Parley by The Hindu

Recently, while speaking at the Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said that startups were not innovating enough and were limiting themselves to grocery delivery. Are Indian startups not scaling up on innovation? Here we discuss the question.Guests: Thillai Rajan, Professor and Head, Research Centre on Startups, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras; P.K. Jayadevan, author, communications professional, and former journalistHost: Ashokamithran T.Edited by Jude Weston

Last month, unaccounted cash was reportedly recovered from the official residence of former Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma. In response, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna initiated an in-house inquiry into the matter. Justice Varma has since been repatriated to his parent High Court in Allahabad and will not be assigned any judicial work until the Supreme Court-mandated inquiry is completed. Are existing mechanisms effective in combating judicial corruption? Here we discuss the question. Guests: Sanjay Hegde, senior advocate based in Delhi; Alok Prasanna Kumar, co-founder of Vidhi Centre for Legal PolicyHost: Aaratrika BhaumikEdited by Jude Francis Weston

U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to impose reciprocal tariffs on many countries, including India, has caused significant uncertainty in the global economy. Indian policymakers have tried to placate Mr. Trump by reducing tariffs on a number of U.S. goods, and they have also been in talks with U.S. trade negotiators about a possible bilateral trade agreement. Should India reduce tariffs given the U.S.’s moves? Here we discuss the question. Guests: Ajay Shah, economic columnist affiliated with the XKDR Forum; Laveesh Bhandari, president and senior fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic ProgressHost: Prashanth Perumal J.You can now find The Hindu’s podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher. Search for Parley by The Hindu.Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

In February 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border would be scrapped but there has neither been any notification by the Ministry of External Affairs in this regard nor any bilateral agreement with Myanmar so far. Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s insistence is said to have led to the decision following complaints that unregulated movement of people from across the border was fuelling the ethnic conflict in his State. Mizoram and Nagaland opposed this decision, which has not yet been implemented on the ground. The FMR came into existence in 1968 as people on either side of the border have familial and ethnic ties. The territorial limit of free movement then was 40 km, which was reduced to 16 km in 2004, and additional regulations were enforced in 2016. Should the FMR between India and Myanmar remain? Guests: Henry Zodinliana Pachuau and Likhase Sangtam Host: Rahul Karmakar

Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student at Columbia University, left the U.S. on March 11, 2025, following the revocation of her student visa by the U.S. State Department. Her departure followed a raid on her campus residence by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who have accused her of being a “pro-Hamas sympathiser”. Earlier, on March 8, immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student activist and green card holder, for allegedly violating his terms of residency by supporting a U.S.-designated terrorist organisation. Should immigrants have the same right to protest as citizens? Here we discuss the issue. Guests: Happymon Jacob, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University and founder-director of the Council for Strategic and Defense Research; Prabhash Ranjan, professor at Jindal Global Law SchoolHost: Aaratrika BhaumikRecorded and edited by Jude Francis Weston

Yogendra Yadav, a psephologist and political commentator, joins T.M. Krishna, a renowned Carnatic musician and author, to discuss the controversial three-language policy in India's education system. They explore concerns over the imposition of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states, especially Tamil Nadu, and the implications for regional rights and diversity. The duo critiques the government's approach to language learning, emphasizing the need for inclusivity, respect for all languages, and a reevaluation of multilingual education that prioritizes cultural connections.

In a thought-provoking discussion, Arun Kumar Tangirala, a chemical engineering professor at IIT Tirupati and AI expert, teams up with Arul George Scaria, a law professor at the National Law School of India University. They delve into the increasing use of AI in education and its potential impact on students' critical thinking skills. The conversation highlights the necessity of balancing AI's benefits with the foundational analytical skills. They also emphasize the importance of developing responsible policies and guidelines for AI integration in academic settings.

On February 19, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh in a dramatic reversal of the previous U.S. administration’s policy not to have peace talks with Russia since the beginning of the war with Ukraine in February 2022. This happened because of Donald Trump’s election campaign, which called for “ending the war in Ukraine”. Since taking office, President Trump has spoken on phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is also criticised on Truth Social.Will the U.S.’s change in its Ukraine policy end the Russia-Ukraine war? Here we discuss the question.Guests: Kanwal Sibal, former Foreign Secretary; Anuradha Chenoy, adjunct professor, Jindal Global UniversityHost: Kallol Bhattacherjee

The popular YouTube show ‘India’s Got Latent’ has sparked controversy after criminal proceedings were initiated against its creators and participants over allegedly obscene remarks in one of its episodes. On February 18, 2025, the Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, one of the participants named in the FIRs. This has reignited the debate on whether stringent criminal sanctions are justified for contentious speech.Is there a right to take offence? Here we discuss the question.Guests: Justice Gautam Patel, former judge of the Bombay High Court; Dushyant Dave, senior advocate based in DelhiHost: Aaratrika BhaumikYou can now find The Hindu’s podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher. Search for Parley by The Hindu.Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

Justice Rajeev Shakdher, a former judge of the Delhi High Court, and Shadan Farasat, a senior advocate in Delhi, dive into the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing ad-hoc judges to address a growing backlog of cases. They discuss the implications of this strategy, analyzing current case statistics and constitutional frameworks. The conversation highlights the need for collaboration between the judiciary and the government, while also addressing the challenges of transitioning experienced lawyers to these temporary roles. It's a compelling exploration of judicial efficiency and integrity.