The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to transform India's education system with a focus on inclusivity and access. However, for marginalized communities, the effectiveness of these reforms remains a pressing concern. In this episode, we engage in a critical conversation with Annie Namala, a prominent social activist and education expert, to explore the impact of NEP 2020 on disadvantaged groups. The discussion delves into the categorization of socio-economically disadvantaged groups (SEDGs), the concept of Special Education Zones (SEZs), the role of data in policymaking, challenges in school enrollment, and the pressing issue of privatization in education. As we analyze the policy’s real-world implications, we ask: Is NEP 2020 truly fostering equitable education, or does it risk further alienating the most vulnerable communities?

India is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, home to hundreds of languages representing millennia of cultural evolution and indigenous knowledge . The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) aims to harness and promote these diverse languages through the three-language formula (TLF). This article provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing linguistic diversity in India, the critical role of mother tongue-based education, and the implications of the National Education Policy 2020 for language preservation. The insights offered underline the urgent need for institutional, technological, and community-based strategies to safeguard India’s endangered languages.

The oceans, covering over 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, have long been perceived as infinite reservoirs of resources. However, with the escalation of climate change impacts and pressures from human activities, a strategic rethinking of ocean governance is imperative. In this edition of GnY Live, Dr. Bala Krishnan Nair, a senior scientist and Director at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), sheds light on India’s Blue Economy landscape. The dialogue delves into the current status of India’s draft Blue Economy policy, its sectoral focus, the overlooked dimensions of climate risk, and the crucial contributions of science in enabling marine governance. Dr. Nair outlines how living marine resources—encompassing both traditional fisheries and emerging sectors like mariculture—form the backbone of coastal livelihoods. He stresses the importance of integrating climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and real-time ocean information into long-term national planning. The conversation ultimately provides a vision for a sustainable and inclusive ocean economy in India, shaped by both technological foresight and grassroots engagement.

India’s coastal regions, stretching thousands of kilometers, are on the frontlines of a creeping environmental crisis—saltwater intrusion. Unlike cyclones or tsunamis, this is a disaster that doesn’t make headlines, yet its impact is profound, slow-moving, and multi-generational. From contaminated drinking water and degraded farmland to the forced migration of traditional fishing communities, saltwater intrusion is a pressing issue that touches the lives of millions. This article explores the science behind saltwater intrusion, its socio-economic toll, and the urgent need for inclusive coastal policy frameworks. At the centre of this article lies a compelling call: to prioritize ocean health, listen to affected communities, and design policies that are both responsive and respectful.

India, a nation perched precariously on one of the most active seismic belts in the world, faces a curious paradox: despite mounting geological evidence and rising urban vulnerability, public understanding and policy responses remain dangerously inadequate. This article explores the science of earthquakes, the complexities of prediction, and the unseen relationship between tectonic stress and climate change. From Himalayan seismic gaps to microzonation maps, the discussion traverses the deeply interconnected systems of earth science, engineering preparedness, and societal readiness.

The convergence of scientific knowledge and diplomatic strategy is increasingly defining the contours of international engagement in a world marked by deep geopolitical divisions and rapid technological advancement. This article delves into science diplomacy as a critical interface that shapes multilateral negotiations, strategic treaties, and the global governance of emerging technologies. Through an expansive discussion, the episode traces the history, challenges, and institutional forms of science-led diplomacy, spotlighting key sectors such as nuclear energy, space exploration, agriculture, climate change, artificial intelligence, and polar science. Offering practical illustrations from international forums and bilateral arrangements, this conversation unpacks how science both transcends and is shaped by national interest, commercial ambition, and global responsibility.

Submarines are among the most secretive and sophisticated military assets in the modern world. Designed for stealth and endurance, they offer nations unmatched control in underwater operations and deterrence. For India, submarines represent both a technological achievement and a strategic necessity in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region. Yet, beyond their combat capabilities, submarines also serve as floating laboratories, gathering vital data on oceanic conditions, acoustic properties, and marine geography. This discussion explores the dual identity of India’s submarines: as instruments of war and as potential platforms for scientific exploration. Through a detailed analysis of India’s current fleet, technological trajectory, operational challenges, and psychological toll, the conversation reveals the complexity of building and sustaining an undersea force in the 21st century.

This article investigates the evolving understanding of sustainability by tracing its roots through geological epochs, civilizational collapses, demographic surges, and contemporary climate challenges. It exhorts the urgent need to move away from generic, rhetorical uses of sustainability and towards a context-specific, historically grounded, and ecologically attuned framework. Particularly focused on India, the article explores the unique vulnerabilities posed by demographic pressures, geomorphological features, and governance structures. It also critically evaluates the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering a sharp lens on their relevance, contradictions, and adaptability for India's pressing realities. At a time when planetary resilience is stretched to its limits, the article calls for a radical rethinking of how we live, build, and sustain.

The recent World Bank report that ranks India as the fourth most equal country globally has sparked a critical debate on the measures and metrics behind inequality rankings and poverty reduction. The conversation decodes the data sources, methodological inconsistencies, and paradoxes in economic inequality indicators such as the Gini coefficient and income or wealth shares by different classes of populations. It explores why poverty decline does not necessarily translate into equality and examines the role of welfare schemes, progressive taxation, and statistical frameworks in shaping our understanding of inequality in India. This reflection offers a cautionary perspective against uncritical interpretations of global rankings and emphasizes the need for nuanced, context-aware policy responses.

India has emerged as a significant global destination for medical tourism, attracting more than two million international patients annually[1]. Offering services ranging from complex cardiac surgeries and organ transplants to holistic wellness therapies rooted in traditional knowledge systems, India positions itself at the crossroads of clinical expertise and cultural healing. This article critically examines the opportunities and challenges in India’s medical tourism sector. It explores the infrastructural and human capital advantages, evaluates institutional and policy support mechanisms, and interrogates the ethical and equity-related implications of a burgeoning health economy. While the industry contributes to national GDP and enhances India's global profile, it must simultaneously be structured to support inclusivity, accountability, and sustainability. The core challenge remains balancing international aspirations with domestic health care obligations.