The fatal Delhi gang rape in 2012, also known as the Nirbhaya case, is seen as a watershed moment in India’s efforts to tackle sexual violence against women. The case had sparked massive protests and led to tougher anti-rape laws. Conversations around rape, often regarded as taboo or a matter of shame, also became more open in the Indian society. But 10 years since, signs of sexual crimes abating in India are not very encouraging. Recent government data points to a steady increase in the last few years. And justice still remains out of reach for many. So have reforms really worked? Are societal attitudes changing to counter the deep-rooted cult of masculinity that the Indian patriarchal society harbours? And is there consensus on the severity of punishment for the culprits? Joining the discussion are Neha Singh, campaigner, founder of Why Loiter Initiative; Manjula Pradeep, director of campaigns at Dalit Human Rights Defenders Network; Anita Abraham, criminal and civil lawyer Presenter: Divya Arya

India is a cricket-loving nation, with the sport played all over the country - from grassroots gully (street) cricket to domestic, national and international leagues. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is the world’s richest cricket governing body, with a net worth of around $2 billion. But women's cricket in the country has struggled to enjoy the same level of recognition and funding as men's cricket. The recent announcement by the BCCI to pay equal match fees to both men and women players has been widely welcomed. But will it change the patriarchal mindset that women players face right from the start of their cricket journey? Will it help attract more brands and sponsors to women’s cricket? And how about the annual retainership fee that still has a huge gap between men and women cricketers? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether gender pay parity will change the way the sport is played in India. Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Khyati Gulani, former cricketer, coach at Delhi & District Cricket Association; Ramakrishnan R, co-founder and director, Baseline Ventures; Ridhima Pathak, sports anchor

As mass layoffs at Meta and Twitter hit the global tech industry, many more companies have either already downsized or are expected to come out with similar announcements soon. Employees who’ve got the pink slip have all the more reason to worry as questions about an impending recession gain ground. So what should be the immediate steps to safeguard one’s financial future? Do companies provide enough resources to plan the next career move? Are they even mindful of employees who have been laid off? Losing a job can be devastating, and layoffs are always a gruelling ordeal. How does one endure the trauma and mental stress that layoffs often bring? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the best strategies and resources available to deal with layoffs. Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: John Victor, clinical psychologist, founder of Reevin Mental Health; Prashant Pandey, business leader at Manpower Group; Deba Prasad Dhar, media professional, experienced layoff

In 2018, India’s Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex in a landmark ruling which was seen as a big victory for the country's LGBTQ+ community. But activists say attitudes on the ground have been slow to change. Members of the community still face discrimination and harassment in daily life. While activists have called for specific laws to help fight these prejudices, several LGBTQ+ couples have also filed petitions seeking to legalise same-sex marriages. But will the struggle for the right to marry divert attention from the fight for equal rights and acceptance? And will the country evolve with changing times? Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Saurabh Kirpal, senior advocate, identifies as gay; Debolina Dey, assistant professor, identifies as lesbian and queer; Sharif D Ranganekar, author, workplace culture consultant, identifies as gay

India’s festive season has prompted a surge in hiring of women for temporary jobs. But women still represent a small proportion of India’s workforce. Experts say corporate India is paying more attention to diversity in the workplace, opening many opportunities for women employees, but numbers still remain worryingly low. India's overall joblessness is worrying: the country's unemployment rate has exceeded that of most emerging economies in recent years. Women also face enormous discrimination in the job market, and earn less than men even when they have the same qualifications and experience. How can Indian women get better, more equitable opportunities? And is it possible to have a more diverse employee pool in both formal and informal sectors? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how can India add more women to its workforce. Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Amitabh Behar, CEO, Oxfam India; Rituparna Chakraborty, co-founder and executive director, TeamLease Services; Sabina Dewan, president and executive director, JustJobs Network

In a recent ruling, India’s Supreme Court made significant additions to abortion rights, saying every woman – married or unmarried – should be able to make reproductive choices without interference from the State. The verdict has made headlines in a country known for its patriarchal society, where women have little sexual autonomy. Pre-marital sex is taboo, while marital rape is not recognised as a crime. Moreover, an alarmingly large number of women in India go through unsafe abortions. Does a landmark ruling translate into effective implementation on the ground? Will this help change the mindset towards women’s reproductive rights? Can abortions be made acceptable across the country’s largely rural landscape? Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Sakshi Bhatt, media professional; Dr Jahnvi Andharia, director and research fellow, Institute of Social Studies Trust; Dr Anjali Kumar, senior consultant gynaecologist and founder of Maitri Woman's Health

Antibiotics are the mainstay of modern medicine and play a critical role in treating bacterial infections, and saving lives. But what happens when you take them in excess? According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance due to indiscriminate use of antibiotics has become one of the biggest global public health threats. As many as 10 million people could die each year as a result of antimicrobial resistance by 2050, experts say. And for India, this is an urgent problem. The country is among the world’s largest antibiotic consumers in absolute volume, but doesn’t have a comprehensive surveillance system to monitor use. And resistance to drugs has become so widespread that sometimes even some of the common infections are difficult to treat. Is this happening due to self-medication, as drugs are easily accessible over-the-counter? Or is it because of over-prescription by doctors? Do patients have enough awareness about antibiotics? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how to tackle India’s antibiotics overuse. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dinesh Madan, Chairman of retail distribution chemist alliance; Dr Rachna Kucheria, founder of DocGenie Telemedicine and family physician; Dr Suneela Garg, professor of excellence for community medicine, chair of programme advisory committee at National Institute of Health and Family Welfare

Millions of Indian households rely on microfinance – small loans available to the poor as an alternative to traditional banking credit. For many, it is a lifeline, and often the only way to begin a business. But despite the industry recording a 10% growth in its loan book this year, there is also a huge increase in borrowers defaulting on payments. After the pandemic, the cash crunch is even bigger, experts say. What is at the root of the crisis? Is it the exorbitant rates of interest charged by microfinance companies, or the easy availability of multiple loans to borrowers? What can be done to tackle the endless cycle of debt that micro loans create? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Amit Arora, senior sector specialist, Rural and Development Finance; Devesh Sachdev, founder and CEO, Fusion Microfinance; Swati Sinha, CEO, Microfinance.ai

Do you feel motivated at work, or does going to the office make you feel stressed? The idea of slowly withdrawing yourself from overwork has recently gained intense media attention. It is about “quiet quitting” - that is, clocking in and out of work, doing the bare minimum, and disengaging from all other aspects of the workplace. But is this a new trend? Experts say the concept has been around for decades, but in the wake of the pandemic, employees feel particularly undervalued - and overworked. But is this also about broader cultural attitudes and toxicity at work that is seeping into our productivity and our careers in the longer term? How can discontentment be turned into ownership? Or is this trend here to stay, with the younger generation of employees preferring a better work-life balance? Can companies do something to avoid workers quietly quitting? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Suhel Goel, executive vice president, SandMartin Consultants; Astha Chandra, leadership coach and trainer; Shikha Verma, HR consultant, learning & development expert

India’s roads are regarded as being among the most dangerous in the world. In 2021, road accidents claimed more than 150,000 lives - an average of 18 per hour, according to government data. There is rarely any conversation around road safety in the country - but the recent death of Indian billionaire Cyrus Mistry in a car crash has changed that. Many are now calling for a mindset shift among Indians, who are used to traveling in overcrowded vehicles without proper safety measures, so that more people can travel at the same time. Traffic rules don’t count for much here, but many also say that faulty road engineering plays a key role in many road accidents. What can be done to improve the design of Indian roads? How can vehicles introduce better safety measures and how can road users be made to follow traffic rules? Should the government bring in stricter enforcement of law? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how to make India’s roads safer. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Piyush Tewari, founder and CEO, SaveLIFE Foundation; Prof Sewa Ram, head of transport planning, School of Planning & Architecture; Anand Sharma, co-founder and director, Studio34

One in every four Indians to die by suicide in 2021 was a daily wage earner. In 2020, daily wage earners accounted for more than 35,000 of the nearly 150,000 recorded suicides in the country. More than 90% of India’s workforce is engaged in the informal sector. That’s a huge number in a country with 1.4 billion people. A large number of them survive on whatever they are paid after a hard day’s work, and they lead very difficult lives. Finding work is a daily struggle. Then there is social discrimination and exploitation. Many get sucked into the debt trap. Are welfare schemes run by the government not adequate? What can be done to make their lives easier? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what’s causing the increase in suicides among India’s daily wagers. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Nikhil Dey, founder, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan; Nida Ansari, labour rights activist, co-founder of Mazdoor Kitchen; Palle Ajay Swaero, IT consultant at LibTech India, son of daily wage worker

India’s startup ecosystem is among the largest in the world, and it has grown exponentially in the last six years. Government data puts the number of recognised startups in the country at more than 70,000 this year – from less than 500 in 2016. But now funding is drying up, and investors are becoming increasingly picky when parting with their money. Experts say there are several reasons why the startup ecosystem is running into headwinds. A lot of startups are on a high cash burn model, and layoffs have been huge this year. Most startups are also unprofitable. So is this a temporary pause to conserve cash and focus on building a strong foundation, or have global macroeconomic factors such as rising inflation and supply chain disruptions derailed growth? What can be done to sail through the downturns? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Nikunj Parashar, founder and CEO, Sagar Defence Engineering; Sanchita Mukherji, senior finance professional, managing partner, TalkTheWalk LLP; Divanshu Kumar, co-founder and CEO, Solinas Integrity

Political parties in India, the largest democracy in the world, often try to win over voters by offering them free gifts such as television sets, mixers and grinders, electricity, and food rations. The list is long, and the trend not new, but a fierce debate over freebies is now raging in the country, especially after the issue reached the Supreme Court. It’s a complex debate in a country where hundreds of millions of people still live below the poverty line. Can India really draw the line between welfare schemes, subsidies and freebies? Many experts point out that irrational freebies are doled out from public funds and put state finances under tremendous financial stress. Others say many of these schemes are life-changing interventions for the poor. What is the way forward, and what can be done to ensure political parties are more mindful when making these promises? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether India can afford a freebie culture. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Yamini Aiyar, president and chief executive, Centre for Policy Research; NR Bhanumurthy, vice chancellor, Dr BR Ambedkar School of Economics University; Mitali Nikore, development economist, founder, Nikore Associates

The cheetah, declared extinct in India in 1952, is set to make a comeback in the country this year. The world’s fastest land animal is being translocated from South Africa and Namibia, home to the world’s largest populations of the wild cat. This is the first time a large carnivore is being moved across continents, but can the ambitious project succeed? Many Indian conservationists are sceptical of the idea, and call it a cosmetic project. Some also question the priority being given to the cheetah, which isn’t a part of the national wildlife action plan. Will the African cheetahs really roam free in India’s forest reserves soon? Will their numbers grow? And will they readily adapt to the different ecosystem that the country offers? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in bringing the cheetah back to India. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Vivek Menon, founder and executive director, Wildlife Trust of India; Professor Adrian Tordiffe, vet wildlife specialist, University of Pretoria; Dr Ravi Chellam, CEO, Metastring Foundation and coordinator, Biodiversity Collaborative

In August 1947, India won its independence from British rule and split into two new states – India and Pakistan. The turmoil and trauma that followed marred the birth of the two newly independent nations. Hundreds of thousands were killed, and an estimated 15 million were displaced, as Muslims migrated to Pakistan and Hindus crossed the border into India. It’s often cited as one of the biggest movements of people in history. The issue continues to be debated with a sharp clash of narratives, but it is the individuals and families on both sides of the border who still carry painful memories of the displacement. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we revisit and relive some of those memories of pain, nostalgia, anguish and hope, and talk to those who are helping to preserve these stories for future generations. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Lady Kishwar Desai, author, chairperson, Partition Museum; Aanchal Malhotra, writer, oral historian; Saadia Gardezi, co-founder and Pakistan lead, Project Dastaan

Last year, nearly 160,000 Indians gave up their citizenship. In 2020, India was ranked highest by the United Nations among countries with the largest diaspora populations, with over 18 million Indians living outside the country. What’s shaping these trends in India? According to experts, it is mostly the prospect of better education or employment. But many say that in recent years, growing concern over pollution and corruption have emerged as the strongest factors to move out. Some even point to the changing social environment of increased polarisation within the country. So is this trend here to stay? What about the smaller but definitive group of Indians returning to the homeland? What’s their story of reverse migration? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss why are so many Indians moving abroad. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Akshay Saxena, co-founder, Avanti Fellows; Ajay Sharma, founder and president, Abhinav Immigration Services; Maninder Singh, founder and coach, N-Kor Tennis Academy; Gaurav Kyal, country manager, UK-based tech firm

Traditionally, the luxury industry in India has used exclusivity as a way to maintain its mystique and desirability. But younger generations of luxury consumers are bringing in new trends. Attitudes are changing about what quality really means. Is it sustainable? Does it belong to an ethical brand? Is it a wholesome experience rather than just an expensive label to adorn? In a market that is projected to cross $200 billion by 2030, what is the new meaning of luxury? Is it more inclusive of the rural artisans that form one end of the supply chain? And is it expanding to newer luxury shoppers through affordable retail options available through online stores? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how luxury fashion is changing in India. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Anita Dongre, founder, House of Anita Dongre; Ritu Beri, founder, Ritu Beri Designs and The Luxury League; Rahul Mishra, fashion designer

Egg freezing is a relatively new concept in India. Despite a lot of social stigma associated with it, the procedure is gaining attention and emerging as a growing trend in urban areas. A lot of women are now opting to freeze their eggs for social reasons, such as pursuing their dream careers, or waiting to marry at a later age. But does egg freezing guarantee motherhood when you are finally ready for it, and how costly does it get? What are the wins and the pitfalls associated with the procedure, both mental and physical? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the growing trend of egg freezing in India. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Diana Hayden, actress, former Miss World; Dr Hrishikesh Pai, IVF specialist, founder, Bloom IVF; Gitanjali Banerjee, founder, Fertility Dost

The practice of tipping is widespread across the world. But when to tip, how much and to whom are questions that often stump people. For example, in the US, it is customary to tip a restaurant server anywhere between 15-25%. In Japan, however, tipping is considered rude. But should restaurants be collecting a mandatory service charge, irrespective of whether you are happy with the service you have received? This has become the core of an unsavoury debate in India, after a government order banned restaurants from levying a default service charge on food bills. The restaurant association is challenging this ban, saying it isn’t illegal and that the amount is important for staff welfare. Many also argue that Indians are not always “generous tippers”. So, should diners have the discretion to accept or reject charges beyond their food bill? And will removing a service charge hurt an industry already suffering from the ill-effects of the pandemic? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether a service charge should be mandatory when eating out. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Pradeep Shetty, joint honorary secretary, FHRAI; Nikita Varma, food influencer; Rekha Agarwal, lawyer, consumer rights activist

Do you want to find out how much your colleagues earn? Pay is a major factor in deciding whether one takes up a job, or even applies for it in the first place, yet the moment one is on a company’s payroll, all talk about remuneration is shrouded in secrecy. But that is now changing in many organisations around the world. Pay transparency has its advantages, but does it also lead to jealousy among co-workers, sapping them of motivation? Would everyone be receptive to this level of openness at the workplace? And what impact does it have on gender pay gaps within organisations? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether companies should follow an open salary policy. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Rajneesh Singh, founder, SimplyHR; Sunder Malyandi, co-founder, Sahaj Software; Prerna Seth, senior researcher at women’s work project, CPR

A recent survey by the Indian government shows that Indians are getting fatter. Obesity increased by more than 4% in both men and women in India in the last five years. More alarmingly, it also became more prevalent in children under the age of five years. Experts say too much body fat increases the risk of serious diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart problems, and lung conditions. In 2021, obesity accounted for 2.8 million deaths globally. So what’s going on? Is a sedentary lifestyle responsible for obesity, or readily available fast-food options? Are Indians genetically inclined to put on too much fat? And what can be done to lose weight effectively while maintaining a healthy daily routine? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the reasons behind India’s obesity problem and ways to counter it. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Komal Khulbe, fashion blogger, founder, KOQAL; Dr Atul Peters, director of bariatric surgery, Max Hospital; Asad Hussain, founder, Odds Fitness

Every year, the month of June now comes associated with the colours of the rainbow. It’s celebrated as Pride Month to commemorate the struggle for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. In recent years, companies big and small have used the occasion to release creative campaigns focused on LGBTQ+ people. While the recognition is a welcome step forward, many from the LGBTQ+ community wonder if there is any real acceptance. So, do these companies simply cash in on moment marketing? Are they guilty of rainbow washing, or are they really making meaningful change? Should brands avoid the rainbow onslaught and come up with strategies throughout the year? And what about looking inwards to see if their policies are inclusive or discriminatory? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how brands can avoid rainbow washing. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Harish Iyer, equal rights activist; Sunny Sharma, beauty and makeup YouTuber, Mua Sunny; Neeraj Bassi, strategic advisor, Branding and Marketing

In India, reports of rising Islamophobia and hyper-nationalism are posing serious concerns. The past few weeks have been particularly tense. Several Islamic countries have confronted India over offensive comments against Prophet Muhammad by a spokesperson of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The Indian government has been trying to limit the damage from the controversy. But critics say the situation has worsened because of a studied silence by the country’s top leadership over increasing cases of Islamophobia and hate speech in the country. Is this polarisation now affecting India’s interests on the global stage? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether India’s global image is taking a hit over rising Islamophobia. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Hamid Ansari, former vice president, India; Seema Chishti, journalist and author; Ashok Sajjanhar, former ambassador

Acid attacks remain a big issue in India. In most cases, the perpetrators are men, who throw acid on women for rejecting their advances. According to official statistics, there were nearly 200 cases in 2020 - but campaigners say the actual number of attacks is much higher. There are tough laws in place, but implementation has been inadequate, and conviction rates are abysmally low. So what happens to someone who has survived an acid attack? What does it take to recover from the shock, the trauma and the hatred associated with such a crime? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the resilience of India’s acid attack survivors. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Tania Singh, CEO and co-founder, Make Love Not Scars; Anshu Rajput, acid attack survivor; Sneha Mukherjee, lawyer, Human Rights Law Network

As the Russia-Ukraine war continues with no end in sight, countries across the world are imposing new restrictions on food exports. Many countries have banned essential items such as edible oils, poultry and grains. Now experts fear this protectionist move by governments could lead to the worst food crisis the world has seen in decades. India too, recently announced curbs on its wheat and sugar exports. The decision came after an unseasonal heatwave in the country affected crops and drove domestic prices to a record high. But critics say it could lead to further food inflation and price fluctuations. Is India prepared to face the consequences of export bans from other countries as well? Will this move trigger further disruptions in the food supply chain? And do export bans have a larger geopolitical impact? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the cost of India’s food nationalism. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Avinash Kishore, research fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute; Devinder Sharma, food trade and policy analyst; Anu Meena, founder and CEO, Agrowave

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the richest leagues in the world. It’s also among the most-followed sporting events. Over the last few years, the tournament has been known to shatter viewing records. But this year, television viewership dipped by more than 30% in the first few weeks of the season. What led to this fall? Experts point out many reasons, from cricket overdose, to post-Covid lifestyle, to a variety of viewing platforms. But companies are worried about the fall in viewership, as it curtails the reach of their advertisements. Is IPL cricket losing its sheen and crowd-pulling power? Does the game need to overhaul its format? Or is it just a phase until the next season begins? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether the IPL needs to reinvent itself. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Rammohan Sundaram, country head - Integrated Media, DDB Mudra Group; Shradha Agarwal, CEO and co-founder, Grapes; Arani Basu, sports journalist, Times of India

India is the world’s third-largest producer of electricity, and three-quarters of this electricity comes from coal-based thermal power plants. But despite having one of the world’s largest coal reserves, the country is often teetering on the brink of a power crisis. Last year, it was an unexpected surge in demand as the economy picked up after a deadly Covid wave; this year, it’s been an earlier-than-expected intense heatwave coupled with the war in Ukraine that is making coal imports costly and unaffordable. In fact, the power crisis rose to such a level that over 100 passenger trains had to be cancelled to make way for coal carriages. So, does India’s coal shortage stem from a lack of proper risk allocation, inefficient coal production, or a failure to anticipate a surge in demand? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what’s behind India’s power crisis. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Partha Bhattacharya, former chairman & managing director, Coal India; Manmohan Gaind, vice-president, Manesar Industries Welfare Association; Karthik Ganesan, fellow and director, research coordination, CEEW

Streaming is now the main growth driver for music revenues worldwide. In India, music streaming is estimated to cross $870m by 2025. According to a recent study, Indians also listen to more music than the rest of the world - over 19 hours a week, compared to 18 hours globally. And nearly 67% of this music is consumed through social media sites or apps. With those kinds of figures - what kind of effect is this having on young artists, who are often told, told, “It’s the future of music” or, “It’s here to stay, so learn to work with it.” How does this affect their creativity, and how do they deal with the pressure to gain more followers on social media? We discuss the perils and pitfalls of social media for aspiring artistes. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Nikhil Chinapa, DJ, anchor, music festival curator; Chintan Kalra, producer, musician, co-founder - Indie Band Parikrama; Lekha Raman, fashion model, disc jockey Photo: Watching a concert on a mobile phone Credit: Getty Images

Encouraging a quick transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is at the heart of India’s efforts to overhaul its transportation industry. It’s also because transport accounts for more than 140 million tonnes of carbon emissions - making it the third-largest emitter of CO2 in India. Sales of EVs have been going up consistently in the last few years, leading to suggestions that the industry is about to hit a turning point, but a recent spate of fire incidents in electric two-wheelers has raised severe safety concerns and experts say it’s time for the government to bring in proper regulation and safety standards in the EV industry. How hard has consumer confidence been hit? Would incentives to buy EVs fuel its adoption, or would people rather wait for the technology to become more reliable and opt for ICE (a conventional vehicle, powered by the internal combution engine) vehicles instead? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Rajiv Kumar, economist, former vice chairman, Niti Aayog; Sulajja Motwani, founder and CEO - Kinetic Green Energy, vice chairperson - Kinetic Group; Kedar Soman, chief technology officer, eBikeGo Photo: A worker on an Electric Bike assembly line Credit: Getty Images

We live in a world with constantly mounting standards of beauty and fitness. For many, it turns into a rollercoaster of feeling anxious and getting reassurance from other people that they look good. Often, it turns into negative self-image; if left unchecked, it can become a serious disorder. But is there just one way to be fit, or one ideal look? How important is it to be neutral about the diverse range of body shapes and appearances around us? And what can be the different ways to tackle body image concerns and disorders? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss ways of dealing with body shaming. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Nimrat Kaur, Bollywood actress; Khushi Jain, founder, DefEating Disorders; Neha Parulkar, plus-size model, body positivity influencer; Diksha Chhabra, nutritionist, fitness expert

Often referred to as the next big thing in the digital space, the metaverse has caught the fancy of big tech firms around the world. The belief is that soon we will all be hanging out in different digital worlds to work, play, attend concerts, watch movies, or catch up with a friend over coffee. The concept is now also finding firm ground in India, where many companies have begun exploring the space. Some have launched retail stores inside a metaverse shopping mall, while some have opened up office complexes. Some have even organised weddings. But does it all sound much like a souped-up version of virtual reality? Does India have the right technology and bandwidth to develop the metaverse, or is it just a fad that is likely to pass after some time? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Rajesh Dhuddu, VP and practice leader - Blockchain, Tech Mahindra; Manish Maheshwari, founder and CEO, Invact Metaversity; Sai Srinivas, CEO and co-founder, Mobile Premier League; Pushpak Kypuram, co-founder and director, NextMeet

A bizarre controversy over food has grabbed the spotlight in India recently. Calls for a meat ban by right-wing politicians during a Hindu religious festival sparked a fierce debate about unwanted interference in people’s food choices. Many see this as an assault on secularism - one of the key principles on which independent India was founded. Experts also point out that despite common beliefs about India being a largely vegetarian country, research has shown that only about 20% of Indians are actually vegetarian. Hindus, who make up 80% of the country's population, are major meat-eaters. While the Hindu nationalist government has reasserted its commitment to secularism, there is rising fear that the call for a meat ban is just another part of the process, which aims to gradually undermine the freedom of choice that minority communities have so far enjoyed. And what about the Constitutional rights to food and livelihood? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether the state should be policing people’s food choices. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Zainab Sikander, writer, columnist; Dr Manoshi Bhattacharya, clinical nutritionist, food historian; Rahul Easwar, author, right-wing activist Image: A view of a meat shop, at INA market on April 6, 2022 in New Delhi, India (Credit: Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Over the last few decades, India has seen a consistent rise in heatwave conditions, and this March was the hottest India has seen in over 120 years. Weather experts say the situation can only get worse as global warming heats up the planet. There are serious long term consequences but for many, living through India’s frequent heatwaves itself is a question of survival. A majority of India’s workforce from the low-income community works outdoors or lives without proper shelter from the heat. What can be done to save lives and prevent heat-related illnesses? Is this an irreversible change, or can appropriate policies and measures make a difference? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the solutions to deal with India’s heatwave challenge. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Ulka Kelkar, director - Climate, World Resources Institute India; Anshu Sharma, co-founder, SEEDS; Sachii Tripathii, founder, Terracotta by Sachii; Deepa Subramaniam, co-founder, Woody Grass Photo: A worker in Delhi, India, takes rest during a sweltering summer's day Credit: Getty Images

Five weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, India has been walking a diplomatic tightrope, trying to balance its ties with Moscow and the West. Many say it’s because of India’s dependence on Russian military hardware, and its old friendship with the Kremlin. Add to that around $10 billion in bilateral trade - but critics point out that India’s bilateral trade with the US exceeds $100bn. What is driving India’s policy on the international stage? Is “strategic autonomy” becoming an outdated concept in the changing world order, or can India leverage its neutral stand to build stronger ties with all nations, and play the role of a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the choices India has made and their likely impact on its relationship with the West. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Shyam Saran, former foreign secretary of India; JN Misra, former Indian diplomat, distinguished fellow, OP Jindal University; Vivek Mishra, fellow, Observer Research Foundation Photo: A peace campaigner holds portraits of Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky in Bhopal, India Credit: Getty Images

The global semiconductor industry is at a crunch point. Millions of products, including cars, smartphones, and network routers, rely on chips, also known as semiconductors. But the Covid pandemic and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine – both major suppliers of raw materials needed to make semiconductors – have hugely affected this industry. The shortage of chips has resulted in huge disruptions for several industries. India, which imports most of its semiconductors, is also feeling the brunt. According to industry experts, consumer products using chips are likely to get more expensive, while cars relying on modern chips will have longer waiting queues. So what can be done to deal with this? Should manufacturers curtail production? Or can the government’s new schemes to make semiconductors locally really help? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how can India deal with this global chip crisis. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Parag Naik, CEO, co-founder, Saankhya Labs; Shruti Saboo, associate director, India Ratings and Research; Ganesh Ramamoorthy, managing VP, emerging technologies and trends, Gartner

More than three million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February this year. A large part of the country’s population is still caught in the middle of war. They have witnessed horrific bombings, experienced loss of lives around them, and watched their homes and cities destroyed. How scarred will they remain by what they have experienced? And what about those trained to fight or report in a conflict? According to mental health experts, distressing events during a war can lead to post-traumatic stress disorders.These could even be experienced by those not directly involved, but who consume information through online or offline media. So what are the tips to stay safe, and warning signs to watch out for? How can therapy and counselling help? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss ways to deal with the trauma of war. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Nitin A Gokhale, defence and security analyst; Dr Parul Tank, psychiatrist, EMDR Association; Lt Col Samir Rawat (Retd), military psychologist, war veteran; Shourya Royal, MBBS student, Kharkiv Medical University, Ukraine

In the last two years, the world has become accustomed to remote working. The Covid pandemic changed the way we work, with many people rarely, if ever, going into the office. But as the world returns to normality, corporates are now facing an interesting question: Should they let the workers stay at home, bring everyone back to the office, or find a solution in between? And what about the employees? Do they want to return and what are their concerns? What are the difficulties companies are facing in bringing them back to the office space? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what companies are doing to bring employees back to the office. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sandeep Rao, CEO, One Source Group; Devita Saraf, chairman and CEO, Vu Group; Zubin Palia, chief group HR & IR, Tata Steel; Krish Shankar; EVP & group head, HR, Infosys

There is a growing clamour for criminalising forced sex in a marriage. Campaigners have demanded this for a long time, but there are many in India’s strongly patriarchal society who are outraged. They believe the law will be misused and lead to false cases against men. But is that a good enough reason not to make forced sex illegal when women outside of marriage have strong legal protection? And how can India provide justice to victims fighting a lonely battle in a society that, more often than not, blames them for maligning the institution of marriage? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether it is time for India to criminalise marital rape. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Colin Gonsalves, senior advocate, Supreme Court of India; Tara Krishnaswamy, co-founder, Political Shakti; Wasif Ali, co-founder, Men Welfare Trust

More and more women are taking up professional sports across the world, becoming more visible, assertive and active in the sporting arena. But these hard-won victories are not the norm, and they invariably have amazing back stories of struggles off the field. Women starting out in any sport often have an uphill battle to wage due to limited opportunities, support and money. In India, family obligations and a patriarchal mindset are often the biggest roadblocks. But as the BBC announces this year’s awards to honour India’s finest sportswomen, we look at their personal journeys to understand the sweat, grit and struggle that goes into every win. Is there a better way to formulate policies to encourage more women and para athletes to take up sport? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we look at India’s ace women athletes and what goes into the making of a champion. With contributions from Dr Deepa Malik, president, Paralympic Committee of India; Manu Bhaker, Olympian shooter; Deepthi Bopaiah, CEO, GoSports Foundation. Presenter: Devina Gupta (Photo: The India team celebrate the final of the women's 4*400m athletics event on day 12 of the Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia. Credit: Fred Lee/Getty Images)

An escalating row over the hijab, a headscarf worn by Muslim women, has highlighted India’s sharpening religious divide in recent weeks. After a government-run college barred six Muslim girls from attending classes for wearing the hijab, a debate over uniform dress code erupted across the country. The girls say the hijab is an essential part of their religious identity, which is protected by the Constitution. Protests both in favour of and against the Muslim girls’ demands have been organised in several parts of India. Some have turned violent. An Indian court has now asked students to abstain from wearing religious clothing in educational institutions till final orders are issued, but the larger issue remains. Is it restrictive to ask students to stick to a uniform dress code at college level? Should they be forced to choose between education and religious practices? Will it have a wider impact on the education of girl students in the country? How feasible is it to impose such rules in a nation known for its diverse cultural identity? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether India’s colleges should have a dress code. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Afreen Fatima, student activist; Sabika Abbas Naqvi, community and advocacy manager, Fearless Collective; Professor Geeta Bhatt, University of Delhi; Priyanka Chaturvedi, MP, spokesperson - Shiv Sena; Kavita Krishnan, secretary, All India Progressive Women's Association

India’s unemployment rate was at almost 8% last month, a recent study has reported, significantly higher than that seen in the last many years. The situation is so bad that two Indian states saw violent protests last week, with some job seekers setting railway carriages on fire. There is also a huge mismatch in available jobs and people with the right skills for them. The government has announced plans to create millions of new jobs by promoting local manufacturing and big spending on infrastructure. But the gap in demand and supply is huge. Can India create enough jobs to meet the needs of its hundreds of millions of poorly employed people, especially the youth? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss ways to tackle India’s jobs crisis. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Mahesh Vyas, MD and CEO, CMIE; Pawan Goyal, chief business officer, Naukri.com; Mehar Sindhu Batra, career coach, influencer; Prafull Billore, founder, MBA Chai Wala

India’s online space has seen an alarming rise in misogyny and harassment of women during the pandemic. In a recent incident, more than 100 prominent Muslim women were put up for sale in a mock online auction. Critics say cyber bullying and trolling of Muslim women in particular has worsened in recent years in India’s polarised climate. So, what are the right doors to knock on, if facing online hate? Do women, particularly those who are vocal and influential in India’s patriarchal society, know their basic cyber rights? How does it impact their mental wellbeing? And what’s causing this environment of online hate to spread wider? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what’s prompting online misogyny and the ways to deal with it. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sayema Rahman, radio presenter; Sadaf Vidha, founder, Guftagu Therapy; Dr Pavan Duggal, cyber law expert, advocate

Five states in India are headed to regional ballots in the coming weeks. More than 180 million people are eligible to vote to choose their local leaders for nearly 690 assembly seats. Physical rallies and election roadshows have been banned due to the pandemic, and poll campaigning has shifted online, with hashtags and digital rallies dominating the election battle. Many political parties have even trained their workers as “social media warriors” to spread their message. But can digital campaigning really be effective in states that have many regions still with little or no access to the internet? Can virtual meetings really replace the impact of seeing your leaders in person? And does misinformation influence voting behaviour? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the way digital campaigning is shaping India’s elections. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Ankit Lal, founder, Politique Advisors; Rajika Kacheria, media joint in-charge, BJP - Gujarat North Zone; Sanjay Kumar, professor - CSDS, political analyst

A sharp surge in coronavirus cases in recent weeks has made India’s key cities brace for the pandemic’s third wave. Many places have imposed weekend curfews and other restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, driven mainly by the Omicron variant. Nationwide, rising infections are a sombre reminder of the devastating second wave. Experts say the new wave may not be as devastating as the previous one, but advise caution against increasing caseloads. How well are hospitals prepared to handle the additional pressure? Can vaccine manufacturers develop solutions for the virus’s mutations? And how can state authorities ensure social distancing and other measure to stem the spread? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how India is dealing with the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Murad Banaji, mathematician, University of Middlesex, London; Kirill Dmitriev, CEO, Russian Direct Investment Fund; Shobana Kamineni, executive vice chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group; Dr Shahid Jameel, virologist, Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, UK

For many, a retirement plan is something that usually ranks far down the list of more urgent priorities - but the expectations we have for our later years may not completely match up with reality. For example, would you have a fixed income that matches the pace of inflation when you retire? Recent studies have pointed out that most people are not aware of how much they really need to save for their silver years. Nearly 80% of urban Indians are not ready for retirement, according to one such study. So, what should you be doing to achieve that dream life after retirement? And what if you want to retire early and pursue an alternative career? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the skills, the saving plans, and the mindset you should have as you plan for your retirement. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Surya Bhatia, financial advisor; Neha Bagaria, founder and CEO, JobsForHer; Aditi Sholapurkar, co-founder, SALT; Dinesh Mohan, model

Many successful start-ups have been founded in India over the last decade, but a vast majority of them are led by men. While many Indian women have entrepreneurial ambitions, it is often more difficult for them to succeed. In fact, a recent study by the World Economic Forum says that worldwide, women entrepreneurs face a systemic lack of access to capital, credit, land, or financial products that prevent them from starting a company. There is also an unconscious bias and a lack of family support and child-care options, especially in India’s patriarchal society. So what’s holding India's women entrepreneurs back, and what needs to be done to encourage more women to break through these barriers? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how India’s women leaders and businesswomen are breaking stereotypes and making a name for themselves. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dimpy Dewan, co-founder, Hanchens; Mona Singh, venture capitalist, India Accelerator; Sairee Chahal, founder, SHEROES, Mahila Money; Rama Gupta, founder, Shrishti

Have you ever sat in a room surrounded by gift wrapping paper, a pile of holiday or festive gifts, and wondered whether you will ever use any of them? Once again, we are in the middle of the gifting season. And the dilemma for many of us is what to buy. How can you make that joy even more special for someone receiving the gift? Is it okay to just go ahead and buy the most expensive gift you can find? Should a bunch of flowers or a cake accompany every present you give? Would you rather gift a voucher, a digital card or an investment? Or are you for a sustainable present, or one that focuses on an experience? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the many, many ways you can choose a perfect gift. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Harshvardhan Khemani, founder, OyeHappy; Pawan Gadia, CEO, Ferns n Petals; Dominique Lopez, co-founder, Oh Scrap!; Bhavna Kanoria, founder, Scift; Shweta Gupta, gift curator

Global fans of Korean popular culture, known as the K-wave or ‘hallyu’, crossed 100 million in 2020, according to a Korean government agency. In India, everything from K-dramas to music to food and beauty products seems to be making huge inroads. While Korean thriller Squid Game topped the OTT charts for weeks since its release in 2021, music streaming giant Spotify ranked BTS as its fourth most popular boy band in 2020 in India, and the Korean language has seen a dramatic rise in Indian takers. What’s causing this Korean rush in a land hugely dominated by Bollywood culture? Is the K-wave here for the long haul? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the rise of K-wave in India. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Anupam Tripathi, actor; Amit Shah, chief cluster officer - north, west, premium, ZEE; Nikita Engheepi, co-founder, Namaste Hallyu, PinkBox Entertainment; Orlinda Fernandes, India Korea Fans Club Mumbai

Renting high fashion is becoming popular worldwide as more and more people move towards sustainable fashion options. But the industry faces several challenges, especially stigma and taboo related to renting clothes. In India too, although the idea has been around for several decades, renting attires for occasions other than weddings, continues to raise eyebrows. While many feel fashion rentals in the country may not be following stringent hygiene measures, others think renting clothes and handbags frequently helps the circular fashion economy. So is it mostly the Gen Z or millennials who are into fashion rentals? Is social media lifestyle making luxury designer wear more accessible and affordable through rental services? What is the new business model for subscription fashion services? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Aanchal Saini - CEO, Flyrobe Ravina Sachdev - Fashion influencer Gaurav Khanijo - Luxury fashion designer

Resignations in many countries have gathered pace and made headlines around the world. More than 4.3 million workers quit their jobs in the US in August alone. The pandemic has been a key reason why many in India have also decided to reconsider their choice of career. According to studies, nearly 68% of people in India want to switch their industries, and more than 50% of workers want to try something in which they have little to no experience. But how easy or difficult is it to make the switch to an entirely new skillset? What is driving this migration of talent across sectors? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how talent migration is affecting India’s job market and the workforce. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Tushar Verma, travel influencer and co-founder, Untouched Lands; Akshita Wadhwana, founder and director, The Empty Crate Company; Rajneesh Singh, managing partner, SimplyHR Solutions

Algorithms drive most industries today, from medicine to manufacturing, finance and even the legal profession. Everyone uses code that makes their work – and lives – easier. It’s a lucrative career option, especially here in India, and tech-savvy kids are getting into coding in increasingly large numbers. Children as young as 5 to 7 years old are learning to write code, and even build apps. In India, the new national education policy has also tried to give a big push to coding at junior school level, calling it a “skill of the future”. But is there a hidden cost to be paid by starting coding so early? Is there an ideal age when young people can start learning to code? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether children should learn to code at a young age. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Shivansh Gupta, coder; Vikrant Singh Rana, coder; Anshul Bhagi, CEO, Camp K12; Dr Upasana Chaddha, psychologist

Air quality continues to be severe in Delhi, the world’s most polluted national capital. The air turns especially toxic in the winter months because of unfavourable weather conditions, and farmers in neighbouring states burning crop stubble add to the problem. It gets particularly bad after Diwali, the festival of lights, when people burst firecrackers, which adds to the toxic haze covering the city. But other factors also play a key role. Vehicular and industrial emissions and dust make the levels of PM2.5 - tiny particles that can clog people's lungs - far higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) safety guidelines. To escape the pollution, many people are now choosing to relocate, either permanently or for a few months, even if it means leaving behind family and friends or taking a hit on professional growth. Should the government take stricter action against pollution? What’s it like to leave behind a well-established life for a place with cleaner air? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how many are choosing to escape Delhi’s toxic air. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Saurabh Bhasin, advocate; Anu Anand, freelance journalist; Srinivas Ganesh, advertising professional

Despite progress in women’s representation as politicians in many parts of the world, there are deep-seated biases that they need to conquer on a daily basis. Only 24 countries have women serving as heads of State or government, according to a recent study by the United Nations; it also says that, at the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power cannot be attained for another 130 years. India ranks better than the US and the UK in terms of political empowerment of women, according to a World Economic Forum report released last year. But of the country’s 28 states, only one has a woman chief minister. How can there be better representation of women from grassroots to the highest roles in Indian politics? Would mandatory reservations for women in legislative bodies help? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how more women can join politics in India. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Supriya Shrinate, national spokesperson, Indian National Congress; Dipsita Dhar, student activist, Communist Party of India; Shaina NC, spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party

The beleaguered tourism sector in India is showing initial signs of revival. The country’s peak travel season is just kicking off and, with the government easing restrictions on air travel, many holiday destinations are once again crowded. Foreign tourists could also be allowed in soon, after being kept away for more than a year-and-a-half. But will this lead to complacency and trigger another wave of Covid infections? How will domestic and international tourists, and the industry, cope with new safety checks and guidelines? And is the industry expecting a rush of foreign tourists, or is it already too late for this season? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how to revive tourism in post-pandemic India. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Deep Kalra, founder and group executive chairman, MakeMyTrip; William Boulter, chief commercial officer, IndiGo; Savi & Vid, founders, Bruised Passports, travel influencers

India gets 70% of its energy from coal, but has very ambitious plans to get 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. But there is also a growing demand for energy. While coal is the cheapest source of electricity, what about the long-term gains of using wind, hydro, and solar energy? And how challenging is it for India to commit to net zero emissions? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the benefits, risks and challenges that India faces in its transition to renewable energy. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Ajay Mathur, director general, International Solar Alliance; Namrata Mukherjee, deputy chief of party, USAID SAREP, RTI International; Sumant Sinha, Chairman & CEO, ReNew Power

The global space industry is expected to be worth about $1 trillion by 2040. India hopes to tap into this increasingly lucrative market, but the country presently holds only about 2% of the world’s space economy. To change that, it is now encouraging private players to drive innovation in space technology. Will the recent opening up of this sector help meet its space goals? How can space tech startups bring in solutions to resolve ground problems? And will Indian space tourism be a reality in the coming years? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how Indian businesses can get ahead in the space race. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Rahul Vatts, Director, OneWeb India; Chirag Doshi, MD & CEO, Walchandnagar Industries; Pawan Chandana, Founder & CEO, Skyroot Aerospace

Job applications can be tricky. Most parts of the process are tedious, requiring sharp focus and attention to detail. Catching a recruiter’s eye is not easy, and a growing number of firms are now using artificial intelligence in the initial screening and hiring of candidates. What is the secret to getting invited for an interview? What about applying for senior leadership positions? And how creative can you get in the age of video resumes and social media hiring? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the do’s and don’ts that make or break a CV. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Harlina Sodhi, entrepreneur, HR professional and leadership coach; Ankit Vengurlekar, India managing editor, LinkedIn News; Rajat Rai Handa, environmental consultant; Rupak Agrawal, CEO, EvueMe Selection Robot; Rajneesh Singh, managing partner, SimplyHR Solutions

More than 18 months have passed since Covid-19 was officially declared a pandemic. Hundreds of millions of people have lived through lockdowns, adapting to the new ways of working. Millions lost their jobs, many others had to take pay cuts. How has it impacted the way you get paid? Do you think you are paid adequately for the amount of work that you deliver? If not, then you need to ask for more. But how do you do that? Is there a right way of speaking with your manager about how much you are worth? What are the best ways to negotiate your wages? What are the common mistakes employees make when asking for a raise? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the best ways to ask for a pay rise. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sue Ann Vaz, head of value added services and marketing, ABC Consultants; Ankur Warikoo, personal finance influencer; Aishwarya Srivastava, digital marketing professional; Pushkin Shailen, global operations leader, consultant; Smriti George, communications and digital content consultant

Humour, fashion, music or memes: social media stars have a big influence on today’s digital audience, and India, with more than 500 million people using social media platforms, is a buzzing base for all things trending. But is there a method to the frenzy of new content being created and consumed by the hour? What are the pressures of dealing with internet fame? And how do brands collaborate with trending stars of the internet world to monetize their fame? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we find out how to trend on social media. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Yohani Diloka de Silva, singer, songwriter; Bhuvan Bam, digital star, BB Ki Vines; Yashraj Mukhate, music producer, YouTuber; Neha Puri, CEO, co-founder, Vavo Digital

Traditional canvas paintings on easels or walls dominate the popular perception about how art is created and consumed. But technology is revolutionising the way we perceive art. Digital tools are letting artists bring still pictures to life, and blockchain technology is letting them sell their artworks as a non-fungible-token (NFT), which creates a unique digital certificate of authentic ownership. The trend has become so lucrative that a digital-only artwork fetched $69mn at Christie’s auction house earlier this year. But is this a bubble in the making or is NFT art here to stay? Can digital art help younger artists monetize their work easily? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the future of digital art. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Aparajita Jain, co-director, Nature Morte Art, and founder, Terrain.art; Ishita Banerjee, artist, creator, Soul Curry Art; Amrita Sethi, NFT artist

Before India legalised homosexual sex in 2018, the LGBTQ+ community in this country of more than a billion people lived under the shadow of a law dating back nearly 160 years to colonial rule. As the ruling was handed down, there were celebrations all across the country, but three years on, have social mindsets and attitudes changed? Do professionals from the LGBTQ+ community find it easier to apply for jobs or ask for promotions, or is it still monumental to come out at work? And do corporate India’s inclusive policies tackle real representation, or are they mere tokenism? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how inclusive Indian workplaces are for the LGBTQ+ community. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Ritu Dalmia, chef, restaurateur, LGBTQ+ activist; Harish Iyer, head – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Axis Bank; Ishaan Sethi, business, marketing and product consultant; Ahmed Faraz, business process outsourcing professional

China’s recent move to limit the time children spend on online gaming has put the spotlight back on the long-running concern about how excessive gaming can impact the young. India has a booming online gaming market with around 350 million gamers, 60% of whom are under 25 years, and the pandemic has led to a massive growth of the gaming industry. Experts say addictive behaviour in gaming comes from other underlying concerns, such as loneliness, fear of rejection, or coping with social phobia. Should gaming companies take more ownership to improve awareness and restrict gaming hours for minors? Or should the onus be more on parents to impose gaming curfews? And what are the early signs to detect addictive behaviour? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how to prevent gaming addiction in children. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Zerah Gonsalves, gamer, esports consultant; Dr Manoj Sharma, professor - clinical psychology, Nimhans; Rajan Navani, vice chairman and managing director, JetSynthesys

Thousands of Afghans continue to flee their country since the Taliban seized control last month. Nearly half a million are expected to seek sanctuary in other countries by the end of the year, according to the United Nations. Many of them will head to India. The country has a long-standing practice of welcoming asylum seekers, but selectively, and still doesn’t have a clearly defined state policy. Is an ad hoc system sufficient to take in more refugees on top of the estimated 245,000 that India currently hosts? And can it ensure uniform treatment of refugees from different communities such as the Rohingyas, the Tibetans or the Sri Lankan Tamils? What measures could help asylum seekers feel more socially included and have the basic rights to jobs and education? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether it’s time for India to formulate a national refugee protection framework. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dilip Sinha, former Indian ambassador; Anas Tanwir, advocate, founder – Indian Civil Liberties Union; Sadaf Habib, Afghan national, Asylum seeker; Ali Johar, refugee, founder - Rohingya Literacy Programme

India’s mega film industry - the world's largest in terms of the number of productions - has suffered losses worth billions of dollars due to the pandemic. Since last year, the country’s 9,500 theatres were shut because of the coronavirus outbreak. This led to massive job losses. Film production was hit too, and has only recently started picking up, as theatrical releases make a comeback. But has big-screen movie watching taken a backseat with Covid norms in place? Do on-demand platforms offer more versatile content than multiplexes? And how are actors shooting for movies with so many safety restrictions in place? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has changed Bollywood. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Rahul Mittra, filmmaker; Shubhra Gupta, film critic and columnist; Alok Tandon, CEO, INOX Leisure Limited; Siddharth Malhotra, actor; Kiara Advani, actor

The coronavirus pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on schoolchildren. More than 300 million students in India have been impacted due to school closures as the country battled the health crisis. Many have shifted completely to online classes for more than a year, but millions of others haven’t had access to digital platforms. So, what’s been the fallout as schools begin to take small steps to resume offline classes? How can students recover the lost learning curve? And what about their social-emotional wellbeing? Is it time to rethink education? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the challenges and the solutions needed to bridge the learning gap. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Arindita Gogoi, experiential educator and teacher; Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO, TeamLease Edtech; Vikas Jhunjhunwala, CEO, Sunshine Schools

Ever since partition in 1947, India and Pakistan have been locked in conflict. Often, the two nations are in the news for increasing hostilities along the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides disputed Kashmir. The two countries have a shared history and similar cultures, but despite many attempts at resolving their disputes, lasting peace and good neighbourly relations have eluded them. As both countries prepare to mark their 75th year of independence, we hear from those who dared to love and marry across the borders. What has life been like for them? What is it that they yearn for the most? Would love beyond borders conquer collective prejudices? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we bring you love stories from India and Pakistan that are filled with hope, even in the face of grave challenges. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sarita Singh Sodha, ex-royal, Ghanerao; Zoya Fatima Rizvi and Mir Irfan Hussain Najafi, India-Pak couple; Shazman Mansoor and Mansoor Ali, India-Pak couple

Unusually severe rainfall, flooding, and heatwaves in different parts of India have raised questions about extreme weather becoming more common in the country. According to a recent study, India saw the world's largest displacement in 2020 caused by floods and cyclones. The economic loss was estimated to be over 20 billion dollars. So, with unpredictable and erratic weather patterns, what's the way out to minimize the damage? Is it too late to reverse the impact? And what lessons can be learnt from similar climate incidents happening across the world? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what's causing these extreme conditions and whether better planning and preparation can mitigate the impact on human lives. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Bahar Dutt, environment journalist & conservation biologist; Dr Vikram Ghanekar, partner – SGM Hospital, Chiplun; Dr Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology

India has a population of almost 1.4 billion people and is expected to become the most populous country in the world, overtaking China, by 2027, according to the United Nations. And now, India's most populous state, has unveiled a controversial bill to curb population growth. With over 220 million people, Uttar Pradesh says it'll deny government jobs, subsidies and the right to contest local polls - to anyone who has more than two children. Critics say it's likely to encourage sex selective abortions and further impede minorities' rights in a state, which is often challenged for its divisive, right-wing Hindu nationalist image. So, should the government strengthen education and healthcare campaigns to stabilise population growth? Or, do fertility rates require stricter governance in more states across India? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr SY Quraishi, former chief election commissioner, India; Gopika Kaul, parent; PKD Nambiar, political strategist and commentator

Toxic workplaces take many forms, but they share a common thread of bullying, negativity and harm. And they may result in wide-ranging consequences - right from physical health impacts to poor mental health and burnout, as well as organisational fallout. Experts say most bullying originates from poor management, with destructive behaviours trickling down from the top level. Abusive bosses can engage in harassing behaviour anywhere – before the pandemic, it would be during in-person meetings, presentations or casual workplace interactions. Now, they even occur on Zoom team calls, in messages or over e-mails. Bullying affects the quality of people's work, but what can be done about it? And how can you confront a bullying boss who's making your work-life a misery? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the ways one can deal with bullying at the workplace. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Astha Chandra, life coach; Rosita Rabindra, co-founder, Diversity Dialogues; Sagar Mandhani, product manager at a startup; Anindita Sharma, communications consultant; Ronak Kotecha, media professional

Across the world, drones are already being used to carry products, perform security surveillance or conduct warfare. It's becoming more common to hear the soft buzz of a drone flying overhead. India, which has so far trailed in adopting the technology, is now eager to ease norms and encourage the use of drones. Does that mean getting your pizza delivered within 10 minutes with a drone flying in through your window? Would everyone welcome this trend? And how would it impact bigger scale applications in areas such as the military, healthcare and geospatial mapping? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how new policy rules could impact the drone industry's future. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Vipul Singh, co-founder, CEO, Aarav Unmanned Systems; Dr Ruchi Saxena, director, India Flying Labs; Smit Shah, director, Drone Federation of India

Burnout is rising in the world of office goers. Months of disruption and uncertainty caused by the Covid pandemic has led workers at many companies to feel stressed and exhausted. Daily life has been disrupted, and the lines between work and leisure blurred. Many are finding it difficult to cope. In response to this, many companies have announced burnout leave. It’s being seen as a way to show the workers that they have a support system to lean on. Or is it just a headline grabbing tactic? And what about the professionals who are availing this leave? Has it really helped them? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how companies define wellness, and whether burnout leave actually works. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: TN Hari, HR head, BigBasket; Sahil Mathur, chief HR officer, InMobi Group; Himel Sarkar, content supervisor, Organic by MSL

After a promising start in January, India's vaccine drive has been hobbled by challenges. A severe shortfall from May onwards left many searching for jabs. But logistics aside, another problem has cropped up – women are falling behind men in getting vaccinated. According to recent data, of the total jabs administered so far, 54% have gone to men and only a little over 46% to women. Experts say women's health has always taken a backseat due to patriarchal social norms. Access to healthcare continues to be a challenge, particularly in rural areas, where nearly 65% of India's population lives. On top of that, unfounded beliefs that the vaccine may cause infertility or menstruation issues also are keeping women away. What can be done to counter these challenges at the grassroots, as well as at a policymaking level? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the measures needed to bridge the gender divide in India's vaccination programme. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Shivangi Karmakar, sr project officer, DEF; Dr Tanya Seshadri, community health practitioner; Dr Gagandeep Kang, virologist, professor, CMC Vellore

An estimated 115 million children in India are said to be at risk of malnutrition. Experts say India's Covid lockdowns interrupted crucial government schemes that benefit hundreds of millions of women and children. The malnutrition rates were already on the rise in the years leading up to the Covid outbreak. India’s lockdowns, some of the severest anywhere in the world, have made matters worse. In fact, recent reports indicate stunting among children in some areas has gone up by as much as 20% in a matter of just a few months. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the challenges and the measures being taken to tackle child malnutrition during a devastating pandemic. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Pavitra Mohan, co-founder, Basic HealthCare Services; Sophie Healy-Thow, food systems & nutrition activist, Ireland; Dr Sreehari M, state nodal officer - child health, NHM, Kerala

Covid has dealt a heavy blow to Indian businesses. Battling the first and then a ferocious second wave of coronavirus infections, the country has seen consumer demand crash, upended supply chains and a transformation in consumer habits. Millions of jobs have been lost in both rural and urban areas. Surviving this changed landscape amid an ongoing virus scare has been a major challenge for both big and small businesses. So, how vulnerable are some sectors compared to others? Are there newer opportunities to tap into? Or should the aim be to just stay afloat and tide over this crisis? We take an in-depth look into the survival strategies of Indian businesses facing the Covid challenge. Presenter: Devina Gupta (Photo: People visit at Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. Credit: Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times/Getty Images)

Fake news and misinformation are hampering India's battle with the coronavirus pandemic. Right from the origins of the virus to unproven alternative cures to efficacy of vaccines, a wave of mass anxiety has washed over the country's social media. While most misleading messages spread through online platforms, experts say senior leaders and influencers have also played a role in fuelling traditional sentiments that prefer alternative therapies to modern medicine. This has increased vaccine hesitancy, especially in rural India, and led to political as well as medical misinformation. Conspiracy theories and false claims not only spread rapidly, they also prompt people to take action in real life - often with severe consequences. What kinds of fake news have dominated India's coronavirus landscape? What role can tech companies play to keep this in check? And is the government a bigger stakeholder in fighting the fake news menace? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Pratik Sinha, co-founder, Alt News; Apar Gupta, executive director, Internet Freedom Foundation; Dr Vasundhara Rangaswamy, microbiologist, primary care physician

India is seeing a decline in the second wave of coronavirus infections, but a rare and deadly fungal infection is affecting patients recovering from Covid. India has reported more than 11,000 cases of the black fungus infection, also known as mucormycosis. It has a mortality rate of over 50 per cent, and the drug needed for its treatment is in short supply. Missing a dose can result in removal of tissues or, in serious cases, bones and even the eye. Doctors say there is a link between black fungus and indiscriminate use of steroids to treat Covid patients. Diabetics are said to be particularly at risk. So, what are the treatment challenges, and what is happening to the families of patients faced with the double stress of health and finances? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what can be done to tackle India’s black fungus crisis. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Akshay Nair, oculoplastic surgeon; Dr Ramanan Laxminarayan, founder and director, Centre for Disease Dynamics; Iqra Khalid, lawyer, black fungus patient’s kin

With nearly 470 million children, India has the world’s largest child population. Campaigners say millions of them have been seriously impacted by the pandemic, including their access to medical care, food, shelter, schooling, and even means of livelihood. Many are facing severe mental trauma due to confinement and isolation at home, and a recent study says 577 were orphaned in less than two months during the second wave of the pandemic. Many children have also caught the virus, but thankfully complications have been rare. The scale of the problem is daunting, but what can be done to ensure that children’s lives are not thrown into chaos? We discuss Covid’s impact and solutions needed to protect India’s children. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sudarshan Suchi, CEO, Save the Children, India; Dr Indu Khosla, paediatric pulmonologist, SRCC Children’s Hospital; Akanksha Singh, parent

While the total number of daily Covid infections in India is on the wane, the share of cases in rural districts is seeing a big surge. A large number of people in rural towns and villages live in poverty, and rundown local hospitals and clinics are unequipped to cope with a crisis of this scale. There is also a severe distrust in modern medicine. What can be done to control the spread of the pandemic in rural areas, and is there a way to resolve the under-reporting of actual cases and fatalities? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss ways of lessening the impact of Covid in rural India. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Pavitra Mohan, co-founder, Basic HealthCare Services; Brian Lobo, activist, Kashtakari Sanghatana; Osama Manzar, founder & director, Digital Empowerment Foundation

Earlier this month, India became the first country in the world to report more than 400,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day. And despite being the world's biggest producer of vaccines, the country is facing an acute shortage to meet domestic demand. All Indian adults are currently eligible for a shot, but there are just not enough vaccines to go around. Access and affordability are two other significant challenges in inoculating a population as large as India's. Although the government is spending $5bn to provide free doses at state-run clinics and hospitals, not everyone is eligible, and the cost of a single shot has massively jumped at private hospitals. What would it take for India to ramp up production and roll out a successful immunisation programme? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we look at the road ahead as India tries to vaccinate its billion people. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Sharvil Patel, managing director, Zydus Cadila; Dr Rachna Kucheria, epidemiologist, founder, DocGenie; Shyam Sunder, co-founder, Getjab.in

A devastating wave of coronavirus infections in India has seen crematoriums overwhelmed and hospitals reeling under a massive oxygen shortage. There have been a record number of Covid cases and deaths. This exponential surge has swamped the healthcare system. Patients are seen dying in ambulances and parking lots outside hospitals – many of them gasping for breath due to a lack of oxygen, which is vital for those infected. There have been reports of hoarding and even black marketing as relatives scramble to arrange medical oxygen for their friends and kin. What has led to this crippling shortage and what can be done to improve the situation? In this edition, we discuss the situation on the ground and the ways India can tackle its oxygen crisis. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Sudhanshu Bankata, executive director, Batra Hospital; Puneet Singh, trustee, Khalsa Aid; Gautam Raj Anand, Mission Oxygen India

Covid-19 is ravaging India. India is reporting more fresh cases everyday than any other country has during the pandemic. India also crossed the devastating figure of 200,000 coronavirus deaths this week. The real number of deaths is thought to be much higher. The country's crumbling healthcare system is battling an onslaught of fresh cases, and an acute shortage of resources like medical oxygen, hospital beds and essential medicines. At the forefront of this fight are the health workers. They are working relentlessly with scare resources to go beyond the call of duty and save precious lives. How is the fresh wave affecting their health and wellbeing? How is it impacting their loved ones? How do they fight feelings of burnout, guilt and trauma? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we ask frontline health workers how they are coping in this deadly second wave and what can be done to help. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Saswati Sinha, critical care specialist, AMRI Hospital; Dr Roma Kumar, senior consultant psychologist; Jibin TC, nurse, president, United Nurses Association (Maharashtra)

Heart-breaking stories from across India are grabbing headlines the world over. Amid a deadly new wave of Covid infections, the country’s crumbling healthcare system is battling an acute shortage of medical oxygen and hospital beds. The number of fresh cases and deaths continues to set new daily records. India is now reporting more fresh cases everyday than any country has during the pandemic. What led to the sudden spike when numbers were on a decline in February? And why is the new wave more infectious? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what has led to a deadlier new wave of Covid infections in India, and how its impact can be mitigated. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Prof K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India; Prof Polly Roy, professor of virology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Dr Ambarish Satwik, vascular surgeon, Ganga Ram Hospital

For most companies, the pandemic has had far-reaching consequences. Established business models and proof-read plans became irrelevant, while growth reached an abrupt halt. In this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (or VUCA) world, businesses are now seeking to make sense of newer priorities and economic patterns. A recent study of 100 CEOs in India indicates a stronger focus on purpose-led leadership after the pandemic’s business disruption. But how will this impact business branding and behaviour? Would passive adaptability score higher over aggressive marketing? In this edition, we ask how businesses can build and retain their brands in the VUCA world. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Harish Bijoor, brand and business strategy consultant; Mansi Tripathy, vice president, commercial lubricants, Shell APME; Nithin Kamath, founder & CEO, Zerodha

India is facing an alarming surge in coronavirus cases, a dangerous second wave that’s threatening to again derail both lives and livelihoods. Hard lockdowns last year battered its economy, and fresh restrictions and regional lockdowns to contain the surge are making many wonder what an economic recovery is going to look like. Many millions have lost their jobs over the last year, or seen their incomes dip. Is this a temporary phase? Recent estimates have raised India's growth forecast for this year to higher-than-expected, at over 12%. But how severely will the fresh wave affect recovery? How much of it depends on the rate of vaccinations? And how badly will the new curbs, curfews and lockdowns affect consumer sentiment? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what can be done for India's economic recovery. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Gurcharan Das, author, commentator; Geeta Goel, country director, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation; Deep Kalra, founder & CEO, MakeMyTrip

Unpaid domestic work in India is nearly 40% of the country’s GDP, according to recent estimates. India’s homemakers, like many in different parts of the world, clean, cook and care for their families, accounting for nearly 300 minutes a day. Globally too, women still do the lion’s share of housework. Should this work – largely seen as thankless household chores – be monetized? Or would it prevent women from stepping out of their homes and taking up formal professions? What could be the unintended consequences of guaranteed income for housewives? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether housework should get remunerated. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Mitali Nikore, development economist, founder of Nikore Associates; Dr Saundarya Rajesh, social entrepreneur, founder and president of Avatar; Prof Prabha Kotiswaran, professor of law and social justice, King’s College London

An estimated 500 million Covid-19 vaccinations have been administered so far globally. In India, that figure has crossed the 50-million mark. But while the country is seeing a new wave of coronavirus cases, many aren't willing to get a vaccine shot. Recent estimates suggest that only about 50% of people eligible to get a jab are actually stepping forward. Why do some people have concerns about taking the coronavirus vaccine, and how should the government and health providers respond? Vaccine hesitancy remains one of the top 10 threats to global health, according to the World Health Organization, so in this edition of WorklifeIndia, we debunk myths and discuss how to overcome vaccine hesitancy. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Heidi J Larson, founding director - Vaccine Confidence Project, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences; Preetha Reddy, vice chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group

All of us keep learning new things all the time. It could be learning to speak in public, a technical skill, a new language, finding a square root, or playing the guitar - our minds continuously evolve with new information. But is there a way to train the brain to learn things faster, and reduce the effects of stress that come with modern lifestyles? And if you knew what time of the day your performance peaks, would you plan your day differently? How important is cognitive fitness to our physical and emotional well-being? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we delve deeper into our minds and discover ways to improve brain agility. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Anoop Kumar, emergency physician, mind-body strategist; Vidita Vaidya, neuroscientist, professor, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research; Neelakantha Bhanuprakash, fastest human calculator, founder, Exploring Infinities

Over 40 million people are recorded as unemployed in India. To add to that, the coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate the jobs sector worldwide. Once you lose your job, finding another in these uncertain times is not easy. The statistics are staggering - but there's also a human story behind each number. So what are the stories of some of the Indians who found themselves unexpectedly hit by the pandemic? How did they reinvent themselves amid challenging times? What does it take to switch professions? What about the dreams and aspirations that were driving their lives before the pandemic struck? Have they changed? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we hear stories of people who switched careers during the pandemic to stay afloat. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dipankar Baruah, travel professional-turned-farmer; Ayushi Shrivastava, digital marketing professional; Sunil Suresh, beatboxer, stock trader

Abusive comments and insults have become far too common on the internet. Social media platforms in particular are a hotbed of trolls - people taking pleasure in sending sexist, malicious comments. Recent figures estimate that more than 40% of women Internet users in India fear being bullied or trolled online. Should one engage with trolls by debating them, or ignore and block them, so their abusive views don’t gain any further visibility? When are the limits of free speech breached, and what can be done to control online trolling? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss solutions with three high-profile women who have themselves faced vicious online trolling. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Mandana Karimi, Bollywood actor; Karuna Nundy, advocate, Supreme Court of India; Sagarika Ghose, journalist and author

India generates over 270 million tonnes of waste every year - 80 percent of what South Asia produces - and nearly 77 percent of this waste ends up in open landfill sites, a clear sign that the country is running on a take-make-waste economy. So, how can we do our bit to save the planet? How can we give the things we buy a new life rather than dumping them in landfill sites, or letting them wind up in the oceans? While a lot of people want to go zero waste and plastic-free, the issue of convenience stands in the way. But those who do make changes say they love the challenge: planning ahead, shopping around, and finding creative ways to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we speak to three inspiring women championing zero waste in India, as they share their quick tips on making more responsible lifestyle choices. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Wilma Rodrigues, CEO, founder, Saahas Zero Waste; Nayana Premnath, zero waste influencer; Sahar Mansoor, CEO, founder, Bare Necessities

Many top sports events, disrupted by Covid, are finally back. And so is the BBC’s Indian sportswoman of the year award. Public voting is now underway to pick a winner from the five nominees: shooter Manu Baker, sprinter Dutee Chand, chess player Koneru Humpy, wrestler Vinesh Phogat and hockey player Rani. (You can read more about them on the BBC India website.) Each one of them has inspiring stories of grit and perseverance. Sports changed their lives, but is the going now easier for the next generation of potential stars, or are issues like sexism and the gender pay gap holding them back? Can young women athletes follow genuine career pathways in professional sports? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk to three aspiring stars to discuss how sports can be a gamechanger for women. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Anjum Moudgil, shooter; Aveka Singh, footballer; Palak Kohli, para badminton player

Interfaith relationships in India have always faced the heat. Love remains difficult and at times dangerous across large sections of Indian society, which runs on patriarchy, caste, and religion. New anti-conversion laws implemented by some states now make interfaith marriages even more difficult. Their apparent target is the so-called 'love jihad', a term used by radical Hindu groups to accuse Muslim men of converting Hindu women by marriage. We speak with two interfaith couples, one married for over 20 years and the other for nearly two years, to hear their stories – and struggles – of love, faith and religious identity. They tell us what keeps them going, as we ask if love is bound by religion. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Ranu Kulsreshtha and Asif Iqbal, co-founders, Dhanak of Humanity; Krutika Lele and Tamir Khan, musicians and interfaith couple Image: A group of housewives and working professionals heading various voluntary organisations demonstrate demanding an anti-conversion law along the lines of Uttar Pradesh government's Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, at Central Park, on December 10, 2020 in Jaipur, India. (Photo by Himanshu Vyas/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Warning: This programme contains racial slurs. Whether it is impulsive or intended, structural or whispered, racism in sport has been growing over the decades. Racial bias and inequalities not only interfere with the game but also affect players’ morale and sometimes lead to lost opportunities. How do top players deal with racism on and off the field and what needs to be done to stamp it out? How can sporting federations address this issue, and can audiences be made more aware of the impact racial slurs have on players? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk to three Olympians about ways to tackle racism in sport. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Anju Bobby George, former athlete, senior vice president, Athletics Federation of India; Jwala Gutta, Indian shuttler; Anita Asante, Aston Villa defender, former England international

India ranks fourth highest in the world when it comes to unicorns - privately-owned startups with valuations of over $1bn. But despite being a global startup hub, only a handful reach unicorn status and nearly 90% new ventures fail within the first five years of their inception. So, what is the secret to building a billion-dollar business? What should your strategy be when picking an idea, trying to secure investment or putting a team together? And what about the long-term viability of businesses once they become unicorns? Three Indian entrepreneurs tell us stories of their struggles and success, and share tips on how to build a billion-dollar startup. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Piyush Shah, co-founder, InMobi Group; Mehul Agrawal, co-founder and COO, CARS24; Neeti Mehta Shukla, co-founder, SVP, brand & culture, Automation Anywhere (Photo: Young businessman standing in his factory. Credit: Getty Images)

When signing up on a social media platform or installing an app, do you take even a couple of minutes to think what information is being asked for? Do you feel comfortable sharing your location, contacts and photos, or agreeing to the terms & conditions? How much of your personal information do you give away with that single click, and do you know who is benefiting from it? Be it a social media company, a messaging app, or an e-commerce website, your personal data is significant as a core underpinning of these companies’ business models - so should you, as a user, be made more aware of who is using your data, and where? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss data privacy and bring you tips on how to keep your data safe. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sudhir Naidu, CEO, Troop Messenger; Dr Karnika Seth, cyber law expert; Himanshu Arya, digital marketer, founder and CEO, Grapes Digital

For many people, spending time at home, indulging in a hobby helps to escape the stresses of a global health crisis - and what better way than books? A recent study says people across the world read more during the lockdown - but despite this, the publishing industry and bookstores struggled. Many had to put their shutters down. So, is 2021 going to put that ember of hope in book sales? What genres are set to capture the readers’ imaginations? And what can you do to motivate yourself to read more or to inculcate a love for books in your kids? We bring you some easy-to-follow tips. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Chetan Bhagat, author, columnist; Chiki Sarkar, publisher, co-founder, Juggernaut Books; Manpreet Kaur, booktuber Audio for this episode was updated on 18 January 2021.

Covid-19 has changed the way many people look at fitness. Shredding pounds has given way to immunity building, and physical fitness has expanded to include mental wellbeing. With gyms closed during the lockdowns, virtual exercises and home workouts have gained immense popularity, and an explosion in fitness tech has replaced the gym’s personal trainer. So, how permanent is this shift? Is it a temporary trend or here to stay? As 2021 begins, what are some of the most pressing fitness requirements? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how to stay fit during a pandemic. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Jitendra Chouksey, founder, Fittr; Ira Trivedi, yoga guru; Jinal Shah, nutritionist

Are there lessons in the pandemic upheaval about the evolving nature of work? In the new world, there is a new economic possibility - making money out of small, passion-fuelled endeavours, rather than the conventional 9-to-5 routines of the pre-pandemic world. This rise of the “passion economy” is towards more niche, fluid pathways, in contrast to the traditional means of employment. But is it a temporary trend experiencing a surge due to the pandemic, or is it more fundamental? More importantly, will innovation and passion shape the economy of the future? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we hear the stories of three different individuals taking uncharted courses to turn their passions into professions. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sulakshana Bhattacharya, woodworker and founder, MishtooMade; Sonakshi Srivastava, wildlife conservationist; Rajat Ubhaykar, travel writer

Social media influencers are getting younger and younger, and the alpha generation - those born entirely in the 21st century - is becoming the newest power broker in this space. While kid influencers remain a relatively new concept to India, their growth has spiked in recent years. They play pranks, review toys, and break down gadgets on their online platforms. Many are immensely popular and have millions of subscribers, attracting bigger and bigger brands for digital marketing and promotions. But is that taking their childhood away? Or is it simply a part of growing up these days? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we listen to young social media stars telling us their stories and discuss with them the rise of India’s child influencers. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Anantya Anand, kid influencer - MyMissAnand; Pranay Chouhan, teen influencer - TechTheory; Lakshmi Balasubramanian, co-founder, Greenroom digital agency

Many people dream of a trip to Switzerland’s fairytale-like snowy peaks, or the pristine waters of Hawaii. But plans for these and other holidays in 2020 were brought to an abrupt halt by the coronavirus pandemic. With international and domestic travel replete with restrictions, there is no immediate relief in sight. But the holiday season is nearly here, and as the world gets closer to a vaccine, the holidaying sentiment is also seeing an uptick. But what is the new normal in planning a holiday? Are hotels and travel companies quick to adapt to travellers’ changed preferences? And how do safety and hygiene concerns affect people’s travel plans? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Ankita Kumar, travel influencer; Ankita Sheth, co-founder, Vista Rooms; Vivek Shukla, general manager, corporate affairs, The Lalit

Farmers in India are protesting amid a standoff with the government over new farm laws. Tens of thousands of farmers have laid siege to the capital Delhi, choking entry points, even as the coronavirus pandemic rages in the country. They are demanding that the government scrap the new laws, which they say, are against their interests. The government has said that the reforms, which allow private players a greater role in the farming sector, will boost farmers’ incomes but the farmers are fear exploitation at the hands of big corporates, and are worried the government is planning to do away with the minimum assured price guarantee for their produce, which they say is a lifeline for them. So, would the controversial reforms give much-needed relief to India’s ailing farming sector, or do they threaten farmers’ incomes and livelihoods by bringing in an unregulated free market? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Hindol Sengupta, economic policy expert; Sudha Narayanan, agriculture economist; Shameek Chakravarty, founder and CEO, Farmizen Photo: Indian farmers and supporters protest against new agricultural laws in New Delhi, India Credit: EPA

Bollywood dominates the music business in India. There is a lot of colour, drama, big sets and complex choreography. But a growing number of independent music artistes are now marking their own place, and providing a welcome alternative to the high-end, dress-to-impress film scores. But can they make money and achieve success? And how can they challenge the bias in India that to be a successful musician, you need to have music titles in Hindi movies? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how to make it big in India’s music industry. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Ankur Tewari, musician; Ananya Birla, singer-songwriter; Vasundhara Mudgil, India head of communications, Spotify

With more than 55 million cases and a million deaths worldwide, many hopes are pinned on a vaccine to end the coronavirus pandemic. There is now optimism that more than one vaccine will be available soon. Not surprisingly, India is gearing up to roll out a massive vaccination drive to protect its billion plus people. It’s already an immunization powerhouse, making 60% of the world’s vaccines and is home to half a dozen manufacturers. The country plans to receive and utilize some 500 million doses of vaccines against the virus by July next year. But how daunting a challenge is it to vaccinate more than a billion people? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss India’s vaccination drive against Covid-19. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Krishna Ella, chairman and MD, Bharat Biotech; Dr Lipika Nanda, vice president, multi-sectoral planning in public health, Public Health Foundation of India; Thomas Abraham, professor, public health communication expert

Since the beginning of this year, Covid-19 has upended everyone’s lives. While lockdowns brought the whole world to a stop, hundreds of millions of people abruptly moved to working remotely, while many people lost their jobs. But as companies and employees begin to consider their best ways forward, what are the greatest unknowns we face? How will we work, live and thrive in a post-pandemic future? Is Covid reshaping our workspace – potentially forever? Will a hybrid and virtual way of working redefine how we search and apply for jobs? And what types of new skills and roles will gain significance? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we look at the future of work. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Ritesh Agarwal, founder and group CEO, OYO Hotels and Homes; Suchita Salwan, co-founder, LBB; Ashish Chanchlani, YouTuber, influencer

Diwali, the festival of lights, is an important time for retailers in India to do brisk business. As the pandemic year drags on, the country has been grappling with Covid-19 cases while enduring one of the longest and strictest lockdowns, so brands are now placing their bets on Diwali. The five-day festival is considered an auspicious time to make purchases to appease the Hindu goddess of prosperity and wealth, Lakshmi. But is that convincing shoppers to return to the stores amid a health scare? And how has digital added the new spark to Diwali shopping? Recent studies estimate online sales to grow more than 34% to $6.5bn in India this Diwali. Is the auspicious season-to-spend witnessing a virtual avatar? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how digital is the new shining light for India’s Diwali this year. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Pratap TP, co-founder, Qwikcilver gifting solutions; Ayushi Gudwani, founder and CEO, Fablestreet; Uma Talreja, chief marketing and chief customer officer, Shoppers Stop

As the world’s biggest Twenty20 cricket tournament being held in a pandemic year draws to a close, a lot has changed in the way the game is played, viewed and celebrated. The tournament, known for its carnival Bollywood atmosphere, has been a quiet affair without raucous fans filling the stadiums. But there has been plenty for the viewers to look forward to - in fact, the sporting league has recorded over 25% more viewership than the previous season, with more women tuning in than ever before. So, how is this shaping the new normal in cricket? Are virtual watch parties and online fantasy cricket here to stay? And how are big brands and startups responding to the needs of the digital audiences? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the larger viewership trends and how fans are adjusting to the new normal in their favourite sport. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Jake Lush McCrum, COO, Rajasthan Royals; Ridhima Pathak, sports presenter; Shradha Agarwal, COO and strategy head, Grapes Digital

In the backdrop of an India where religious polarization is rising, are businesses beginning to face the heat? Recent instances in the country have highlighted sharp contrasts in the way brands have reacted to a changing social atmosphere. A popular jewellery brand pulled its advertisement featuring an interfaith couple after a right-wing backlash on social media, while some other big businesses announced that they won’t advertise anymore on news channels that, according to them, spread toxic content. But is all this hurting business sentiment, and India’s image on an international platform as an investor-friendly market? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how intolerance is affecting India’s business community. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Mukund Govind Rajan, former brand custodian, Tata Group, chairman, ECube Investment Advisors; Narayan Sundararaman, head of marketing, Bajaj Auto Ltd; Ronita Mitra, founder, Brand Eagle Consulting

"Alright, you got away with it so far, but your truth will be out soon." "I should just leave it for the people who are real experts." "Well done? Oh no, they’ve got it all wrong about me." Are these the nasty little voices in your head you must always deal with? Is there a ‘fraud police’ in your mind that you feel can come knocking anytime you achieve something significant, and announce to the whole world how you do not deserve any accolades? This is what psychologists call ‘imposter syndrome’, a prolonged feeling of self-doubt, inadequacy, and low self-worth. It is estimated to affect nearly 70% of people at some point in their lives. So, what can we do about it? Is there a better way to condition the workplace culture? And can we figure out a way to overcome the underlying fear of being fake? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how to cope with imposter syndrome at our work and in our lives. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dolly Singh, content creator; Dr Roma Kumar, senior consultant psychologist; Surovi Dey Dhupar, diversity and inclusion professional

Food and family are often said to be two of India’s biggest obsessions. For many Indians, sharing a meal with family is one of the most important parts of the day, and no celebration is considered complete without a proper dining sentiment attached to it. But months of lockdown have harshly affected the country’s food & beverages industry. Recent reports estimate more than two million job losses, and also indicate that one in four restaurants may never open again. So, how are palates and platters changing? Is cloud kitchen the new normal of dining out? And how will eateries ensure hygiene and safety as customers trickle back to fine dining? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how the pandemic is affecting the future of dining out in India. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Radhika Khandelwal, chef, owner, Fig & Maple; Abhinav Jindal, founder, CEO, Kimaya Himalayan Beverages LLP; Kainaz Contractor, owner, Bhawan, Rustom's

The recent death of a young Dalit (formerly untouchable) woman, who was allegedly gang-raped and assaulted in northern India, has led to shock, outrage and protests across the country. The case has also raised an inevitable question – how safe is India for women? As newer generations of girls and young women go out to study and work in larger numbers than ever before, is there any sign of fewer crimes against them? Official data shows that a rape is committed every 16 minutes in the country: that’s 87 every day. So, what can be done to check sexual violence against women? Should there be stricter law enforcement and speedier justice? Or is there a need to first tackle the deep-rooted patriarchal mindset? Can new age solutions such as online data mapping, real-time alerts or anti-rape technology offer much help? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we introspect and ask, what can India do to protect its women? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Kalpana Viswanath, co-founder, CEO, Safetipin; Dr Sunita Toor, criminologist, Sheffield Hallam University; Antika Sarkar, programme associate, Equal Community Foundation

In India, some schools have begun to partially reopen after months of closure. But for most of the country’s 320 million students, education has remained severely impacted since the lockdown began. While urban areas recorded an exponential increase in e-learning, the smaller towns and villages struggled to continue education in any form. Nearly 75 percent of children found themselves on the wrong side of the digital education divide, with no internet access. In rural parts of the country, the situation turned worse, with many children forced into income-generating labour and even early marriage. So, how can India bridge the widening gap in education? Is e-learning for schools here to stay? And what can the government do to offer better infrastructure and learning services? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the stark learning gap amongst the world’s youngest population. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Atishi, senior leader, legislator, Aam Aadmi Party; Zishaan Hayath, founder, CEO, Toppr; Kruti Bharucha, founder, CEO, Peepul India

A new draft law on environmental impact assessment in India has sparked a debate. Critics say it is investor-friendly and will make it easier for industrial and infrastructure projects to get clearances, which may lead to severe environmental consequences. They also blame the government for trying to rush through the crucial law during a lockdown. India, on the other hand, is facing its worst job crisis ever. The country’s GDP contracted by nearly 24% in the first quarter of 2020. And for PM Modi’s administration, it is crucial to quickly revive the crashing economy. So, can India balance growth with protection of its environment? Or should creating jobs get priority? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we question if the environmental cost of economic recovery is too high, and whether green jobs offer a better alternative for growth. Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Kanchi Kohli, environmental researcher, Centre for Policy Research; Ashis Dash, CEO, Sustainable Mining, FIMI; Sowmya Reddy, environmental activist, Congress lawmaker

India is staring at its sharpest growth contraction on record. With more than five million Covid-19 cases so far, the country has announced a nearly 24 per cent slump in its economy in the three months to the end of June this year. Experts fear further disruptions in growth as businesses continue to bleed. So, what is the way out of this crisis? Would a revival in growth ultimately hinge upon a recovery in the pandemic curve? And how quickly can the Narendra Modi-led government get that under control to determine India’s economic fate? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the impact of the contraction on Indian companies and consumers, and what can be done to revive India’s growth story. Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Mohit Malhotra, CEO, Dabur India; Preeti Reddy, CEO, South Asia, Kantar Insights; Gaurav Datt, deputy director, Centre of Development Economics, Monash University, Australia

India has more than 630 million internet subscribers - that is more than the population of the US, the UK, Russia and South Africa put together. India also has among the world’s cheapest mobile data prices and affordable devices, which has drastically improved internet access in the last few years. All of this excitement, however, has the sobering reality of India's continuing digital divide. For every Indian who has access to the internet, there is at least one who does not - and that person most likely lives in a rural area. The coronavirus pandemic and its resulting lockdowns are pushing everyone unexpectedly toward an online-only environment, and the spotlight has now shifted to rural India. So, in this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how the pandemic is forcing a change toward digital lifestyles in the country. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Osama Manzar, founder and director, Digital Empowerment Foundation; Avipsha Thakur, founder, Bunavat; Amith Agarwal, co-founder & CEO, AgriBazaar eMandi

The global live events industry has essentially been shuttered since March 2020. With little to no activity, many artists - and their road crew - have been severely impacted. For India’s nearly 10 million people employed in the industry, the cost has been great, and the hardships many. Many performers have taken to live-streaming in an effort to stay afloat, or to just stay positive. Many others are participating in virtual concerts, saying it offers them a much-needed creative outlet and builds a sense of community for artists and audiences alike. But do virtual gigs make up for the loss of income as the touring circuit effectively remains shut down? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we look at the nitty gritty of how live performers are adapting to online shows. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Raja Kumari, rapper, songwriter; Papa CJ, stand-up comedian, author; Tej Brar, founder, CEO, Third Culture Entertainment

India has a poor record of women’s participation in the workforce. Less than a quarter of women were employed before the pandemic, ranking India among the bottom 10 countries in the world in terms of women’s employment. But the pandemic is making matters worse, with more women than men dropping out of jobs. In fact, recent studies estimate that four out of five women are currently not working in India. The situation is said to be particularly stressful in the informal sector, which employs nearly 80% of all working women. So, what is the ground reality? What do employment trends in urban and rural areas tell us? And what are the other challenges women face as extra chores are added during the pandemic? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss if Covid is worsening the women’s employment crisis, and what can be done to make more Indian women join the paid workforce. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Neha Bagaria, founder & CEO, JobsForHer; Sabina Dewan, president & executive director, JustJobs; Soumya Kapoor Mehta, head, IWWAGE

India’s film industry is among the largest in the world. It releases around 2,000 films every year and attracts a steady band of actors hoping to make their fortune. Most of them head to Mumbai where the hugely popular Hindi film industry, also known as Bollywood, is based. But it’s an uphill battle. On the surface, glamour, fame, and pomp form its biggest appeal, but underneath, harsh prejudices, fierce competition, and toxic rivalry run deep. So, what are the positives and the pitfalls that aspiring actors endure? And how has the journey been like for those who’ve earned name and fame? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss Bollywood and its hidden cost for stardom. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Adil Hussain, Bollywood actor; Anupama Chopra, film critic; Sahiba Bali, actor

From academic success to social skills, mental health and future jobs, the coronavirus pandemic is a crisis for today’s youth. And the fallout may follow them for a much longer time than most imagine. According to a recent study by the United Nations, the pandemic has already forced more than one in six people under the age of 29 into unemployment. So what happens to a country like India, where half the population is under the age of 24? Is continued social isolation affecting their mental health? How are they coping with uncertainty about the future, and what are their aspirations? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how the pandemic is shaping the lives of young Indians. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Suzanne Zerin, graduate, jobseeker; Varul Mayank, entrepreneur and founder, Knocksense; Asheer Kandhari, high-school student

Many companies are offering flexible and remote work till next year, to keep employees safe. According to a recent study, job searches for work-from-home in the country have surged to a whopping 442% between the months of February and July – the highest globally. But even as firms begin to notice the benefits of work-from-home during these challenging times, remote workers are now complaining of emotional and physical exhaustion, stress, anxiety, and in some cases, even depression. So, how can managers and team leaders address staff woes while keeping the business functional? And what innovative ways are mental health experts advising to keep stress at bay? We discuss what are the best measures to avoid work-from-home burnout. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Prabhash Bhatnagar, founder, director, Hotelogix; Subarna Ghosh, cofounder, ReRight Foundation; Dr Prerna Kohli, clinical psychologist Photo: A software engineer works from home in India during the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic The audio for this episode was updated on 11th August 2020.

A landmark case against a tech giant in the US has made news recently. Regulators in the state of California sued IT firm Cisco for allegedly discriminating against an Indian-American employee on the basis of his caste. The company has denied the allegations. Caste system, which is outlawed in India, is a social ranking practice, which determines the work you do, the religious practices you can follow and even the relationships you can have. Those at the bottom rung of the system are often referred to as ‘untouchables’. And with many Indians migrating to the US for better job opportunities, caste bias has become an uncomfortable reality there as well. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we look at India’s unwanted export, and how Indians working in tech firms in the US feel discriminated against because of their caste. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Yashica Dutt, author - Coming out as Dalit; Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Dalit technologist, executive director, Equality Labs Dalit civil rights organization; Laurence Simon, professor of international development at Brandeis University focusing on caste and social exclusion Photo:A protestor holds a placard in a protest against killing of Dalit low-caste youth in Nepall, June 2020 Credit: Getty Images

More than 10 million marriages take place every year in India, while the wedding industry - one of the biggest in the country - is estimated to be over $50bn in size. Multiple ceremonies, large gatherings, destination choices, designer wear - the list is endless, as families try to outdo each other in scale and extravagance. But the coronavirus has hit the industry hard, with the government restricting the number of guests to just 50. Royal revelries have all but vanished, with masks and sanitisers becoming an essential part of the smaller, cheaper weddings. So, in this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how India’s big, fat wedding industry is adapting in the times of social distancing. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Kaveri Vij, wedding planner; Raghav Khullar and Vandana Mirchandani, newlyweds; Saurabh Goswami, matchmaker

It is generally a busy time of the year for Indian students looking for opportunities to pursue a foreign education. Studies show that Indian students pay about $10-13bn every year in overseas tuition fees, and an American education sits right at the top for most students. In the last 20 years, the number of Indian students who went abroad has increased by more than 1,000%, according to a recent report. In the US alone, there are currently more than 200,000 Indian students. But the picture is grim this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. With many universities switching to online education, and government policy flip-flops adding to the uncertainty, is the dream American education losing its charm? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how foreign education is evolving, and whether an overseas degree remains a top pick for Indian students. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Jasrine Dham, undergraduate student, Brown University; Sudhanshu Kaushik, founder and executive director, NAAIS; Vanisha Sharma, PhD student, Cornell University

“I was told I would look pretty if my skin were lighter.” “My parents constantly worry how they’ll find me a good husband, as I am very dark complexioned.” “I am the fairest in my family… so obviously, more privileged!” For most Indian women, these are day-to-day conversations in a society where lighter skin tone is considered beautiful, even superior. But in recent weeks, in response to the conversations taking place around the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, several companies have come forward to drop words such as 'white', 'fairer', or 'lighter' from their skin-lightening products. But will it have any significant impact on the deep-rooted colourism that is part of the Indian culture? And would Indian brands be more inclusive? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the best ways to beat colourism in India. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Nandita Das, Bollywood actor and director; Karishma Kewalramani, founder and CEO, FAE Beauty; Harish Bijoor, brand and business strategy consultant

When India implemented a strict lockdown three months ago, thousands of migrant workers walked hundreds of miles on foot to reach home, as the cities where they worked shut shop. Nearly seven million workers are estimated to have now returned to their native villages. But this has led to a fresh crisis, as most are without any means of livelihood. While the government has announced schemes offering at least 100 days of employment, and is trying to map workers’ skills to rural-specific jobs, most labourers say they are yet to receive any tangible benefits. Meanwhile, businesses are reopening in the cities, and facing the challenge of a missing labour pool. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the best measures that can help India resolve its labour crisis. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Divya Varma, Centre for Migration and Labour Solutions, Aajeevika Bureau; Rituparna Chakraborty, co-founder, executive vice president, TeamLease; Maneet Gohil, co-founder, CEO, Lal10

In India, there have been growing calls to boycott Chinese goods. The two countries were recently involved in one of their deadliest border clashes in over 50 years, which left 20 Indian soldiers dead. Now anti-China sentiments are gaining momentum within India. And so are calls for a boycott of Chinese goods. The expectation is that trade sanctions can inflict far greater injury on China, as India imports Chinese goods worth nearly $80 billion - far more than its exports at around $20 billion. But is it easier said than done? China remains India’s largest trading partner in goods. Chinese companies have invested billions of dollars in Indian startups, and Indian companies depend heavily on Chinese imports. So, will a boycott serve India’s interest? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether India can really afford to boycott Chinese products. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sulajja Firodia Motwani, vice chairperson, Kinetic Engineering, founder & CEO, Kinetic Green Energy & Power Solutions Limited; Nikhil Pahwa, digital policy expert & founder, Medianama; Sonam Wangchuk, inventor, education reformer

India’s mega Hindi film industry, Bollywood, is staring at a loss of more than $300 million. Since mid-March, film production has been stalled and the country’s 9,500 theatres are shut because of the coronavirus outbreak. This has led to massive job losses. Mumbai, India’s financial capital, which is also home to the multi-billion-dollar industry, has allowed resumption of film shoots and production work from next month, but with severe restrictions. How will social distancing norms affect filmmaking? How will Bollywood's trademark song-and-dance spectacles be filmed? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how Bollywood will have to change to survive the coronavirus crisis. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Tisca Chopra, Bollywood actor; Amit Behl, senior joint secretary, chairperson - outreach committee, CINTAA; Sidharth Anand Kumar, vice president - films & events, Saregama India Ltd

India’s coronavirus infections have climbed to the fourth highest in the world. As the country nears 300,000 cases, the significant spike in infections has begun taking a toll on India’s healthcare system. Hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of patients they are getting. Many allege that patients are being turned away due to a lack of space. While local governments are trying to ramp up capacity, it is not uniform across the country. Mumbai, India’s financial capital is among the worst hit with nearly 100,000 cases and a need for at least 80,000 more hospital beds. The southern state of Kerala, on the other hand, has been praised for its stringent measures to tackle the infections. The state has reported just over 2,000 confirmed cases so far. So, what is working and what could be done better to handle the situation? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the measures that can help India tackle its healthcare crisis. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Rathan Kelkar, mission director, National Health Mission Kerala; Preetha Reddy, vice chairperson, Apollo Hospitals and president, NATHEALTH; Prof K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India

India is gradually unlocking its economy after more than two months of shutdown to contain the coronavirus outbreak, but many businesses and factories are facing a shortage of labour. That’s because when the factories closed down, millions of migrant workers, left to fend for themselves, returned to their native places. They have little to do there. On top of that, several states have diluted labour protection laws, saying it would attract investment and create more jobs. But critics say this would make India’s workers - among the lowest wage earners in the world - more vulnerable to exploitation. So, in this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how can India protect its workers. Will diluting labour laws revamp the economy or create a labour crisis? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Nishtha Satyam, deputy country representative, UN Women India; K Vaidya Nathan, finance professor, Indian School of Business; Ranu Bhogal, director of policy, research and campaigns, Oxfam India

Airlines, airports and ground-handling firms across the globe are in survival mode, trying to keep afloat. But the aviation industry, almost entirely grounded for months due to the coronavirus pandemic, is now taking tentative steps to start flying again. In India too, domestic flights have resumed amid easing lockdown restrictions. New rules are in place for flyers. Thermal body checks are being conducted and wearing of masks is now mandatory for all flyers. Restarting domestic flights has also had its share of confusion and chaos. Long queues have been seen at the airports, dozens of flights cancelled at the last minute and many passengers left high and dry. So, as planes take to the skies again, how will the pandemic impact the way people fly? And how will the airlines survive? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how the aviation industry is gearing up for its future flight plan. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Jitender Bhargava, author, civil aviation expert, former executive director of Air India; Vinod Kannan, chief commercial officer, Vistara; Captain Aparna Singh, pilot, SpiceJet

As governments across the world ease lockdown restrictions, more and more people are now returning to work. In India, too, this week marks the start of considerable relaxation in the lockdown, which has been in effect since 24 March. Industries and businesses are making a cautious start with stringent health and safety regulations in place. Some have opted for staggered working hours, while others are going for flexible shifts. But with the threat from the pandemic far from over, returning to work is not easy. For many, concerns remain. What about the risk of contracting the coronavirus once back in the workplace? And what about financial security, as cash strapped companies go for huge salary cuts or pink slips to staff? A recent study indicates as many as 93% of India Inc employees are anxious about returning to work over health and financial concerns. So, in this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk about how to manage work-life after the lockdown. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Muralikrishnan B, COO, Xiaomi India; Neha Bagaria, founder and CEO, JobsForHer; Dr Shyam Bhat, psychiatrist and trustee, The Live Love Laugh Foundation

From the Olympics to the Indian Premier League, many major sporting events have had to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Every part of the sporting value chain is affected. In addition to suffering heavy financial losses, sportspeople are having to deal with an uncertain future. So, what happens next? As some countries like Germany and South Korea try to partially resume the sporting calendar, what will be the new normal in the sporting world? Will major leagues be held to empty stadiums to follow social distancing norms? And how will masks and gloves, and strict new conditions, affect players’ performance on the field? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how can sports survive this pandemic. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dinesh Karthik, cricketer and captain, Kolkata Knight Riders; Ashwini Ponnappa, badminton player; Manisha Malhotra, head of sports excellence & scouting, JSW Sports

Lockdowns across the world have grounded flights and shut down factories. But as countries battle the coronavirus pandemic and prepare for an impending economic recession, we are also witnessing one of the largest carbon crashes ever recorded. People across the world are talking about and sharing pictures on social media of azure blue skies, fresh air, clean water and even rare wildlife sightings within human settlements. But environmentalists warn all this may be temporary, as economic recovery would get prioritized before the environment in a post-pandemic world. So, are there lessons the pandemic can teach us about living with nature? And will countries go for greener policies as they rebuild their economies? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we bring in guests from China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India to discuss what the lockdown has meant for some of Asia’s – and the world’s – most polluted places. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment, India; Ahmad Rafay Alam, environment lawyer, Pakistan; Shababa Haque, senior research associate, International Centre for Climate Change and Development, Bangladesh; Yifei Li, assistant professor of environmental studies, New York University Shanghai, China

India has relaxed restrictions on farming and related industries, as it prepares to emerge from a countrywide lockdown. The move is aimed at easing the country’s food supply chain and alleviating economic impact. More than half of India’s workforce is engaged in farming, and agriculture contributes nearly 265bn dollars to the GDP. But the extended lockdown has hurt farming activities. With winter crops just harvested, farmers are facing acute challenges in transporting and selling their produce. Many say they have had to simply leave the harvested produce to rot. The government has announced a 23bn dollar relief package to provide food security and cash transfers to the poor, but it has been criticized for being inadequate. So, how are India’s farmers coping and is the country’s food security under threat? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the struggle of the Indian farmers and look at measures that can help them survive. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Yogendra Yadav, activist and founder, Farmers’ Movement; Ajay Vir Jakhar, chairman, Farmers’ Forum India; Chhavi Rajawat, head, Village Soda

India has taken tentative steps to ease lockdown restrictions for some industrial and agricultural activities. According to a recent study, the country is facing an economic loss of nearly 234 billion dollars due to the lockdown, which has now been in place for more than four weeks. The focus now is to restart the stalled economy and save jobs. Nearly 120 million people are presently unemployed. The International Monetary Fund has estimated a sharp economic recovery for India in financial year 2022, at 7.4 per cent. But how soon can recovery take place across different sectors, and what will it take to restore consumer confidence? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether India’s coronavirus-hit businesses are ready for a comeback. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Vikram Kirloskar, president, Confederation of Indian Industries; Radhika Khandelwal, chef and restaurateur; Upasana Taku, co-founder, MobiKwik

As India extends stay-at-home orders to fight the coronavirus outbreak, social media usage has seen a huge spike. According to a recent study, Indians are spending more than four hours every day on social media - nearly an 87% increase since before the lockdown. So social media influencers are faced with the difficult challenge of delivering fresh content and making money, despite severe restrictions on movement. Experts say the economic impact of coronavirus is starting to bite and may lead to a 15-25 per cent drop in what influencers earn for sponsored posts while events get cancelled and businesses trim budgets. Travel influencers are particularly hit by an industry-wide meltdown as nearly 75 million jobs are at risk worldwide - one in eight of them in India - according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. So, how significant are the challenges in the near term? And what are social media influencers doing to cope with the lockdown? #WorklifeIndia looks at the best ways that influencers are finding to create fresh content and their shift to alternative strategies to avoid lockdown blues. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Prajakta Koli, MostlySane content creator; Ankita Kumar, travel content creator; Harish Bijoor, brand and business strategy consultant

With India on coronavirus lockdown, are families feeling the strain? It has been more than 15 days since India shut its $2.9 trillion economy, issuing strict stay-at-home orders to more than a billion people. Now as the country’s government looks to extend the rigorous 21-day lockdown, how will it impact parenting? According to a UN Women report released in 2019, nearly 80% of households in India include couples - or extended families - living with children. Is it easy to manage work, home chores, taking care of the elderly and keeping children engaged? While most of the emotional pressure-cooker points have clearly defined exits – like stepping out for work, socialising with friends – it’s not the case with the ongoing lockdown. Is it leaving parents seething with irritability or bringing them serenely closer than ever before? Are they taking this time to celebrate with children and contemplate life or is the uncertainty an ingredient for increased stress? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how parents are keeping their kids engaged during the coronavirus lockdown. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Neerja Birla, founder and chairperson, Mpower; Divya Gokulnath, cofounder, Byju's; Ritika Kumar, cofounder and CEO, The Young Chronicle

Millions of migrant labourers in India have set off on foot for their villages, sparking a crisis as the country observes a lockdown to cope with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Many are walking hundreds of miles as public transport has been suspended. The migrant workers form the backbone of the big city economy. They mostly work in informal sectors, as construction labourers on building sites, domestic helpers in housing blocks, or food delivery staff at takeaways. Most live in poor conditions in congested urban ghettos, but they are now expressing fears that they will starve to death as the lockdown has turned them into refugees overnight. What are their stories of the long journey back to their villages? And what are the measures being taken by the government to help these people? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what is happening on the ground and what are the solutions to resolve India’s massive migration crisis. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Ronnie Screwvala, entrepreneur and founder, Swades Foundation; Chinmay Tumbe, assistant professor of economics, Indian Institute of Management; Bhakti Sharma, head, Barkhedi Abdulla

As the world adjusts itself to the coronavirus pandemic, one of the biggest changes is enforced home working. Quarantines and social distancing measures have become the new norm in India, the world's second-most populous country. As companies adapt to remote work amid a health crisis and a government-imposed nationwide lockdown, fresh new challenges are emerging at workplaces. How can companies shed off conservative corporate culture? Is it easy for employees to stay motivated and retain work-life balance? Does working from home affect mental health and productivity? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how a global health crisis is changing the way we work. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sparsh Gupta, CEO, Wingify; Ira Trivedi, writer & yoga guru; Aarushi Bahl, sustainability professional

Companies around the world are rolling out mandatory remote work due to the coronavirus outbreak. Is shifting to the remote office the new normal? And how is it impacting the business of sharing your workplace with other companies, freelancers and startups? India is one of the biggest markets for shared workspaces with over 200 players in the industry. But will all be able to survive in this price-conscious market? What are the experiences and challenges of coworking? And what are the implications of the coronavirus outbreak as governments urge citizens to work from home? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Arvind Kumar, COO, Corporatedge; Ankisha Rana, coworkers & cofounder, Socio Sketch; Vinayak Agrawal, cofounder, myHQ Photo: Office workers in a shared working space Credit: Getty Images

Worried customers were seen queuing up outside Yes Bank's branches in India earlier this month. The reason? The country's fifth largest private bank suspended its operations and was placed under a 30-day moratorium by the Central Reserve Bank of India. The troubled lender's collapse comes after the fall of another big bank in 2019. In the last four years, several other cases of fraud have been reported in the wider finance sector. The latest case has worsened fears that India's banks are under stress and not doing terribly well. So should people be worried about the safety of their money? Are there any safety nets in place? And are there any knock-on effects? We ask how depositors can better divide savings and whether there are any quick fixes to their immediate troubles. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sanchita Mukherji, senior private wealth manager; Harsh Roongta, ex-banker, financial adviser; Mihir Sharma, economist Photo: A bank counter in India during a period of anxiety amongst savers Credit: Satyabrata Tripathy/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

India has more than 90 million Muslim women. A majority of them are poor and uneducated. Even those at the top of the table of the society feel that they have to face too many established narratives, whether it’s about domestic violence, forced marriage or the burqa, preventing real discussions on more important issues. In recent years, India has also witnessed an increase in hate crimes against the minority Muslim community and some say they now feel anxious about their future as an Indian Muslim. As International Women's Day approaches, we speak to those who have challenged gender and religious stereotypes in India. We ask them, what does it mean to be a Muslim woman in today's India? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Shazia Ilmi, politician; Warisha Farasat, lawyer; Salma Moosa, founder, Start-ups Club Photo: Muharram procession in New Delhi, as women come together to commemorate the martyrdom Imam Hussein. Credit: Jasjeet Plaha/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Globally, more than 82,000 people in more than 50 countries are now infected with the coronavirus. Close to 2,800 have died, mostly in China’s central Hubei province. While countries battle to control the outbreak, the World Health Organisation has warned it will be ‘fatal’ for any country to assume it will not get any cases. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we ask, what is the hidden impact of the coronavirus? What measures is India taking to ensure complete preparedness? Is there a social cost to the misinformation around coronavirus? And will businesses that are heavily dependent upon their trade with China cushion the imminent fallout? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Shahid Jameel, leading virologist, CEO, Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance health charity; Qian Sun, Chinese journalist; Subodh Rai, senior director & head - analytics, CRISIL Ratings

Many of us love the natural world. We find animals cute, majestic and even fascinating - but rapid urbanisation and deforestation are threatening their population all over the world. As India hosts an international UN summit to discuss new measures to protect endangered wildlife, it is also facing an increasing risk of extinction of three of these species - the Great Indian Bustard, Asiatic Elephant and the Bengal Florican. In fact, nearly 100 bird species in the country are also at risk of extinction. Is development coming at a cost of depleting natural resources? Is it time the authorities took stricter measures to prevent poaching, habitat encroachment and illegal trade of animals? WorklifeIndia discusses the reasons and the solutions to mitigate India's vanishing wildlife species. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Ramesh Krishnamurthy, scientist, Wildlife Institute of India; Latika Nath, wildlife conservation ecologist; Aparna Rajagopal, chairperson, Wildlife SOS Photo: Elephants in woodland Credit: Getty Images

It's Valentine's Day and love is being celebrated across the world. But the way we seek love has vastly changed, and India is no exception. Technology and modern living have morphed how we find romance and express love. While popular culture continues to be overwhelmingly straight, many are breaking free of the default 'hetero' norm, to acknowledge their preference for non-heterosexual sexuality. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we ask: what are the different faces of modern love? Has the idea of romance changed? And how is it affecting our psyche, interactions with people, and the way we look at relationships? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Pragati Singh, founder, Indian Aces asexual community, identifies as demisexual; Anika Verma, human rights campaigner, identifies as polyamorous and bisexual; Debolina Dey, assistant professor, identifies as lesbian and queer

India has won 13 Olympic medals since the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and women account for five of them. In contrast, all 13 medals claimed by India pre-Sydney belong to men, signifying a change in paradigm in the nation's sporting landscape. But several challenges remain. In a country with a skewed sex ratio, gender discrimination, and striking disparities in opportunities for boys versus girls, it has taken sheer grit and guts for many of our sportswomen to come out shining and force a mindset change. Now, as the BBC launches its first-ever Indian Sportswoman of the Year award, WorklifeIndia asks how Indian women in sports can break barriers and change the game. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Anju Bobby George, former athlete and chairperson, Athletes’ Commission; Manisha Malhotra, former Olympic tennis player, head of sports excellence & scouting, JSW Sports; Vandana Vijay, TV editor, BBC Indian Languages

The gap between the super-rich and the rest of the world is widening, as wealth continues to be owned by a small minority, according to a new report by global non-profit, Oxfam. Over 2,000 of the world's billionaires have more wealth than nearly 60 per cent of the planet’s population. The contrast is even sharper for developing countries such as India, where some 74% of the money generated goes to the richest 10%, the charity says. So what's the best way to greater equality and faster growth? How can we raise the living standards of the poor, especially the poorest 40%? And how can more women get economic benefit for their unpaid care work? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Manav Subodh, co-founder, 1M1B (1 Million for 1 Billion); Ranu Bhogal, director of policy, research & campaigns, Oxfam India; Naghma Mulla, chief operating officer, EdelGive Foundation

India is among the world's youngest nations. More than half of its population, over 600 million people, is under the age of 25. That is an extraordinary demographic that gives a sense of importance of young Indians for the future of Asia and of the world. Today's young people are well aware of events in other parts of the world. They are vocal in their demands for good jobs and better education, they challenge established social norms, and in schools and colleges, they are learning to dream big. But are their rising aspirations being met with equal opportunities? What are the fears and concerns in the minds of the Indian youth? What does a young India really want? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sabika Abbas Naqvi, founder, Sar-i-Rahguzar: Poetry on the Streets; Ashweetha Shetty, founder and CEO, Bodhi Tree Foundation; Ayush Jaiswal, co-founder, Pesto Tech

Walking on the streets in many Indian cities is often likened to an adventure. People are seen jostling for space in narrow lanes, hawkers shouting, traffic zooming past and of course cows squatting in the middle of the roads. But there is very little chance of finding a walkway with a ramp for people with disabilities, or markers to help the visually challenged. India is home to more than 26 million people with disabilities. A majority of them live in rural areas and struggle for access to education, employment and healthcare. #WorklifeIndia asks how government, corporates and civil society can come together to ensure dignity and inclusion for people living with disabilities. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Devika Malik, para-athlete and co-founder, Wheeling Happiness; Dr Jitender Aggarwal, founder and CEO, Sarthak Educational Trust; Swati Rustagi, Director of HR, Amazon India Operations

It’s a new year and the start of a fresh chapter. It is also the time we make resolutions to bring changes into our lives. So what’s on your list? Are you thinking about buying that dream car or home, but don’t have enough funds? Or are you looking at quitting your job to be your own boss, but aren’t sure how to start and what to do? #WorklifeIndia speaks to experts to ask the million-dollar question: how should we manage our money? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Satyen Kothari, founder and CEO, Cube wealth app; Chinu Kala, founder, Rubans Accessories; Shaurya Bajaj, equity investor

Remember the times when you planned your day such that you could catch your favourite show on television? If you missed an episode, you would call others to fill you in. Streaming services and video-on-demand have changed all that. We now consume content on web series, television shows and films anytime and anywhere we like. How does content differ across different platforms? And how is the rise of streaming impacting Bollywood and the traditional platforms like movie theatres? #WorklifeIndia asks how the streaming revolution is changing viewing habits in India, home to one of the world’s most dynamic entertainment markets. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR Pictures; Gourav Rakshit, COO, Viacom18 Digital Ventures; Richa Chadda, Bollywood actor Photo: Man watching a tablet with headphones Credit: Getty Images

Transphobia is on the rise, recent studies indicate. In the UK alone, trans-hate crimes recorded by the police rose by 81% since last year. Another study of nearly 10 million social media posts across the US and UK by analytics firm Brandwatch says that there is 'inhumane' harassment and transphobhic abuse on digital platforms. In India, over half a million transgender people continue to struggle against discrimination. Many opt for expensive and complicated gender reassignment surgeries to gain social acceptance. So what can be done to make society more inclusive towards transgender people? Could providing better education and legislation improve their rights? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Kalki Subramaniam, transgender rights activist; Nitasha Biswas, model and Miss Transqueen India; Air Cmde (Dr) Sanjay Sharma (retd), CEO, Association for Transgender Health in India

Air pollution in the north of India has reached unbearable levels this month. Many areas of the country’s capital, Delhi, reported hazardous air quality, with the potential to cause respiratory illnesses. Schools were closed for two days and people advised to stay indoors. Low visibility due to a persistent haze caused many flights to be diverted. Rules also went into effect to allow only cars with odd or even number plates to be driven on given days. While politicians blame each other for the conditions, the city’s residents are taking to the streets and the social media to express discontent. Last week, protests were held demanding action to curb pollution using long-term and sustainable anti-pollution measures. So, how are people surviving the toxic air? And what can be done to make the city’s air cleaner? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Tarun Sahni, senior consultant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals; Harinder Chhabra, director, The Infinity School; Ayush Bahl, student; Christine Pemberton, marathon runner; Sushila Saripalli Bahl, blogger & parent

Many countries are moving towards cashless payment systems. In India too, the trend is picking up. Cards, online banking, digital wallets and other digital payment systems are quite popular. But this also puts users at risk, as cybercriminals target unsuspecting consumers with different kinds of financial frauds. From ATM fraud to social engineering – where someone tries to extract personal information like a password from you – cyber scams are everywhere. How can you avoid becoming prey to one? #WorklifeIndia asks how you can protect your money in the digital age. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Subimal Bhattacharjee, cybersecurity policy consultant; Puneet Bhasin, advocate and cyber law expert; Trishneet Arora, ethical hacker, CEO – TAC Security Solutions

Plus-size people often battle issues with social acceptance and self-esteem. They often have to face bullying, harassment, body-shaming and unsolicited advice. Meanwhile, shopping can be a nightmare, due to a shortage of clothing options. But social attitudes are changing. Brands are increasingly recognising plus-size fashion as a business opportunity, and understanding that plus-size fashion can be trendy too. #WorklifeIndia asks if India is ready for plus-size fashion. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sakshi Sindwani, plus-size model and fashion influencer; Shefalee Vasudev, author, fashion writer and editor, The Voice of Fashion; Hetal Kotak, CEO, aLL Plus Size Store

As the global economy slows down, people's purchasing power is taking a hit. The International Monetary Fund has forecast that the global economy will grow at just 3% this year - the slowest since the recession of 2008-09. India's central bank too says that consumer confidence has dipped to a six-year low in the country. According to experts, consumer confidence is like an oil tanker - once moved, it can take a very long time to turn around. So, how significant are the current consumer trends? And what can be done to revive consumer confidence? #WorklifeIndia discusses the best ways to create fresh demand and asks what some of the innovative measures are to reform the market and to boost consumer confidence. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Reetika Khera, associate professor of economics, Indian Institute of Management; Hindol Sengupta, author and journalist; Preeti Reddy, CEO, South Asia, Kantar Insights

There are 450 million smartphone users in India - the second-highest number globally, behind only China. Dirt-cheap data and affordable mobile phones are driving this boom in connectivity. It’s bringing key services like healthcare, education and banking to millions, and for both local and foreign companies, India is becoming a preferred market for their next billion users. Yet parts of India remain under-penetrated with lack of infrastructure and connectivity. A significant population is still in the dark. #WorklifeIndia asks how the mobile revolution is transforming India and impacting our lives, and how digital inclusion can be achieved. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: P Balaji, chief regulatory and corporate affairs officer, Vodafone Idea Limited; Rudra Dalmia, executive director, Paytm Mall; Tanvi Sharma, telecom analyst, Counterpoint Research

Not a single woman won a Nobel Prize in the science category this year. This is not unusual: according to the United Nations, only 20 women have made it to the list of winners in physics, chemistry, physiology and medicine in more than a hundred years. While women are increasingly opting to be scientists, there is still a huge gap. Women are often told that subjects like engineering and mathematics are not for them. They face discrimination in hiring, growth and funding for research. In this special edition, #WorklifeIndia heads to the India Economic Summit organised in Delhi by the World Economic Forum. We speak to female tech entrepreneurs and scientists and ask them what’s holding women back in the field of science. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sabine Klauke, head of engineering, Airbus Defence and Space; Dr Ruchi Saxena, founder, Caerobotics Healthcare Solutions and director, India Flying Labs; Sarah Zhang, founder, Guangzhishu Technology (Points); Pritika Mehta, data scientist and entrepreneur

India produces an estimated 26,000 tonnes of plastic a day. The majority is packaging material, for everything ranging from takeaway food to online shopping. Most of it ends up at crowded landfill sites in the city along with other waste. A lot of it finds its way into drains and waterways, and eventually into the oceans. It’s toxic not just for the environment and wildlife, but for human health as well. The Indian government has started a campaign to rid the country of single-use plastic over the next three years. But plastic is cheap and ubiquitous, and alternative materials aren’t as easily available and are often more expensive. Are we ready to embrace a life without single-use plastic? Are companies willing to make the change? And what can consumers do to switch to a more eco-friendly lifestyle? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dia Mirza, actor, producer, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador & United Nations Secretary General Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals; Bahar Dutt, environment journalist and conservation biologist; Jayesh Rambhia, managing director, Premsons Plastics and Co-chairman, All India Plastic Manufacturers' Association (AIPMA) Image: Volunteers of the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Sulabh International hold cloth bags (Credit: Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images)

Big cities around the world are getting increasingly congested. In some Indian cities, the average commute time easily runs into several hours. A lot of commuters spend their commutes working, answering emails and taking calls. They are often stressed and tired even before the workday officially starts. It can affect performance, health, and work-life balance. So, how can employers make the daily commute less painful and more productive? Should it be counted as part of your workday? #WorklifeIndia speaks to the co-founder of an on-demand commuting service, a human resources professional and a long-distance commuter. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Amit Singh, co-founder and CEO, Shuttl; Rachna Saxena, chief human resources officer, ABC Consultants; Aaliya Batool, consultant and long-distance commuter Image: Indian commuters travel in the compartment reserved for women on the metro in New Delhi, India, on June 10, 2015 (Credit: Anna Zieminski/AFP/Getty Images)

Globally, over 40 million people use vapes or e-cigarettes: battery-powered smoking devices filled with a liquid that contains nicotine, which is then heated into vapours that users inhale. Vapes are often available in attractive flavours and designs, making them popular with young people, and because they don’t contain tobacco, they are perceived by some as a healthier alternative to smoking. But many health experts feel they are dangerous, and could also be a gateway to smoking for others. That’s one of the reasons why India, the country with the world’s second-largest number of smokers, has banned vapes, joining many other countries around the world. Despite this, traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes and chewing tobacco are still legal here. There is also scepticism about the implementation of the ban, and questions on why the government did not decide to regulate the industry instead. So is banning vapes the solution, and who are the winners and losers from this decision in India? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Ritu Malani, respiratory disease and allergy specialist; Aalok Avasthi, vape supplier and store owner; Kanav Kumar, vaper and former smoker Image: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses a press conference to announce the cabinet decision to ban e-cigarettes on September 18, 2019 in New Delhi, India (Credit: Mohd Zakir/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

India and a number of countries around the world are slowly losing productive land and soil to desertification. More than 30% of India’s land has degraded and become unsuitable for agriculture. Desertification, which is particularly prominent in Africa and Asia, has serious implications for food security, migration and people’s health and livelihoods. India itself has more than a billion mouths to feed and a majority of the population here is dependent on agriculture. How can we put an end to land degradation? What role do policymakers, businesses and individual consumers play? And what practical solutions can we implement in our day-to-day lives to combat desertification? #WorklifeIndia speaks to a prominent environmentalist, a scientist involved in the United Nations’ efforts to combat desertification, and the founder of an agri-tech start-up based in Bangalore. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment; Barron Joseph Orr, lead scientist, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); Shameek Chakravarty, founder and CEO, Farmizen Image: Farmers ploughing dried-out soil in West Bengal, February 2017 (Credit: Frank Bienewald/LightRocket via Getty Images)

From high end fashion to expensive jewellery, celebrity invites to exotic destinations, a luxury Indian wedding has it all. Generally lasting a few days, it feels more like a festival. With a huge, young demographic and nearly 20 million people tying the knot every year, India is the world’s second largest market for weddings. The industry is worth tens of billions of dollars and often considered “recession-proof”. But who are the people making it all happen? And how? What do millennial couples want and what are some of their most outlandish requests? #WorklifeIndia takes you behind the scenes of a big, fat Indian wedding with a celebrity fashion designer, a luxury wedding planner and the founder of a digital weddings discovery platform. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Rohit Bal, celebrity fashion designer; Neha Seth Arora, luxury wedding planner and CEO, Var Vadhu; Mehak Sagar, co-founder, WedMeGood wedding portal Image: Bollywood actors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone pose during their wedding reception at Grand Hyatt, Santacruz on November 28, 2018 in Mumbai, India. (Credit: Pramod Thakur/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

In many conservative families, girls are denied education and work opportunities. But many are challenging gender stereotypes by entering sports. But it’s not easy. They have to face questions on everything from their choice of sport to the way they dress, and why they want to step out of home to compete in a “man’s game". They fight prejudice at every step, for social acceptance and equal pay, hoping to bring glory to their families, their communities and the country. We speak to three young Indian sportswomen dabbling in offbeat sports, and ask what can be done to create a fairer playing field for women in sport. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Aishwarya Pissay (motorsport racer); Hetal Dave (Sumo wrestler); Diskit Angmo (ice hockey player) Photo: Sindhu Pusarla at the 2019 Badminton Asia Championships Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images

An estimated 40 million people globally are subjected to modern forms of slavery. Bonded and forced labour, child labour, sex trafficking and domestic servitude are still rife. India has adopted a United Nations goal to eradicate modern slavery by 2030, but how close are we to achieving that goal? How bad is the problem in India? How does caste-based discrimination play a role? How can businesses be made more accountable, and consumers more aware about the products they buy? We speak to a leading human rights lawyer, the head of an organisation working to free supply chains of bonded labour, and an activist fighting for the rights of those at the bottom of India’s caste hierarchy. We ask them how we can eradicate modern-day slavery. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Colin Gonsalves, founder, Human Rights Law Network and senior advocate, Supreme Court of India; Manoj Bhatt, director, GoodWeave India; Riya Singh, Dalit activist and PhD scholar Photo: An Indian labourer transporting bricks on a cart in a brick kiln on the outskirts of Jalandhar. Brick kiln workers in India can be trapped in a cycle of bonded labour and cheated out of promised wages Credit: Shammi Mehra/AFP/Getty Images

After years of fast-paced growth, India’s economy is losing steam. In this country of more than a billion people, domestic consumption is one of the main drivers of growth but unemployment is rising and people's purchasing power has taken a hit. While the government maintains that the economic slowdown is temporary and a revival is not too far ahead, for now the impact of the slowdown is being felt across industries. Car sales are declining, private investment is slowing down and the shadow banking sector is in a crisis. India’s central bank has cut interest rates to boost the slowing economy, but is this enough? And with ambitions to become one of the world’s most powerful economies, which sectors can help drive India’s growth in the next 10 years? We speak to the vice chairman of the Indian government’s policy think tank, an independent economic analyst, and a business journalist. We ask them what India can do to beat the current economic slowdown. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog government think-tank; Pranjal Sharma, Independent Economic Analyst and author; Shweta Punj, Deputy Editor, India Today and Social Entrepreneur, Young Global Leader (World Economic Forum) Photo: Money changes hand for lemonade at a shop in Delhi, India Credit: Getty Images

Some believe that believe cryptocurrencies are the new digital gold. From Bitcoin to Ethereum, there are over 2,000 kinds of cryptocurrencies globally, worth over $300bn in digital money. And now Facebook is planning to join the bandwagon with Libra, its own digital currency. But many are wary of cryptocurrencies and the risks associated with them. There are concerns about scams, fraud and user privacy. Countries like India have put restrictions in place on the trade of cryptocurrencies. Now, a new government committee in India has recommended a complete ban, including holding and investing in them. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we speak to a young professional who works at a cryptocurrency exchange, the policy head at India's leading association of software companies, and a lawyer specialising in technology and privacy. We ask them whether India should ban cryptocurrencies, or embrace them instead as the future of money. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Priyanka Sharma, Chief of Staff, WazirX cryptocurrency exchange; Ashish Aggarwal, Sr Director & Public Policy Head, NASSCOM; Akriti Gaur, tech lawyer and senior fellow, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy Photo: Businessman alalysing stock market graph Credit: Getty Images

Until a few years ago, India was known globally as a hub for commercial surrogacy. Childless couples and individuals from India and abroad were ready to pay good money to have a child, and poor women were available to rent their wombs. Thousands of infertility clinics sprung up all over India to facilitate the multi-million-dollar industry. But the government has been cracking down on this practice. In 2015, foreigners were banned from seeking commercial surrogacy in India, and now a bill is in the parliament aiming to ban the practice completely, including for Indian citizens. Proponents of the ban say that the industry flourishes at the cost of financial and medical exploitation of the surrogates, and that commercial surrogacy poses serious questions around medical ethics. The government is pushing for altruistic surrogacy instead, which offers no financial compensation, comes under certain conditions, and excludes single parents and homosexual couples. On the other hand, supporters of the rent-a-womb industry, insist that surrogates are treated fairly, and it is a win-win situation for both surrogates and childless people seeking an alternative. We speak to a doctor with extensive professional experience in commercial surrogacy, a public health expert who supports the ban and believes that reproductive labour is highly exploitative, and a choreographer who was one of the first single men in India to adopt a child. We also hear the voices of surrogate mothers and ask them about their experiences. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Priti Gupta, Fertility Specialist, First Step IVF Clinic; Prof Mohan Rao, Independent Researcher and Public Health Expert; Sandip Soparrkar, Choreographer, Single Parent Photo: Three surrogate mothers who are carrying the embryos for clients of a commercial surrogacy clinic Credit: Jonas Gratzer/LightRocket via Getty Images

A study points out that more than 40% of India’s corporate employees suffer from depression and anxiety. It’s a common illness, yet talking about it is still a taboo. And it costs the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year. What are some recognisable signs of a mental health disorder? How can you help a colleague who’s struggling to cope? How does one go about looking for professional help, and is it accessible? In this episode of WorklifeIndia, we speak to a Bollywood star who spoke up about her struggle with depression, a therapist and counsellor working on mental health for more than two decades, the founder of a start-up bringing happiness to the corporate world, and a former corporate employee who was asked to leave her job over a mental health disorder and has now launched an initiative to sensitise workplaces. We ask them what practical solutions workplaces can implement to provide support to their employees. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Deepika Padukone, Bollywood star and depression survivor; Anna Chandy, chairperson of the board of trustrees, the Live Love Laugh Foundation; Karan Behl, founder and chief happiness officer, Happiitude; Deepti Ahuja, founder, Sense of Self Mental Health Initiative Image: Deepika Padukone, founder of the Live Love Laugh Foundation, attends the unveiling event for a report on the public perception towards mental health in India, in New Delhi on March 23, 2018 (Credit: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images)

According to a Greenpeace report, 15 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India. The government is keen to clean up the air, and one idea is to push for more electric vehicles on the roads to address toxic vehicular emissions. It has announced tax incentives for consumers who purchase electric vehicles, and is pushing to set up more charging stations. But there are some bumps along the way. Does going electric really address air pollution? Is the required infrastructure in place? And are manufacturers and consumers ready to make the shift? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Punit Goyal, co-founder, Blu Smart Mobility; Disha Agarwal, energy expert, Shakti Foundation; Gaurav Gupta, chief commercial officer, MG Motors Image: An electric car being charged (Credit: Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images)

It's been 50 years since the human race first set foot on the Moon. And as the United States celebrates the historic Apollo 11 mission, India is hoping to achieve another space feat. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is attempting to soft-land a rover on the south pole of the Moon – something no other country has done before. The global commercial space industry is worth more than $300bn. India has developed a reputation for being a reliable launch pad for small satellites, but what more can India do to earn larger space revenues? And as India’s space sector slowly opens up to commercialisation, where do private space start-ups come in? Can India have its own version of SpaceX? We ask a young scientist who has developed satellites launched by both NASA and ISRO, a leading space entrepreneur with ventures in three different continents, and a researcher who specialises in India’s space programme whether India is on the right path to become a global space superpower. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Rifath Shaarook, student scientist, chief technology officer, Space Kidz India; Dr Susmita Mohanty, entrepreneur and CEO, Earth2Orbit; Dr. Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, head of nuclear & space policy, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Image: The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C44) launches off onboard India's Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) imaging satellite Microsat R, along with student satellite Kalamsat, at Satish Dhawan Space centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh state, on January 24, 2019 (Credit: Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images)

India has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform itself into a $5 trillion economy over the next five years. For perspective, that would take the second most populous country in the world into third spot after the United States and China. But it’s not going to be easy, and even the government accepts that. Experts say there are many bottlenecks.The country faces high unemployment, a continuing farm crisis, and rising trade tensions. Growth has been slowing and there are no immediate signs of a turnaround. But the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has presented the first budget of its second term in office, says concerns have been addressed. We talk to a top industrialist, an independent economist and an entrepreneur to look at the roadmap to achieve this ambitious target, and ask whether the budget can return India to high-trajectory growth. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Vikram Kirloskar, president, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Sairee Chahal, founder, SHEROES (a platform for women job seekers); Renu Kohli, independent economist. Image: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds a folder containing the Union Budget documents (Credit: Rajat Gupta/EPA)

Twenty-one of India’s major cities may run out of ground water as early as 2020 according to a government report. Some experts contest that assessment but daily water woes are a part of life for almost half of the country’s population. The southern city of Chennai, where reservoirs are drying up due to a delayed monsoon and poor water management, is severely affected. Residents there have been queuing up to collect water from rationed government services, and schools, hospitals and restaurants are struggling to cope. Meanwhile, the Indian government has set up a new Jal Shakti (water power) Ministry, and is proposing a massive project to interlink India’s rivers as an answer to the water crisis. We focus on water conservation and management solutions to India’s water crisis. We speak to a water activist based in Chennai who restores lakes and ponds, the head of a Delhi-based non-profit that works to recharge groundwater, and a water expert who specialises in rural irrigation economy and policy making. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Aditi Mukherjee, Principal Researcher, International Water Management Institute; Jyoti Sharma, President, FORCE Non-profit; Arun Krishnamurthy, Founder, Environmentalist Foundation of India Photo: A woman carries a length of hose pipe to be used to fill water Credit: Burhaan Kinu/Hindustan Times via Getty Image

India is facing a health crisis that says a lot about the state of its healthcare systems. More than 100 children have died due to an outbreak of encephalitis in the eastern state of Bihar. The patients are usually in small towns and rural areas where medical facilities are strained. Public hospitals are in a shabby state and struggling to cope with streams of patients. All of this impacts the poor the most, as they are unable to afford the state-of-the-art private medical facilities available in big cities. Public expenditure on healthcare in India is quite low, but last year, the government announced an ambitious health insurance scheme. Can it make healthcare more accessible? And what role can technology and telemedicine play in improving the quality of healthcare? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Shobana Kamineni, executive vice-chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group; Prof K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India; Dr Yogesh Jain, co-founder, Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS) health non-profit Image: Relatives visit child patients who suffer from acute encephalitis syndrome in a hospital ward in Muzaffarpur, in the eastern state of Bihar, India (Credit: Alasdair Pal/Reuters)

India's LGBTQ+ community is believed to be more than 100 million strong, and is openly celebrating pride month. Last year, India decriminalised gay sex, but deep-rooted social stigma remains. As more people come out and the community becomes more vocal about its preferences, entrepreneurs and big businesses are eager to tap into its spending power. New ventures targeting queer consumers are springing up in tourism, hospitality, fashion, healthcare and dating. But there are also concerns that an exclusive 'pink economy' might isolate the community. In this episode of WorklifeIndia, we ask a prominent transgender rights activist, an award winning fashion designer and LGBTQ+ rights activist, and the founder of a dating and community app for the LGBTQ+ community whether 'pink money' can take off in India. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, transgender rights activist; Wendell Rodricks, fashion designer and LGBTQ+ rights activist; Ishaan Sethi, founder, Delta App. Image: People taking part in Mumbai's Queer Azaadi Pride Parade (Credit: Azhar Khan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

India’s coastline is over 7,500 kilometres (over 4,600 miles) long, and nearly a fifth of the country’s population – about 250 million people – live along the coast. From mineral resources to food, tourism and maritime trade, the Indian Ocean is a lifeline, and its assets are worth billions of dollars. But now the government is looking at an ambitious coastal development project to build ports, dams and inland waterways. How will this impact coastal communities and marine life? Will it end up choking the oceans, or can India adopt the Blue Economy and sustainably develop its marine resources? As we celebrate World Environment Day and World Oceans Day this week, we ask our guests whether the Blue Economy is viable. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Nayantara Jain, executive director, ReefWatch Marine Conservation; Ganesh Nakhawa, sustainable fishery operator and founder, BluCatch; Puja Mitra, founder and director, Terra Conscious Image: A fisherman pulls in his net at a beach in Chennai on November 22, 2018 (Credit: Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images)

As the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 begins, we look at the changes that cricket has undergone. From test matches that lasted more than a week, we’re now living in the times of T20 and T10 cricket. One of the key drivers behind this is money - cricket is now a much more lucrative sport than it used to be, with major brands stepping in as sponsors, broadcast rights selling for billions of dollars, and players standing to earn big bucks in commercial deals and endorsements. We speak to a sportscaster and former captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, a top executive from one of the sponsors of the World Cup, and a former cricket player turned coach. The head coach of an Indian Premier League team joins us from Cape Town, South Africa and we ask them how cricket has evolved, and discuss what’s driving this multi-billion dollar game. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Anjum Chopra, sportscaster and former cricket captain; Pradeep Parameswaran, president, India and South Asia, Uber; Puru Singh, ICC Level 2 Coach and founder of PUSH Cricket Academy; Paddy Upton, head coach, Rajasthan Royals (Indian Premier League) Photo: Indian cricket fans get a special hair creation to cheer India National team for the Cricket World Cup (CWC) at a barbershop in Mumbai, May 2019 Credit: EPA/Divyakant Solanki

Indian voters have overwhelmingly voted Prime Minister Narendra Modi back in for a second term. His Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has won with a large majority. This significant verdict will have a direct bearing on India's economy and society for the next five years. What does it mean for India's future? There are headwinds of an economic slowdown. The new government must also face challenges like agrarian distress, unemployment, trade tensions and high crude prices. There are also fears of the rise of a right-wing agenda and communal polarisation. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we speak to the chief of the Indian government institute for promoting economic development, a prominent sociologist, and the head of an independent think-tank that monitors the Indian economy. We ask them if Prime Minister Modi will deliver on his promise of inclusive growth. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog; Mahesh Vyas, MD and CEO, Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy; Dr Nandini Sundar, sociologist, Delhi University Image: A Bharatiya Janata Party supporter seen wearing a mask of Narendra Modi during the celebrations (Image: Avijit Ghosh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Sad about Game of Thrones ending this week? The battle for the throne lives on - online. Too hot to play football or cricket outdoors? The video game version is a comfortable option, and lets you pick the players, uniform and strategy. The world of e-sports is a promising one, and growing fast. It goes by its own rules, big money is at stake, and 320 million people globally are hooked on to it. It is growing in popularity in India too thanks to a large community of geeks, gamers and developers. A fantasy sports start-up just became India’s first gaming unicorn. But with this popularity come fears around addiction and violence. In fact, an Indian state temporarily banned gamers from accessing a popular battle royale game. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we speak to the owner of an e-sports company, a professional gamer who doubles as a cosplayer, and a cyber de-addiction expert. We ask them where the e-sports industry is headed, how you can earn money as a gamer, and how worried we should be about the mental health concerns around it. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Abhay Sharma, co-founder GamingMonk; Aorin Shariyari, professional gamer and cosplayer; Dr Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, cyber de-addiction specialist. (Photo: India gaming Championship as Mountain Dew Game Fuel is launched on 9 June 2016. Credit: Saumya Khandelwal/Hindustan Times/Getty Images)

India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and yet, Indians don’t seem to be all that happy. It is placed 140th out of 156 on a United Nations list that ranks countries on happiness. So, why the grim faces? Are Indians able to laugh at themselves or do they take themselves too seriously? We sit down in a swanky pub near Delhi with some of India’s top comedians and satirists and ask them what it’s like working as a comedian in India. Do they feel free to poke fun at sensitive issues around Indian society and politics, or are they concerned about how audiences might react? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Aditi Mittal, stand-up comic; Akash Banerjee, political satirist; Rajneesh Kapoor, stand-up comic; Sweta Mantrii, stand-up comic Image: Senior citizens perform various laughing exercises during an event to mark World Laughter Day (Credit: Kalpak Pathak/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

One of the biggest election issues in India is unemployment. A controversy erupted recently over a leak of government jobs data that suggested unemployment in India is at a 45-year-high – a worrying situation, considering the millions of Indian youth entering the workforce each year. The government disputes these figures and maintains the situation isn’t as bad as it seems. So, the question is: Are there enough jobs? And for those who are employed, are the jobs suitable to their qualifications? Most of India’s workforce is still in the informal sector, with irregular wages and no social protection. How can the situation here be improved? How have policies to promote job creation through entrepreneurship, upskilling and manufacturing fared? And how does the future look – are automation and machine learning eventually coming for all of us? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Sabina Dewan, president and executive director, JustJobs Network; Dr Seema Sharma, consultant, ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations); Varun Aggarwal, co-founder, Aspiring Minds Image: Employees in the information technology sector hold placards against layoffs and alleged unfair labour practices by Indian IT companies during a protest organised by the Information Technology Employees Union in Bangalore on July 29, 2017 (Credit: Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images)

We’re in the middle of the world’s biggest election, and the battle to reach India’s 900 million voters is on every screen. Political parties are spending big money on digital strategy and social media marketing. Ads, trending hashtags, memes and influencers are all being used. But is all the investment worth it? Is it reaching the voters it should, and swaying political choices? And what about the dangers of fake news, misuse of data and hate speech? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we speak to a popular actor turned politician, the public policy head of India’s own vernacular social network, and a digital marketer providing services to political parties and candidates. We ask whether digital campaigning is really a game changer, and what the election of the future looks like. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Gul Panag, actor, politician and entrepreneur; Berges Malu, public policy head, ShareChat; Kapil Gupta, digital marketer and CEO, OMLogic Image: Friends look at a digital tablet (Credit: Getty Images)

India's domestic aviation industry is one of the fastest growing in the world. But with soaring demand comes cut-throat competition, and pressure to keep costs low. Most Indian airlines, facing a turbulent time over the last few years, are making huge losses, and many airlines are struggling to stay in business. The latest example is the 25-year-old Jet Airways, which has temporarily suspended operations – and the jobs of 23,000 employees – saying it has no more money to fly its aircraft. So what's going wrong? We take a look into this lucrative but high stakes industry with a senior Jet Airways pilot and vice president of the National Aviators' Guild, a former joint secretary of India's civil aviation sector, and a young entrepreneur who is the CEO of a private jet service. Will India manage to keep its aviation industry ticking? And is it the end of the road for full-service airlines? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Captain Asim Valiani, Vice President, National Aviators' Guild; Sanat Kaul, Former Joint Secretary, Civil Aviation; Kanika Tekriwal, CEO, JetSetGo Image: A Jet Airways employee protests outside Indira Gandhi International Airport (Credit: Sanjeev Verma/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

According to a recent report by IQAir Air Visual and Greenpeace, 15 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in India. On top of the list is India’s millennium city of Gurugram, a major commercial and residential hub, home to plush offices, high rises and busy highways. India’s elections began this week, and yet politicians don’t seem to be paying much attention to the quality of the air we all breathe. Should pollution should be a key issue? We travel to Gurugram to speak to an air pollution expert, an entrepreneur who is in the business of providing air quality solutions, and a young student who’s also a climate activist. Why is Gurugram the world’s most polluted city? How does the air quality here impact lives, businesses and health? And what’s the economic cost of the pollution in this urban centre? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Anumita Roychowdhury, air pollution expert, Centre for Science and Environment; Barun Aggarwal, CEO, Breathe Easy; Asheer Kandhari, student activist Image: Students wearing anti-air pollution masks while going to school in Gurugram (Credit: Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

The cow is a polarising animal in India. The majority Hindu community considers the cow sacred, and cow protection is an extremely emotive issue. Some political parties have tried to use the issue to consolidate their vote, but this brand of politics has led to sharp divisions in society, and even mob killings. Cattle which would have been slaughtered for meat and leather are now being abandoned, and are roaming the streets without enough shelters to house them. They're destroying crops and affecting farmers' livelihoods. And all this is affecting the multi-billion dollar leather, beef and dairy industries. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the rise of cow politics and whether it is hurting India's image and economy. Has the movement for cow protection gone too far? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Subramanian Swamy, senior parliamentarian and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party; Manisha Sethi, activist and professor of sociology at Jamia Milia Islamia; Martin Howell, South Asia bureau chief, Reuters Image: Stray cattle at a temporary shelter (Credit: Money Sharma/AFP/Getty Images)

Caste, class, gender, religion and nationality are all powerful labels, but how important are they to a country's development and economy? In less than a month, India, the world’s largest democracy, will go into general elections. The massive electoral exercise, with 900 million people eligible to vote, will take more than a month to complete. Over 15 million of these are young first-time voters. WorklifeIndia will travel across the country to capture local voices and find out what voters want ahead of elections. This time, we went to Varanasi, a holy city for Hindus and the constituency of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to discuss identity politics. Electoral promises and policies in India often tend to revolve around identity. So, is the spread of identity politics a positive phenomenon? Or does it hinder growth and development? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Seema Chishti, deputy editor, The Indian Express; Anjoo Sharan Upadhyaya, professor, Banaras Hindu University; Mineshi Mishra, student activist, Banaras Hindu University Image: Indian women queue to cast their votes during the last phase of Lok Sabha election on May 12, 2014 in Varanasi, India (Credit: Ajay Aggarwal/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

We’ve all been there. Pretty much every woman knows what it feels like to be "mansplained" or "manterrupted" - when a man explains something to a woman in a condescending or patronising way or cuts her off in the middle of a sentence. Lots of men do it and it is super annoying. A workers' union in Sweden has even set up a hotline for women to complain about their mansplaining colleagues. Is it really so hard for men to stop giving unsolicited advice to women? Is it a reflection of the broader issue of sexism and power dynamics? A lot of women leaders who speak up and assert themselves are often considered too aggressive. And there simply aren’t enough women at the top. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk to three prominent women leaders breaking the glass ceiling in public services, the corporate world and the legal sphere. We ask them how they shut down mansplaining, and about overcoming challenges in their careers. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Kiran Bedi, former police officer and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry; Mansi Tripathy, Managing Director, Shell Lubricants India; Vrinda Grover, senior Supreme Court lawyer (Photo: Indian business woman looks at a male colleague. Credit: Getty Images)

Globally, 2.3 billion people lack basic sanitation services, making it a major challenge to manage menstruation. Over 150 million women in India suffer from period poverty. Periods are one of the leading reasons why girls drop out of education in the country. Many are forced to stay at home because they can't access or afford sanitary products. Some women use cloth or rags with sand, jute or even cow dung, which increases the risk of infections, while many are subjected to social, religious and cultural restrictions during menstruation. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk to a menstrual comic series creator, a period campaigner and a public policy specialist to understand how India can address menstrual access and stigma. Are policy measures effective to tackle the culture of silence and shame? How can the government improve access to sanitary products? And how can we break our own taboos and myths around periods? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Urvashi Prasad, public policy specialist, NITI Aayog think tank; Aditi Gupta, co-founder, Menstrupedia; and Anshu Gupta, founder, Goonj NGO. Image: Indian school children hold placards as they participate in a campaign to raise awareness for menstrual hygiene among young girls in New Delhi, India (Credit: Harish Tyagi/European Photopress Agency)

By 2030, India is expected to generate 165 million tonnes of waste. Rubbish is everywhere; in alleys, streets, and marketplaces, and it keeps piling up. While there is a vast recycling culture that includes garbage buyers, scavengers and rag pickers, there are also complex hurdles that hamper the country’s fight against trash. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk about trash with three environmentalists using campaigns, comedy and creative entrepreneurship to address the mountain of waste. Are policy measures, campaigns and green businesses effective? How can waste be effectively monetised to create wealth and jobs? And how can we as consumers buy less and make recycling and upcycling a part of our lifestyle? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Vasu Primlani, environmentalist and stand-up comedian, Aanchal Sukhija, sustainable fashion designer & blogger, and Bharati Chaturvedi, founder and director, Chintan Environmental Action Group. Image: An Indian woman collects fire woods as she carries her child, at one of the largest disposal sites in north-east India, in Boragaon area of Guwahati on June 4, 2018 (Credit: Biju Boro/AFP/Getty Images)

Have you ever been on a dating app, furiously swiping left and right, hoping to find your soulmate? Or is technology not your thing, and you prefer the face-to-face, love at first sight approach? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we speak to an author who has written extensively on relationships and how they are evolving, an artificial intelligence expert who is putting data into dating, and a filmmaker and author who promotes open conversations on sex and loving. Is technology affecting relationships, and are adequate safeguards in place for those looking to find love online? Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Ira Trivedi, author and yoga guru; Paromita Vohra, creative director, Agents of Ishq (Love); and Pawan Gupta, CEO, BetterHalf. Image: A man and a woman look at a tablet (Credit: Getty Images)

As early as 1966, India elected a female prime minister, becoming only the second country in the world to do so. More than fifty years later, more women are joining politics but their number still remains low. Female leaders regularly battle gender stereotypes, prejudices and sexist trolling. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we speak to a transgender politician, a student leader, and a television presenter who took to politics, and ask them how politics can be made more inclusive for women. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Apsara Reddy, transwoman and a leader of the Congress party; Shazia Ilmi, spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party; Kawalpreet Kaur, student leader. Image: Delhi Pradesh Mahila Congress president Sharmistha Mukherjee along with supporters protest against the disappearance of nine girls from East Delhi shelter home, at DPCC office, Rajiv Bhawan, on December 6, 2018 in New Delhi, India (Credit: Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

India has made rapid strides in adopting technology, but when was the last time it came out with a truly disruptive innovation, something that shaped the world or made the scientific community sit up and take notice? Invention of the zero? That was some time ago. Mission to Mars? Yes, India is doing pretty well in space technology, doing for a lot less what others do or have done for a lot more. That's innovation for sure. But there are challenges on the ground: Indian scientists aren't often highly cited, funding in science and innovation is limited, its top educational institutions rarely rank among the world's best, and science education doesn't always encourage disruptive thinking. So, does a career in the sciences hold promise? How can the tide be turned? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we speak to a young innovator, a pioneering scientist and an investor in innovative companies, and ask them where Indian science is headed. Presenter: Rahul Tandon Contributors: Dr Manan Suri, Assistant Professor, IIT Delhi; Gauhar Raza, Scientist; Smita Rakesh, Portfolio Manager, Social Alpha Image: A woman works in a laboratory (Credit: Getty Images)

We speak to three young professionals in offbeat jobs: a beatboxer, a gamer and an ethical hacker. In a world where most degrees and professional courses are centred on long-term stability and availability of jobs, how did they train themselves, find the right opportunities and create successful businesses? Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Zerah Gonsalves, gamer; Vineeth Vincent, beatboxer; Vidit Baxi, ethical hacker and co-founder at Lucideus Image: A woman plays a game on a computer (Credit: Getty Images)

In November 2016, the Indian government abruptly cancelled 86% of the currency in circulation in an attempt to crack down on the shadow economy, and began a major push towards digital payments. More than two years and a lot of pain later, how has the situation changed? Online payments and digital wallets are widely used in urban hubs, but the story in smaller towns and rural India is quite different. Internet penetration and financial literacy remain low and cash transactions still remain hugely popular. We speak to the founder of one of India's most popular digital wallets and a professor of economics, and we hear from an activist working to expand digital financial literacy in rural India. We ask them whether cash is still king, or is it on its way out? Presenter: Rahul Tandon Contributors: Upasana Taku, co-founder, Mobikwik; Anisha Sharma, Assistant professor of Economics, Ashoka University; Shahid Siddiqui, Deputy General Manager, Digital Empowerment Foundation

For decades, India has ring-fenced around half of all government jobs and university spots for the socially disadvantaged groups that were for centuries relegated to the bottom rung of the Hindu caste hierarchy. Now, a similar policy is being launched for the poor as well. Divya Arya asks whether affirmative action can help tackle poverty. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we speak to a student from the disadvantaged groups, an economist and a corporate diversity advisor about the quota system. Has it led to greater social inclusion, and can the new policy aimed at tackling poverty have any meaningful impact? Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Thallapelli Praveen, PhD candidate, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Rosita Rabindra, Co-Founder, Diversity Dialogs; Ashwini Deshpande, Professor of Economics, Ashoka University. Image: A father and son look at a laptop (Credit: Getty Images)

Is 2019 the time to start your own company? Entrepreneurship is seductive, but the lack of structure is not for everyone – especially if you have to leave a comfortable job behind. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk to current and former entrepreneurs about how to make the transition easier, and ask them what it takes to build a successful business from scratch. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Radhika Aggarwal, co-founder, ShopClues; Vaibhav Agrawal, partner at Lightspeed; Saikat Bagchi, manager, The Smart Cube Image: A woman looks intently at her laptop (Credit: Getty Images)

The Me Too movement encouraged women to speak up about workplace harassment across the world, including here in India. Yet a majority of cases don’t get reported. There is fear of retaliation, possible loss of work and the slow path to justice. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we ask how we can change workplaces to make them harassment free. We hear about the fight against sexual harassment in major corporates and among factory workers, and discuss the perspective of men and members of the LGBT community. Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Anita Cheria, President, CIVIDEP; Arti Chaudhry, Diversity Consultant; Harish Iyer, Equality Champion, NeoNiche Integrated Solutions. Image: A protest against sexual harassment in Kolkata, India (Credit: Reuters)

For many of us, deciding what to wear to work is a daily chore. But is there more to our sartorial choices than meets the eye? Can they impact the way we work and how we are treated at work? Leaders of certain companies argue that formal dressing has a positive impact on employee performance. Others believe this is nothing but a source of additional pressure for employees. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk about workplace culture and what makes for a good office dress code. We ask whether power dressing is important, and how it differs between men and women. We also hear from leaders of two companies with very different dress code policies, and an entrepreneur who launched her own workwear brand for women. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Devita Saraf, Founder and CEO of Vu Technologies; Shikha Sayal - Director, Service Provider Business, Cisco (India & SAARC); Ayushi Gudwani, Founder and CEO of FableStreet Image: A businesswoman on a street (Credit: Getty Images)

A good college degree has long been considered a reliable path to professional success. But if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur looking to build a business from scratch, you need a special set of skills. Can this business acumen be taught in college? Do you need a degree to become an entrepreneur? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we hear from two entrepreneurs with very different educational backgrounds and a business school professor. We ask them whether a college education is all it’s cracked up to be. Is it time to learn from the school of life instead? Presenter: Rahul Tandon Contributors: Suchita Salwan, Founder & CEO at Little Black Book; Ankit Oberoi, co-founder at Adpushup; Dr. Pavitra Mishra, professor at Indian Institute of Management Rohtak. Image: Students raise their hands (Credit: Getty Images)

Is the freedom offered to workers in the 'gig economy' worth it, or does it put people at risk of exploitation? Workplaces are changing. Many are opting for short term or project-based gigs rather than structured payroll jobs: this probably includes the cab driver who drove you to work and the person delivering your lunch to your office. But this comes without a legal framework or workers’ rights. Is this freedom of work or exploitation? And what about those who don’t have another option? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, a gig worker, an employer and a professor give us their opinions Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Natasha Arya, consultant bridal make-up artist Varun Khaitan, co-founder, UrbanClap Samir Kumar Singh, assistant professor of economics at Delhi University Image: Indian drivers for Uber show mobile phones given to them by the company, during a one-day hunger strike against the US-headquartered transportation service in Hyderabad on August 28, 2015 (Credit: Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images)

Social media influencers are part of an industry worth billions of dollars, but how do they make their money - and how long will their earning power last? A successful influencer, a social media professional and an aspiring influencer share some tricks of the trade, and discuss the dark side of the glam life. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dolly Singh, senior content creator at iDiva; Karnika Kohli, social media editor at The Wire; Surbhi Jain, founder at Shamoor.

Companies are starting to embrace artificial intelligence in hiring. One global study found one in three recruiters already doing so. In most companies though, in-person interviews still remain the most preferred way of finding new talent. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, a founder and two recruiters tell us about their own interview experiences. We ask them whether artificial intelligence is the future of recruitment, and if you can really find the best person for a job without meeting them. Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Ketan Dewan, CEO, artificial intelligence based hiring platform Talocity; Geetha Thiagarajan, head of HR at Altimetrik; and Nupur Jain, head of recruitment at Wingify. Image: A woman attends a job interview (Credit: Getty Images)

Fewer than three in ten women in India are in work - one of the lowest rates of female employment in the world. In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we ask bosses and recruiters why so few women work in India, what can be done to improve the situation, and what Indian women expect from the workplace of the future. Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Anjali Bhushan, Independent HR consultant; Shikha Suman, founder of healthcare start-up Medimojo; and Shiv Agrawal, Managing Director at ABC Consultants. Image: Workers in an office in Bangalore, India (Credit: Getty Images)

Fake news has been linked to dozens of mob killings in India. It’s also been blamed for swaying elections and damaging reputations all over the world. In this edition of WorklifeIndia we find out if it can be stopped and whose job it is to try. We ask our panel of guests whether the solution lies with tougher government regulations, myth-busting technology, or the social media firms themselves. Or is down to all of us - the consumers – to ignore our impulses and think twice before sharing content? Presenter: Divya Arya Contributors: Pratik Sinha, founder of fact-checking website Alt News; Prasanto K Roy, technology analyst; and Udita Chaturvedi from the Digital Empowerment Foundation (Picture: Divya Arya. Credit: BBC)