Best C C Dream Factory Podcasts (2025)

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In Focus-Parley | Should India take global leadership on climate change? 45:05

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41m ago45:05

45:05

Ahead of Conference of the Parties 30 (COP30) in November in Belém, Brazil, global headwinds have left many developed countries in the West increasingly reluctant to take on the mantle of climate leadership. India, like other countries, is expected to update climate commitments and present an adaption plan. Should India take global leadership on cl…

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Can the stolen Crown Jewels from the Louvre ever be recovered? 24:15

20h ago24:15

24:15

A serene Sunday morning at the Louvre turned chaotic in just seven minutes. Four thieves, using construction vests and a mechanized lift, cut through reinforced glass and stole eight priceless pieces of the French Crown Jewels—some linked to Napoleon Bonaparte. Guards prioritized visitor safety, while a 60-officer manhunt began. What does this heis…

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Bihar elections: What are the key factors that will decide the outcome? 42:41

1d ago42:41

42:41

Bihar will go to the polls in November. There are 243 seats, and three major players. The NDA Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is facing 20 years of incumbency. There are also adverse reports about his health, and his ability to lead for another term. The BJP doesn’t have a strong electoral face either. As for the Mahagathbandhan, many believe this is t…

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Decoding the 2025 Nobel in Economics: How new ideas crush the old and fuel growth 44:10

3d ago44:10

44:10

In a paper in 1992, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt explained how economic growth is propelled by a cycle of innovation, in which outdated technologies and firms are replaced by newer technology. This cycle of “creative destruction” leads to sustained economic growth, as new technologies and firms outcompete and replace the old, driving productivi…

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In Focus-Weekend | So you think your kid can be a chess champ? 27:29

5d ago27:29

27:29

They travel with boards in their backpacks and cameras in their faces. Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Vaishali, Divya now play before millions online. For parents, the dream is intoxicating: can my child be next? But the path is heavy: endless hours and lonely tournaments. Few know this better than R.B. Ramesh, who has walked it himself and guided India’s…

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Can Indian women turn talent into wins at the Cricket World Cup? 38:29

6d ago38:29

38:29

India’s World Cup has been a mix. Some matches went well. Others, not so much. The regular batters haven’t quite clicked. The bowling still lacks variety. Five reliable options weren’t enough to trouble South Africa or Australia. With tough games against England, New Zealand and Bangladesh coming up, India will need a new strategy.This World Cup ha…

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Should India host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics? 39:50

6d ago39:50

39:50

India has big plans — and even bigger dreams — to host the 2036 Olympics. But before that, the country will look to prove its ability to do so, by hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games. India has bid for Ahmedabad as the host city for the Games — with Nigeria being the only other contender. This comes 15 years after the 2010 Delhi Games, the largest …

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In Focus-Parley | Is landlockedness the reason for Bihar’s underdevelopment? 53:53

7d ago53:53

53:53

It is election season in Bihar. While the Opposition often speaks about the lack of development and industrialisation in the State, in its campaigns, the National Democratic Alliance, which is in power, argues that a change of government will bring back the ‘Jungle Raj’ of the earlier decade. What makes Bihar one of India’s most underdeveloped Stat…

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Decoding the paracetamol-autism controversy 28:09

8d ago28:09

28:09

A few weeks ago, U.S. president Donald Trump made a startling announcement: he said using the common painkiller paracetamol, or acetaminophen, known as Tylenol in the U.S. during pregnancy, could cause autism in the baby. This announcement came after earlier this year, the U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine sceptic, announ…

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What's driving India's renewed engagement with the Afghan Taliban regime? 42:17

10d ago42:17

42:17

In a significant diplomatic development, a Taliban delegation led by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister recently visited New Delhi for official talks, the first such high-level engagement since the group took power in Kabul in 2021. Following the talks, India announced plans to reopen its full-fledged embassy in Kabul and expand cooperation in health, …

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Why the challenge against Securities Transactions Tax in the Supreme Court? 25:15

11d ago25:15

25:15

The Supreme Court is set to take up a plea challenging the constitutional validity of the Securities Transaction Tax (STT). This is a direct tax levied on all transactions that happen through a stock exchange. The STT was brought in under the Finance Act, 2004. It has since become a significant source of revenue for the government, netting an estim…

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Is GPT-5 a revolution or hype? 40:01

11d ago40:01

40:01

Another upgrade, another round of applause. OpenAI’s GPT-5 has arrived—sleeker, quicker and kind of the talk of the town. But peel back the glitz and questions pile up. In this episode, we will know who builds these systems, and at what cost? Who reaps the rewards? And what happens when a few voices decide how billions will live, work and learn? Gu…

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Can Venezuela’s Nobel Peace Laureate Maria Corina Machado Inspire Change? 34:14

13d ago34:14

34:14

She has been tear-gassed, threatened, and banned from office — yet María Corina Machado never stopped speaking for a silenced nation. Now, at 58, Venezuela’s most determined dissident has been named the country’s first Nobel Peace Prize winner — and only the 20th woman to ever receive it. An engineer turned opposition leader, she has spent years st…

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Trump’s Gaza peace plan: Can it deliver a lasting ceasefire? 24:19

14d ago24:19

24:19

President Donald Trump's new 20-point peace plan promises to end hostilities, free hostages, and rebuild Gaza under a new framework of international oversight. Backed by several Arab nations, it’s being routed as the most detailed roadmap yet to stop the war. But is this really a plan for peace, or just another political blueprint that sidesteps th…

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In Focus-Parley | Are women deciding Assembly elections? 38:37

14d ago38:37

38:37

In the run-up to the Bihar Assembly elections, political parties are rolling out several welfare measures for women. On October 3, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar transferred ₹10,000 to the bank accounts of 25 lakh women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. Earlier, on September 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also announced the tran…

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Why Indians are shifting from fixed deposits to SIPs 18:09

15d ago18:09

18:09

For decades, Indian households relied on fixed deposits, insurance, and gold to grow their savings. A large faction still continues to do that. But in the last few years, more and more Indians have opened demat accounts, started SIPs, and entered the stock market.In this episode, we explore what’s driving this shift in how Indians invest, and wheth…

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Cough syrup deaths: Where is India going wrong with its medicines 24:33

16d ago24:33

24:33

By The Hindu

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Why is DNA evidence in India often not reliable? 32:48

17d ago32:48

32:48

Recently, the Supreme Court of India issued guidelines with regard to DNA samples in criminal cases. These guidelines, issued to preserve the integrity of such samples, highlighted the need for chain of custody documentation as well as for proper procedures to be put in place for the collection, packaging of transportation of such samples. DNA samp…

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In Focus-Weekend | Naming chimps, making room: Jane Goodall’s wild legacy for women in science 38:21

20d ago38:21

38:21

On a July morning in 1960, Jane Goodall stepped off a boat onto the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania. She was 26, untrained by universities, armed only with binoculars, a notebook and patience. What she saw in the forests of Gombe in East Africa altered science itself: chimpanzees who shaped tools, who mourned, who loved. She gave them names a…

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Understanding the impact of public opinion on the Israel-Hamas war 21:09

20d ago21:09

21:09

Adding a page to the history of the Israel-Palestine question, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia now formally recognise a Palestinian state. However, data show that the share of people surveyed in the UK who support this decision has decreased since the same time last year. On the other hand, ac…

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In Focus-Parley | Should Ladakh get statehood? 39:19

21d ago39:19

39:19

On September 24, Ladakh witnessed unprecedented violence and protests which left four persons dead in police action. Two days later, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was sitting on a hunger strike with 15 others, was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and taken to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan. The government accused the activis…

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The Asia Non Cup: No Handshakes, No Trophy? 28:25

22d ago28:25

28:25

The Asia Cup has never been straightforward. Scheduled every two years, it often slips away — undone by border tensions and government quarrels. This year, despite tensions between India and Pakistan, the tournament managed to be held. The young Indian team, missing the usual veterans, went unbeaten. Pakistan made the final a nail-biting contest: a…

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Why ‘Design in India’ must be the next step in defence manufacturing 37:39

23d ago37:39

37:39

Over the last decade, "Make in India" has been at the heart of the Centre's economic policy and increasing defence manufacturing is a important part of that goal given India is one of the largest importers of defence equipment in the world. The sector, plagued by bureaucratic delays, budgetary constraints, and corruption, was opened to the private …

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Why are C-section rates rising in India? 18:07

24d ago18:07

18:07

A recent analysis in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia, found that one in five deliveries in India are now by Caesarean section. From 2005, when the rate of C-section was 8.5%, it has risen to 21.5% as of 2021, the analysis said. International bodies such as the World Health Organization discourage high rates of C-section, as they are assoc…

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How Ladakh’s peaceful protests turned violent and led to Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest 41:14

26d ago41:14

41:14

Fringed by China and Pakistan, Ladakh is India’s high-altitude borderland. For years now, locals led peaceful protests demanding statehood and constitutional protections for land, jobs, and identity. But last week, that peace broke. Violence erupted in Leh city in the Union Territory of Ladakh on Wednesday (September 24, 2025), several protesters w…

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In Focus-Weekend | Anxieties of the IB school parent: How to tell if it’s the right fit for your child? 38:00

27d ago38:00

38:00

In recent times, India has seen a sharp spike in the popularity of IB schools. In fact, having your kid in an IB school has become something of a status symbol, although that may or may not be the primary motive for most parents. But many parents, regardless of their reasons for choosing an IB school, face a number of confusing questions and dilemm…

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Aman Sehrawat’s big miss: Does Indian wrestling have a weight-cutting problem? 22:48

27d ago22:48

22:48

At the World Wrestling Championships in Croatia, India’s Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat was shockingly disqualified ahead of his opening bout on September 14. At the official weigh-in before his match, Aman was found to be 1.7kg over the 57kg limit. The Wrestling Federation of India on September 22 served a show-cause notice to Aman, asking his st…

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In Focus-Parley | Is the American Dream dead for Indians? 47:12

28d ago47:12

47:12

On September 19, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order, raising the H-1B visa fee to $1,00,000. Many fear that this will disproportionately impact Indian workers, especially those with lower median salaries. Although the White House has clarified that the fee applies only to new applicants and not those up for renewal or already in …

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Saudi-Pak Defence deal: Should India be alarmed or is it ‘no big deal’? 41:06

30d ago41:06

41:06

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a new defence deal. It’s called the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA). Under this deal, “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both”. There are also vague indications that Saudi Arabia will get the benefit of Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities but in what is not cl…

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Tariff Watch: Is India’s gem and jewellery sector losing its sheen under US tariffs? 31:20

1M ago31:20

31:20

90% of the world’s natural diamonds are cut and polished by about 5000, largely family run businesses out of Surat in Gujarat, but the recent 50% US tariffs on India has led to deep anxieties about the very survival of this sector, which is part of the country’s sprawling gem and jewellery industry. Kunal Shankar, The Hindu’s Deputy Business Editor…

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Is there an H1-B ‘scam’ that affects both Indian and American workers? 48:35

1M ago48:35

48:35

Through a new executive order, President Donald Trump has added 100,000 US dollars to the annual fee for H1B visa applicants. H1B is a visa programme for skilled foreign workers. So far, the biggest beneficiaries of this visa have been Indian-origin IT workers, employed by American and Indian companies in the US.President Trump has justified this m…

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Is GST becoming the “good and simple tax” it was promised to be? 30:02

1M ago30:02

30:02

When the Goods and Services Tax — or GST — was rolled out in 2017, it was billed as one of India’s biggest tax reforms. It replaced a maze of indirect taxes like excise duty, VAT, and service tax, with the promise of creating a single, unified market. It was meant to create a simpler, fairer, and more transparent system. GST is what’s known as a de…

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What do India's declining fertility rates mean for the future? 20:30

1M ago20:30

20:30

The Sample Registration Survey’s Statistical Report, released last week had some significant numbers. One, India’s total fertility rate has dipped – it has gone down from 2.0 and now stands at 1.9, as of 2023. The second significant number was that for the first time, the total fertility rate in rural India has reached replacement levels. Replaceme…

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Decoding the Supreme Court’s interim order on Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 38:38

1M ago38:38

38:38

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of India stayed certain provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Among the provisions stayed are the one requiring a person intending to create a Waqf, to prove that he had been practising Islam for five years. It also paused the provision granting District Collectors the power to determine the status of a …

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In Focus-Parley | Should India overlook boundary issues while normalising ties with China? 38:47

1M ago38:47

38:47

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his much-anticipated visit to China. Mr. Modi attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and also held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit. The two leaders decided to restart bilateral trade and air connectivity, and underlined the importa…

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Can India’s Factories Survive America’s Tariff War? 33:21

1M ago33:21

33:21

Washington’s latest tariff hike isn’t just a line in a policy paper. In India, it shows up in half-finished orders, idle machines, and nervous exporters. The U.S. says the penalties are for Russian oil, for blocking American goods, for standing firm with BRICS. While medicines and electronics may be spared, engineering firms — makers of auto parts,…

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Tariff Watch: US Tariffs Leave Indian Shrimp at Sea 32:43

1M ago32:43

32:43

A few weeks ago, containers of frozen shrimp left Indian ports bound for the United States. By the time they were halfway across the ocean, U.S. tariffs had spiked, prompting buyers to cancel orders. The result: millions of rupees worth of seafood stranded at sea. The impact goes far beyond trade figures. Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh must decide whe…

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20 Years of Forest Rights Act: Can it work without a tribal policy? 50:57

1M ago50:57

50:57

The Forest Rights Act (FRA) came into being in 2006. As we touch 20 years of its existence as a tool for tribal empowerment, the United Nations Development Programme, or the UNDP, has come out with a comprehensive new report, titled ‘Securing rights, Enabling Futures: Policy Lessons from Forest Rights Act and Future Pathways’.We know that the Fores…

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In Focus-Weekend | Sinner vs Alcaraz: A new era of dominance in tennis 32:17

1M ago32:17

32:17

Men’s tennis has always been defined by legendary rivalries. For nearly two decades, the Big Three – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic – treated us to unforgettable clashes on the sport’s biggest stages. That era has finally passed, and a new duopoly is taking centre stage. In this weekender episode, we delve into the exciting rivalry…

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Israel's attack on Qatar: Is diplomacy now a target? 26:02

1M ago26:02

26:02

On september 9, 2025, Israeli forces launched an attack in Qatar in what is being seen as an unprecedented escalation beyond the Gaza conflict. The strike rattled Qatar, which has hosted Hamas’s political office for years and positioned itself as a key mediator in ceasefire and hostage negotiations. While Israel claims the strike was aimed at Hamas…

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Tariff Watch Part 2: How US tariffs could impact India’s textiles sector 37:36

1M ago37:36

37:36

Washington’s new tariff regime, an extra duty on India-origin imports and the end of the $800 de minimis exemption, is already rippling through India’s textiles and apparel supply chain. Export margins are being squeezed, small businesses have maxed out working capital loans and inventories have piled up as orders have stalled, and mills are facing…

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Nepal on the Brink - Part 2: Beyond the Gen Z's rage 30:57

1M ago30:57

30:57

Nepal is the most politically unstable democracy in the world since 1990 with 30 government tenures in 35 years. In this episode, we’re going beyond the breaking news regarding the recent upheaval in the country using numbers: What do they tell us about inequality, youth anger, and the failures of Nepal’s political class? And what reforms might act…

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Nepal on the Brink: Will the old guard step aside? 37:09

1M ago37:09

37:09

On 8 September 2025, the quaint Himalayan town Kathmandu saw violent scenes. A ban on 26 social media platforms sparked protests that turned anti-corruption rallies deadly—19 people including school children were shot. The next day, offices of political parties, ministers’ homes and parliament itself were attacked. Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli r…

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Why most students in Bengal and Odisha take private tuitions 27:10

1M ago27:10

27:10

Private coaching in India has grown into a parallel education system. It is no longer just extra help after school, but the backbone of learning for millions of students. In the last seven years, tuition has surged across all levels - from primary to higher secondary. Among rural girls in higher secondary, the rise is especially sharp, while States…

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Is your hair transplant being performed by a qualified practitioner? 30:20

1M ago30:20

30:20

Dr. Rajetha Damisetty explains how the entry of unqualified practitioners and a lack of regulatory oversight is impacting patient safety when it comes to skin and hair procedures being performed in India. The wellness sector is booming in India. Aesthetic, skin and hair clinics are everywhere, social media feeds are filled with advertisements and p…

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In Focus-Weekend | Dinosaur fossils: Can India protect its prehistoric past? 29:46

2M ago29:46

29:46

India’s rocks hold an extraordinary record of life: the earliest traces of plants, dinosaur bones, and even fossils of ancient horses, whales, and humans. This wealth comes from the subcontinent’s geological journey after it broke away from the supercontinent Gondwanaland and later its collision with Asia that formed the Himalayas. Yet today, fossi…

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Why is Kerala seeing a spike in brain-eating amoeba infections? 35:35

2M ago35:35

35:35

On Saturday morning, a 45-year-old man died in Kerala of amoebic meningocephalitis. This is the fourth death reported in Kerala in less than a month of this rare but deadly infection, colloquially known as brain-eating amoeba. This year alone, over 40 cases have been reported in the State, with 11 people undergoing treatment in hospitals at present…

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Tariff watch Part 1: Will Trump’s duty-free cut hurt India’s online sellers? 28:20

2M ago28:20

28:20

For years, the United States let low-value parcels enter duty-free under a rule called the de minimis exemption—literally “too small to matter.” By 2016, the limit had risen to $800, among the highest in the world, opening doors for Indian exporters to sell cheaply to American buyers. Now that rule is gone. The U.S. says it was abused, hurting loca…

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In Focus-Parley | Should commercial speech on digital platforms be regulated? 36:02

2M ago36:02

36:02

On August 25, 2025, the Supreme Court urged the Union government to frame guidelines for regulating social media, noting that influencers often commercialise free speech in ways that may offend the sentiments of vulnerable groups. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed that these regulations be drafted in consultation with the …

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Can India’s real money gaming ban withstand constitutional scrutiny? 30:57

2M ago30:57

30:57

Parliament last month enacted the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, establishing a comprehensive legal framework for India’s rapidly expanding online gaming sector. The legislation, which received the President’s assent on August 22, seeks to regulate segments such as e-sports and social gaming, while simultaneously imposing a b…