The Times Of India Podcast

Political scientist Suhas Palshikar explains the issues with the Prime Minister turning up at the Chief Justice's residence for Ganeshotsav. He also explains the problem with judges and government employees talking about links with the RSS and what it means for the RSS to be making statements that seem to target the PM. 

Shakir Mir, a journalist covering Jammu and Kashmir for TOI+ and other outlets, dives into the significance of the region's upcoming assembly elections. He discusses the palpable enthusiasm among voters, despite the absence of full statehood. Key parties like the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party are examined, alongside new political entities. Mir also highlights the role of District Development Councils and the internal dynamics within the BJP, revealing how these factors influence voter sentiment and election strategies.

Patruni Chidananda Sastry, a drag queen and unconventional parent, joins Labanya Maitra, a commentator on societal impacts of unique parenting. They explore the challenges and joys of balancing life as a performer and a parent. The conversation touches on legal hurdles faced by queer families in India and the importance of community support. Patruni shares insights into the transformative essence of drag and its role in fostering acceptance and inclusivity in parenting, urging society to embrace diverse identities.

Bina Paul - one of the founding members of the Women in Cinema Collective - talks about the fallout of the Justice Hema committee report on the Malayalam film industry. She explains why the report matters, why sexual harassment is rampant in the film industry and what needs to be done now to correct things.

Supreme Court lawyer Disha Wadekar explains the apex court's latest verdict that deals with the contentious subject of sub-quotas within reservations for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. She also decodes the Supreme Court's handling of reservations over the decades and what's worrying about multiple judgements regarding reservations. 

Vijayendra Mohanty - better known as Vimoh online - talks about why influencers and content creators are seeking clarity over a proposed law that is reportedly set to limit who can say what on platforms like YouTube and social media.   

Aditya Pillai discusses escalating deaths from heatwaves in India, challenges in implementing effective heat action plans, managing heatwaves while balancing cooling needs and climate impact, analyzing the need to declare heatwaves as disasters, and exploring India's response to rising heatwaves.

Political scientist Suhas Palshikar and Yogendra Yadav campaign to remove their names from controversially edited Indian textbooks, highlighting concerns about ideological influences and the impact on education. Discussion delves into challenges in the Indian curriculum, government's use of textbooks for agendas, and the importance of preserving knowledge for future generations.

Dr. Arun Gupta discusses the need for better regulation of packaged foods to control sugar intake. Topics include unethical practices in baby food, the ban on certain food products in India, implications of sugar in Nestle products, challenges in enforcing laws on health foods, and the necessity of government regulation for health drinks and baby food.

At least nine people were killed when terrorists attacked a bus filled with pilgrims in Jammu's Raesi district. Shakir Mir - who writes on Jammu and Kashmir - explains the spike in terror attacks in Jammu and what security officials are saying about what they might indicate.