Episodes

  • Mobile Creches - Build the workforce, build the system: Accelerating India's ECD agenda

    Mobile Creches - Build the workforce, build the system: Accelerating India's ECD agenda
    Jul 2 2026
    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
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    19 mins
  • The Catch Up: Maharashtra on high alert, 10 dead amid intense spell of rain (6 July)

    The Catch Up: Maharashtra on high alert, 10 dead amid intense spell of rain (6 July)
    Jul 6 2026
    The headlines of the day by The Indian Express
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    6 mins
  • The Sarla Bhat case, India's fake drug crackdown, and WhatsApp's username

    The Sarla Bhat case, India's fake drug crackdown, and WhatsApp's username
    Jul 3 2026
    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
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    23 mins
  • The Catch Up: Before deadly Kerala tunnel collapse, warning ignored (7 July)

    The Catch Up: Before deadly Kerala tunnel collapse, warning ignored (7 July)
    Jul 7 2026
    The headlines of the day by The Indian Express
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    5 mins
  • The Catch Up: India, Japan sign defence pact, and more (3 July)

    The Catch Up: India, Japan sign defence pact, and more (3 July)
    Jul 3 2026
    The headlines of the day by The Indian Express
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    3 mins
  • Why everything feels more expensive right now

    Why everything feels more expensive right now
    Jul 6 2026
    With inflation being a persistent concern for people, The Indian Express’ Udit Misra joins us to answer three questions: Do the prices of things always have to go up? Would we be better off if, instead of prices going up, they actually went down? And what can the government actually do to make things more affordable?

    Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    28 mins
  • Bhagwant Mann controversy, Ram Temple theft case, and monsoon turns deadly

    Bhagwant Mann controversy, Ram Temple theft case, and monsoon turns deadly
    Jul 7 2026
    First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Varinder Bhatia about the controversy surrounding Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after the Akal Takht’s verdict on an alleged video, the subsequent police investigation into forged forensic reports, and where the case goes from here.

    Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Maulshree Seth about the widening investigation into the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which has now expanded beyond missing cash to questions about recruitment, security, financial oversight, and the functioning of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. (12:50)

    And in the end, we look at what is driving the intense spell of rain across western and central India after the season’s first low-pressure system formed over the Bay of Bengal, triggering landslides, flooding, and multiple deaths. (24:30)

    Hosted by Ichha Sharma
    Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha Sharma
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    27 mins
  • E-rickshaw battery hacks, mosque demolitions, and child sex abuse ads on Insta

    E-rickshaw battery hacks, mosque demolitions, and child sex abuse ads on Insta
    Jul 8 2026
    First, we speak with The Indian Express' Devansh Mittal about an unusual problem faced by e-rickshaw drivers in Delhi, where their vehicles suddenly stop working in the middle of road because they are being controlled by certain Bluetooth applications.

    Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Parul Kulshrestha about a number of mosques being demolished in Rajasthan's Barmer and Bikaner. She talks about the demolitions, how the situation has brought people of different faiths together, and the reactions it has received. (8:46)

    Lastly, we discuss concerns over child sexual abuse videos being promoted on Instagram. (16:10)

    Hosted by Niharika Nanda
    Produced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika Nanda
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    19 mins