In Focus by The Hindu

Pradhyum Reddy, coach, technical director and commentator now leading the Philippines U-17 women, previews a crisis-hit ISL season. He breaks down the condensed Feb–May format, logistical chaos and pay cuts. He weighs fewer foreigners, the collapse of the commercial model and which Indian players might seize unexpected chances.

Yamini Aiyar, policy expert on governance and fiscal federalism, and Louise Tillin, scholar of Indian politics and centre–state relations, debate whether aligned Centre and State rule matters for growth. They discuss fiscal centralization, politicized transfers, administrative delays, southern growth drivers, and the need for stronger federal institutions. The conversation focuses on how politics shapes funding and governance.

Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India and reproductive health expert. She unpacks the Supreme Court ruling on menstrual health as a right. Conversations cover school toilets and water access, stigma and purity norms, why boys need education on periods, period poverty at work, and waste, regulation and accountability for sustainable menstrual care.

Kallol Bhattacharjee, Senior reporter in Dhaka for The Hindu, gives on-the-ground analysis of Bangladesh’s 2026 vote. He describes packed BNP and Jamaat rallies and two competing election narratives. He explains the July National Charter referendum, its institutional implications, timing tensions, and rising communal fears facing minorities.

Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor at The Hindu, provides concise analysis of the Balochistan surge. He outlines the scale and coordination of recent attacks. He traces historical roots of the insurgency. He highlights the province’s mineral and strategic importance and explores claims of foreign backing. He discusses prospects for de-escalation and the political gaps that persist.

P. Sainath, veteran journalist and founder-editor of PARI, discusses Maharashtra's political turmoil after Ajit Pawar's death and the struggle between two NCP factions. He explores how Supreme Court battles, BJP gains, money and defections shape outcomes. He shifts focus to agrarian distress, trade policy impacts, AgriStack risks and growing farmer and worker unrest.

Alok Prasanna Kumar, a legal policy expert on constitutional design, and P.D.T. Achary, a former Lok Sabha Secretary General with deep parliamentary experience, debate governors' duties under Articles 163, 175 and 176. They discuss walkouts and edits to inaugural speeches, whether the address is a colonial relic, limits on gubernatorial discretion, impeachment safeguards, and institutional fixes to align incentives.

Prof. Arun Kumar, economist and former CESP, JNU professor, critiques the India‑US trade announcement. He argues the tariff changes are skewed against India. He questions the $500 billion import claim, flags risks to jobs and farmers from opening markets, and stresses the need for stronger domestic demand, wages, public investment and long‑term R&D strategy.

Professor Sukhadeo Thorat, former UGC chair and scholar of caste and education policy, discusses the 2026 campus equity regulations. He traces their history from 2012, details the campus harms they aim to address, and explains why the new rules provoked protests and a Supreme Court stay. He examines enforcement changes, committee representation, gaps in coverage, and the limits of legal reform against deep-rooted caste bias.

D Raghunandan, researcher and activist with the Delhi Science Forum and AIPSN, discusses the Greenland row and its diplomatic fallout. He explores how U.S. threats strain NATO trust. He outlines Europe's move toward greater self-reliance and the risks of trade retaliation. He looks at U.S. bargaining tactics and how unilateralism may speed global multipolar shifts.