3 Things

Arun Janardhanan, Tamil Nadu political reporter, outlines a fracturing five-way contest, alliance tactics and how new players could reshape votes. Shubhajit Roy, diplomatic affairs editor, explains Pakistan’s emerging mediation between the US and Iran and what it signals for regional diplomacy. They also note a rare conservation win: a Great Indian Bustard chick hatched in Gujarat after a risky transfer.

The headlines of the week by The Indian Express

Dr. Kalyan Bhaskar, XLRI associate professor focused on circular economy and e-waste, and Dr. Tata L. Raghuram, XLRI professor and wildlife board member with expertise in biodiversity, discuss aligning India’s fast growth with sustainability. They talk about linking development to environmental and social wellbeing. They explore biodiversity, ecosystem services, business incentives, education, and policy challenges.

Vikas Pathak, political and constitutional reporter who breaks down the Women's Reservation Act and delimitation hurdles. Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata bureau chief with on-ground West Bengal election analysis. They discuss Bengal’s campaign strategies, BJP’s organisational limits and outsider tag, plans to implement women’s reservation by altering seat rules, and a US verdict on social media design and harm.

Breaking news from Abu Dhabi about missile debris causing civilian deaths and UAE air defences intercepting incoming threats. A violent penthouse dispute in Indore leads to a fatal run-over and arrests. Legal drama unfolds over a PNB officer’s dismissal and an IPS suspension amid harassment allegations. Updates on escalating West Asia tensions and reported targeted strikes.

Aditi Raja, crime reporter for The Indian Express who exposed bootlegging networks on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway. She breaks down how expressway smuggling works and the concealment methods used. She maps the syndicates, sources of illicit liquor and how police rely on tips to intercept shipments. She also outlines how seized liquor is processed and destroyed.

Coverage of voter roll controversies in West Bengal and the flagging of over 60 lakh electors. Discussion of communal polarisation linked to CAA, NRC and electoral revisions. Reports on legal and Election Commission actions and unanswered questions. Brief rundowns of West Asia tensions, a US proposal to Iran, regional attacks and oil market effects.

Kanchan Vasdev, regional and water-resources reporter explaining Punjab's legal claim over Sutlej allocations. Drishti Jain, urban reporter on how LPG shortages hit Delhi's informal settlements and coping tactics. Zeeshan Shaikh, Mumbai reporting head on impacts to households and eateries. They discuss the LPG supply pinch and coping, Punjab‑Rajasthan water dispute history and claims, and faster online content takedown rules.

Discussion of a proposal to shorten social media takedown timelines to one hour. Coverage of a Supreme Court ruling on Scheduled Caste status after religious conversion. Reports on alleged misuse of Section 69 in criminal cases involving consensual relationships. Outline of a 100-day AI-driven TB screening push using handheld X-rays. Updates on West Asia diplomacy and Indian LPG ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz.

Shubhajit Roy, diplomatic affairs editor who decodes Middle East geopolitics, discusses widening Iran–US–Israel clashes and key escalation flashpoints. Udit Misra, economics reporter who explains GDP mechanics, breaks down measurement, base-year revisions, and spending versus production discrepancies. They also cover proposals to expand Lok Sabha seats to enable a one-third women's quota.