Podcast Specials

Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud on Saturday raised the issue of criminalisation of adolescents under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences. He said that there were growing concerns owing to the age of consent for sexual activities under the 2012 Act, which fixes the minimum age of consent at 18. Is it about time to bring reforms to the decade-old law?

Thirty months after the Galwan incident in 2020, the Indian and Chinese troops reportedly were involved in a physical clash along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the eastern sector, though neither side resorted to the use of firearms. What implications will this fresh clash have on India-China relations? Air Marshal BK Murali weighs in.

Estranged partner of the BJP, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has yet again expressed optimism that it is possible to defeat the Narendra Modi government. Addressing the JD-U’s plenary session on Sunday said, he said “There will be no third front in 2024 as what will be formed against the BJP next time will be the main front.” How seriously should Nitish Kumar’s assertion be taken?

More than nine months after invading Ukraine, Russian president Vladimir Putin has again signalled his intent to end the war. Putin has called for a "potential settlement" of the Ukraine question, asking "all parties to agree with the realities on the ground." Does Putin really intend to move towards a ceasefire at this point? General Hasnain weighs in.

During the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed that the Chinese army had infiltrated into Ladakh and had set up more than 200 shelters for troops, with accommodation facilities. Why does this issue often find itself in the spotlight?  Major General Ashok Kumar weighs in. 

The Aam Aadmi Party has put an end to the BJP's 15-year rule of the Delhi Municipal Corporation. The AAP won 134 seats, well past the halfway mark in the 250-member civic body, BJP managed to get 104 and the Congress bagged 9 seats. Is the defeat of the BJP a significant setback for the party? Senior journalists Neerja Chowdhury and Ajay Jha weigh in.

By and large, all exit polls have predicted a huge BJP victory in Gujarat. In Himachal Pradesh, as per the exit polls, it is a neck-and-neck fight between Congress and the BJP. The Aam Aadmi Party is projected to win the Delhi MCD election by a landslide victory. Senior journalists Rakesh Dixit and Ajay Jha help us decode the results. 

Media reports indicate that the incidence of people dying due to sudden cardiac death, many in their 20s, could be on the rise. Why are people in the prime of life suddenly succumbing to heart attacks? Listen in:  

With Kanye’s meltdown, the Republicans may be in even more trouble as they wanted to use Kanye and his appeal to attract black voters. What does Kanye West's implosion mean for Republicans given the Presidential elections are less than two years away?

India clocked GDP growth of 6.3 per cent during the second quarter of the financial year 2022-23, compared to 13.5 per cent in the first quarter and 8.4 per cent a year ago, according to data shared by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI). What do the numbers indicate? Arun Kumar, retired Professor of Economics from JNU weighs in.

Elon Musk has decided to take on Apple after the iPhone manufacturer threatened to take Twitter, now owned by Musk, off its app Store. He asked his followers on the platform if they know that Apple puts a secret 30 per cent charge on everything one buys through their App Store. What are the chances of Apple taking Twitter off the App Store? Listen in

Even as the debate over the pros and cons of work-from-home rages on, there is a concept afloat in the UK that would gladden the hearts of those who are looking for a satisfactory work-life balance. While the UK seems to be at least open to embracing the idea of four days a week, how well, if at all introduced in India, will this idea work? Listen in.

Tensions are simmering in China just over a month after China’s communist party leader Xi Jinping secured his third term in power. Massive protests have erupted across the country over the country’s zero covid policy. Is this protest really only against the zero covid policy of the Chinese communist government, or there is much more to it? Listen in:

The hike in milk prices across the country, one commodity the country has been in surplus over the years, has exemplified inflation. While this is the case with milk products, on the other hand, due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and cut in output because of a scorching summer, wheat and flour prices too also soaring in India. What is causing the price rise? Listen in.

Twenty-seven-year-old Shraddha Walkar, who was allegedly brutally murdered by her boyfriend Aftab Amin Poonawala and later cut into pieces, had informed the police two years ago about precisely what would happen to her. Why did not the police act immediately, as prompt action may have saved her life? Former DGP-UP weighs in.

Does India need an independent body to ensure a transparent selection process for the appointment of persons of high integrity like TN Seshan as CEC? Senior Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Hegde weighs in.

At the Qatar World Cup, all eyes were on the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi, as he led his Argentinian team against Saudi Arabia. However, in a major upset, it was Saudi Arabia which won the match 2-1. Can Lionel Messi still create magic and lead Argentina to finals? Senior sports journalist Jaydeep Basu weighs in.

Will Elon Musk bring about a revolution in Twitter as he claims or will he have to abandon it due to his ‘erratic’ decisions? Author & technology policy expert Vivan Sharan shares his opinion.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has said that judges at the grassroots are reluctant to grant bail for fear of being targeted. Is the CJI right in saying so? Senior Supreme Court lawyer KV Dhananjay weighs in.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has yet again raked up the controversial issue of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his alleged allegiance to the British. Who really was Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, did he really side with the British? A renowned historian weighs in.

Donald Trump, former President of the United States of America, has announced that he will be running for the White House again in 2024. His announcement has received mixed reactions. What are the challenges that await Trump? We try to understand.

A year before the Assembly election in Rajasthan and days ahead of the scheduled entry of the Bharat JodoYatra into the state, the protracted internecine war between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his rival Sachin Pilot has reached a flash point, with AICC general secretary Ajay Maken quitting the state Congress charge. Former general secretary of the Rajasthan State Congress Committee, Rupesh Ka...

The details of the murder of Shraddha Walkar have sent shivers down everyone’s spine. The 27-year-old girl was brutally murdered by her boyfriend who chopped her body into 35 pieces. Could this have been avoided? Shraddha’s friend Rajat Shukla speaks to News9.

The latest controversy surrounding Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju’s article on “Five Nehruvian Blunders on Kashmir” has raised a fresh storm over the circumstances of Kashmir’s accession to India, a debate that has been raked up many times in the past by the BJP. Is BJP’s arguments in dismissing Nehru’s legacy justified? Historian M Rajivlochan weighs in.

From Twitter to Meta, major tech companies across the world are on a laying-off spree. Latest to join the ruthless bandwagon is Amazon. The company is planning to lay off 10,000 employees as per reports. Why are the companies on a laying-off spree? We try and decode.