Delhi’s toxic air: Can it ever be fixed?

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

Indigo’s mass cancellations have disrupted the lives of thousands of passengers. This company is not a newbie or a start-up. It is India’s largest airline, with 60% market share. In Financial Year 2024, it returned a profit of ₹8,000 crores. So, finances were not a concern.  Yet, it did not invest in preparing for the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms that kicked in from November 1. Following the mess with the cancellations, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has now created special Oversight Team which will be stationed at the Indigo headquarters and audit its operations.  Why didn’t Indigo prepare for the new FDTL norms? Could this operational crisis have been averted if it had hired pilots on time? Or is it true, as some analysts are claiming, that India’s aviation sector is inherently uncompetitive, and the odds are stacked against the airlines? We get to the bottom of the Indigo fiasco in this InFocus episode.  Guest: Jagriti Chandra, The Hindu’s aviation correspondent. Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last few days, the rupee exchange rate has fallen below ₹90 a dollar and has largely stayed at that level. Now, with Parliament running, a lot of the discourse on this has been political. However, from a policy level, it is critical to understand the economics behind the fall. Why is the rupee falling? Is it falling worse than other currencies? Does the fall hurt or help the Indian economy? And finally, is this a cause for alarm? Guests: Madan Sabnavis and Ranen Banerjee Host: TCA Sharad Raghavan Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India’s home season against South Africa has been nothing short of dramatic, from a bruising Test whitewash to a spirited comeback in the ODIs. But beneath the results lies a deeper story about where Indian cricket stands today and where it is headed. In this episode of In Focus, we break down the biggest talking points from the tour. Why is India suddenly vulnerable in Tests at home? Are the pitches the problem, or is this part of a larger decline in red-ball skills? In contrast, what did the ODI win tell us about the squad’s depth — and is the Rohit-Kohli chapter far from over? We also discuss Gautam Gambhir’s leadership, the idea of split coaching roles, and what the upcoming T20s mean for India’s 2026 World Cup preparation. Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Guest: Amol Karhadkar, The Hindu’s sports writer Produced and edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent report released by the World Health Organization, stated something that experts in India have been warning about for years: antimicrobial resistance or AMR in our country the report said, “is a serious and escalating threat, with resistance rates among the highest in the world.” The government is taking this threat seriously: it has now brought out National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR 2.0) — (2025-29) to combat AMR at all levels. So what is India facing in terms of infections that may not be able to be cured? What sectors does AMR affect outside of hospitals? What are the gaps in the latest AMR plan and how can they be managed? And finally, what can we, as individuals do? Guest: Dr. Abdul Ghafur, Senior Consultant in Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospital, Chennai, and Coordinator, Chennai Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance  Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every winter, India’s capital city turns into a gas chamber. There is a sharp spike in cases of people reporting respiratory complaints. Children’s schooling is disrupted. They can’t go out and play. The elderly can’t take their morning walks. And the state does very little to address what is evidently a public health emergency. Beijing had exactly the same problem – but no longer. It took measures to solve it. India has big claims to be a rising power. But our government and bureaucracy have been unable to deliver on the most basic of requirements for life – breathable air. Why are we in this situation? What can be done? Guest: Vimlendu Jha, environmentalist Host: G Sampath Recorded, produced, and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From high-altitude warfare, extreme weather and the shock of Pakistan’s surprise occupation of the heights, to the evolution of artillery tactics that changed the course of the conflict, his memoir Artillery’s Thunder: The Untold Kargil Story recounts the lesser-known, ground-level realities of Operation Vijay. In this conversation, he also reflects the parallels between Kargil and modern precision warfare, and shares insights into the operational challenges faced by soldiers in the world’s highest battlefield.  What made the artillery’s role so decisive? How did units innovate under fire? And what does this tell us about India’s preparedness for future high-altitude conflicts?  Guest: Major General (Retd.) Lakhwinder Singh, author of Artillery’s Thunder: The Untold Kargil Story  Host: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit, Maharashtra Chief of Bureau, The Hindu  Produced and edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the rise in telecom and internet penetration in India, technology-based crimes are on the rise. While financial fraud and digital arrests are the focus of the conversation, a less talked-about issue is that of digital gender-based violence. A new report, titled Experiencing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in India: Survivor Narratives and Legal Responses, highlights testimonies from survivors who have experienced violence enabled by digital tools. The report highlights how digital tools are being used to harass and shame people based on gender or sexuality and shows that online violence is not just a virtual problem, it affects lives and has a profound impact on mental health and personal safety.   What is TFGBV, and who is most impacted? Why does justice remain out of reach for many survivors, and what systemic and social changes are urgently needed to tackle the issue.   Guest: Manjusha Madhu of Breakthrough, who is the lead co-author and co-researcher of the report, published by Equality Now and Breakthrough.   Host: mandira Moddie  Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this week, the Department of Telecommunications ordered smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices. It also told them to ensure that the app’s functionalities are not disabled. It said this would protect users from cyber-fraud and phone theft. But within two days, the government revoked this order. It justified the withdrawal by citing a surge in acceptance of the app. But the revocation was preceded by a tremendous pushback against the original order – from digital rights activists as well as the Opposition. They said it was an attempt to vastly expand the scope of state surveillance. How do we contextualise this entire episode? Tune in! Guest: Apar Gupta, founder director of Internet Freedom Foundation. Host: G Sampath Produced and edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The rise of Zohran Mamdani as the Mayor of New York City in the United States has brought focus to the lack of visibility of similarly elected civic officials in Indian cities. Why do citizens in urban areas of India have no elected official to turn to in times of crisis or to help improve civic infrastructure and amenities? The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the governing civic body of Mumbai, is set to have elections in 2026 after several years. In Telangana, 27 municipalities are being merged into the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has been divided into five corporations. Will these measures help improve governance of cities? Do we need to change how cities are governed in India? Guests: Thoniparambil Raghunandan, Former IAS officer and a consultant on decentralisation and planning; Anant Maringanti, Director of Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change at the University of Minnesota Host: Serish Nanisetti Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices