Parley by The Hindu

Nearly 400 days since the October 7 attacks on Israel that led to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza, West Bank, and Lebanon, more than 43,000 have been killed, mostly civilians. Despite calls by the United Nations (UN) for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis; an International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict on the risk of genocide being perpetrated in Palestine; and warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes, there seems no let-up in the violence.Is Israel’s war in Gaza putting the global order at peril? Here we discuss the question.Guests: Navtej Sarna, served as India’s envoy to the United States, Israel and the United Kingdom; Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute in Washington, and author of books on Iran-U.S. relationsHost: Suhasini HaidarEdited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

On November 23, the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance won a landslide victory in Maharashtra Assembly elections. Among several reasons cited for this victory are the implementation of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana — a direct benefit transfer programme introduced by the Maharashtra government in July 2024 – four months ahead of the polls. The scheme, much like its Madhya Pradesh counterpart, which was also introduced ahead of the Assembly elections there, aims to provide monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 to poor women between the ages of 21 and 65 whose incomes are less than ₹2.5 lakh annually.Critics say such schemes amount to bribing voters and giving the incumbent government an unfair advantage. Here we discuss the issue. Guests: Reetika Khera, a development economist working on social policy in India and a professor of economics at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi; Vikas Rawal, Professor, Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityHost: Kunal ShankarEdited by Jude Francis Weston

The U.K.’s The Guardian newspaper announced earlier this month that it will no longer be posting on X, claiming that it is “a toxic media platform” and that its owner, Elon Musk, “has been able to use its influence to shape political discourse.”Is social media a useful tool or is it becoming a threat to democratic societies? Here we discuss the questionGuests: Alan Rusbridger, Editor of Prospect Magazine, former editor-in-chief of The Guardian and a member of Meta’s Oversight Board, which makes content and policy recommendations for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads; Pratik Sinha, co-founder and editor of AltNews, a fact-checking websiteHost: Priscilla Jebaraj

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recently expressed concern about Andhra Pradesh’s ageing population and urged the people of his State to have more children. Days later, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin attended a mass wedding event in Chennai. He said that the Census and delimitation process may encourage couples to give up thoughts of having a small family.Are pro-natalist policies the best way of addressing the ageing population problem? Here we discuss the issue.Guests: Gita Sen, Honorary Senior Advisor and Distinguished Professor, Public Health Foundation of India; Udaya Shankar Mishra, Honorary Professor, International Institute for Migration Development, ThiruvananthapuramHost: Jagriti ChandraEdited by Jude Francis Weston

India won a historic double gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, by clinching the top spot in both the open event and women’s team competitions. These victories will forever remain among India’s greatest achievements in sport. Chess enjoys huge popularity across the world. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) considers chess as a sport and recognises the International Chess Federation or World Chess Federation (FIDE) as an official federation. Yet, chess is not yet an Olympic sport.Should chess be an Olympic sport? Here we discuss the issue.Guests: Viswanathan Anand, five-time world champion and deputy president, FIDE; Pravin Thipsay, Grandmaster and coachHost: P.K. Ajith KumarEdited by Jude Francis Weston

The Congress’ social justice platform, centred around the call for equal representation at the caste-level and a nationwide caste census, has been hailed after the Lok Sabha elections this year. But within four months of the general election results, the results of the Haryana Assembly polls have raised questions about how well this messaging has percolated to the lower rungs of the party organisation.Has the Congress internalised its message of social justice? Here we discuss the question.Guests: Sudha Pai, Retired Professor, Centre for Political Studies, JNU; Aditi Narayani Paswan, Assistant Professor Lakshmibai College, University of DelhiHost: Abhinay LakshmanEdited by Jude Francis Weston

India’s multi-party democracy thrives on diversity but often sees political parties driven by individual charisma rather than internal democracy. Despite their role in upholding the nation’s democratic framework, many parties struggle to maintain democratic structures. Can the Election Commission (EC) ensure these organisations practice internal democracy?Guests: O. P. Rawat, Former Chief Election Commissioner; M.R. Madhavan, PRS Legislative Research PresidentHost: Sreeparna ChakrabartyYou 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

Himanshu, a Professor of Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, dives deep into India's economic landscape post-COVID-19. The conversation highlights a K-shaped recovery that disproportionately benefits large corporations. They discuss how current policies favor big capital, leaving small businesses struggling. Taxation inequities and high compliance costs are critiqued, urging for reforms to promote a more inclusive economic environment. The need for a supportive regulatory framework and equitable taxation is emphasized to empower smaller enterprises and spur sustainable growth.

The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently announced a plan to set a minimum age to use social media platforms.Should children be barred from social media? Here we discuss the question.Guests: Amanda Third, Professorial Research Fellow in Digital Social and Cultural Research in the Institute for Culture and Society and Co-Director of the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University; Aparajita Bharti, Founding Partner of TQH, a Delhi-based public policy research firm, and co-founder of Young Leaders for Active CitizenshipHost: Mandira ModdieYou 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

Explore the pressing debate on Universal Basic Income (UBI) in India amid jobless growth and rising inequality. Delve into the challenges posed by automation and the need for strategic government intervention to create labor-intensive jobs. The conversation highlights the urgent mismatch between educational outcomes and market demands, while discussing the complexities of UBI implementation. Discover how advanced technology impacts job displacement and economic disparity, stressing the importance of social welfare and tailored solutions.