The exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia reflects the weaknesses in the Congress Party. It also shows the BJP’s ability to attract political players. To understand the significance of this moment, political scientist Gilles Verniers joins this edition of The Big Picture.

The Big Picture

18: What does Jyotiraditya Scindia’s exit from Congress reflect

Domestic decisions taken by the current government have led to a degree of international concern. Retd. diplomat Deb Mukharji examines the fallout of the internal dynamics on diplomacy and evaluates the responses in Bangladesh, the Islamic world and western democracies.

17: From Article 370 to CAA: The diplomatic fallout

On January 26, India marked the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. The text represents the audaciousness of the drafters - for they dared to dream of a democracy with universal adult franchise and fundamental rights for citizens in a society which was deeply divided on identity lines and was marked by poverty and illiteracy. What drove them? How has the Constitution fared since? To discuss this, Madhav Khosla - who teaches at Columbia and Ashoka Universities and is the author of a remarkable new book, India’s Founding Moment: The Constitution of a Most Surprising Democracy - joins this edition of The Big Picture.

16: The Constitution at 70

Eight months since Narendra Modi took over for the second time, India is at the crossroads. The government has used its legislative majority to push legislations integral to its core ideological beliefs. But this has also prompted opposition from a section of citizens. The economy remains in a difficult spot, with low growth and high inflation. And India has had to face difficult questions internationally. To discuss domestic politics, economy, and foreign policy, Milan Vaishnav - political scientist and director of the South Asia program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC - joins this edition of The Big Picture.

15: India under Modi 2.0

JNU has witnessed a student agitation for over two months. On January 5, masked miscreants entered the university campus and assaulted both students and teachers. Ever since then, both JNU students and campuses across the country have intensified protests. Many have sought the resignation or dismissal of the vice-chancellor. To discuss the events in JNU, University professor Atul Sood joins this edition of The Big Picture.

14: The unrest in JNU

The passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act has provoked the fiercest reaction in the Northeast. To understand the roots of resentment in the region, one of the foremost experts of the region, Sanjoy Hazarika joins this edition of The Big Picture.

13: Why is the Northeast angry

This year has witnessed BJP’s greatest political triump in the form of its second consecutive Lok Sabha majority. But in recent weeks, the less than expected performance in Haryana, the failure to form the government in Maharashtra and the coming together of an alliance to keep it out, the loss in by poll elections in West Bengal, and a set of tough elections coming up in Jharkhand and Delhi have raised questions about its dominance. To discuss the current moment in Indian politics, political scientist Neelanjan Sircar joins this edition of The Big Picture.

12: The BJP’s dominance - asset or liability?

The Right to Information Act has been in place for almost 15 years. A landmark legislation, it opened the doors for transparency in government. But it has also gone through an amendment, which has sparked concerns. Is the Act being diluted? What are the implications of the office of the Chief Justice coming under the ambit of the RTI? In this edition of The Big Picture, former Central Information commissioner, Yashovardhan Azad, discusses these issues.

11: Decoding the RTI Journey

The Supreme Court delivered a set of significant judgments last week. From enabling the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to referring Sabarimala and issues related to gender equality in other faiths to a seven-judge bench to bringing the office of the Chief Justice under the Right to Information Act, the orders will have huge implications. This was also the last week of CJI Ranjan Gogoi’s term, a term marked by its share of controversies. To discuss the judgments and Mr. Gogoi’s legacy, advocate and legal scholar Rishad Chowdhury joins this edition of The Big Picture.

10: From Ayodhya to Sabarimala, Ranjan Gogoi’s last week

South Asia was seen as India’s exclusive preserve. Over the past decade, Chinese political and economic engagement has exponentially grown in the region. Where does this leave India? Should it be concerned? How is it responding? To discuss these themes, Brookings India foreign policy fellow, Constantino Xavier joins this edition of The Big Picture.

9: Is India losing to China in the neighbourhood?

Climate change is real. Its effects are showing. India has witnessed droughts, floods, low yields, high temperature, erratic rains. But are we responsible for it? Or are we victims, paying the price for the development trajectory of other rich countries? Is it fair to ask India to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, which may come at the cost of development? Or is there a way to bridge the development and environment binary? How has India’s international stance evolved? To discuss a range of these issues, Navroz Dubash, editor of the most comprehensive book on climate change and India, joins this edition of The Big Picture.

8: Climate change and India

In the first set of state assembly polls after BJP’s victory in the Lok sabha elections, Haryana and Maharashtra go to polls on October 21. What is the significance of the polls? Will the BJP win again? What explains its dominance? How has it expanded its base? What is the crisis in the Congress? To discuss the big political themes of the election, Rahul Verma of the Centre for Policy Research joins this edition of The Big Picture

7: What do the Maharashtra and Haryana elections have in store?

The People’s Republic of China marked its 70th anniversary on October 1. The story of China’s transformation has been remarkable. But it has also come at a cost, and generated challenges.  The People’s Republic of China marked its 70th anniversary on October 1. The story of China’s transformation has been remarkable. But it has also come at a cost, and generated challenges. To discuss the evolution of China, the role of its major leaders, its democracy deficit, its relations with the US and India, and its crackdown in Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang, Alka Acharya - professor of Chinese studies in JNU - joins this edition of The Big Picture.

6: China’s dealings with US, India, and its Hong Kong challenge

India’s GDP growth slowed to 5% in the first quarter of the fiscal year. There are reports of a dip in consumption across sectors. The government has taken corrective measures in recent weeks, including the radical step of slashing corporate taxes. To understand the roots of the crisis, the impact of the government’s moves, and also the state of Indian agriculture, manufacturing and get a sense of the employment situation, economist and former member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, Shamika Ravi, joins this edition of The Big Picture.

5: What explains the Indian economic slowdown, and what lies ahead

The process to update the National Register of Citizens reached a conclusion in Assam on August 31, with the final list being declared. 1.9 million residents of Assam were excluded from the list. The NRC process has been politically contentious, and has had human costs. It has also raised questions about the idea of Indian citizenship, politics of religion, judicial intervention and bureaucratic capacity. To discuss these issues, Yamini Aiyar joins the Big Picture this week.

4: National Register of Citizens: What it means for India I

The podcast where the big events of the week are discussed and Editor-Views, Prashant Jha, along with an expert, try to go beyond the news to understand the processes that are driving it. This is a Hindustan Times production, brought to you by HT smartcast.

hubhopper

The Big Picture

hubhopper