News and Views

Hari Prasad from Hyderabad, along with two others, hacked an Electronic Voting Machine(EVM) in 2010 to show the security risks that Indian elections are facing. EVMs can be hacked and relatively easily. Prasad was arrested in 2010 after he demonstrated the hack. Check out the full interview.

You can also read the story [**here**](https://www.thequint.com/podcast/podcast-evm-hacking-2019-elections).

Why are Indian obsessed with English language? I often wonder how easy would it be if I didn’t have to learn English.

But honestly I have nothing against you. You my dear English, are a fine language like any other language. But this country’s obsession with you is an issue.

How did I learn English? That’s a series of funny incidents. But I can tell you this that it started at a party where I was trying to impress a girl with George Michael’s song “Too Funky”. How did that work out for me? Tune in to this podcast!

One can be forgiven for believing this to be a Cold War-era indictment of China, except that it comprised the core of Vice President Mike Pence’s statement, at the Hudson Institute in Washington on 4 October.

The 10% reservation to economically weaker sections is stirring debate across the country. What does the youth of Mumbai think about the 10% reservation for the economically backward upper castes? The Quint, in its special Chaupal series, is asking students and young people their opinion on issues of the day as elections near.

What do they think about this new policy? Is the government’s decision is absolutely right? Or will it be stopped in Supreme Court? Young aspirants of UPSC discuss in this Chaupal from Mumbai.

Thackeray is an unabashed, unapologetic defence of the Shiv Sena founder’s politics and worldview. One where not a tiny stain or blot has been allowed to exist. Sanjay Raut, the man who has penned the story and produced it, is a Shiv Sena member. The whitewashing is complete!

But it’s best that we accept it. Because, in spite of it being a one-sided attempt at showing us an exalted version of a very controversial man, the film also boasts of a superlative performance by one of our country’s best actors. Listen to the podcast for the full review.

India is celebrating its 70th Republic Day on 26 January 1950, but where were you when India celebrated its very first Republic Day in 1950? For the fourth episode of this podcast series, we spoke to four senior citizens to relive their memories of India's first Republic day when the Constitution had come into effect making India a fully functional independent republic.

With the 10% Quota Bill being passed in Parliament for the economically weaker sections among upper castes sparking a nationwide debate, The Quint’s Chaupal reaches Rohtak to interact with the students of Maharishi Dayanand University and learn their thoughts on the matter.

Most students in MDU, Rohtak argue that the bill is a political move and question its benefits for the needy.

On 14 January, Gujarat became the first state to implement the 10 percent quota for economically weaker sections in the general category. Ever since the Bill was passed in the Parliament, it has sparked a major debate.

While some say the move will genuinely benefit economically weaker sections in the general category, others say it is a political ploy by the BJP to revive its fortunes after losing Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. People also point that giving quotas based on income, not caste, violates the purpose of reservation.

The Quint spoke to a number of UPSC aspirants in Delhi and asked them about their views on the government’s decision.

Kangana Ranaut’s first period film is out!

In fact, it’s her first directorial venture, for she is credited along with Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi for being at the helm of the project.

In ‘Manikarnika’, Kangana Ranaut embodies the spirit and valour of Rani Laxmi Bai who fought the British with such vociferous courage and strength that stories of her bravery became part of folklore. What else does the movie have in store? Listen to the Podcast to find out!