In Focus-Parley | Is this the end of the road for the INDIA bloc?

Abhijeet Dipke, a student of public relations in the US, woke up from uneasy dreams one morning and found himself transformed into a ‘gigantic cockroach’. He then founded the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), as a joke. But it quickly acquired a momentum of its own. In less than four days, it notched up more than 1.6 lakh members and 2 million followers on Instagram. What makes the CJP interesting is its popularity and connect among India’s Gen Z. Can it develop into a platform that gives voice to the grievances of India’s youth? Is it a flash in the pan? Can it make a political impact? We speak with the man behind the CJP phenomenon, Abhijeet Dipke. Guest: Abhijeet Dipke, Founding President - Cockroach Janta Party Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer: Shiksha Jural and Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the 2026 IPL heads toward its playoffs, questions are growing around whether the tournament still holds the same cultural grip it once did. While the league remains hugely valuable and widely watched, concerns around viewer fatigue, repetitive contests, lack of international superstars and the changing audience habits have sparked debate about the IPL’s evolving appeal. In this episode of In Focus, we examine how IPL consumption patterns have changed over the years — from television to streaming, from full-match viewing to highlights and short-form content. Are flatter pitches and content saturation affecting fan engagement? And what must the IPL do to stay fresh in an increasingly crowded entertainment landscape? Guest: Jasdeep Pannu, broadcast expert and analyst Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump’s latest remarks on Iran and the sudden shift in U.S. messaging have once again placed West Asia on edge. Reports suggest key Gulf allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, played a role in pushing for diplomacy over immediate military escalation. But is this a temporary pause or the beginning of a larger geopolitical confrontation? Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Smriti Sudesh Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India’s largest medical entrance examination, NEET, is once again at the centre of a national discussion. Conducted for more than 20 lakh aspirants in a single sitting, the exam represents one of the biggest logistical exercises in India’s education system involving the printing, transport and storage of millions of physical question papers across thousands of centres. For years, the National Testing Agency defended the single-shift pen-and-paper format as the “fairest” method of assessment. But recurring allegations of paper leaks and organised cheating networks have raised serious questions about whether the very scale of the system has now become its biggest vulnerability. Following the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 and the announcement of a re-examination, the Union Education Minister has said the exam will shift to a fully computer-based format from next year. But will CBT actually solve the deeper structural problems behind examination leaks? Is India prepared for a transition of this scale? And why do students continue to bear the emotional burden of institutional failures? In this episode, we unpack these questions and examine the growing debate around examination security, public trust, accountability and the future of high-stakes testing in India. Guest: Dr. Bibhu Anand, Chief Adviser, Federation of All India Medical Association Host: Devyanshi Bihani Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two-day Trump–Xi summit in Beijing marked the first U.S. presidential visit to China in nearly nine years, bringing global attention to the future of U.S.-China relations.In this discussion, we break down the key takeaways from the summit, from trade and technology tensions to Iran, Taiwan, rare earth supplies, and the larger geopolitical implications for India and the Indo-Pacific. Guest: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondent, The Hindu' Host: Smriti Sudesh Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of slow-moving negotiations, India’s trade policy has shifted gears. Over the past three and a half years, the country has signed a string of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to increase market access for Indian goods and services. The latest, with New Zealand, may appear modest in isolation, but it is significant when looking at what has been happening over the last five to six years.  While it is true that New Zealand accounts for less than 1% of India’s total trade, this FTA comes on the back of a series of successful trade deals with several countries. India has signed, or closed trade negotiations, seven other trade agreements in the past three and a half years or so. These include agreements with Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, the EFTA nations, the U.K., the EU, Oman. New Delhi has also sealed a trade deal with the U.S.  Taken together, these agreements suggest a shift from earlier FTAs, especially after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and wider geopolitical tensions. Older deals, such as those with South Korea or ASEAN economies, tended to involve broader tariff cuts across sectors, with the expectation that greater openness would increase trade. The newer agreements are more focused on sectors where India is competitive, along with revised tariff structures and stricter rules of origin. They also place greater emphasis on services, professional mobility, investment, and supply-chain diversification.  Guest: Arpita Mukherjee, Professor, ICRIER Host: Nivedita Varadarajan Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the recent electoral setbacks faced by two of the largest constituents of the INDIA bloc, the DMK and the TMC, there is renewed debate over the future of Opposition politics in India. Do these developments signal a turning point for the INDIA bloc, or are they part of a longer structural shift in Indian politics? T Is this the end of the road for the INDIA bloc? Here, we discuss the question. Guests: Prof. KK Kailash, Professor and former HOD of Political Science at the University of Hyderabad; Yashwant Deshmukh, Founder-Director of C-Voter Host: Sobhana K Nair Producer: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the second time in a couple of days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the public to take some austerity measures: reduce fuel consumption, defer gold purchases, reduce foreign travel and consume less edible oil and fertilisers. “The West Asia crisis is one of the worst in the decade; just as we overcame the COVID-19 pandemic, we will come out of this also,” he said while addressing an audience in Vadodara on May 11, 2026. On May 10, 2026, he called for collective participation to help the country withstand global economic uncertainties, supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures. He asked the public to reduce petrol and diesel consumption, promote the use of metro rail and public transport, car-pooling, and railway transport for freight movement, besides wider adoption of electric vehicles. He also spoke about strengthening India’s economic resilience and promoting responsible living. How worried should we be? Guest: Prof. B. Bhagwan Das, Former Associate Professor of Economics, Loyola College, Chennai Host: Nivedita V Producer and editor: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former India coach and Olympian U. Vimal Kumar joins the podcast to discuss India’s Thomas Cup campaign, player recognition, squad depth concerns and badminton’s new scoring system. India returned from the Thomas Cup in Denmark with a bronze medal, its second podium finish in the last three editions of badminton’s premier men’s team event. But despite another strong campaign on the world stage, the achievement received surprisingly little attention back home, prompting sharp reactions from players about the lack of recognition for their sporting achievements in India.In this episode of In Focus, we look into India’s Thomas Cup run, the rise of young talent like Ayush Shetty, concerns over squad depth in singles and doubles, and the controversy surrounding the semifinal match order against France. We also discuss the Badminton World Federation’s decision to introduce the new 15-point scoring system from 2027 and whether it is actually good for the sport. Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new health scare made headlines this week, after three persons died and several others fell sick aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The infection in this case, was hantavirus, something most people have not heard of. Passengers from the stricken ship disembarked today after it docked at the Canary islands, and are flying back to their home countries, many of which are imposing quarantine requirements. The World Health Organization, which has been keeping tabs on this situation has recommended, but not mandated a 42-day quarantine once the passengers have landed. It has also said there is no cause for panic as this not another Covid-19 like situation and the overall risk to the general public is low. But what is hantavirus, who is at risk of contracting it and how is it treated? Guest: Dr Neha Rastogi Panda,  senior consultant, infectious diseases, Fortis Hospital, Gurugram Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer & editor: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices