In Focus by The Hindu

By The HinduNews News Commentary

In Focus by The Hindu episodes

July 27 VB GRAM G vs MNREGA: Which burdens States more?
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (or VB-G RAM G) has replaced the 21-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (or MGNREGA).
The VB-G RAM G Act provides a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work (up from 100 days under MGNREGA). However, under the new system, the States’ contributions to the scheme will increase by 300%.
In this episode we discuss how this change reflects on Indian welfare policy, and more.
Guest: Rajendran Narayanan, Associate Professor at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru
Host: Nitika Francis
Producer and editor: Jude Weston

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25 min
July 25 Listening to Cockroaches: Why the ‘GenZ’ Jantar Mantar protest is different from any seen before
“What if all the cockroaches come together?” That was the one-line tweet, put out by Boston-returned Abhijeet Dipke, on May 16, 2026. In less than two months, we are witness to the ‘cockroaches’ – India’s youth -- coming together to protest at Jantar Mantar, and in different parts of the country.
But this student protest against endemic exam paper leaks is not the first show of mass dissent against the Narendra Modi government. Before this, there has been a farmers’ movement, the anti-CAA protests, and several other protest mobilisations by workers, Dalits, and adivasi communities.
The government has weathered all of these protests comfortably. But the big question: is the students’ movement different? Is it a political challenge unlike any that the Modi government has faced during its 12 years in power?

Guest: Saroj Giri, Associate Professor of Political Science at Delhi University
Host: G. Sampath
Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian
Camera: Jude Weston

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56 min
July 24 QDENGA: Can the new Japanese vaccine end the dengue menace in India?
India has finally approved a vaccine for dengue. This is significant because India, in the last five years alone, has recorded over 1 million cases and at least 1,500 deaths due to dengue.
Dengue is hyperendemic in India, which makes it a huge public health challenge. A vaccine, in this context, could make a big difference.
Named QDENGA, the new vaccine has been developed by Takeda Biopharmaceuticals, a Japanese pharma company. It is expected to be sold in India in the first half of 2027. How was this vaccine developed, how safe is it, how effective will it be in India, and can it prevent the frequent outbreaks of dengue that we’ve seen in recent years?
Guest: Dr Gagandeep Kang, Director-Enterics, Diagnostics, Genomics and Epidemiology, Global Health at the Gates Foundation, Seattle
Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu
Producer and editor: Jude Weston

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37 min
July 23 In Focus-Parley | Is corruption the biggest threat to India's future?
Corruption has shaped elections, toppled governments and sparked some of the biggest public protests in independent India.
Digitalisation has transformed the way citizens interact with the government. The Right to Information Act promised greater transparency. But has corruption reduced? Or has it evolved into a different leviathan, one that is far more difficult to detect?
This question is asked even as thousands of students are protesting the NEET paper leak in Delhi and around the country. Their campaign has revived memories of the India Against Corruption movement that galvanised the country more than a decade ago.
Guests: Shailesh Gandhi, former Central Information Commissioner; Anjali Bhardwaj, a transparency activist associated with Satark Nagrik Sangathan
Host: Nivedita V
Producer: Jude Weston

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45 min
July 22 Spain wins the World Cup, but did FIFA favour Argentina?
Spain are world champions once again after a dominant FIFA World Cup campaign, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final. But beyond the result, the tournament has sparked fierce debate over contrasting footballing philosophies, refereeing decisions and the narratives that shaped the competition.
In this episode of In Focus, we unpack Spain's rise under Luis de la Fuente, how their possession-based game has evolved since 2010, and why they emerged as the tournament's standout team. We also examine Argentina's gritty run to the final, the criticism of its physical approach, and whether allegations of favourable refereeing and FIFA bias stand up to scrutiny.

Guest: Sandeep Menon, journalist and author
Host: Reuben Joe Joseph
Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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37 min
July 21 Fuelling a pushback: Is India mismanaging the switch to E20 petrol?
The nationwide rollout of E20 petrol has become a political issue. As people complain of engine damage and lower mileage, the Opposition has accused the government of forcing E20 petrol on people.
Citizens and consumers generally have two demands: one, do not force E20 on everyone but give people the option to buy pure petrol; and two, reduce the price of E20 petrol to reflect its lower calorific value and lower mileage.
Are these fair demands? How have other countries managed the rollout of ethanol-blended petrol? How can India make this transition better?
We speak with Vinay Piparsania, an engineer from IIT, Delhi and an independent automotive consultant who was with Ford Motor Company for over 20 years.
Host: G Sampath
Producer: Shiksha jural

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40 min
July 20 Bonus episode | How the war on Iran changed the Gulf security order
The war on Iran may be over, but its consequences are only beginning to reshape the Persian Gulf. For decades, Gulf monarchies have balanced security partnerships with the United States, pragmatic engagement with Iran, and ambitious plans to transform themselves into global economic hubs. The conflict has put that strategy to its biggest test yet.
In this episode of Global Faultlines, we examine how the war has changed the Gulf security order. From the GCC’s historical ties with Iran and the impact of the conflict on Gulf states to the future of the U.S. security architecture and the region’s evolving strategic partnerships, we explore what comes next for one of the world’s most consequential geopolitical theatres.
Has the war fundamentally altered the Gulf’s approach to Iran? Is the U.S.-led security architecture entering a new phase? And what does the post-war security order in the Persian Gulf look like?
Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu
Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian
Recorded by: Shivaraj S

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36 min
July 18 When Africa Comes to America: How will rising Black Immigration transform US
A new book by Neeraj Kaushal, Professor of Social Policy at Columbia University, titled When Africa Comes to America: How the Next Wave of Immigrants Will Transform the United States’, argues that “the future of the United States is in Black Africa”.
One revealing datapoint from the book: four times more Black African immigrants arrived in the US between 1990 and 2020 than were brought as slaves during the entire 190-year history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. So, how will the increasing influx of black Africans into the US play out in the Trumpian era of xenophobic white nationalism?
Neeraj also argues that Black Africans will soon displace Asians as the new ‘model minority’ in the US. How would that alter the hierarchy of colour there? And what about India – our demographic dividend will soon be over. Should India also prepare for it by encouraging immigrants from Africa?
Host: G. Sampath
Producer: Shiksha Jural

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54 min
July 17 How has the use of VAR impacted FIFA World Cup 2026?
In 2016, The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which oversees the laws of the game, approved trials for video referees. This edition marks the third time that VAR has been used in World Cups starting with the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This World Cup has also seen numerous instances where lovers of the game have been up in arms regarding the interventions of VAR. Nevertheless, the Round of 16 match between Portugal and Croatia may be one of the best advocates for the usage of VAR in football. The decision to disallow Gvardiol's equaliser would have been impossible with the naked eye.
In this episode of In Focus, we take a look at how the usage of VAR has impacted football and the reasons why everyone on and off the pitch have divided opinions regarding its use. The conversation also explores the various technologies that have been implemented in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup and as well as the controversies surrounding the same.
Guest: Anirudh Velamuri, Principal Correspondent, The Hindu
Host: Rohan Pillay A.
Producer: Jude Weston

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29 min
July 16 In Focus-Parley | Does national recognition come belatedly for south Indian artistes?
Are South Indians overlooked for the Padma Awards and national awards. The issue regained prominence following the death of legendary playback singer S. Janaki, who had declined the Padma Bhushan, arguing that the honour had come far too late in her career. She maintained that artists should be recognised when they are at the height of their creative powers rather than in old age or after their death. In explaining her decision, she also referred to the posthumous Padma award conferred on the celebrated singer P. Leela.

A similar debate has long surrounded the Jnanpith Award, with critics arguing that several outstanding writers from South India have been overlooked despite their enduring contributions to Indian literature.
Are these concerns justified? Is there a systemic imbalance in the way India's highest civilian and literary honours are conferred, or do the awards reflect the complexities of evaluating excellence across languages, regions and artistic traditions?
Guest: Historian A.R. Venkatachalapathy, Sahitya Akademi Award-winning scholar, and T.M. Krishna, acclaimed Carnatic vocalist, public intellectual and Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient
Host: B. Kolappan
Producer: Jude Weston

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51 min