In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court on Thursday junked the electoral bonds scheme that allowed anonymous funding to political parties by striking down the legal provisions introducing and laying down its framework. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud held that the 2018 scheme was 'violative' of the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression and right to information.
On The India Story this week, Vikram Chandra discuss the nuances of electoral bonds, why they were deemed unconstitutional, and the potential repercussions of this judgment on political parties, particularly in this election year with Jagdeep Chhokar, Founding Member of the Association for Democratic Reforms, and Former Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg.
Farmers are marching towards Delhi once again over unmet demands, reigniting concerns two years after their historic protest. What's driving this renewed agitation and what are their core demands? Ashok Gulati, Agricultural Economist and Professor at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations explains on the show.
In a big diplomatic win for India, eight Indian navy veterans sentenced to death by Qatar on unspecified charges returned home scot-free this week after months of unrelenting negotiations by India. This development marks a remarkable turnaround but also signals India's growing diplomatic prowess. Vikram Chandra explores the broader implications of this success with KP Fabian, former Indian envoy to Qatar.