In Focus by The Hindu

By The HinduNews News Commentary

In Focus by The Hindu episodes

July 03 Should NEET be scrapped – Part 2: Does NEET undermine merit?
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is a high stakes, high pressure exam that can make or mar the careers and fortunes of entire families. At least 14-NEET-linked suicides were reported this year, and the Tamil Nadu government’s official position is that NEET should be scrapped.
Is a highly centralised MCQ-format exam the best way to assess the merit of a medical education aspirant?
In Part 1 of this series, we looked at whether NEET as a system is aligned with India’s social goals. In the second episode, we unpack NEET’s relationship with merit.
Joining us today is Professor T Sundararaman, a public health expert based in Puducherry.
Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu
Producer: Shiksha Jural

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21 min
July 02 In Focus-Parley | Has the 48-team World Cup made the tournament better?
In January 2017, when FIFA expanded the World Cup to 48 teams, starting with the 2026 edition, there were mixed feelings. Many welcomed the move, arguing that the flagship event of the planet’s most popular sport should have more than just 32 outfits. But there was criticism too, for many felt that the increase would dilute the quality of football.
What does evidence from the ongoing World Cup in North America say? Here we discuss the question.
Guests: Pradhyum Reddy and Lallianzuala Chhangte
Host: N. Sudarshan

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28 min
July 01 Should NEET be scrapped – Part 1: How does NEET align with India’s public health goals?
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is a high stakes, high pressure exam that can make or mar the careers and fortunes of entire families. At least 14-NEET-linked suicides were reported this year, and the Tamil Nadu government’s official position is that NEET should be scrapped.
Much of the recent commentary on NEET has focussed on the paper leak. But larger questions remain: Is NEET, and India’s medical education system, aligned with the nation’s social and public health goals? In a country with one of the world’s lowest doctor-patient ratios, shouldn’t medical education be more accessible to the poor and marginalised? Should NEET be replaced with something more relevant to India’s social realities?
We explore these questions in a three-part series. Joining us in Part 1 is Professor T Sundararaman, a public health expert based in Puducherry.
Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu
Producer: Shiksha Jural

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37 min
June 30 Why do industrial accidents keep happening in India?
Every time a major industrial accident occurs, compensation is announced, inquiry committees are formed and investigations begin. Yet similar tragedies continue to recur across factories, warehouses, construction sites and industrial establishments.Recent weeks alone have seen the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant explosion, the collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Kolkata, septic tank deaths in Delhi and an ammonia leak in Tiruvallur. While each incident has its own immediate cause, they also point to deeper structural problems in occupational safety, regulation and enforcement.Adding to these concerns are significant gaps in accident reporting itself. Official datasets maintained by different government agencies often do not match, several States do not consistently report industrial accidents, inspection rates have declined and key regulatory bodies continue to face staff shortages.In this episode, we examine why industrial accidents continue to recur despite an extensive legal framework. We discuss the role of inspections, data collection, contractor safety, institutional coordination and the reforms needed to move from reacting to disasters to preventing them in the first place.

Guest: Dr. V. Ramana Dhara, Occupational Medicine expert
Host: Devyanshi Bihani
Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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17 min
June 29 ₹200 Pension in 2026? A look at India's old age pension schemes
In this episode, we have a conversation with Neha Lodha, a a Senior Resident Fellow at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, where she leads research and policy work on financial, economic, and corporate laws. We spoke about the future of social security in India, examining whether the country's pension framework is keeping pace with an ageing population. The conversation explores the constitutional obligations of the State, the shrinking value of the Centre's ₹200 pension, and whether millions of elderly Indians are being excluded from welfare through outdated eligibility rules.
Guest: Neha Lodha, a Senior Resident Fellow at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
Host: Nitika Francis
Producer: Shiksha Jural

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23 min
June 27 What does Starmer's resignation mean for Britain, Labour and India?
From a historic election victory to an early exit from Downing Street, Starmer's resignation highlights the growing challenges facing Britain's political system. In this video we discuss Labour's future, the race for new leadership, economic pressures, public services, and the implications for India-U.K. relations.

Guest: Sriram Lakshman, Foreign Correspondent, The Hindu
Host: Smriti Sudesh
Edited and produced by Jude Weston and Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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28 min
June 26 Wimbledon 2026 preview: Is Sinner the overwhelming favourite yet again?
With Wimbledon 2026 set to start this Monday, there have been three hot topics of discussion: who will make the most of Carlos Alcaraz’s absence, can Jannik Sinner withstand the hot conditions, and Serena Williams’ return to the singles draw through a wild card.
We speak with former professional player and coach of India’s Davis Cup team, Nandan Bal.
Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu
Producer: Shiksha Jural

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34 min
June 25 In Focus-Parley | Should Indian seafarers stop serving on sanctioned ships?
While merchant ships across the world have been manned by Indian seafarers, officers, engineers and crew for years, recent conflicts have suddenly brought Indian seafarers into focus. A recent flashpoint was when the U.S. attacked three ships allegedly carrying Iranian cargo, on the grounds that they were sanctioned vessels. Three Indian seafarers were killed in those attacks.
More recently, when the British detained a Russian-linked vessel that was supposedly under Western sanctions in the English Channel, the Indian captain was arrested. This raises an important question: should Indian seafarers continue serving on these so-called sanctioned ships?
Guests: Ajith SukumaranRetd. Additional Director General of Shipping; Biswanath GuptaAssociate Professor, Jindal Global Law School
Host: M. Kalyanaraman
Producer: Jude Weston

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44 min
June 25 From Barcelona Messi to Argentina Messi: How has the football icon evolved?
Coach Pradhyum Reddy shares insights on Lionel Messi's late-career exploits at the FIFA World Cup, and how players like him and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to break records at their age
Lionel Messi has spent nearly two decades rewriting football’s record books. Yet, four years after finally lifting the World Cup with Argentina, the 39-year-old is once again captivating fans on football’s biggest stage and adding new milestones to his extraordinary career.
In this episode of In Focus, we look at Messi’s evolution from the Barcelona superstar who dominated European football to the Argentina icon who conquered the international game. We also discuss his latest World Cup record, what has changed in his game and leadership over the years, and how he has continued to perform at the highest level alongside Cristiano Ronaldo well into his late 30s. The conversation also explores what young footballers in India can learn from Messi’s journey and reflects on the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Guest: Pradhyum Reddy, football coach and commentator
Host: Reuben Joe Joseph
Producer: Shiksha Jural

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34 min
June 24 Decoding India’s polycrisis: Ailing economy, broken education system, acute unemployment
The term ‘polycrisis’ denotes a scenario where multiple crises occur at the same time. A new book titled ‘India Out of Work: Rethinking India’s Growth Story’, written by two economists, Santosh Mehrotra and Jajati Parida, argues that India is facing a polycrisis -- a structural economic crisis, an employment crisis, and the education system crisis, and looming overall of all of these, a potential demographic crisis.
How did India land up in a polycrisis and what is the way out?
Guest: Santosh Mehrotra, a professor of economics who has worked with the Planning Commission and the United Nations
Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu
Producer and editor: Jude Weston

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59 min