What counts as 'obscene', lab-grown babies, and plastic into garden tiles
Feb 14, 2025
auto_awesome
Ajoy Sinha Karpuram, a reporter at The Indian Express, provides insights into India's evolving obscenity laws, prompted by recent legal controversies. He discusses how cultural standards shape these laws. Aditi Raja, also from The Indian Express, shares a fascinating story about a Gujarat municipality's initiative to recycle 6,000 kilos of plastic into eco-friendly garden tiles, showcasing sustainable urban innovation. The episodes feature intriguing topics such as lab-grown babies and their ethical implications, creating a dialogue on future reproductive technologies.
The evolving interpretations of obscenity laws in India highlight the challenges of defining such legal concepts in the digital era.
Innovative technology in lab-grown babies using stem cells offers hope for many aspiring parents, but raises ethical concerns about 'designer babies'.
Deep dives
Controversy Surrounding Obscenity Laws in India
Recent events have highlighted the complexity of obscenity laws in India, especially following controversial comments made by a popular YouTuber. These comments have sparked investigations by multiple police departments, raising questions about what constitutes obscenity in the digital age. The laws are particularly expansive, defining obscene material based on its appeal to prurient interests, which can lead to subjective interpretations by judges. Historical cases, including Supreme Court rulings, have shown that different judges may have varying standards for obscenity, complicating the legal landscape.
Advancements in Reproductive Technology
Scientists are exploring the concept of lab-grown babies through a process called in vitro gametogenesis (IVG), which involves creating gametes from stem cells. This revolutionary approach could assist infertile couples, older women, and same-sex partners in having biological children, addressing challenges faced in traditional methods like in vitro fertilization. However, the technology is still in its infancy, with successful experiments conducted only on animals, and may take at least a decade before being accessible to humans. Ethical concerns also arise as the ability to select embryos presents the risk of 'designer babies,' sparking debate among medical professionals.
Innovative Plastic Recycling Efforts in Gujarat
A municipality in Gujarat has successfully transformed 6,000 kilograms of single-use plastic into over 3,000 square feet of garden tiles, showcasing a proactive approach to waste management. This initiative began with a raid that confiscated 850 tons of banned plastic, prompting officials to seek sustainable disposal methods rather than incineration. Partnering with a local startup, the municipality implemented technology that blends plastic with industrial dust to create durable tiles, reducing carbon emissions significantly. The project has garnered attention as a potential model for other regions to combat plastic waste while promoting environmental sustainability.
First, in light of multiple FIRs being filed against YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, including charges of “obscene acts,” The Indian Express' Ajoy Sinha Karpuram explains what actually constitutes obscenity and how laws surrounding it have evolved over the years.
Next, The Indian Express' Brendan Dabhi discusses scientists' groundbreaking efforts to produce a "lab-grown baby" using only stem cells. (14:08)
Finally, The Indian Express' Aditi Raja tells us about a municipality in Gujarat that transformed a massive amount of single-use plastic into a valuable civic amenity. (21:02)
Hosted and written by Shashank Bhargava Produced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha Sharma Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode