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...

First, with the Congress manifesto promising "to enact a law on bail that will incorporate the principle that 'bail is the rule, jail is the exception' in all criminal laws," Indian Express’ Apurva Vishwanath talks about how some of the most stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) were actually introduced during the previous UPA government. Next, Indian Express’ Anjali Marar tells us what makes a total solar eclipse so special and how this phenomenon aids...

The headlines this evening from the Indian Express.

First, we talk to Indian Express’ Sujit Bisoyi about the 5000 Indians who are stuck in Cambodia and are being trapped against their will, while being forced to scam people back home. Second, Indian Express' Sweety Kumari joins us to talk about the investigation of the 2022 blast that happened at TMC booth president Rajkumar Manna's residence causing his death along with two more TMC leaders. The NIA was attacked while they were arresting the alleged key conspirators of the case....

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Niharika Nanda. It’s the 8th of April and here are the top stories of the day. Senior Congress leaders raised several complaints today before the Election Commission, including one against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remark that the party’s manifesto reflects the ideology of the Muslim League and that every page reeks of an agenda to break India into pieces. A delegation consisting of former Union Minister Salman...

First, we talk to Indian Express’ National Education Editor Ritika Chopra about the revisions made in the NCERT textbooks. And as part of its fourth round of revisions, NCERT has made changes to the textbooks of three subjects - history, sociology and political science. Second, Indian Express' Sukrita Baruah joins us to talk about the call for boycott of Lok Sabha elections that has been made by The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation or ENPO, which represents the tribal population of six...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 5th of April and here are the top stories of the week. A Delhi court on Monday sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till 15th of April in the excise policy case. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate, sought the Aam Aadmi Party chief’s judicial custody for 15 days stating that Kejriwal had not been cooperative and had not shared his passwords with...

First, we talk to Indian Express’ Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about the Katchatheevu island, which has gained spotlight lately with BJP's claim that the Congress gave away an important part of the country to Sri Lanka back in the 1970s. Second, 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...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 4th of April and here are today's headlines. Some of the significant changes introduced by the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) in the history chapter meant for Class 12 students on the origins and fall of the Harappan civilisation. Example: Assertion that recent studies of ancient DNA were obtained from archaeological sources at Rakhigarhi, an Indus Valley site in Haryana,...

First, in light of the recently concluded Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels, Indian Express’ Amitabh Sinha discusses the arguments for and against utilizing this technology. Next, Indian Express’ Pavneet Singh Chadha and Kanchan Vasdev tell us about the Enforcement Directorate's raids on the Aam Aadmi Party leaders in Goa and Punjab (12:08). And finally, we provide an update on the warning issued by India’s cybersecurity agency, CERT-In (19:24). Hosted by Shashank Bhargava Written and...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 3rd of April and here are today's headlines. In an exclusive investigation report, The Indian Express has found that since 2014, as many as 25 prominent politicians facing action from Central agencies for alleged corruption have crossed over to the BJP. These politicians cut across party lines: 10 are from the Congress; four each from NCP and Shiv Sena; three from TMC; two from TDP; and one each from SP...

First, we talk to Indian Express' Jay Mazoomdaar about the Great Indian Bustard, a species of birds which is heading towards extinction with fewer than just 150 left.  Second, Indian Express' Deeptiman Tiwary joins us to talk about the CBI filing a closure on a case involving Praful Patel, eight months after he joined the NDA. (11:00) Lastly, we give you an update on the Enforcement Directorate’s crack down on AAP leaders as Sanjay Singh gets a bail. (18:34) Hosted by Niharika...

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. It’s the 2nd of April and here are today's headlines. The Supreme Court today granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh in a money laundering case relating to excise policy irregularities. The Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet against Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP, who was then arrested on 4th of October, following 10 hours of searches at his North Avenue home, in the matter. The Congress party has...