Parley by The Hindu

Starting with the immediate aftermath of the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli targets, , the Israeli Defense Forces have carried out a relentless campaign bombing civilian locations across Gaza. The Israeli argument has been that it is focused on eradicating Hamas but the casualties are mostly women, children and infants which has drawn worldwide condemnation for Israel. Last Friday, the UN saw the adoption of a non binding Jordanian resolution in New York by large majority of member states. 120 members votes in favor, 14 voted against and 45 countries abstained. India was among those who abstained. The General Assembly adopted a major resolution and call for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce, leading to a cessation of hostilities. It was proposed by Jordan and backed over 45 countries India of course abstain and was criticized for that domestically. But the conflict has continued as there is no call for bringing in a ceasefire. Is this failure going to end the UN and end the present global order? 

The Prime Minister recently said that India aspires to host the 2036 Olympics Games. This has been a dream for successive governments and sports officials. Hosting the Olympics would not only underscore India’s importance as a sporting nation, but also enable it to assert its geopolitical power and showcase development. Here, we discuss whether India is ready to host the Olympics? Guests: Manisha Malhotra, Head of Sports Excellence and Scouting with JSW Sports; Norris Pritam, journalist with over three decades of experience in covering multi-discipline events including six OlympicsHost: Uthra Ganesan

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister and Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha MP discuss the step-motherly attitude of the Union government towards southern states. They explore the issues of tax distribution, delimitation of constituencies, fiscal deficit, lack of effective mechanisms for sharing best practices, and the formula used by the Finance Commission. They advocate for equitable development, state representation, and a comprehensive approach to determine state shares.

On October 2, the Bihar government released the data of its caste survey. The data showed that the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) together account for about 84% of the population. This has reopened the debate on whether the 50% legal ceiling on caste-based reservation should be removed. Here we discuss this question. Guests: Kalaiyarasan A., Assistant Professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies and Research Affiliate at the South Asia Institute, Harvard University; Alok Prasanna Kumar, Co-Founder and Lead, Vidhi KarnatakaHost: Pon Vasanth B

Nearly a year after the Union government decided to cut the number of prizes annually awarded by its science-affiliated Ministries, it has instituted the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) — 56 prizes to felicitate scientists, technologists and innovators. However, like the Padma awards, these awards will no longer have a cash component. Here we discuss whether removing money reduce the prestige of awards.Guests: Shekhar Mande, former Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; Dinesh Sharma, a science journalist and authorHost: Jacob Koshy

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is like the proverbial genie out of the bottle. In less than a year, chatbots like ChatGPT, Bard, Claude, and Pi have shown what gen AI-powered applications can do. These tools have also revealed their vulnerabilities, which has pushed policymakers and scientists to think deeply about these new systems. Should generative AI be regulated? We discuss the question here.Guests: Arul George Scaria, an Associate Professor of Law at the National Law School of India; Trisha Ray, a resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech CentreHost: John Xavier

The podcast discusses the Opposition's decision to boycott certain news anchors and the implications for politics and the media. It explores the challenges of holding the media accountable and compares censorship by the opposition and the government. The loss of trust in television news, the impact of sponsorships, and the need for alternative revenue models are also highlighted. The importance of dialogue, pressuring news organizations, and restoring journalistic integrity are emphasized.

Discussion on recent corruption cases in Andhra Pradesh, questioning the motives behind them. Investigation into ruling parties using agencies for political gain and the lack of independence and challenges faced by enforcement agencies. The importance of administrative reforms and the absence of political will to implement recommendations. The trend of filing corruption cases for political manipulation and the danger of agencies losing their independence.

Discussion on how political promises and subsidies overshadow the issue of unemployment in India. Exploring the challenges of jobless growth and the need for structural changes. Emphasizing the significance of human development-led growth and tension between economists and politicians.

Exploring the causes and impacts of recent heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, including the role of anthropogenic warming, El Nino, and landslides in the Himalayan region. Exploring the connection between extreme rainfall events and floods and their relationship to natural variability and anthropogenic climate change, highlighting the increasing trend caused by climate warming. Examining the impact of urbanization and climate change on landscapes, emphasizing the need for effective regulation in urban planning and the integration of natural systems to mitigate disaster risks. Discussing the problems caused by urbanization and unsustainable development, including increased population density, reliance on fossil fuels, and the resulting effects on climate change. Exploring how money can accelerate decision-making and implementation of solutions for sustainable development and climate change. Focusing on the role of humans in natural disasters and climate change, highlighting the contribution of anthropogenic forces in increasing hazards and risks.