We The People

In this week's 'We The People', we discuss how social media influencers are 'influencing' the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The election is being fought amid soaring temperatures on the ground and in the cool and comfort of social media, with political parties and personalities using the might of social media influencers to increase their influence in the upcoming election, be it culture, fashion, or fitness. Political parties are tapping into influencers to push their political message. So, while every brand is buying your attention at a price, why not our netas? But the big question is, 'Can the rules of a free-market economy apply when it comes to driving narratives in a democratic election?

The recent controversy around Vistara flight cancellations and delays has put the focus back on we the people at the mercy of the airlines. For how long will Indian airline carriers continue to take you for a 'ride'? And where does the buck stop?

Kate Middleton's recent cancer diagnosis has once again put the focus back on rising cancer in young adults. Data shows that not only is cancer on the rise, but is also rapidly rising in younger people. But cancer is not a data story, cancer is a human story. On We The People, we tell the cancer story not to alarm but with a hope to raise awareness.

Eight people were arrested in Delhi for the sale and manufacture of fake 'life-saving' cancer drugs. Two of them worked at a cancer hospital. Earlier this month, fake antibiotics racket was unearthed in Hyderabad. Essential medicines like diabetes, blood pressure and painkillers worth a crore of rupees were found to be fake in Ghaziabad. Chalk and starch were found in antibiotics in Uttarakhand. There has been a crackdown on fake medicines across four states in just the last month. On We The People, we decode the fake medicine epidemic and how worried should we really be?

The Supreme Court upheld the two-child policy in Rajasthan. India is now the most populous country in the world overtaking China but the fertility rate is on the decline and the population with or without these measures is expected to start declining by 2060. Is such a policy progressive or coercive?

Farmers are back on the road. The last week has seen yet another bitter standoff between the security forces and the farmers, who were tear-gassed, subjected to rubber bullets, and shut out of Delhi's fortified borders. On We The People, we decode what the farmers are demanding - whether it is viable and what the farmers' demand for an MSP or minimum support price means for you.

Uttarakhand is the first state to enact a Uniform Civil Code believed to be a template that many states will soon adopt. Several of the provisions have raised constitutional concerns of privacy and personal liberty. Enacted in the name of gender justice and rights for women, who does the UCC really benefit? Isn't the UCC intrusive for live-in? What about same-sex couples? And most importantly while the state wants to meddle with affairs of home and heart, what about rights of live-in couples? Is it all duty and no rights?

A day ahead of the Ram temple Pran Pratistha ceremony, preparations are in full swing and security has been tightened. On this special edition of We The People, we talk to the people who have travelled from various parts of the country to attend the Ram Temple inauguration. We bring you the enthusiasm and cheer around the big day.

Lakshadweep has made international headlines. First, it was the tourism promo by PM Modi and then the rather unwanted controversy with the Maldives. But the #ChaloLakshadweep social media splash has left out a rather important issue - the environmental challenges associated with the rampant development of the fragile islands. So, while #ChaloLakshadweep is the flavor of the season, can the pristine beaches and the coral reefs survive the onslaught? What will become of Lakshadweep if we all decide to go there? Do we need to look before we leap towards Lakshadweep?

As the government proposes a near-complete overhaul of the criminal justice system under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, some sections of the Road Safety Act have also seen a sea change. Following dramatic protests by truckers' associations, the government has now put the new amendments on hold. Amid the alarming deaths in road accidents, the big question is, "What is the highway to safer roads?" Let's decode.

The tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand, in which 41 workers have been trapped for the past 15 days, has made national and international headlines. Given the apparent threat to the ecosystem of the mountains, the question we face is whether all development works in Indian hill states are akin to a disaster.

The season of deadly smog is here and once again we are back to breathing poison. On We The People, we talk about surviving it.

Supreme Court's recent verdict on aborting a 26-week pregnancy has once again reignited the pro-choice vs pro-life debate. Watch We The People.

The Supreme Court this week fell short of legalising same-sex marriages, leaving the decision to the government. While the Chief Justice of India did champion queer unions, nothing changes in the lives of same-sex couples. After the Supreme Court's verdict, the fight for marriage equality has reached a pit stop. With their right to marry again a distant dream, watch members of the queer community discuss the road ahead.

Custody battles in India and abroad largely remain centered around the divorce, with a clear mother vs father narrative - but what about the children, who are often caught in the middle of an often harrowing legal and psychological war? On We The People, we speak to all stakeholders involved, and ask - is there a lack of institutional support for children?

The India-Canada diplomatic standoff has grabbed national and international headlines lately - but what is its larger impact on students - not just on the Indian students already enrolled in Canadian universities, but aspirants who wish to go there? On We The People, students and parents speak out on what they think of the diplomatic tension, and visa experts and counsellors weigh in on the way forward.

An alarming study says that cancer cases in those aged under 50 have risen by 80% in the last three decades - this coupled with a WHO study that cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, killing one in six globally - and another study by the ICMR that pegs cancer cases in India to rise to over 15 lakh by 2025. Tonight, on We The People, we bust the biggest myths behind the Big 'C' - and decode the cancer epidemic that has taken millions of lives across the world.

A worrying report published by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago puts South Asia at the epicentre of the global pollution mess - saying that Delhi is the most polluted city in the world and that Delhi residents lose almost 12 years of their lives due to air pollution. However, thankfully, this is reversible, says the report - and these years could be restored if nations make a sustained effort to reduce pollution. On this episode of We The People, then, we ask - what is the way out of this 'airpocalypse'?

There are new rules for schools. The Central government has launched a new curriculum framework for school students under the new education policy that came into play in 2020. All these changes are expected to come into force from next year. But What does it mean for the students? Will it increase the pressure or is it going to ease the burden of the students? We Discuss on We the People.

This week, the WHO flagged a contaminated Indian-made cough syrup in Iraq - the 5th such warning against medicine produced in India by the organization in 10 months. While the government cracked down on over 70 firms back in March, substandard drugs continue to be manufactured in India and sold across domestically and worldwide - prompting worry about the currently existing drug regulation norms in the country. Amid all this, Parliament passed the Jan Vishwas Bill earlier this month, which arguably hands a 'get out of jail free' card to pharma companies. On We The People, we ask - how urgent is the need for a unified drug regulation law in India?

Sexual harassment complaints at top publicly traded companies saw a 70% surge compared to the previous financial year, according to a report by Mint. The report comes days after the Supreme Court pointed out the 'disquieting' implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, saying that despite the law being around for a decade, women are still reluctant to report workplace harassment.

Without debate and amid chaos, the Lok Sabha on 26th July passed the Forest Conservation Amendment Bill, 2023. While environmentalists demand a rollback, citing disaster for the country's forest resources, the government disagrees. The bill seeks to amend the 1980 act - and crucially, if passed, will allow the construction of highways, hydel power projects and other such projects in geographically sensitive areas within 100 km of international borders or the Line of Control without a forest clearance. Tonight, on We The People, we debate the role this new bill will play in the age of climate change.

The horrific video that shows two naked women being paraded, groped and molested by a mob in the violence-hit Manipur has sent shock waves across the country, once again highlighting the plight of women caught in the crossfire of a deadly conflict. The incident prompts us to ask: Why is it that women continue to pay the highest price for conflict for centuries now?

As the ruling government continues its push to bring in a Uniform Civil Code, citing the imperative need for a common law across all religions to ensure 'gender justice', on We The People, we ask - will a codification of laws necessarily be able to solve a deeply rooted societal problem that has persisted for centuries?

Have you ever asked how many drinks are too many drinks? Well, recent studies suggest that binge drinking over the weekend may be worse for your health than moderate or light drinking over the week. But what is binge drinking? And how harmful is it exactly? On this episode of We The People, doctors, mental health professionals and liver transplant survivors weigh in.

After Tata Consultancy Services, one of India's top IT firms, stopped their work-from-home policy, it triggered a mass resignation from women in the organisation - ironically, the very same organisation that had over 35 per cent women in their workforce. This incident, though, begs a larger question - what changed for working women over the pandemic? And what should the new normal be for women in a post-pandemic world? Is empowering women with flexibility a luxury or a necessity?

While Cyclone Biparjoy has dominated headlines this week, it is not an isolated extreme weather event - rather, the sign of many more to come, say scientists. As more and more bizarre 'natural' disasters hit countries all over the world, we can no longer afford to 'other' the climate crisis staring us in the face. On We The People, we ask - what is the human cost of climate change?

700 Indian students are facing deportation from Canada because their offer letters for admission to Canadian universities in 2018-19 were found to be fake. But as the number of students going abroad, as well as the number of loans being taken to support foreign study are on the rise, how can one protect oneself from immigration fraud?

In a shocking crime in the national capital, a 16-year-old girl was stabbed 22 times on the middle of a busy street by her jilted lover as people watched on - but nobody helped. This is not the first time that bystanders have watched a crime unfold, but done nothing - and it seems only to be getting worse. On We The People, we ask what is this societal apathy? And why is India afflicted by a particularly terrible case of bystander syndrome?

The Karnataka elections were one of the major elections ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This election also stands out because of the dismal performance and participation of women. The BJP fielded only 12 women candidates and there were only 11 women candidates from Congress. Why are women missing in the landmark Karnataka elections?

The Supreme Court said this week that it can dissolve a marriage in certain circumstances, including on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown of relations, and do away with the mandatory six-month waiting period. What exactly does this new verdict change? We get a Reality Check.

Over 2,500 food delivery workers from Zomato-owned Blinkit have been on strike across India. The delivery agents are protesting after the company changed the basis on which they will get paid, and how much they will get paid. They don't have adequate rights and protections under Indian labour laws. Do we need a course correction? According to the Niti Aayog there are over 7.7 million gig workers in India but does anyone have their back?

Gangster Atiq Ahmed was shot dead along with his brother on live television on Saturday while police were escorting them for a medical check-up in Uttar Pradesh. There have been numerous instances of encounters in Maharashtra and Punjab. What does this say about us as a country and society? What does this mean for us as a society?  

India has 3,167 tigers, according to the latest census released today. Let's go behind the numbers with India's most credible conservationists.

A letter co-signed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and various other tech giants has demanded a six-month pause in artificial intelligence research - citing under-researched AI as a 'threat to humanity'. We The People sifts the fact from the fiction and asks - is artificial intelligence a way to elevate or destroy the world?  

A defamation, conviction and disqualification has taken the world of Indian politics by storm. But it also raises a key question on where does one draw the line between legalities and freedom of speech. Does criticism of the ones in power means censorship and sedition? On We The People, we take on the question: is criticism equal to defamation? And if so, where do we draw the line?

It's a parent's worst nightmare. Having your child taken away from you. Sending your child to school but he doesn't return and you find out that you've been deemed an unfit parent and can't see him again. Now imagine this happening to you while you are abroad. In a country where you don't speak the language or understand the systems and processes and as you try to fight the bureaucracy your child is getting older by the day, apart from you. That's the story of the Rani Mukherjee starrer 'Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway' that just released globally this Friday. Friday. The film focuses on the diplomatic row between India and Norway in 2011, sheds light on cases where Indian parents lose custody of their children over cultural differences in their upbringing. The movie also has parallels to the ongoing dispute involving a child in Germany.

India has scored significant gains in various development parameters including economic growth, women's education, and reducing fertility rates. Yet, women participation in the labor force remains amongst the lowest in the world. Studies suggest that unpaid domestic work of women amounts to 7.5% of the country's GDP. On We The People, we discuss whether it is time to start compensating women for unpaid care work.

On 'We The People', we take a look at the horrifying murder of Nikki Yadav in Delhi. Coming on the heels of the murder of Shraddha Walkar, such incidents raise key questions on society, violence against women in India and patriarchy.

A young domestic help was rescued from her employer's house in Gurugram - where she suffered horrific abuse over the last few months. The young girl,  from Jharkhand, was found with wounds all over her body. However, this is not the first such case of abuse on domestic workers. On We The People, we discuss what can be done to stop such case from happening again.

ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) has taken the world of artificial intelligence by storm. From helping users with their university assignments to writing a poem, ChatGPT by Microsoft-backed OpenAI can do it all. While some champions of artificial intelligence hail it as the next big thing, experts have raised fears that systems used by such apps could be misused for plagiarism, fraud, and spreading misinformation or even fake news. On We The People, we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of ChatGPT. Watch now.

2023 has started off on the right note for India's film industry. The past week has been a turning point for a beleaguered film industry. Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Pathaan' made history by becoming the highest-grossing movie in the world on day one. From 'Boycott' to 'Blackout' to 'Blockbuster' - has the audience spoken?

The silence of the women who are a part of the sports industry has finally broken. On January 18, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, two of India's most esteemed women wrestlers, have come forth with accusations of harassment against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

On November 26, on a New York to New Delhi Air India flight, a Mumbai-based passenger, under the influence of excessive alcohol   unzipped his pants and urinated on an elderly woman. What followed after -- the crew response and handling of the matter left much to be desired. What are the lessons to be learnt from this unseemly episode?

On Christmas eve, news broke that a 20-year-old Tunisha Sharma, with a promising acting career ahead of her allegedly died by suicide on the sets of her show 'Ali Baba: Dastaan-E-Kabul'. She was just 20 and left everyone in shock by taking the drastic step of ending her life. Hours after her death, her co-star and former boyfriend Sheezan Khan was arrested in an abetment to suicide case and and is being questioned to ascertain exactly what happened on the set of the show. Tunisha was reportedly depressed over the breakup with her boyfriend. The conversation in mainstream media and social media somehow never touched on mental health at all. Why? What are we so afraid of that we, as a society, refuse to take mental health awareness seriously?

The acid attack on a 17-year-old girl in Delhi, who is battling burn injuries in hospital, has put the focus back on the scourge of a corrosive, gendered violence and the plight of the survivors. In 2013, the Supreme Court banned over-the-counter sale of acid across India and acid attacks were criminalised. Yet, here we are today, clearly a stronger law does not always act as a deterrent?

Some BJP politicians are planning to introduce private members' population control bills in Parliament's Monsoon Session on the heels of BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Assam suggesting the need to impose population control measures. While India needs to put a check on its population growth, is this the solution? Are aggressive steps needed to control population required for India? And is this the solution? Do we need penal action or do we need better governance, education and more access to contraception?

The arrest of two men for stalking and sexually harassing a 24-year-old South Korean YouTuber in Mumbai is not an isolated incident. That they dared to do so in public is a telling commentary on the state of affairs in our cities. Is it the Indian man instead of its women who need moral policing?

The macabre murder of Shraddha Walkar has opened up a debate on partner violence - and the lack of conversation about it. We The People attempts to decode why women suffer domestic violence silently - and the role that society plays in helping women escape.

It is Day 7 of the probe into Shraddha Walkar's gruesome murder, with new details emerging, each grislier than the last. Yet, the discourse on mainstream media and in drawing room conversations remains largely toxic - choosing to focus on aspects like Shraddha's presence on dating apps, her decision to elope with her would-be killer Aftab and the live-in relationship she entered into with him. On We The People, we ask - is this toxic discourse straying from the topic at hand? Why is the victim, even in death, being vilifed?

On October 14, this year, 23-year-old Faizan Ahmed's body was found partly decayed in his hostel room. His family claims, their son died by suicide because he was ragged by his seniors. Despite laws, ragging continues to remain a persistent problem in educational institutions. On We The People we discuss, why and what's driving the young generation to continue this ragging ritual.

The central body that recommends actions to fight pollution in the national capital has removed some restrictions after air quality improved marginally. Entry of trucks into Delhi is now allowed, and the ban on non-BS 6 diesel vehicles has been removed. BS 6, short for Bharat Stage 6, mandates cleaner automotive fuels and engines. First Covid and now pollution, online education has somehow become the escape route for any form of crisis. While Delhi battles to breathe, children bear the brunt by missing out on schools. On We The People, we discuss the same. 

This week, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on wearing a hijab in school - while one said it would be the antithesis of secularism, the other felt asking a student to remove her hijab was an invasion of privacy. Amid all this, we ask - where is the woman's right to choose?

Events this week have revived the horrific memories of survivors who spoke up against their abusers during the #MeToo movement. Sajid Khan, the director who has been accused of sexual assault allegations by half a dozen women from different fields, has been invited as a contestant on the reality show Bigg Boss. This has led to an outrage.

The term 'moonlighting' - referring to the act of taking up a side job additional to one's primary job - has been making headlines of late. IT giants like Infosys and Wipro have publicly red-flagged the practice, terming it 'cheating' - while other companies like Swiggy have shown their support. Tonight on We The People, we decode what moonlighting really entails, and whether it is an ethical practice.

While antibiotics are undoubtedly important drugs, a new Lancet study has found that they are grossly misused in India. In such a scenario, antibiotics can actually harm you, given that your body will build up something called 'antibiotic resistance' - which is when humans stop responding to even the most powerful antibiotics. On We The People, we consult experts and find out how serious this problem really is.  

From The Wall Street Journal to The Economist, open any newspaper or tune into a podcast and one will hear the new buzz word - "quiet quitting". It is a new workplace trend where employees, returning to work after the pandemic, stay in their job but don't take on the extra work that might be causing them stress and affecting their mental health. They say "no" to requests to go beyond what they think should be expected of a person in their position, no to extra hours and working weekends. Is this an act of establishing healthy boundaries or is this slacking off? As the global economy picks itself up again, is it time to get back to "business as usual" or is it time to set the rest button?

Supertech's illegal twin towers in Uttar Pradesh's Noida were demolished successfully. Over 3,700 kg of explosives were used to raze the towers. Nine years after residents first went to court, it took just 9 seconds to bring down the towers. Will it send out a tough message to builders and authorities?

It's the summer of discontent for those who want to travel abroad - they may have to wait six months to a year just to get a visa appointment. But especially hard hit by the great visa slowdown are Indian students, who are finding that their dreams of studying abroad are quickly turning into a nightmare - with no student visa in sight. Students are having to defer admissions, and in worst cases, cancelling their admission altogether to look for alternative options last-minute. On We The People, we speak to some of those students.

Amid the 'Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', on We The People, we ask, what does Azaadi mean to us today? Has chest thumping nationalism drowned the true meaning of patriotism?

In the last fortnight, Tamil Nadu lost five students to suicide - all aged 17. While each case is being examined separately, the incidents have raised a singular, disturbing question - is there a lack of mental health infrastructure for students in India? On We The People, we ask why this is not being recognised as a grave crisis, and what we as a society need to do to tackle this.  

August is just around the corner and many students are gearing up to go to foreign universities. While this isn't a new trend, of late there has been a post-pandemic uptick in students wishing to go overseas to pursue higher education. Many of these students come from Tier 1 or 2 cities, but recently, even students from rural areas, markedly Punjab and Haryana, are desperate to head abroad. On We The People, we ask what is driving this move? And can the so-called brain drain be reversed?

India's population is expected to surpass China's by next year, according to a UN report, sparking a debate on a potential population control law - and whether such a law would be legal as per the constitution. Also, raising questions on its implementation and effect on citizens. On We The People tonight, we discuss whether India needs to act legally to control population, especially against the backdrop of a declining fertility rate, and how much of this debate has been politicised.

People around the world are anxious to step out and travel again as pandemic restrictions are lifted - but is news of flight safety concerns, cancelled flights, skyrocketing airfare and long queues at airports a dealbreaker for some? The aviation industry seems to be hit with chaos amid news of frequent bird hits, smoke in cabins, shortage of airport staff and delayed luggage showing up in headlines every day. Tonight on We The People we ask - is it a bumpy ride ahead for flyers?

This week saw a number of incidents that brought into question the idea of free speech in India, as well as its limitations. From India's leading fact-checker Mohammed Zubair being arrested for a 4-year-old tweet, to the Supreme court judges who criticised the BJP's Nupur Sharma facing social media attacks themselves for their comments, all happening in a week where the PM joined the G7 in a pledge to 'protect free speech'. In the light of these developments, We The People asks - how free is speech in India, really?  

With the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, the focus is back on resort politics. A predictable charade of political parties moving their MLAs to resorts and hotels has begun. A dissident group of Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde is in five-star Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahti - an all-expense paid stay. This even as common people in the flood-affected parts of the state can't access clean drinking water. Over 125 people have died in the Assam so far. People can't cremate or bury the dead in Silchar as all crematoriums are flooded.

The past week has been marked by protests over the Agnipath scheme across eight states in India - some of which turned violent. While there are political and social ramifications of this scheme, there are also several unanswered questions about whether it was poorly thought and rolled out. On tonight's episode of We The People, we address what this scheme means for aspirants who have dreamt about serving in the Armed Forces.

Tweets, memes and Instagram reels dominated the narrative of the defamation trial involving actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, wherein the former sued the latter for $50 million dollars for defamation in a civil litigation case in a Virgina court. An overwhelming majority of the internet came out in steadfast support of Depp - and on the flip side - Heard was 'memeified', vilified and harassed by online users. What does the public reaction to the verdict reveals about society itself - and how does this high-profile trial impact other survivors of domestic abuse? On tonight's episode of We The People, we ask - Amber Heard became the punchline, but is the joke on us?

IndiGo airlines was recently sent a show cause notice by the aviation watchdog DGCA over its inappropriate handling of a special needs child. The airline had refused to allow the child and his family to board a flight, claiming he was in a 'state of panic' and posed a threat to other passengers. Was this incident unusual - perhaps leading us to see more inclusivity, or was this indicative of a more systemic problem? Are laws enough to safeguard the rights of the specially-abled?

It's an image and an admission that has gone viral around the world. Kim Kardashian attended the Met Gala in New York in Marilyn Monroe's dress and happily recounted losing 16 pounds in three weeks by barely eating to get into her dress. Have we gone too far? Where do we draw the line when it comes to unrealistic beauty standards?  

Across India, people are marking the death anniversaries of their loved ones who succumbed to the deadly Covid second wave that hit India in April last year. On tonight's episode of We The People, we revisit the people who went to Covid hell and back during that bleak period when oxygen became a precious commodity, when ICU beds seemed unattainable, when crematoriums couldn't keep up with the deaths around the nation. Were lessons learnt from the second wave, and can we as a society recover from such terrible loss?

[Sponsored] 43% of Indian STEM graduates are women, but only 14% women make up the Indian STEM workforce. Why? Research shows no innate cognitive or biological differences between boys and girls when it comes to studying math and science - yet, young girls are presented with kitchen sets or dolls on their birthdays while boys receive toy robots and construction sets. Are our unconscious gender biases holding us back?

The CUET, or the Central Universities Entrance Test, serves to become a 'corrective' entrance exam for 45 central universities in order to do away with skyrocketing cut-offs based on disproportionately difficult state boards. On this episode of We The People, we explore whether the CUET will be all it claims to be - a way of reducing pressure on beleaguered board students across India - or simply another exam that they will have to study for.

There will be no fines for not wearing masks in about 5 states in India. With the COVID-19 positivity rate coming down substantially and a majority of the population vaccinated, the Delhi government joined the states of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana and Haryana and announced that they no longer impose a penalty on people for not wearing a mask in public. So, should you stop wearing your mask? Is it safe to unmask now?

This week, as property developer Supertech was declared insolvent for not paying their dues to the Union Bank of India, people who bought homes from them are crossing their fingers that this will lead to some accountability for the developers who have left a myriad of projects unfinished. What lies in store for a home owner who has invested in a project where the builder has become insolvent or unable to complete the construction to handover possession of the flat purchased? Watch this episode of We The People for more.

As Goa goes to polls, NDTV speaks to writers, journalists, property dealers and people who recently shifted to Goa from big cities on what key issues they face in their daily lives. From skyrocketing property prices to a local versus outsider bias, this is what the people of Goa have to say on election eve.

What happens if parents prevent girls from going to school unless they are in hijab, and the school prevents the students from attending class if they are in hijab? Who stands to lose? Can a student be denied an education because of a headscarf? On February 8, the matter will be heard by the Karnataka High Court.

This week more than 1,600 parents in the NCR signed an online petition requesting government authorities and other key stakeholders to reopen schools for in-person classes on priority. However, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority's decided it was not yet the time; but it was decided that restaurants, bars, cinema halls can be reopened with 50% capacity. On We The People we talk to several parents, teachers, students and authoritative figures on what this means for the children and whether schools should be opened on a priority basis.

The Delhi High Court is hearing a challenge to the constitutional validity of the 'marital rape immunity' provided for in the Indian Penal Code. The case has put the spotlight on the crucial issue of consent, the extent of state control on female sexual autonomy, and correcting historical prejudices in law. On We The People, we speak to several lawyers and activists on the debate surrounding this law and ask whether there is 'inherent consent' if someone is married. We also look at the trending social media move called #MarriageStrike and what it means for the youth of the country.

India, only recently in 2018, revoked the draconian law that made homosexuality illegal but the Constitution does not allow homosexual couples to marry. It is three years since homosexuality was decriminalised in India, but public morality around same-sex relationships continues to be a thorny issue. On We The People this week, we speak to two couples who are fighting the system for love and are joined by a panel to discuss the issue in India, at large.

Amid Omicron concerns, India has been celebrating Christmas and breaching COVID-19 protocols in the process. Streets are buzzing with hundreds of revelers, hawkers, and children on Christmas - with little or no adherence to Covid protocols. Tonight, on We The People we discuss whether it is time for alarm bells? Should politicians consider conducting virtual rallies?

As the Centre proposed to raise the marriageable age of women from 18 to 21, we speak to prominent women who express their views about the government's move on this episode of 'We The People'.

Various school bodies and parents of students have continued to push for the reopening of educational institutions after they were shut again following the Supreme Court's reprimand of the Delhi government over its pollution control measures. In this episode of 'We The People', we discuss, as governments shut schools - are children paying the price? We discuss the toll this is taking on students and also parents.

Keeping the Omicron Covid variant in view, the Airports Authority of India has shared a detailed set of state-wise guidelines for quarantine norms and regulations to be undertaken by flyers. Is that enough to keep us safe and contain the spread of the new variant of the Coronavirus? Or is this a situation where policies are many but its implementation is lacking? Are airports now Covid hotspots? On this episode of We The People, we look at the various issues travellers are facing to return to India, with the fresh travel restrictions in place.

As the Registrar General of India data suggests, the 'vegetarian and non-vegetarian divide' in India is more of a fallacy. 52.9% of Uttar Pradesh is non-vegetarian, 59.8% of Maharashtra is non-vegetarian, and 98.55% of Bengal is non-vegetarian. India is diverse, there is no homogeneity in food choices or flavours. Besides, what one eats is a personal matter and part of the Right to Privacy guaranteed by the Constitution. But what is the fallout when something as essential and enjoyable as food becomes the subject of politics?

In a surprising development this week the Bombay HC said that there was no evidence of conspiracy in the Aryan Khan's drugs-on-cruise case. Was this a one-off case or is the agency being used to serve vested interests? Is the mission for the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) a war on drugs or serving the master in power for the day?

While teenagers and children have largely been spared the ravages of COVID-19, they haven't been unaffected. The pandemic has exposed many teens and children to trauma far ahead of their time. For some, their sense of safety has been threatened. Others lost their momentum and motivation to do well in school or engage in their lives. Still, others are recovering from grief associated with the death of a parent, friend, or loved one due to COVID-19. On Children's Day, we are putting the focus on children and their mental health in this edition of 'We The People'.

The Right to Healthy Environment enjoys a constitutional status in over 100 nations. India needs to improve emissions monitoring, provide regulators with real-time data and provide the public with information about polluters. As citizens are suffering due to toxic air, we ask experts about tackling the bad air crisis.

It is time society takes notice of how ugly the quest for beauty really is. This is where Dove India's #StopTheBeautyTest campaign comes in. On this special edition of We The People, we are joined by Hindustan Unilever's Priya Nair, Edelweiss AML's MD and CEO Radhika Gupta, content creator Sakshi Sindwani along with Ameya and Pallavi from the "Fat. So? Podcast" and cosmetic surgeon Dr Debraj Shome to celebrate beauty in all shapes, colours, and sizes and pledge to create a more accepting society where there is no one particular definition of beauty.

The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference has kicked off in Glasgow, Scotland. From October 31 till November 12, leaders from almost 200 countries will gather at this summit, aiming to strengthen the climate targets set in the Paris Agreement at COP21 in 2015. Watch this episode of 'We The People' for all this and more.

Petrol is above Rs 100-a-litre mark in all major cities, and diesel has crossed that level in more than a dozen states. While the government is reportedly in talks with oil exporting countries to keep the prices under check, the surging petrol and diesel prices are now becoming a major concern for the common man. The cascading effect of rising fuel prices can be seen in the prices of vegetables. Vegetable prices are at an all-time high in wholesale and retail markets due to crop damage because of heavy rainfall and high fuel rates. So, will the government ease the burden on the Aam Aadmi? Watch as panelists share their perspectives.

The arrest of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has once again thrown the spotlight on the drug menace in India. High-profile drug busts make for great headlines, but are we missing the forest for the trees? Drug use, especially among the youth, is a pervasive phenomenon. Does India's youth have a drug problem? Do we need to nip it at the source instead of focusing on the consumer?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by electricity, not fossil fuel. EVs have little or zero tailpipe emissions and are also more stable in case of collisions. However, there are few choices. The initial investment in EVs is steep and some governments do not provide subsidies. EVs are also not suitable for cities facing shortage of power. On the other hand, the service costs of fossil fuel vehicles increase significantly over the years while the fuel efficiency tends to decrease. Recently, a Bengaluru EV owner hauled his e-scooter to the 5th floor kitchen for charging. Efforts though, are being made to make up for lack of charging points. The world's highest EV charging station was installed in Himachal Pradesh's Kaza this month. Green mobility firms have also been demanding that GST on input components be reduced. The future is electric, we ask industry experts and EV users about the challenges ahead and what India needs to do.

The clamour against NEET refuses to die down. The only single-window exam for any medical college is mainly based on CBSE curriculum. However, there is large scale variation in syllabus of CBSE and state boards. Most coaching centres are in cities, rural and socially weaker sections are unable to afford coaching classes. Many minority institutions are unable to fill their seats due to centralised counselling. There have also been instances of question paper leaks. This month, Tamil Nadu registered three NEET-related suicides in a week. A high-level committee led by former High Court judge found that NEET skewed results in favour of English-medium students and that there has been a dip in proportion of rural students post-NEET. We ask aspirants, medical students and doctors about all the issues surrounding NEET and the way ahead.

In a watershed moment for the Indian Army, in a landmark decision this week, the Supreme Court has allowed women to sit for the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance exam. What are the implications of the Supreme Court's order? Is this a big push for gender equity? Will it attract more women to the armed forces? Will women now be able to look forward to a long and ambitious career in the armed forces?

The renovated Jallianwala Bagh memorial was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week -- the project was carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India and NBCC. However, historians say the new memorial is a distortion of history of the site where British troops killed hundreds of Indians on April 13, 1919. On NDTV, we discuss whether the Jallianwala Bagh makeover is a distortion of history or a renovation.

With the devastating second wave of Covid-19 now receding, schools have already reopened in several states, at least for senior classes. Schools in most other states are scheduled to open from September 1. In this episode, we have Dr Naresh Trehan from Medanta-The Medicity and Dr Naveet Wig, chairman of the AIIMS COVID-19 task force, joining us with a panel of students and parents to discuss whether going back to school is rushed or long-overdue.

Amid a decline in fresh COVID-19 cases across India, several states have started the process of unlocking and relaxing the restrictions imposed. Is it high time we send India's children back to school too? Is it time to prioritise opening up our schools in a planned and safe manner? If we can design protocols to open malls, pools and bars without risking lives, why not schools? On the show tonight, along with students, we discuss whether it is time to learn to reopen schools with precautions in place.

As the Taliban make rapid gains in Afghanistan, women in the country are concerned about their future. As Afghan women on Twitter plead for help, on the show tonight we ask, will the Taliban roll back freedom won by women? And are Afghan women's rights on the verge of a roll back? The Taliban previously ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and imposed strict rules on women during that period. Along with voices from Afghanistan on the show, we are joined by Mariam Wardak from HER Afghanistan, Heather Barr from Human Rights Watch, Nishtha Satyam representing UN Women India, Lisa Curtis from the Centre for a New American Security and Aishe Ghosh from JNU's Students' Union.