Sushmita Pathak

Unprecedented temperatures have struck large parts of northern and central India for weeks, killing dozens of people and unleashing a public health crisis.

Election officials spread out across India to set up voting booths in some of its most remote corners of the country. It’s to ensure, by law, that no voter is farther than 1.25 miles from a polling station. Poll workers haul precious cargo — braving extreme weather and difficult terrain — to make sure everyone votes.

A multiweek general election is underway in India and more women are taking part in it than ever before. Nearly half of the electorate is expected to be female. The country’s political parties are now running campaign ads targeted toward women to win over this crucial voting bloc.

Voting begins on Friday in India in what’s being called the largest-election ever in recorded history. Almost 1 billion people are eligible to vote in the election, which will happen over the next six weeks. President Narendra Modi is likely to be reelected for a rare, third term, despite concerns about the growing Hindu nationalist movement he represents, and high unemployment. The World’s Carolyn Beeler spoke with journalist Sushmita Pathak, who talked to voters at the polls in the city of Jaipur.

With polls opening this month in India, farmers are angry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In 2021, Modi made a rare concession by repealing farm laws after they were met with massive months-long protests in Delhi. Now, farmers are returning to the streets. Sushmita Pathak reports from Delhi that the main demand now is guaranteed crop prices.