Episodes
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First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Naveed Iqbal about the 1990 abduction and killing of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat, and why a chargesheet filed 36 years later naming former JKLF chief Yasin Malik is significant in the larger context of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus.
Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt about the Centre’s expanded QR code-based track and trace system for medicines, how it aims to curb counterfeit drugs, and the implementation challenges that could determine whether the initiative succeeds. (8:25)
And in the end, we look at the Centre’s concerns over WhatsApp’s upcoming username feature, which officials fear could make impersonation scams and digital fraud easier despite the platform’s planned safeguards. (19:55)
Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
The care economy is one of the most important enablers of women's participation in the workforce. Women more often than not perform a disproportionate share of unpaid care work, which often limits their ability to work full-time, or pursue career advancement. When quality childcare services are accessible and affordable, this unpaid burden is reduced, allowing more women to enter, remain in, and contribute to the workforce.
In our fourth episode in association with Mobile Creches, where we talk about where we explore the importance of quality childcare services especially for women, and to have this conversation, we are joined by retired IAS officer Arti Ahuja, As a former Secretary across multiple Union Ministries including Labour, Health, and Women and Child Development, she has been at the forefront of India’s major social and economic reforms.
Hosted and Produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and Mixed by Suresh Pawar
Links to episode in association with Mobile Creches:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3 -
Missing episodes?
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First, we speak with The Indian Express' Purnima Sah about a fertility racket that has been uncovered in Maharashtra, where financially vulnerable women were made to donate their eggs multiple times for a payment of Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000. She talks about the network, how it operated and the investigation.
Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Jayprakash S. Naidu who talks about a series of eight murders that took place in Chhattisgarh's Kharve village and how the police realised all these murders were related. He talks about the incidents, the common link and more. (18:14)
Lastly, we talk about an open letter by 117 signatories for PM Narendra Modi and PM Shehbaz Sharif urging them to take steps towards restoring peace and normalcy between India and Pakistan. (22:21)
Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Links for our episodes with Mobile Creches:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3 -
First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Nihal Koshie about Indian athletics’ remarkable run of performances, with more than 20 national records broken in just over three months, and how changes in coaching, competition, and training are reshaping the sport.
Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Amitabh Sinha about Europe’s latest heatwave, why scientists say climate change is making such extreme temperatures more likely, and how a new attribution study helps establish that link. (11:30)
And in the end, we look at an East Delhi property fraud case involving forged identities, shell companies and ₹18 crore in fraudulent loans, a scam that took investigators more than a decade to piece together. (21:15)
Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
The headlines of the day by The Indian Express
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First, we speak with The Indian Express' Deeptiman Tiwary about Ayodhya, where allegations of theft and misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple have triggered a major controversy. He shares what the investigation revealed, how the theft was conducted, who has been accused and more.
Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Soham Shah about the Maharashtra Teacher's Eligibility Test (TET) getting postponed due to a paper leak. He talks about the exam, how the leak was uncovered, the investigation and what all the candidates can expect. (7:47)
Lastly, we discuss how monsoon rains are causing floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh. (15:41)
Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
The headlines of the day by The Indian Express
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First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Rinku Ghosh and Sweety Kumari about West Bengal’s decision to remove eggs from mid-day meals in Kolkata under a new pilot project with ISKCON, the nutritional importance of eggs for children, and the political backlash surrounding the move.
Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Akram M about Karnataka’s proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township Project, why farmers are divided over it, and why it has emerged as one of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s biggest political challenges. (22:50)
And in the end, we look at the alleged attempt to carry out mass poisoning at a Muharram procession in Mumbai, where police arrested a Pune man accused of distributing capsules allegedly filled with zinc phosphide to participants in the procession. (30:45)
Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
The headlines of the week by The Indian Express
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First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Pragynesh about the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Delhi, the accused’s criminal history, and the questions the case has raised about child safety, policing, and background verification by ride-hailing platforms.
Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Parul Kulshresth about a series of childbirth-related complications in Rajasthan, after similar cases emerged in Kota, Bikaner and now Jodhpur, raising concerns over maternal healthcare and hospital safety. (10:00)
And in the end, we look at new details from the NIA chargesheet on the Pahalgam terror attack, which alleges that the conspiracy was active at least a week before the assault and was being directed by a Pakistan-based handler. (19:20)
Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Our earlier episodes on the maternal healtcare crisis in Rajasthan;
India’s forex reserves problem, Rajasthan maternal deaths, and SIR concerns | The Indian Express https://share.google/Ehgkk0FvtV6J55Dek -
The headlines of the day by The Indian Express
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In the early years of a child's life, consistent care, nutrition, and emotional support lay the foundation for early childhood development. Haryana's Crèche Policy is attempting to address this need by creating support systems for working parents and ensuring young children receive proper care in their formative years.
The Indian Express brings to you our third episode in association with Mobile Creches, were we explore how the policy works on ground, the impact it is having on families, and whether it can serve as a model for childcare support across the country. And to talk about this, we are joined by IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Government of Haryana. She has extensive experience in health, public administration, and social sector development and has led several transformative initiatives in public health and governance.
Hosted and Produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and Mixed by Suresh Pawar
Links for episode in association with Mobile Creches:
Episode 1
Episode 2 -
First, we speak with The Indian Express' Nikhil Ghanekar about the Western Ghats and how after over a decade, the centre is finally close to notifying the Ecologically Sensitive Areas in the region. Nikhil talks about the challenges that were faced in the process, what caused the delays, what will change once the notification is out and more.
Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Rural Affairs and Agriculture Editor Harish Damodaran about a weather phenomena called El Nino. He shares how it impacts the monsoon and how in the coming months it can become the reason for a rise in food prices. (15:10)
Lastly, we discuss the changes announced by the the Home Ministry in the FCRA framework for NGOs and other organisations. (23:26)
Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma and Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Links for our episodes with Mobile Creches:
Episode 1
Episode 2 -
The headlines of the day by The Indian Express
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First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Jay Mazoomdar about an investigation that found Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, his family members, and their companies acquired at least 137 plots across Ujjain after he came to power, raising questions about conflict of interest amid the city’s rapid urban expansion.
Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Sujit Bisoyi about the assault of two NGO workers in Odisha’s Rayagada district, where rumours of child kidnapping spiralled into mob violence and sexual assault, leading to the arrest of 20 people. (18:30)
And in the end, we look at the detention of a Rajasthan-based Instagram content creator after he posted a video critical of the RSS, a move that has triggered allegations of police overreach and political intimidation. (26:00)
Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
The headlines of the day by The Indian Express
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First, we speak with The Indian Express' Sadaf Modak about the 2006 murder case of Congress leader Pavanraje Nimbalkar. She shares the recent developments in the case according to which eight people who had been accused have been acquitted. She talks about the decision, the reasons behind it and more.
Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Devansh Mittal about the draft Electric Vehicle policy 2.0 of the Delhi government and its proposal to ban the registration of new petrol and diesel powered two-wheelers from April 2028. (17:02)
Lastly, we discuss why current and former employees of the National Skill Development Corporation have come under scrutiny. (26:32)
Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
The headlines if the day by The Indian Express
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First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Sweety Kumari about the controversy in West Bengal after several Trinamool Congress leaders accused of crimes were publicly paraded by the police, prompting criticism from the Calcutta High Court even as many locals appeared to support the crackdown.
Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Alok Deshpande about the fresh crisis within Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, after six of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs came under speculation of defecting, raising questions about the party’s future and the latest chapter in the Sena’s long history of internal rebellions. (13:50)
And in the end, we look at the NEET-UG retest conducted after the original examination was cancelled over a suspected paper leak, the extraordinary security arrangements put in place, and the anxiety it has caused among lakhs of students and their families. (27:50)
Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda, and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
The headlines of the day by The Indian Express
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