First, Indian Express’ Manoj CG and Kamal Saiyed inform us about how the BJP candidate from the Surat Lok Sabha constituency won unopposed, and the allegations made by the Congress and the BSP. Next, Indian Express’ Ritika Chopra discusses the Election Commission's unprecedented move of issuing notices to both the Congress and the BJP, rather than their candidates or star campaigners (04:50). And in the end, in response to Prime Minister Modi mentioning it in a recent speech, Indian...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 25th of April and here are today's headlines. In the second phase of voting for the Lok Sabha elections tomorrow, 89 seats across 12 states and UTs will go to polls. By the end of the day, a third of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats — including all the seats in Kerala, Rajasthan, Manipur and Tripura, and 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka — will have completed polling. In Outer Manipur, 13 Assembly segments are...

First, Indian Express’ Apurva Vishwanath joins us to talk about the petition that was filed by the Indian Medical Association against Patanjali, claiming that their advertisements violated the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act. Next, Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt talks to us about Blue Origin, a private space company owned by Jeff Bezos, giving people a chance to experience space travel. (9:00) And finally, we talk about Sam Pitroda's comments on the US's inheritance...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 24th of April and here are today's headlines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of stabbing Babasaheb Ambedkar in the back by promising to give reservations based on religion. Speaking at a rally in Madhya Pradesh, he said our Constitution bars reservation on the basis of religion, but the Congress promised it in their poll manifesto. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that PM Modi...

First, Indian Express’ Manoj CG and Liz Mathew discuss Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments on the Congress party and the Muslim community. Manoj CG fact-checks the claims made by the Prime Minister, while Liz explains the significance of the regions where the comments were made and why they raise concern. Next, Indian Express’ Mihir Vasavda details the challenges that wrestler Vinesh Phogat faced while trying to qualify for the Paris Olympics. (18:12) And finally, we give a quick update...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 23rd of April and here are today's headlines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh, hit out at the Congress party again for “appeasement” and “vote bank” politics. He termed the opposition as a party that “divides the country on the  basis of religion.” He said the party skipped Ayodhya's Ram Mandir consecration ceremony because “they think they are bigger than Lord Ram”. Amidst...

First, Indian Express’ Sukrita Baruah informs us about the ongoing tensions in Manipur and recounts the events of the state's first day of polling. Next, Indian Express’ Amit Kamath discusses the achievement of 17-year-old Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh, who has become the youngest ever to win the prestigious candidate tournament. This tournament is held to determine who will challenge the reigning World Chess Champion (12:10). And in the end, discuss the Election Commission’s notice issued...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 22nd of April and here are today's headlines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh today, said the lives of Muslim women have been secured with “Modi making a law against triple talaq”. Talking about the increase in Haj quota, he also mentioned that he requested the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to increase the Haj quota for the “Muslim brothers and sisters”. The PM...

First, Indian Express’ Adrija Roychowdury tells us about India's first ever elections that happened over 72 years back. She also talks about how western media and publications described India's first experiment of democracy.   Next, Indian Express’ Jayprakash S. Naidu explains what happened in Bastar last week when 29 alleged Maoists were killed in an encounter by the security forces and how the timing of this encounter is of key importance. (14:30)   And finally, we discuss the Maldives'...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 19th of April and here are the top stories of the week. The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections are underway with voters in 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states casting their ballot to elect the new government. The 18th Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases, between April 19th 19 and 4th June, involving close to 97 crore voters. The results will be declared on the 4th of June,...

What are the biggest narratives dominating these polls? What is at stake for the BJP and the opposition parties? And how do these polls differ from the ones we witnessed in 2019? To answer these questions and more, veteran journalist and contributing editor for The Indian Express, Neerja Chowdhury, joins us. Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 18th of April and here are today's headlines. The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections will kickstart tomorrow with voters in 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states slated to cast their ballot to elect the new government. The 18th Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases, between April 19th 19 and 4th June, involving close to 97 crore voters. The results will be declared on the 4th of...

First, Indian Express’ Deputy Editor Liz Mathew tells us on why the BJP is concerned about achieving the goal of winning 400 seats, what it plans to do in its third term, and what concerns voters have right now. Next, Indian Express’ Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy explains what has caused the latest tensions between Iran and Israel, and why India is concerned about it. (13:24) And finally, we discuss the unprecedented rainfall witnessed in the UAE, and what might have caused it....

The headlines this evening from The Indian Express.

How much has the BJP veered away from the Vajpayee style of governing? Could you really have called Vajpayee a moderate and LK Advani, a hardliner? And what can be learned from the sense of unity in the BJP? In this episode, Sandip talks to political scientist Dr Vinay Sitapati about his latest book, Jugalbandi: The BJP before Modi, in which he deals with these questions, and writes about the movement which led to Vajpayee and Advani coming to power. Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar.

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 16th of April and here are today's headlines. Stating that the court will not let them “off the hook” at this stage, the Supreme Court today gave one week’s time to Yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna to tender a public apology in a case against the company for publishing “misleading adverstisements”, claiming cure for some diseases and criticising the allopathy...

First, we talk to Indian Express’ Mohamed Thaver, about why the Anti Corruption Bureaus have been left toothless after the amendments made to the Prevention of Corruption Act. Second, Indian Express' Divya A joins us to talk about the Lalit Kala Akademi and why the Ministry of Culture has curtailed the powers of the Akademi's Chairman, V Nagdas. (11:51) Lastly, we discuss the details of the issues PM Modi addressed in his recent interview. (21:40) Hosted by Niharika Nanda Written and...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 15th of April and here are today's headlines. A Delhi Court today extended Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial custody till 23rd of April in connection with the excise policy case. The Enforcement Directorate had sought a 14-day extension of the Delhi CM’s custody. He will now be produced in court with co-accused K Kavitha on the next date. In more news, the Supreme Court today sought the ED’s...

With four days remaining until the Lok Sabha polls begin, we are joined by The Indian Express’ Chief of National Political Bureau Manoj CG to discuss the Congress party’s preparations for the polls, the challenges it faces, and the reasons behind its delay in announcing a candidate from Amethi. Hosted, written and produced by Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 12th of April and here are the top stories of the week. The Delhi High Court dismissed a plea by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy scam on Tuesday. Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud the next day said he will look “immediately” into the request to take up Kejriwal’s plea challenging his ED...

First, Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt discusses the new line of diabetes and weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy that have taken the world by storm. She explains how these drugs work, the extent to which they actually reduce weight, and their potential side effects. Next, Indian Express’ Damini Nath informs us about the concerns raised regarding VVPATs and how the Election Commission responded to them (11:15). Lastly, Indian Express’ Apurva Vishwanath tells us about BRS MLA K Kavitha,...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 11th of April and here are today's headlines. The Central Bureau of Investigation today arrested Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, who is accused of allegedly paying Rs 100 crore to Aam Aadmi Party leaders in return for liquor licences in the Capital. She is currently under the Enforcement Directorate’s custody at Tihar jail over the matter. This comes days after a Delhi court had given permission to...

First, we talk to Indian Express’ Vikas Pathak about the BJP's plan to invite foreign political parties from across the globe to witness the scale of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and to understand the party’s campaign strategies. Second, Indian Express' Amrita Nayak Dutta joins us to talk about the infrastructural upgrades that are happening in the Andaman and Nicobar islands to make them a military base. (12:56) Lastly, we talk about another setback that the Aam Aadmi Party faced - the...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 10th of April and here are today's headlines. The Calcutta High Court today ordered a court-monitored CBI probe into the sexual assault and land grabbing allegations made by villagers of West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders. The CBI was already probing the January 5 attack by supporters of TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, who had gone...