in session. Many laws were cleared on the very day they were introduced, and States issued 100 ordinances in total.

What does this say about legislative scrutiny, accountability, and the democratic process at the state level? 

Guest: Niranjana S Menon, a Senior Analyst at PRS Legislative Research. 

Host: Nivedita V.

Edited by Jude Francis Weston

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It’s been a month since Canada’s federal elections. Canadians have voted in a Liberal government, although a minority one, for the fourth straight time.

They have reposed their faith in Mark Carney, a former central banker who had no prior political experience and hadn’t held political office until the start of this year.

Everyone seems to agree that the Trump factor played a big role in the electoral outcome.

What are the challenges facing the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney? With the liberals and Conservatives together polling 85% of the votes, and the new Democrats decimated, is Canada moving toward a two-party system? And with the exit of Justin Trudeau, who was not exactly popular with the Indian political establishment, what are the chances of a reset in Indo-Canada ties?

Guest: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair & Professor, Department of Politics and Public Administration, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)

Host: G Sampath

Edited by Jude Francis Weston

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