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In Focus by The Hindu

In Focus by The Hindu

By: The Hindu
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 A podcast from The Hindu that delves deep into current developments with subject experts, and brings in context, history, perspective and analysis.The Hindu Politics & Government
Episodes
  • VB-GRAMG Bill: Will it destroy the world’s most successful workfare program?

    VB-GRAMG Bill: Will it destroy the world’s most successful workfare program?
    Dec 24 2025
    The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAMG) Bill, 2025 has received the President’s assent. This Bill replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which stands repealed. The move has sparked an outcry, from the Opposition and civil society. Critics say this new law will destroy the very substance of the erstwhile MGNREGA – which is to provide work on demand. That is how MGNREGA had served as a lifeline for India’s poor and marginalised people. But that is going to change. So, what are the ways in which the G-RAM-G Bill is different from MGNREGA? How will it impact the beneficiaries of MGNREGA? How does it impact federalism? Guest: Rajendran Narayanan, Associate Professor in the School of Arts and Sciences at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. Host: G. Sampath Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • Explained: Why is India’s NHRC accreditation being downgraded from ‘A’ to ‘B’

    Explained: Why is India’s NHRC accreditation being downgraded from ‘A’ to ‘B’
    Dec 22 2025
    India’s top human rights body, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), is going to have its accreditation status downgraded -- from ‘A’ to ‘B’. The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) is the international body that mediates the relationship between national human rights institutions and the United Nations (UN). In March this year, GANHRI’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation recommended that India’s accreditation status be downgraded to ‘B’. India appealed this move to the GANHRI bureau. Earlier this month, the appeal was turned down. This means that from April 2026, India’s NHRC will no longer enjoy the ‘A’ category accreditation that it has enjoyed till now – a major embarrassment for the institution, and also for India. What were the reasons for this downgrading? Why was our appeal turned down? What can India do to get the ‘A’ accreditation back? Guest: Henri Tiphagne, Working Secretary with the All India Network of Individuals and Organisations working with National and State Human Rights Institutions (AINNI). Host: G. Sampath Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • In Focus-Weekend | ‘Sick Nation’: Are you eating your way into metabolic dysfunction?

    In Focus-Weekend | ‘Sick Nation’: Are you eating your way into metabolic dysfunction?
    Dec 21 2025
    Everyone knows someone with diabetes or heart disease or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It’s impossible to find somebody who doesn’t have at least one victim of these diseases in their family or friends circle. That’s how widespread they’ve become. All these disorders share one thing in common – all are ‘lifestyle diseases’ linked to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction. For the longest time, India’s biggest public health challenge was controlling infectious diseases. But now we have an epidemic of lifestyle diseases, causing millions of premature deaths. A new book ‘Sick Nation’, drills down to the root causes of this epidemic. What are the factors driving it? Why do people ignore the signs until it is too late? And what can you, as an individual, do to protect yourself from this growing epidemic of metabolic dysfunction? Guest: Karan Sarin, metabolic health coach, and author of ‘Sick Nation: Inside India’s Lifestyle Disease Epidemic and How to Fix it’. Host: G Sampath Recorded, produced, and edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 mins
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