The Bengaluru Open is the most prestigious event on the tennis calendar in India. It is an ATP 125 Challenger. Although Challengers are tier 2 in the ATP rung, this is the only ATP 125 level event in India. The other three Challengers – in Chennai, Pune, and New Delhi – are below the ATP 125 level.  This year, for a change, Bengaluru Open will see two Indian stars with a great chance of going all the way – Sumit Nagal, and Dakshinseshwar Suresh. It would be a major career boost for either of them if they manage to do so. What does the draw mean for the Indian stars, and what’s the bigger picture with regard to Indian tennis in 2026?  Guest: N Sudarshan from The Hindu’s sports bureau Host: G. Sampath Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Aravallis are the green lungs of northern India. They are a defensive wall that protects the fertile Indo-Gangetic plains from desertification – from an eastward expansion of the Thar desert.  But over the years, commercial exploitation has put this fragile ecosystem under immense strain. On November 20th, the Supreme Court ruled that only Aravalli hills above 100 metres tall would enjoy environmental protection. This created a major public outcry, with people pointing out that in Rajasthan’s Aravallis alone, barely 1,048 hills out of 12,081, would qualify. In other words, most of the Aravallis would be exempted from any environmental protection.  On December 28, the Supreme Court stayed its own order. It has also mooted the constitution of a new panel of experts to study the issue more closely, especially the prospects for what it calls “sustainable mining”.  Is sustainable mining of the Aravallis possible? And how can we ensure that they receive at least the bare minimum of environmental protection?  Guest: Kanchi Kohli, well known expert in environment and forest policy Host: G. Sampath Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roti, kapda aur makaan (roti, clothes, and housing) has been a political promise for generations. Now, with housing becoming increasingly expensive, makaan has been taken out of the equation in urban India. In Patna, for instance, buying a 2 BHK (bedroom, hall, kitchen) costs over ₹1 crore. This is the case in other rapidly urbanising cities as well. In metropolises, it is twice the amount, making owning a house out of reach for most Indians. According to the World Bank, per capita income is ₹2,42,487.70 (2024). This does not reflect income inequality among individuals and across States, which is extremely wide in India. Has housing become prohibitively expensive in Indian cities? Guests: Ashok B. Lall and Tikender Singh Panwar Host: Serish Nanisetti.  Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zohran Mamdani, an avowed socialist, will be sworn in as New York City’s new mayor on January 1. His rise has revived old debates about the future of the U.S. Democratic Party. For most of the last century, the Democratic Party offered a clear promise. If you worked hard, if you were new to the country, if the economy knocked you down, this was your political home. But today, that bond feels weaker. Registrations for the Democratic Party are slipping. Younger voters are drifting away. Many longtime supporters say that the party sounds less like a movement and more like a kind of a corporate meeting room, technical, a little distant. Their political rivals, the Republicans, champion smaller government and conservative values, and in recent years have been reshaped by Donald Trump’s brand MAGA politics. Into this moment came New York City’s surprise, Zohran Mamdani, promising affordability and everyday dignity to a metropolis exhausted by rent and inequality. His ascent to public office comes at a time when the Democrats are nationally seeking momentum. So what’s happening with the Democratic Party, and where is its future actually being written? Guest: Hadas Thier, a journalist, activist, and author of A People's Guide to Capitalism.  Hosts: Anupama Chandrasekaran and G Sampath  Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025 tested India and the world on multiple fronts. Politics dominated the discourse, global trade shocks rattled economies, climate stress pushed cities to the brink, and public health and trust came under strain. From BJP’s continued dominance and a faltering Opposition, to Trump-era tariff pressures, the war in Gaza that claimed many lives, and sport offering brief relief, the year unfolded in stark fragments.In this In Focus year-ender, host Anupama Chandrasekaran brings together The Hindu’s journalists to reflect on the defining moments of 2025 and look ahead to the key questions of 2026 across politics, geopolitics, business, environment, health and sport. Guests:Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor; Suhasini Haider, Diplomatic Affairs Editor; TCA Sharad Raghavan, Business and Economics Editor; Jacob Koshy, Science Editor; Ramya Kannan, Health Editor; N Sudarshan, Sports Journalist, The Hindu Host:Anupama Chandrasekaran Edited and produced by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The essence of nuclear governance is safety. That’s not only because any accident can destroy thousands of lives – it’s also because the harm unfolds over time, affecting generations. It can destroy entire regions, as nuclear radiation can make them uninhabitable for a long time. It is thus a matter of common sense that safety has to be a higher priority than any other consideration -- including energy security.  Now, the Parliament passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill. It was passed with minimal debate. This Bill repeals previous legislation that governed civil nuclear activity: the Atomic Energy Act 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act 2010. The new Bill, for the first time in India, throws open nuclear power generation to private players. It also exempts nuclear suppliers from any liability.  Taken together, what do the provisions of the SHANTI Bill mean for the safety of Indian citizens? What happens in case of a radiation leak? And does India really need nuclear power at a time when other renewables are getting cheaper?  Guest: Suvrat Raju, a physicist associated with the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace, who has written on nuclear issues for many years. Host: G. Sampath Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year marks ten years since the Paris Agreement, the climate pact that redefined global climate action. In 2015, nearly 200 countries signed on to a framework based on nationally determined commitments, balancing ambition with political and economic realities.The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It has two big goals - one - to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and -two - pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”A decade later, the track record is mixed. While emissions are rising globally, attention there is a marked push to accelerate clean energy adoption, and increase climate finance. There is growing debate over whether developed countries are doing their fair share, even as developing and least developed nations are the most exposed to climate impacts they did little to cause.As global geopolitics and economic pressures intensify, has the accord delivered on its promises? Guest: Dr. Monika Gupta, Associate Professor, SP Jain Institute of Management & Research Host: Nivedita V Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In early December 2025, the Rupee slipped past the ₹90 per dollar mark. While this drop is labelled as 'psychologically significant,' the underlying economic factors hasn't changed much. Yet a specific set of recent events has added fresh momentum, decisively tipping the scales against the currency. The Rupee’s rise or fall depends on two main factors: what’s happening in the market, and how the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) responds. Guest: economist Zico Dasgupta Host: Nitika Francis Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year around Christmas, reports of attacks on Christian worshippers surface from different parts of India. This year, there were numerous reports of various groups disrupting celebrations across several States, including Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and even Kerala. Several church bodies have written to the Central government, warning of the “alarming rise” in such incidents during the Christmas season.In this episode, we examine why religious festivals often become a flashpoint for tension. Is it the heightened visibility of celebrations, long-standing misconceptions around conversion, or the role of social media in amplifying fear and hostility? Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Guest: Professor Apoorvanand, Delhi University Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The age-old question of whether works created with explicit ideological intent can achieve artistic greatness has long divided critics, artists, and audiences. From Leni Riefenstahl’s films glorifying Nazism to the bold, constructivist posters of the Soviet era, history offers uncomfortable affirmations of propaganda transcending its purpose to become enduring art. Recently, this debate has been reignited by Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, a sprawling spy thriller. While critics have lambasted it for selectively blending real events with fiction to push ultra-nationalist narratives, defenders of the film have argued that its technical finesse, immersive storytelling, and raw intensity elevate it beyond mere messaging, much as in historical precedents, where aesthetic power outlives ideological baggage. Can propaganda be great art? Guests: Prof Asim Siddiqui teaches English Literature at Aligarh Muslim University, writes opinion pieces on Hindi cinema, and is the author of Muslim Identity in Hindi Cinema: Poetics and Politics of Genre and Representation. Sudhanva Deshpande is an eminent theatre personality, author, and film actor. Host: Anuj Kumar Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAMG) Bill, 2025 has received the President’s assent. This Bill replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which stands repealed.  The move has sparked an outcry, from the Opposition and civil society. Critics say this new law will destroy the very substance of the erstwhile MGNREGA – which is to provide work on demand. That is how MGNREGA had served as a lifeline for India’s poor and marginalised people. But that is going to change. So, what are the ways in which the G-RAM-G Bill is different from MGNREGA? How will it impact the beneficiaries of MGNREGA? How does it impact federalism?  Guest: Rajendran Narayanan, Associate Professor in the School of Arts and Sciences at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India’s top human rights body, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), is going to have its accreditation status downgraded -- from ‘A’ to ‘B’. The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) is the international body that mediates the relationship between national human rights institutions and the United Nations (UN).  In March this year, GANHRI’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation recommended that India’s accreditation status be downgraded to ‘B’. India appealed this move to the GANHRI bureau. Earlier this month, the appeal was turned down. This means that from April 2026, India’s NHRC will no longer enjoy the ‘A’ category accreditation that it has enjoyed till now – a major embarrassment for the institution, and also for India.  What were the reasons for this downgrading? Why was our appeal turned down? What can India do to get the ‘A’ accreditation back?  Guest: Henri Tiphagne, Working Secretary with the All India Network of Individuals and Organisations working with National and State Human Rights Institutions (AINNI). Host: G. Sampath Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone knows someone with diabetes or heart disease or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It’s impossible to find somebody who doesn’t have at least one victim of these diseases in their family or friends circle. That’s how widespread they’ve become. All these disorders share one thing in common – all are ‘lifestyle diseases’ linked to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction. For the longest time, India’s biggest public health challenge was controlling infectious diseases. But now we have an epidemic of lifestyle diseases, causing millions of premature deaths. A new book ‘Sick Nation’, drills down to the root causes of this epidemic. What are the factors driving it? Why do people ignore the signs until it is too late? And what can you, as an individual, do to protect yourself from this growing epidemic of metabolic dysfunction? Guest: Karan Sarin, metabolic health coach, and author of ‘Sick Nation: Inside India’s Lifestyle Disease Epidemic and How to Fix it’. Host: G Sampath Recorded, produced, and edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Data shows that India’s exports increased by over 15 percent in November year-on-year, the country’s fastest growth in three years.  India’s total exports (Merchandise and Services combined) for November 2025 is estimated at $ 73.99 billion. This is a growth of 15.52 per cent, compared November 2024.  The rise comes at a time when U.S. has imposed steep tariffs on India. U.S. President Trump introduced reciprocal taxes ---the so-called “liberation day” tariffs -- in April. The U.S. slapped an additional 25 percent tariff on India in retaliation for its continued purchases of Russian oil, bringing total tariffs to 50 per cent. Despite all the new tariffs, exports to the US are booming. U.S. is still the largest destination for Indian exports, growing at 22 per cent in November, compared to last year. It reached approximately $7billion. Engineering, electronics, jewellery and gems, and pharmaceuticals are the top performing sectors. China, Spain, United Arab Emirates and Tanzania are the other top destinations.   This is pretty much the same in April-November this year. Data shows USA, China, Spain, the UAE and Hong Kong were the top destinations for Indian goods in this period. These numbers are pretty great, but there are some causes for concern too.  While exports are estimated at $ 562.13 Billion during April-November 2025, growing by 5.43 per cent, total imports jumped in this period. Total imports during April-November 2025 is estimated at $ 651.13 billion, up 5 per cent. Merchandise trade deficit during April-November 2025 was $ 223.13 billion as compared to $ 203.33 billion during April-November 2024. One way to tackle the ballooning trade deficit is to urgently diversify both products and trading partners. This plays into a larger context. 2025 will be remembered as they year of the return of protectionism. There is an urgent need to diversify both products and trading partners. How should India navigate this new normal?  Guest: Arpita Mukherjee, Professor, at Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) Host: Nivedita V Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Indian Premier League 2026 mini-auction delivered record spending and a clear shift in team priorities, as franchises splurged on Indian domestic talent alongside marquee overseas names. While Cameron Green became the costliest overseas buy in IPL history, the night belonged to uncapped players, several of whom attracted multi-crore bids and reshaped auction dynamics.In this episode of In Focus, The Hindu’s Amol Karhadkar reports from the auction venue in Abu Dhabi. Amol analyses the biggest purchases, the rise in demand for domestic uncapped players and strategies adopted by teams such as CSK and KKR.Guest: Amol Karhadkar, The Hindu’s sports reporter Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Global spending on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is projected to reach $375 billion this year and and $500 billion by 2026, according to the UBS. That raises a fundamental question: is AI’s value being driven by genuine technological progress, or by investor enthusiasm racing ahead of reality? Is the AI boom a bubble? Guests: Bhagwan Chowdhry and Anoop Kunchukuttan Host: Areena Arora Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the 21st of November, the government of India has brought in 4 labour codes to reform and replace the 29 existing laws in the country They are Code on Wages, Code on Industrial Relations, Code on Social Security and Code on Occupation Safety, Health and working conditions. The government is touting these labour codes as India’s biggest labour reforms—brought in nearly eight decades after Independence and over five years it was passed in the parliament. These codes seek to ease work regulations, expand social security, and bring greater uniformity to wage structures. However, on 26th November, the Left parties in the country took to the streets to protest these reforms citing them as “anti-labour”. So, why are the left parties opposing these reforms? What are the changes brought by the four labour codes and how do they reshape the future of labour in India? Guest: Venkatesh B. Athreya, economist, and former head of department, Bharathidhasan University Host: Bhagavathi Sampath K J Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, India’s political debates, parliamentary discussions, and health-policy arguments have leaned heavily on a simple figure of one doctor per 1000 people supposedly set by the World Health Organization or WHO But the WHO in a written reply to the Hindu has clarified that it has never actually recommended this ratio. This episode breaks down the history behind the 1:1000 myth, examines the WHO’s current SDG-linked framework for assessing health worker availability, and explores why India’s own data paints a far more uneven picture — from rural-urban gaps to ongoing disputes over counting AYUSH doctors. Guest: Siddhesh Zadey, health-systems researcher and co-founder of the Association for Socially Applicable Research (ASAR) Host: Devyanshi Bihani Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In its recent assessment, the International Monetary Fund India’s national accounts statistics, which includes key figures such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross Value Added (GVA), a grade of ‘C’, the second-lowest grade there is. “National accounts data are available at adequate frequency and timeliness and provide broadly adequate granularity,” the IMF noted, adding, “However, some methodological weaknesses somewhat hamper surveillance and warrant an overall sectoral rating for the national accounts of C.” At a time when the government is celebrating 8.2% GDP growth, this grade has sparked uncomfortable questions. What is the IMF saying and is India truly growing as fast as the government claims?  Guest: Prof. B. Bhagwan Das, Former Associate Professor of Economics, Loyola College, Chennai Host: Nivedita V Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It will soon be four years since Russia invaded Ukraine. As the conflict drags on, neither side seems ready for a compromise. But President Donald Trump has been pushing for a peace deal. He recently released a 28-point peace plan. It basically asks Ukraine to cede territory it has already lost in exchange for security guarantees. But Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out giving up territory. He has also been talking of a revised peace plan. But Trump is impatient for a ceasefire. He is applying pressure on both sides to come to an agreement. What is at stake for the different parties involved, and what are the chances of a deal being reached? Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices