In Focus by The Hindu

Justice Abhay S. Oka, former Supreme Court judge and legal expert, gives a measured take on the NCERT Class 8 textbook controversy. He weighs whether the book fairly portrays judicial flaws. He discusses judicial delays, accountability mechanisms, the court’s suo motu actions, contempt and seizure orders, and the limits of restraint when responding to criticism.

Sanjeev Satgainya, a Nepal-based journalist who covers elections and protests, breaks down a possible political sea change. He discusses the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s surge, Balendra Shah’s outsider appeal, the role of Gen Z-led protests, why established parties faltered, and the challenges ahead for stability, governance and foreign ties. Short, sharp takes on a shifting Nepali political landscape.

Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev, a retired Indian Foreign Service officer with 35 years' diplomatic experience and expertise in energy and West Asian geopolitics, breaks down why the Strait of Hormuz is the world’s key oil chokepoint. He outlines Iran’s control claims, possible U.S. naval escorts, non-closure disruption tactics, impacts on India’s imports and stockpiling limits.

Haris Beeran, advocate and Rajya Sabha MP with legal and parliamentary experience, and Shahrukh Alam, Supreme Court advocate and free-speech specialist, discuss changes in how the Supreme Court handles hate speech. They talk about legal ambiguity, enforcement gaps, policing bias, differing bench approaches, the need (or not) for new laws, and social measures to counter communal rhetoric.

Dr. Arun Gupta, paediatrician and public health advocate who led Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest, explores links between ultra-processed foods and mental health. He discusses research connecting UPFs to worsening young people’s mental wellbeing. He explains possible biological mechanisms, rising UPF consumption in India, and evolving policy moves like front-of-pack warnings and taxation.

Ziya Us Salam, senior journalist at The Hindu's Delhi bureau, provides concise analysis on Iran and its supreme leader. He outlines Khamenei's rise, the assassination's social impact, regional proxy strategies, and how the killing might reshape domestic unity and international responses. Multiple short takes on politics, religion and geopolitics.

Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor at The Hindu, offers sharp analysis of West Asia geopolitics. He maps how strikes have widened into a regional war. He examines legality and failed diplomacy. He breaks down Iran’s new sustained tactics, regional risks for Gulf states, and why major powers are holding back.

Sankhadip Das, proprietor-editor of the Bengali portal The Wall.in and former political correspondent, breaks down the high-stakes West Bengal contest. He walks through the polarized TMC-BJP fight. He discusses anti-incumbency, BJP’s Hindu consolidation strategy, the SIR voter-list tensions, regional identity politics, and shifting support among Muslim, Congress and Left voters.

Alaganambi Welkin, union leader for IT/ITES workers, speaks on layoffs, protections and reskilling. Kishan Sundar, CTO-focused tech leader, covers enterprise AI adoption and productivity shifts. They debate which entry-level roles are vulnerable, whether AI is substitution or augmentation, India’s role as consumer versus creator of models, and the need for just transitions and corporate reskilling.

Deepak Joshi, Supreme Court advocate specializing in constitutional law and free speech, discusses the Netflix film PIL and Justice Bhuyan’s separate opinion. He unpacks fraternity in the Constitution, tests for vilification versus satire, the reasonable-person standard, and how legal processes can chill artistic expression. The conversation focuses on whether jurisprudence can balance hate-speech control and robust free expression.