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Ever wondered how automation will change the world? Maybe you puzzle over what India could do to ease traffic congestion, or how China's aircraft carriers will transform Indian Ocean geopolitics? All Things Policy, a daily podcast brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, brings you all the answers. Every weekday, our researchers break down complex economic and geopolitical ideas through the lens of current events. For everyone from the busy executive to the curious student, All Things Policy is all you'll need to understand the world (and appreciate your breakfast) better.
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Quick deliveries have become part of urban life in India. Against the backdrop of recent moves to drop the “10-minute delivery” messaging, Sridhar Krishna and Shreya Ramakrishnan look beyond the hype around speed to examine traffic norms, labour realities, and the economic incentives that shape sectors like quick commerce, and why job creation, improved public infrastructure, and labour reform matter far more than how fast groceries arrive.Referenced in the episode: The 10-Minute Drama by Anupam Manur (The Times of India).All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Despite being the fifth largest country by GDP, India has a very low per capita income and has a long way to go before we can become an affluent nation. Sridhar Krishna from The Takshashila Institution speaks to Arvind Vasu, an entrepreneur and an expert in robotics, on the history of robotics and how robotics offers another chance to the manufacturing sector in India. We missed the bus once and let China go far ahead in manufacturing output. Robotics can help us be a real alternative to China and help boost our labour productivity, leading to a more prosperous India. Will we jump on this time?All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Join Yusuf Unjhawala and Arindam Goswami in this episode of All Things Policy, where we discuss the recent unrest in Iran and its ramifications.Recent unrest in Iran, including protests and potential regime instability, disrupts India's strategic interests like Chabahar port access and energy routes, while reshaping alliances in the Middle East and beyond. Emerging groupings - such as a weakened Iran boosting Pakistan-China ties, or Sunni states hedging against a post-Khamenei vacuum - create ripple effects for India's multi-alignment policy.However, when we talk about Iran today, the conversation usually starts with missiles, sanctions, or nuclear timelines. But that framing misses the bigger story.What’s really unfolding is something far more consequential: the slow breakdown of how power, alliances, and rules actually work in the world.For India, this isn’t a distant West Asian crisis. It touches our energy security, our diaspora, our connectivity ambitions like Chabahar - and more importantly, it tests the idea that countries like India can stay strategically autonomous in a world that’s fragmenting into overlapping, informal, and often contradictory groupings.We’re no longer living in a clean Cold War of two blocs. Instead, we have shifting coalitions, selective partnerships, and crises that are never fully resolved - only managed.So today, we’re not asking what Iran did last week. We’re asking a harder question: what does the Iran crisis reveal about the kind of world we are entering - and where does India actually stand in it?All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Every year, the annual gathering of political and business leaders from across the world makes headlines. But this year's gathering is unusual. Canada's prime minister has spoken about a rupture in world order, Trump has rambled about everything from Greenland to windmills, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described the trade deal being negotiated with India as the “mother of all deals”. To discuss the many highlights from Davos, and what these mean for India and the world, Lokendra sits down with Manoj Kewalramani, chair of the Indo-Pacific Programme at Takshashila Institution. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
India’s new Shanti Act promises to modernise nuclear power, open the sector, and accelerate decarbonisation. But it also rewrites rules on liability and accountability. Does the law strike the right balance between growth, safety, and responsibility—or does it shift risk away from the state and industry?All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
The US National Defence Authorisation Act for FY 2026 aims to create partnerships based on mutual defence investment, a diversified military-industrial supply chain, and endurance of transatlantic and Indo-Pacific security. In this episode of All Things Policy, Abhishek Kadiyala, in conversation with Anushka Saxena, reads between the NDAA's lines and breaks down the US's approach to geopolitics and geoeconomics. He also sheds light on the provisions of the document for India.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Shobhankita Reddy sits down with Kanwal Rekhi to discuss key milestones from his autobiographical memoir, The Groundbreaker. Kanwal was part of the first wave of Indian expats called the $8 men, a moniker stemming from India's effort to stem the loss of brainpower from the country by allowing those who were leaving to take only $8 of currency. He was the first Indian-American founder to take a company public on NASDAQ, went on to cofound TiE, the world's largest network of Indian entrepreneurs and was instrumental to the Indian telecom sector reforms.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
China’s new K-Visa policy, introduced in October 2025, intends to attract global STEM talent by allowing young graduates and researchers to enter China without prior employer sponsorship. This development comes amid intensifying international competition for skilled workers, and has sparked divisive debate within China, particularly due to its economic, social, and cultural implications. Kripa Koshy (Staff Programme Manager, Policy School), is joined by Anushka Saxena (Staff Research Analyst, Indo-Pacific Studies Programme) and Zoe Liz Philip (independent writer for The Hindu’s Education Vertical) to closely examine some of the implications of this development.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
In this episode of 'All Things Policy', Anushka Saxena and Vanshika Saraf discuss the nitty-gritty of East Asia's evolving geopolitical and security dynamics. Vanshika sheds light on Japan and South Korea's approach to China and each other, while Anushka explains China's evolving aggression vis-à-vis Taiwan and Japan. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Have Southeast Asian economies truly gained from the China+1 strategy, or are they merely navigating the spillovers of great-power rivalry? In this episode, Vanshika Saraf and Bhumika Sevkani, Research Analysts at the Takshashila Institution, unpack how ASEAN countries have responded to shifting global supply chains. The conversation examines which economies and sectors have benefited most, how electronics, automotive, and critical minerals have driven new trade and investment flows, and whether these gains remain sustainable amid US tariff pressures. Together, they explore how regional coordination and internal reforms have shaped ASEAN’s ability to turn geopolitical disruption into economic opportunity.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
We generate geospatial data every day, often without noticing it. From navigation apps to environmental monitoring, location data quietly shapes how we move, plan, and govern. But while India produces vast amounts of geospatial data, it remains fragmented across multiple portals and institutions.In this episode, Sowmya Prabhakar and Dr Y Nithiyanandam explore why India needs a more unified and user-centric geospatial data portal ecosystem. We need one that goes beyond visualisation, improves accessibility, and enables policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and citizens to truly use data for impact. The data exists. The technology exists. What’s missing is coordination and a shared vision.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
China’s economic and technological success continues to stoke a sense of awe and envy among observers and watchers. China’s successes so far in the existing industries of strategic nature have inflated concerns around its similar triumphs in upcoming industries. And the anxiety to counter China, amidst its growing belligerence, has led countries to wonder what works for China. In this episode of All Things Policy, Sarthak Pradhan talks to Amit Kumar, who unpacks how China’s institutional design and incentive structure shape economic outcomes.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Arindam Goswami, Sridhar Krishna and Ashwin Prasad discuss why prioritising "job counts" over productivity might be a mistake in an AI-driven world. Join them as they debate whether India can shift from low-wage labour to high-value innovation, the risks of leaving the workforce behind, and why simply working more isn't the answer to economic growth.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Manasi Joshi (Para-badminton world champion) & Malathi Renati (Head of Policy School, Takshashila) contemplate what it truly takes to build a strong para-sports ecosystem in India.In this episode of All Things Policy, they unpack the para-sport journey in India through the lens of policy, systems and mindsets, and explore why para-sport must be seen not as an exception, but as an integral part of India’s sporting future. Listen in, reflect, and join the conversation.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
In this episode of All Things Policy, Abhishek Kadiyala is in conversation with Brig. Anil Raman to explore the causes, impact and the potential consequences of US intervention in Venezuela. It discusses US interests of energy control, diaspora appeasement, MAGA electorate and hemispheric security in the context of this crisis. It also discusses several scenarios in which this intervention might play out. The conversation dissects the several factions and their interests both within the Trump administration and the Venezuelan government. Lastly, this conversation discusses the consequences of this action for countries like Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, China and Russia. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Single-window clearance systems are everywhere right now, from investment approvals to film permits, promising faster decisions and smoother coordination. In this episode of All Things Policy, Arindam Goswami and Shreya Ramakrishnan talk through why these tools are so popular, what they actually make better on the ground, where they run into limits, and what still needs to change for them to really work.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
The VB-GRAM-G Bill was passed last week. While it is being positioned as a reform of MNREGA, it alters the very premise of employment guarantees. What exactly has changed—and why does it matter? M R Sharan joins Suman Joshi to discuss the far-reaching implications of this shift for rural employment, social movements, and existing power and social structures.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Even as Trump 2.0's first year in office draws to a close, the ideological contestations unleashed by the MAGA base continue. The latest example is not any domestic policy measure, but instead an external-focused document called the National Security Strategy or NSS in short. To unpack the US NSS and what it means for the world in general and India in particular, Lokendra Sharma sits down with Brigadier Anil Raman (retd) and Tannmay Kumarr Baid, research fellow and junior adjunct scholar with Takshashila, respectively.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
In this episode of All Things Policy, host Kavya Rai speaks with Dr Y Nithiyanandam about the growing geopolitical and ecological stakes surrounding the Brahmaputra River. From China’s proposed mega-dam in Tibet to India’s counter-dams and ambitious power-grid plans, the conversation explores how energy transition, disaster risk, local resistance, and transboundary governance intersect in one of Asia’s most fragile river basins. Moving beyond alarmist narratives, the episode asks what sound policy, credible data, and regional cooperation must look like when a river becomes an energy system, a strategic asset, and a governance challenge rolled into one.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Listen to Ray Eitel Porter, an expert and best-selling author of "Governing the Machine - How to navigate the risks of AI and unlock its potential”, talk to Sridhar Krishna about AI, the future with AI and whether companies and governments are doing enough to mitigate the risks and benefit from AI.ReferencesGoverning the Machine - how to navigate the risks of AI and unlock its true potential by Ray Eitel Porter et al State of AI governance, 2024 by Bharth Reddy et alAI Adoption - Think tasks, not jobs by Sridhar Krishna and Arindam GoswamiAll Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
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great podcasts, gives us the firsthand and expert information from the respective fields affecting the Indian Affairs. highly recommended.
A good blend of economics and philosophy.
Very Well Analysed.
hey I learnt a lot from the sinauli episode. Can u kindly do one episode on keezhadi excavation also?
ms.ahluwalia needs a better mic.
Good discussion Aniruddh and Rajat. I have read the book and wasn't sure if I should still spend the time listening to the podcast but I am glad I did. I liked the parts on historical aspects of Indian trucking, the difference that you saw between trucking in the north and the south, the structure of the industry and of course the characters and their stories. Rajat - Congratulations again on the book and looking forward to the next edition. There's a point in the discussion where you talk about book recommendations on the Battle of Kohima. I'd highly recommend reading "Road of Bones" by Fergal Keane (Aniruddh - you might disagree less with Subhash Chandra Bose after reading about the conduct of the Japanese soldiers and officers, at least before they started to run out of food)
Felt as if podcast was sponsored by Uber and Ola
It's not about the privacy issue it's about fair trade which China doesn't allow other countries app. So cut this crap of not being like another China. We shd fight it on all fronts
We all understand that these are unusual times with unusual challenges. But there is no point in coming up with a podcast episode if listeners can't listen.
RBI hinting depositors would ha have caused a run on the bank earlier.
Why two laymen are talking? I thought the idea is to have an expert. And what is Capital Adequacy again?
hello guys, can you please induct Q&A from your listen and allot 5 mins of each podcast in answering those queries. thank you Anand Sharma
Eye opening..good job
It's Kyasanoor not Kainasoor. It's a place near Jog Falls, Malnad region.
very comprehensive conversation :)
Interesting, Impressive and Inspiring 👍👍👍
great podcast! I didn't know about the green revolution causing air pollution
I am glad you mentioned the temporality of the process in the discussion. good discussion. thank you
certainly one of the best podcasts I have listed to
Very nerdy, very informative and very cool. One of the best professional podcasts from the Indian policy world - I'd highly recommend!