All Things Policy
1,398 episodes - English - Latest episode: 26 days ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsEver 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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Episodes
China & the Geopolitics of Central Asia
June 20, 2023 00:30 - 32 minutes - 30.3 MBChina’s security and economic cooperation with Central Asian countries has been deepening over the decades. In May this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a new blueprint for ties with the five Central Asian countries. In this episode, Manoj Kewalramani speaks to Temur Umarov from the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center to understand the shifting sands of geopolitics in Central Asia.
Women in Policing: Representation, Prejudices & Police Culture | Police Chowki
June 19, 2023 00:30 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBWomen officers make up only 10-11% of police forces on average across states in India. In the fifth episode of Police Chowki - limited series on All Things Policy, Shrikrishna Upadhyaya hosts Javeed Ahmad & Sutapa Sanyal (ex-IPS officers) to discuss the interface between women and police on the one hand and the lives of women serving in the police forces on the other. They discuss the representation of women in police forces, the effectiveness of gender-based reservation policies, and challe...
India’s Sports Policy- Barriers & Enablers
June 16, 2023 00:30 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBMalathi Renati gives Sowmya Nandan an overview of how the Indian Sports Policy has evolved since independence and touches upon the barriers and enablers in the current Indian sports ecosystem.
The ‘News’ Tightens on India & China
June 15, 2023 00:30 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBIndia and China have almost completed expelling each other’s journalists. Why is this happening and what impact will it have on how Indians and Chinese perceive each other? Manoj Kewalramani talks to Aditya Ramanathan about how the lack of on-the-ground reporters could hamper the aims of both governments and increase the spread of misinformation.
India & the Information Technology Agreement
June 14, 2023 00:30 - 54 minutes - 50 MBAs India's PLI schemes for electronics and its ongoing disputes at the WTO come into stark focus, Pranay Kothasthane, Satya Sahu, and Miheer Karandikar discuss the reasons why India's divergence from the Information Technology Agreement in its trade policy may be more important in that debate than we think. Their discussion presents many of the insights gained from Takshashila's recent discussion document on India's Stance on the Information Technology Agreement. Reading: Takshashila Discuss...
Parliamentary Elections & Political Future of Bangladesh
June 13, 2023 00:30 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBThe historical legacy of the Liberation War has played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of Bangladesh. With the challenges faced by the ruling Awami League government and the leadership crises within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the lead-up to the parliamentary elections raises stakes for the political future of the country. In this episode, Carl Jaison is joined by Prof. Dr. Sreeradha Datta who teaches at the Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P Jindal ...
Criminal Cases: Investigation, Prosecution, & Accountability | Police Chowki
June 12, 2023 00:30 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBThe rule of law requires the police to ensure that criminals are properly investigated, prosecuted, and punished to ensure justice for the victims. In this episode of Police Chowki, Javeed Ahmad takes Shrikrishna Upadhyaya through the nitty gritty of criminal investigations by police in India, from the crime site to criminal investigation, and till the sessions court pronounces its verdict. He answers questions on the rights of the accused, opposition to bail by the police, media trials, plea...
The Faultlines Beneath a New US-China Thaw
June 09, 2023 00:30 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBThe month of May witnessed a gradual resumption of high-level dialogue between the US and China. This had largely been frozen since the February spy balloon incident. How did this nascent thaw between the two sides come to be, and what are the prospects for the future of the relationship? Anushka Saxena and Manoj Kewalramani discuss.
Heat Stress and Job Losses
June 08, 2023 00:30 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBBecause of its large population, India, in absolute terms, is expected to lose the equivalent of 34 million full-time jobs in 2030 due to heat stress. Heat is linked with the deterioration of working conditions, reduction in productivity, and a compromise in workers' security and well-being. Anupriya Mohta and Sudisha Mishra contextualise the heat stress problem in India, how it's linked with job losses, and what policy measures can be taken.
The WHO Pandemic Treaty
June 07, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBIn this episode of All Things Policy, Saurabh Todi and Shambhavi Naik discuss the most recent draft of the proposed WHO Global Pandemic Treaty. They discuss its strengths, and weakness and how can the gaps in the current draft be strengthened. A copy of the leaked draft can be accessed here and the policy brief on the need for BWC Scientific Experts Group can be found here.
Fact-checking in the Age of AI Disinformation
June 06, 2023 00:30 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBAI tools such as DeepFake have been around for years, but with the launch of advanced generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, MidJourney, DALL-E, etc, artificial intelligence has come into the front and centre of fake news generation and its spread. Boomlive's Karen Rebelo, one of India's leading fact checkers, joins Sachin Kalbag in this conversation where they dissect the ominous future of AI-led disinformation campaigns as India heads into election mode in 2024.
Section 144 CrPC: From Curfews to Kite Flying | Police Chowki
June 05, 2023 00:30 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBSection 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code is typically considered the provision under which the police issue curfew orders. In this episode of the limited series Police Chowki, Javeed Ahmad and Shrikrishna Upadhyaya discuss the findings of the study “The Use and Misuse of Section 144 CrPC - An Empirical Analysis of all the Orders Passed in 2021 in Delhi”. They delve into the routine use of Section 144 by the police far beyond the purpose and object of the section to achieve social and govern...
India-China : What's Keeping the Ice from Breaking?
June 02, 2023 00:30 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBIn this episode of All Things Policy, Anushka Saxena discusses with Saurabh Todi and Amit Kumar recent developments in India-China relations, and what are the factors that are keeping the tensions in the relations from thawing. Some of these factors, as discussed in the episode, include friction points on the Line of Actual Control, India-China disagreements in the UNSC, and competing commitments to the Global South.
Strategic Technological Vulnerabilities
June 01, 2023 00:30 - 25 minutes - 23 MBIn this episode of All Things Policy, Saurabh Todi and Satya Sahu explore the concept of Strategic Technological Vulnerabilities and what it may take for India to plug those in the case of its semiconductor ecosystem.
Engaging with Narratives on the China-Taiwan Issue
May 31, 2023 00:30 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBIn this episode, Amit Kumar quizzes Anushka Saxena on her recent position paper that discusses the developments in the cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan, Taiwan's domestic public opinion, potential scenarios of China's usage of force to invade Taiwan, and India's options on the Taiwan issue. They also speculate on potential signs to look out for in case China is preparing to invade Taiwan. Reading: Takshashila Position Paper - The China-Taiwan Saga
Harnessing Opportunities in the Blue Economy
May 30, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 24 MBBlue Economy refers to the multitude of ocean resources available in the country that can be harnessed to aid the production of goods and services because of its linkages with economic growth, environmental sustainability, and national security. In this episode, Carl Jaison speaks with Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, a Distinguished Fellow of the Foreign Studies Programme at Gateway House. He is also the Chair of FICCI’s Task Force on Blue Economy and served as Chair of the Core Group of Experts on ...
Police Laws of India | Police Chowki
May 29, 2023 00:30 - 35 minutes - 33 MBIn the second episode of the Police Chowki series, Javeed Ahmad and Shrikrishna Upadhyaya discuss the colonial roots of police legislation in India, the subsequent attempts to reform the Police Act of 1861, the Supreme Court decision in the Prakash Singh case on police reforms, the effectiveness of the reforms and guiding principles for police laws. Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.i...
Language Policy in India: Effect and Impact on Society
May 26, 2023 00:30 - 28 minutes - 26 MBKingshuk Saha and Dr. Satarupa Sen, an Assistant Professor of English Language and Linguistics at the Bengal Institute of Science and Technology, discuss the evolution of language policy in India.
Gender and Gig Jobs
May 25, 2023 00:30 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBDespite its merits, the 'platformisation’ of gig jobs has failed to increase female labour force participation in India. Anupriya Mohta and Sudisha Mishra invite independent development consultant and researcher Ria Kasliwal to shed more light on this topic. Ria scrutinises gig job platforms from a gender lens and outlines the gaps that bar women’s inclusion in gig work.
Regulating the Use of Environmental DNA
May 24, 2023 00:30 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBAs scientists hone the ability to extract meaningful information from DNA found in the air, Shambhavi Naik and Saurabh Todi discuss the policy challenges this new technological progress presents.
Unpacking China’s Overseas Finance as BRI Turns 10
May 23, 2023 00:30 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBThis year marks the 10th anniversary of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. The initiative has seen an unprecedented expansion of Chinese overseas lending. While this has led to infrastructure development across developing countries, it has also exacerbated geopolitical competition, had adverse environmental impacts, and led to debt distress. In this episode, Manoj Kewalramani speaks to Samantha Custer from Aid Data to understand the scale, scope, and implications of China’s overse...
A Day in the Life of a Cop | Police Chowki
May 22, 2023 00:30 - 33 minutes - 31 MBThis is the first episode of a new limited series Police Chowki on All Things Policy. In this series, we cast a critical look at the role and functioning of Indian police forces, and unpack the challenges of policing and the need for reform and accountability. In the inaugural episode, Shrikrishna Upadhyaya hosts Javeed Ahmed for a discussion on the daily lives of various police actors like the police constable, station house officer, and superintendent of police/ commissioner of police, who...
Past and Future of Indian Finance
May 19, 2023 00:30 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBWith recent bank failures in the West raising concerns, how stable is India's financial system? Dive into an engaging conversation with Ruchir Agarwal from the Harvard Kennedy School and Yale School of Management, as we explore the state of India's financial sector. Our discussion will span its development over the past twenty years, insights from banking crises, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Gender-Equitable Child Preferences
May 18, 2023 00:30 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBEven as India's gender stats don't paint a pretty picture, what is heartening to see is a move towards gender-equitable fertility preferences. Bharath Reddy and Suman Joshi talk to Isha Bhatnagar about the findings in her paper titled A Girl and a Boy, Are a Bundle of Joy: A Rise in Gender-Equitable Fertility Preferences in India. Reading: A Girl and a Boy, Are a Bundle of Joy: A Rise in Gender‐Equitable Fertility Preferences in India - Bhatnagar - Studies in Family Planning - Wiley Online L...
Twenty-Five Years of Nuclearisation
May 17, 2023 00:30 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBTwenty-five years ago, India declared itself an overt nuclear power. Its journey was long and often constrained by the international export control regime. In this episode, Pranav R Satyanath and Saurabh Todi converse about the significance of India's 25th year of nuclearisation and our outlook on India's future as a nuclear power.
Strength of India-US Partnership
May 16, 2023 00:30 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBIn this episode, Saurabh Todi and Pranay Kotasthane delve into the recent controversy created by Ashley Tellis's article which tried to set expectations about the India-US partnership, and a rejoinder to that by Ashok Malik. They discuss how this bilateral relationship has evolved over the years and what it holds for the future. Readings: America’s Bad Bet on India | Foreign Affairs View: Orthodoxies outside govt are fixating on US-India divergences than strategic commonalities - The Econo...
Layers of Ageing
May 15, 2023 00:30 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBMalathi Renati, Sachin Kalbag, and Sowmya Nandan talk and share about the role of society, government, and market in elderly care. They discuss the role of stakeholders and what it takes to be primary caregivers for aging parents/in-laws.
China's Crackdown on Foreign Consultancy Firms
May 12, 2023 00:30 - 28 minutes - 26 MBOver the past few days, Chinese authorities have conducted raids on the offices of Capvision, an international consultancy, citing national security concerns. This comes after the arrest of five employees of Mintz Group, an American firm, in March, and a subsequent visit by officials at the offices of Bain & Company. What’s driving this latest crackdown on foreign consultancies in China? Manoj Kewalramani asks Anushka Saxena and Amit Kumar.
The Future of Jobs Report
May 11, 2023 00:30 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBThe World Economic Forum recently released The Future of Jobs report highlighting the anticipated developments of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Sridhar Krishna, Anupriya Mohta, and Sudisha Mishra discuss the report in detail, with a focus on what the rise in AI could mean for job creation, the imminent need for new skills, and what it will take to finance them. Reading: The Future of Jobs Report 2020 | World Economic Forum
Chinese FM's Visit to India, SCO, and Pakistan
May 10, 2023 00:30 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBIn this podcast, Saurabh Todi and Manoj Kewalramani delve into the recent visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to India for the SCO Summit and his bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. We also discuss the utility of Indian participation in SCO, BRICS, and RIC platforms. Join us as we explore these complex geopolitical issues and their potential outcomes.
Demystifying the food we consume
May 09, 2023 00:30 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBFood is both central and fundamental to our existence. Yet, we have little or no relevant information about what we eat every day. Nutritional information is mandatory on packaged food products but do we really understand it? What kind of policy-making is required to demystify exactly this? Why is it important to know what you are consuming? Data journalist and health website editor Samarth Bansal joins Sachin Kalbag to break down this important aspect of our lives.
When Governments Owe Money
May 08, 2023 13:06 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBThere’s no end in sight for sovereign debt crises in developing economies. What started with Sri Lanka and Lebanon has now spread to other countries, including Bolivia, Kenya, and Pakistan. What’s causing these crises? Are they likely to spread? And what can be done to tackle them? Anupam Manur joins Aditya Ramanathan to discuss some of the uncomfortable truths about sovereign debt crises and why they can be hard to solve. You can listen to our episode from last year on the Sri Lanka crisis ...
Can rental housing help India's housing crisis?
May 05, 2023 00:30 - 23 minutes - 22 MBHow difficult is it to rent houses in India’s cities? How do the existing government policies impact the availability of rental housing? What can be done better? Suman Joshi and Sarthak Pradhan discuss this in this episode of All Things Policy. Here are some readings referred to in the podcast - Overview of Rental Housing market in India : scale, nature, failures and new initiatives India’s Housing Vacancy Paradox: How rent control and weak contract enforcement produce unoccupied units and...
India's Semiconductor Ambitions
May 04, 2023 00:30 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBIn this episode of All Things Policy, Satya Sahu and Arjun Gargeyas discuss India's bold ambitions to become self-sufficient in the strategically important semiconductor space
What are India's Options During a Taiwan crisis?
May 03, 2023 00:30 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBIn this episode of All Things Policy, Anushka Saxena discusses with Ambassador Vijay Gokhale the geopolitics of China-Taiwan relations, and what implications a crisis or conflict scenario between China and the US/ Taiwan will have for India.
Globalising India's DPI
May 02, 2023 00:30 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBIndia has deployed state-of-the-art Digital Public Infrastructure and has been using its G20 presidency to champion it. Ritul Gaur, Saurabh Todi, and Bharath Reddy try to unpack the implications of globalising India's DPI.
Who Cares About Jobs?
April 28, 2023 00:30 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBWith unemployment rising in India, especially amongst the youth and women, Sridhar Krishna, Anupriya Mohta, and Sudisha Mishra discuss whether jobs will be an important issue in the upcoming 2024 elections. They examine what various parties are saying about jobs, how do voters typically vote, and debate if this will be a topic that people care enough about to impact voting patterns. Readings: Preparing for 2024 What do Indians vote for? New study indicates that development is not a priorit...
Hits & Misses of the New Indian Space Policy 2023
April 27, 2023 00:30 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBThe much-awaited Indian Space Policy 2023 was unveiled recently after the Union Cabinet approved it in early April. The policy seeks to provide regulatory certainty to India’s fledgling private space sector. In this episode, Pranav R Satyanath and Shrikrishna Upadhyaya discuss the aims, objectives, and limitations of the policy, the major hits and misses of the policy, and other anticipated developments like FDI in the space sector. Readings: Takshashila Blogs - Assessing the New Space Poli...
Private School Education in India
April 26, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBAs the new academic year begins, the issue of unauthorized schools and the regulations around them will make news. What are the issues involved in regulation and what can be the way forward? Sarthak and Suman discuss this in this episode. Readings: Over 1300 Unauthorised Private Schools Identified in Karnataka REGULATION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN INDIA Ease of operations for budget private schools in India
Perspectives on the Iran-Saudi Normalization Agreement
April 25, 2023 00:30 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBIn this episode of All Things Policy, Anushka Saxena discusses with Amit Kumar and Harshit Sharma, the fine details of the recent Iran-Saudi-China Joint Agreement and what it means for the relevant actors in West Asia. @harshit2442
Are the India-US relation sceptics right?
April 24, 2023 00:30 - 42 minutes - 39 MBOver the last two decades, the India-US relationship has gradually become one of the world's most important partnerships. But there are sceptics. Where exactly do two of the world's largest democracies stand vis-a-vis each other? Sachin Kalbag poses some questions to Yusuf Unjhawala.
What is Regulation?
April 21, 2023 00:30 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBRegulation is an intrinsic part of what the government does. But what exactly is regulation? What does it mean? Is government the most competent to regulate? In this episode of ATP, Saurabh Todi and Anupam Manur discuss all these questions!
Twenty Years of The Human Genome Project
April 19, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBThe Human Genome Project celebrated its 20th anniversary on Apr 14th. In this episode of All Things Policy, Shambhavi Naik and Saurabh Todi discuss the history of the Human Genome Project and its implication in the field of genome sequencing.
Parks and Recreation: The Curious Case of Cubbon Park
April 18, 2023 00:30 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBThe horticulture department which maintains Bangalore’s iconic Cubbon Park, recently enforced restrictions on citizens who they believe ‘misuse the park in many ways, including playing games or engaging in romantic gestures’. Apart from the sheer harassment and moral policing, this entails, the new restrictions also go against the government’s AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) scheme and the National Urban Greening Policy, 2014 which provides guidelines for the de...
Public Infrastructure for Cyclists in Bangalore
April 17, 2023 00:30 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBHave you ever just wanted to skip all the traffic in the city, and try cycling to work? Sathya Sankaran, the Bicycle Mayor of Bangalore, and Leah Govias discuss the infrastructure in place that you can use to pursue cycling to work. Whether you work at a corporate and want to cycle to work or would like to travel by metro with your cycle, the Mayor speaks about the facilities in place and potential markers of growth and initiatives in place.
Unbundling an ONDC App
April 14, 2023 00:30 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBMany cab and auto-hailing apps have tried to challenge the might of Ola and Uber and have failed over the years. There's a new app called Namma Yatri that is doing something different and is acquiring more customers every day. Shailesh Chitnis and Bharath Reddy talk about the app and what's so different about it.
Climate Voices: Citizen Participation in Policymaking
April 13, 2023 00:30 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBPublic consultation on draft laws, regulations, and policy is critical to participatory democracy. Perspectives brought in by citizens can help better policymaking. To this effect, Civis is releasing a handbook titled Climate Voices - Citizen Participation in Environment and Climate Policy Making on this World Earth Day on April 22.
Legal Barriers to Women's Employment
April 12, 2023 00:30 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBHow do legal barriers impact women's employment in factories? Suman Joshi and Sarthak Pradhan discuss with Anu Maria Francis and April Suzanna Varkey the Kerala Government's recently drafted rules on the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code 2020. They discuss the limitations and the possible remedies.
State of Criminal Justice System
April 11, 2023 00:30 - 28 minutes - 26.6 MBIn this episode, Shrikrishna Upadhyaya and Satya Sahu discuss the findings from the India Justice Report 2022, particularly the vacancies and infrastructure constraints within the judiciary and police and second order effects of the shortages.
GDI, GSI & GCI: What’s Driving China’s New Initiatives?
April 10, 2023 00:30 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBSince September 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched three new initiatives, which have become the cornerstone of his foreign policy. In this episode, Anushka Saxena talks to Manoj Kewalramani about China’s new Global Development, Global Security and Global Civilisation initiatives and what they mean for the world.