3 Things

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Alok Deshpande about the 11-day protest by Maharashtra government-job aspirants, the allegations of examination irregularities that triggered it, and how political intervention led to an inquiry and the MPSC chairman going on leave.Next, we speak to The Indian Express’ Ritu Sharma about Garba’s evolution from a traditional Gujarati folk dance into a multi-crore cultural enterprise, and the role played by Bollywood, social media, migration and government promotion. (13:50)And in the end, we look at the stampede at Kolkata’s Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal that killed 19 people, the combination of rain, overcrowding and confusing announcements that may have triggered it, and the questions raised over crowd management and safety. (31:50)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Adrija Roy Chowdhury about Durga Puja’s cultural, economic and political significance in Bengal, and whether the BJP’s rise to power is beginning to alter the character of the state’s biggest festival.Next, we speak to The Indian Express’ Brendan Dabhi about 158 refugees from Pakistan who have received Indian citizenship in Gujarat, the discrimination and uncertainty they endured after crossing the border, and what citizenship changes for their families. (17:10)And in the end, we look at actor Imran Khan’s order to leave India after authorities alleged that he violated the Foreigners Act by participating in a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. (29:10)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Sukalp Sharma about the United States' decision to buy diesel from Russia. This comes after the US repeatedly targeted India over its hefty purchases of Russian oil. He talks about why this is happening and what it means for India.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Pratip Acharya about the gymkhana culture in Mumbai and the land they use. He discusses the state government’s plan to change its gymkhana policy and charge them market-rate rent for these spaces. (10:15)Lastly, we discuss the concerns raised by five states—Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura, regarding the Centre’s flagship urban livelihood mission. (18:54)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Asad Rehman about how protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation developed into a wider confrontation between the Opposition and the BJP-led government, and why the campaign is now moving from the streets to the Supreme Court.Next, we speak to The Indian Express’ Brendan Dabhi about three cousins from Gujarat who were kidnapped in Ethiopia while allegedly attempting to reach the United States through the illegal “dunki” route, and how Gujarat Police helped secure their release. (14:35)And in the end, we look at Nandan Nilekani’s proposed solution to examination paper leaks: building a vast digital question bank and generating final papers shortly before examinations begin, leaving little time for them to be stolen or circulated. (25:10)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawa

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Soumyarendra Barik about the US government suspending several major IT companies from the Permanent Labor Certification Program, which allows skilled foreign workers to gain permanent residency, and the impact this suspension will have on Indians working in the IT sector. Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about the rising cost of healthcare in India and how hospitalisation costs in private hospitals are incredibly high. She discusses the huge gap between government and private hospital prices and the concerns raised by healthcare activists and experts. (19:18)Lastly, we talk about the Delhi Police announcing that Jantar Mantar is no longer a designated protest site as the INDIA bloc, Cockroach Janta Party and the All India Students’ Association fight to hold protests there. (30:31)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarLink to the episode with the segment with The Indian Express' Amaal Sheikh on inflated prices of life-saving drugs:https://indianexpress.com/audio/3-things/drought-in-maharashtra-high-drug-pricing-and-no-burqa-for-nurses/10906719/

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Pragynesh about the sweeping police crackdown on protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, the detention of more than 7,000 people, and the Supreme Court’s intervention over restrictions on movement and peaceful assembly.Next, we speak to The Indian Express’ Nikhil Ghanekar about the first release of captive-bred Great Indian Bustards into the wild, the factors that pushed the species towards extinction, and the challenges involved in rebuilding its population. (21:10)And in the end, we look at a fatal crash near Kochi airport that killed three young people and raised serious questions about drunk driving, underage access to alcohol and repeated speeding violations. (33:15)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Alok Singh about how protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation spread across central Delhi, the challenges of policing multiple groups and the allegations surrounding the police response.Next, we speak to The Indian Express’ Pratip Acharya about a CAG audit that found major failures in Maharashtra’s implementation of the Green India Mission, including poor fund utilisation, missed plantation targets and extremely low sapling-survival rates. (15:50)And in the end, we look at the GST Council’s decision to remove the arrest powers of tax officers, raise the prosecution threshold from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore, and ease other penalties amid concerns about aggressive enforcement. (23:55)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Sadaf Modak about the toll the drought in Maharashtra is taking on the women of the state. She talks about how women have to carry pots filled with water to their homes when borewells and household taps run dry. She also shares how this arduous task is just one part of their already hectic and physically demanding day and what activists are demanding regarding this.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about Swiss President Guy Parmelin's three day visit to India and the bilateral talks held between the two countries. The visit also came as India and the four member European Free Trade Association marked one year of their Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, which includes Switzerland. (15:19)Lastly, we talk about a police crackdown on alleged illicit liquor trade in Bihar, which resulted in two deaths. (21:51)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In this episode of 3 Things Deep Dive, we take a look at the alleged corruption inside the Karnataka Public Service Commission, where paper leaks, manipulated recruitment processes and bribes have raised questions about how government jobs are awarded. An Indian Express investigation found that these were not isolated incidents, but part of a larger pattern during the tenure of KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar. We speak to journalist Jay Mazoomdar, who led the investigation, about how the racket worked, who benefited from it, and what happened to those who tried to speak out.Hosted and Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarYou can watch the video episode here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9ch4Jhzfgc&t=1s

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Ishika Gupta about protests in Delhi and Mumbai against the Election Commission and the irregularities that surfaced during the Special Intensive Revision. She discusses the Mumbai protests, how the city became the base for the Cockroach Janata Party and how the situation differs between Delhi and Mumbai. Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about lung cancer and its growing burden. She shares how lung cancer is becoming the leading cause of cancer deaths in the country, and yet we have limited screening for it. She discusses the symptoms, the people who are more prone to it, the screening process, and why screening is limited in India. (09:14)Lastly, we talk about the Kainchi Dham, an ashram in Uttarakhand closely associated with the Hindu saint Neem Karoli Baba, and the sharp increase in visitors it has seen since the release of Hanuman Ansh. (22:03)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Alok Deshpande about the drought situation in Maharashtra. Last week Maharashtra declared drought in 265 of its 358 tehsils, after prolonged rainfall deficits and dry spells damaged crops across large parts of the state. Alok shares the seriousness of the situation, what this means for the farmers and what can be expected in the upcoming days.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Amaal Sheikh about the high cost of life-saving medicines, and why access to essential healthcare remains a major challenge. She discusses the process for pricing medicines, why certain essential medicines are expensive and the Supreme Court's stance on this matter. (14:51)Lastly, we talk about a protest by nursing interns over alleged restrictions on wearing burqas inside the labour room at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda. (24:20)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, Iccha Sharma, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Vidheesha Kuntamalla about Uttarakhand’s proposed Agniveer Cell, how it plans to help the first returning batches find civilian employment, and the challenges involved in matching their skills and aspirations with available opportunities.Next, we speak to The Indian Express’ Brendan Dabhi about Sahil Majothi, a young man from Gujarat who travelled to Russia as a student, joined its armed forces and later surrendered in Ukraine, where he remains in a prisoner-of-war facility as his family seeks his return. (11:50)And in the end, we look at the case of Ranchi-based nurse Monica Kachhap, who says she was promised a nursing job in Dubai but became trapped in an exploitative work arrangement and an alleged debt of more than ₹3 lakh. (23:55)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Raakhi Jagga about the protests that took place at Punjab's Chitkara University and Lovely Professional University. She discusses the reasons behind the protests, the resulting violence, and how social media posts triggered both incidents.Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about the Research Development and Innovation Fund, the government's initiative to provide funds to companies engaged in research in sectors such as space, robotics and artificial intelligence. He shares how the process worked and why the invitation for funding will now close. (13:57)Lastly, we discuss an incident where an Indian pilot was credited with saving all the passengers on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that signalled an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. (28:15)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced by Shashank Bhargava, and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar