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 ...
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Takshashila Podcasts
Echoes of India is the story of India like you've never heard it before. Host Anirudh Kanisetti takes you on a journey through its wonders, from the Greek art of Afghanistan to the thriving ports of Tamil Nadu. Along the way, monks debate, queens boast, and armies roar. From philosophy to politics to economics, the past comes back to life - noisy, breathing, as thriving as the Indian subcontinent is today.
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In this episode of All Things Policy, Aishwaria Sonavane sits with audio director Rahul Ranganath to explore the convergence between global politics and the gaming industry. This episode unpacks how video games sometimes mirror geopolitical dynamics, potentially become vectors for propaganda and activism, and shape public perception on identity and…
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What does it take to build something bigger than ourselves? Join Sowmya Prabhakar and Shreya Ramakrishnan in this episode of All Things Policy, as they talk about collaborative changemaking, the often long, challenging, and inspiring process of communities learning, giving, and growing together. They unpack myths, share tools and frameworks, and re…
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The months-long US-China trade tensions have reignited global attention on rare earths, the critical minerals that power everything from smartphones to fighter jets. When Beijing used export controls to restrict rare earth supplies to the United States, it pushed Donald Trump to negotiate a truce in Busan, South Korea. But was that truce the end, o…
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How Everyday Creativity Influences Public Policy
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In this episode of All Things Policy, Astha Rastogi, Programme Manager for Defence & Foreign Affairs, and Bhumika Sevkani, Research Analyst in the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme, will explore how creative work in India has begun to influence public policy in unexpected ways. From food-label activism on Instagram to narrative shifts triggered by doc…
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In this episode of 'All Things Policy', Ashwin Prasad and Anushka Saxena discuss the highlights from the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Anushka speaks to the differences in the two sides immediate and long-term signalling on "concessions" and "consensus", even as she acknowledges that important fo…
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Malathi Renati and Sowmya Prabhakar share their firsthand experience in senior care. Their conversation focuses on the policy response to securing the future of India’s growing senior population, the emerging 'silver economy,' and the crucial role of society and culture in supporting our senior citizens. To age actively and gracefully. All Things P…
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Languages are more than words; they’re emotion, identity, and access. This week on All Things Policy, Sowmya Prabhakar speaks with Omshivaprakash about what it will take to make AI inclusive, one that truly understands India’s people, not just its English speakers. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshash…
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Why do governments, even with the best minds and the noblest intentions, so often get it wrong? Taking the route to Whitehall, Vanshika Saraf and Maria Ann Philip discuss the book The Blunders of Our Governments by Anthony King and Ivor Crewe, an enriching study of Britain’s political missteps. Reflecting on detailed examples by the authors, they p…
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In this episode, Leah and Astha discuss the state of teacher training in government schools: what’s working, what isn’t, and how policy can do better. From the promise of DIETs to new models like mentorship programs and digital learning platforms, the discussion unpacks how thoughtful reform could transform the classroom experience for millions of …
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NISAR- New Era of Earth Observation Begins
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A few months ago, the world witnessed a historic breakthrough in Earth observation technology with the successful launch of the NISAR satellite, a landmark joint mission by NASA and ISRO. More than just another step forward in space exploration, NISAR marks the beginning of a new era of global cooperation and a deeper understanding of our planet. S…
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The Future of Food- Of Functional Foods and Smart Proteins
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Biotechnologies are transforming how we grow, produce, and consume food. What does this mean for the future of nutrition and health? What challenges do producers and consumers face as food becomes smarter and more functional? And how should governments respond to these rapid changes? In this episode, Shambhavi Naik joins Suman Joshi to explore thes…
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Understanding the Brahmaputra, Through the Eyes of Sanjoy Hazarika
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The Brahamaputra is one of the world’s longest and widest rivers, running through Tibet, Bangladesh and India, with a total area of 5,80,000 Sq.km and a total length of 2,900 km. What are the unique challenges that emerge due to the river’s transnational existence? What are some of the pressing environmental and developmental concerns related to th…
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Uniforms and Power: America’s Democratic Test
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In this episode of All Things Policy, Abhishek Kadiyala is in conversation with Brigadier Anil Raman (Retd.) to discuss emerging signs of democratic backsliding in the United States. The Second Trump administration’s approach to the top military brass, their legally contested deployments of National Guard and ICE become an important symptom of this…
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Join Srinivasan Iyengar and Arindam Goswami in this episode of All Things Policy, where the discussion focuses on India’s electricity sector. Around the world, electricity demand is rising sharply due to post-COVID economic recovery, greater electrification of transport (EVs), the growing share of renewables, and the expansion of data centres. As a…
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October 2025 saw among the deadliest clashes across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021. In this episode of All Things Policy, Aishwaria Sonavane and Shobhankita Reddy declutter what triggered these clashes and what all this means for India. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to y…
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In this episode of All Things Policy, Swathi Kalyani and Shobhankita Reddy, Research analysts at the Takshashila Institution, discuss about the 2025 Nobel Prize awarded in the field of Economics. They delve into the winners' (Joel Mokyr, Phillipe Aghion, Peter Howitt) work, their research, the relevance of their studies in today's economic sphere, …
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Join Mihir Mahajan, Arindam Goswami, and Shreya Ramkrishnan in this episode of All Things Policy, as they unpack India’s evolving patent ecosystem, from the rise in patent filings by Indian universities to the question of patent quality. They explore how research translates into patents, the pace of innovation, and what these trends mean for India’…
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China's Export Control on Battery-related Technologies
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As China tightens its grip on battery technology through new export controls and files a WTO complaint against India’s subsidies for EV and battery manufacturing, competition for green tech in the global market is intensifying. In this episode, Bhumika Sevkani and Anushka Saxena from the Takshashila Institution, unpack the mixed signals by China on…
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Every day it is a new astounding figure. Investments in AI by major companies in the US, China and Europe are running into billions. And they are only increasing. According to an estimate by Gartner, global AI spending will total about 1.5 trillion dollars in 2025. Are we heading into yet another tech bubble that will soon burst? Is it like the dot…
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Traditionally, central banks hold different assets such as US Treasuries, gold, and foreign currencies. For many years, US Treasuries have enjoyed a strong position as a major part of these reserves. This trend is now shifting in a big way, and gold has started to play a much bigger role wherein it recently surpassed the Euro to become the second-l…
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In this episode of 'All Things Policy', Shobhankita Reddy speaks to Anushka Saxena on China's latest export restrictions on rare earth elements and magnets, and what it says about China's perception of leverage in its technological competition with the US. They also dive deep into the context of China's rare earth supply chain dominance, and whethe…
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US Government Shutdown: Causes, Issues and Resolution Scenarios
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In this episode of All Things Policy podcast, Swathi Kalyani is in conversation with Abhishek Kadiyala to discuss the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. A U.S. government shutdown occurs when the Congress fails to pass appropriation bills that allocate funding to various government agencies before October 1 each year. This year, the shutdown has res…
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Increasing India's R&D Spending: PGP Students Weigh In
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India's gross expenditure on research and development (GERD) is approximately 0.6%- 0.7% of its GDP and has remained relatively stagnant over the last 20 years. Its relatively low R&D spending contributes to India's lag in innovation and adoption of advanced technologies, which in turn slows technological adoption and weakens its global competitive…
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Nepal is navigating a critical phase of political transition, economic reform, and evolving regional dynamics. In this episode of All Things Policy, Wini Fred Gurung speaks with Professor S. D. Muni, Professor Emeritus at Jawaharlal Nehru University and India’s former Special Envoy to Southeast Asian countries, to discuss these developments and wha…
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While there is extensive literature studying Pakistan's policies and motivations over the decades, there is a limited understanding of the architecture of India's Grand Strategy towards Pakistan. Individual events, military actions, and diplomatic decisions are studied and deliberated, but India's actions are rarely understood within an analytical …
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