In a year of elections across the globe, none will be bigger in scale than that in India, where nearly 1 billion people are eligible to vote. “In the seven decades since India got its independence, democracy has been its identity,” Surbhi Gupta tells Kwangu Liwewe on the first episode of Global Insights on The Lede.  Gupta and Liwewe discuss the various key issues in the upcoming elections, such as the rise of Hindu nationalism and controversies such as improper donations to major parties, as well as the arrest of key opposition figure Arvind Kejriwal. Further listening:India’s Political Hinduism — with Nilanjan MukhopadhyayThe War on India’s Free Press — with Manisha Pande and Samar Halarnkar Further reading:The Ambani Gala Expands the Limits of the Big Fat Indian Wedding Produced by Finbar Anderson For more information go to newlinesmag.com/podcast