All Things Policy

The AI diffusion framework was repealed by the Trump administration shortly before it was to come into force on 15 May 2025. In this episode of All Things Policy Rijesh Panicker, Ashwin Prasad and Bharath Reddy unpack what this means for India and the world. The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of pub...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Manoj Kewalramani and Anushka Saxena discuss the codification of China's security view and policy in its latest White Paper on National Security in the New Era. They analyse the key takeaways of the paper, including China's red lines, approach to the Asian regional order, and tensions with the West. The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme t...

Every painted wall, pothole & traffic in Bengaluru has a story to tell. In this episode of All Things Policy, Pravar Choudhary of Bengawalks and I, Sowmya Prabhakar, COO of Takshashila Institution, take a stroll exploring the dynamics of the markets, society & government. From gated communities to badly designed footpaths, from heritage buildings to street art, we explore Bengaluru's s...

We have much to be heartened about India’s air power capabilities in the recent India-Pak military escalations. However, this is not a time for complacency, and many challenges lie ahead. In this episode of All Things Policy, Shobhankita Reddy sits down with Aditya Ramanathan, Research Fellow with the Takshashila Institution, to unpack and understand the critical steps needed for future preparedne...

In this episode of  All Things Policy ,  Prof. Y. Nithiyanandam  speaks with  Cmde (Dr) Arun Pratap Golaya  about the significance of  Operation Sindoor  and what it reveals about India’s indigenous defence ecosystem. They reflect on the opportunities it presents, the structural challenges startups face, and the need to bridge the gap between research, innovation, and operational deployment. From...

How have Chinese analysts and citizen commentators responded to the April 22 terror attack on civilians in Pahalgam, Kashmir, and the subsequent military escalations between India and Pakistan? Given that China is an interested party, a regional power, Pakistan's ally and a threat actor for India, understanding Chinese discourse on these events is crucial. In this episode of All Things Policy, Sho...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Aishwaria Sonavane and Shobhankita Reddy unpack Operation Sindoor and examine how India’s response to cross-border terrorism by Pakistan-based outfits has shifted from restraint to assertive retaliation, marked by deep strikes, drone warfare, and public red lines. They discuss the strategic risks of this new posture, evolving military doctrines, and how both c...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Vanshika Saraf is joined by Dr. Garima Mohan, Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific Program, to unravel the dynamics of India–EU ties at a time of deep geopolitical churn. They explore the state of the long-delayed India–EU FTA, Europe’s recalibration amid the Ukraine war and shifting transatlantic equations. From Germany’s leadership transi...

India recently reported a major increase in its coastline. From 7516 Km in 1970, the length now stands at 11098 Km. The accurate measurement is essential for various aspects, including maritime security and credibility in maritime disputes. In this episode of All Things Policy, Swathi Kalyani, Research Analyst with the Geospatial Programme at the Takshashila Institution, sits with Vice Admiral S K...

India and the UK concluded an FTA after close to 3.5 years of negotiations. In this episode of All Things Policy, Suman Joshi talks to Shikha Tomar and Anisree Suresh to understand what it means for both countries. The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course of...

Join Colonel Vikrant Shinde and Arindam Goswami in this episode of All Things Policy, where we dive into one of the most transformative developments in modern warfare and aviation: the rise of unmanned aerial systems. Vikrant, a Research Fellow at Takshashila, is working on a research paper on this very subject, which will be out very soon. From their military origins to today's complex commer...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Rijesh Panicker, Bharath Reddy, and Ashwin Prasad discuss the strategic future of humanity with AI, based on the Superintelligence strategy paper. What will the future with AI look like? When might AI achieve critically dangerous capabilities? If one country's AI project threatens global stability, should rivals consider sabotage as a deterrent? How to pre...

This episode will take a closer look at India’s mechanism to release prisoners, particularly in light of the reality of prison overcrowding and the significant number of people in jail awaiting completion of their trials. According to a Supreme Court estimate, India has over 5.7 lakh prisoners confined in various jails across the country, of which 76% were reported as undertrial prisoners (as of D...

In today's episode of "All Things Policy," Adya Madhavan and Anwesha Sen delve into the escalating energy demands of Artificial Intelligence. They discuss how the rapid growth of AI, exemplified by tools like ChatGPT, comes with a significant and often overlooked environmental cost due to the immense electricity consumption of data centers. The conversation highlights concerns about...

Why is it a task to get research and books funded and published? From acquiring agents, preparing manuscripts, approaching publishers and finally marketing the written word. In this episode of All Things Policy, Leah Govias and Kavitha Rao, the writer and journalist and the author of 'Spies, Lies and Allies: The Extraordinary Lives of Chatto and Roy, discuss the process of funding and publishi...

Donald Trump's second term as the United States president started on January 20, 2025. India-US trade relations have been in a phase of heightened negotiations and readjustments ever since. In this episode of All Things Policy, Anupam Manur and Sarthak Pradhan talk about various trade-related developments that have dominated the news cycle and discuss the potential contours of a future India-U...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Aishwaria Sonavane speaks with Dr. Happymon Jacob about Operation Sindoor and its implications for India’s evolving military doctrine against Pakistan. They unpack how the Pahalgam attack has catalysed a strategic shift in India’s response to terrorism, the blurring of conventional and subconventional warfare, and what this means for deterrence, diplomacy, and...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Astha Rastogi, Programme Manager for Defence and Foreign Affairs, in conversation with Yamini J Kumar, who is the Assistant Programme Manager for Law Enforcement & Policing Fellowship, talks about the evolution of mediation, its challenges in India and suggested policies that could be implemented. From a court-referred mechanism to a recognised alternative...

Your phone needs the right time, but so do robotic vacuum cleaners, drones, and countless other autonomous machines. So, who tells them all? Listen as Avinash Shet and Ashwin Prasad discuss the fascinating technology of timing satellites and their crucial, often invisible, role in synchronising our modern world. The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve...

With the ensuing trade and tariff war between China and the US, external economic hostility is mounting onto Beijing's ongoing economic woes. The major stakeholders responsible for powering China through this tumultuous economic period are China's local governments. In this episode of 'All Things Policy', Amit Kumar discusses with Anushka Saxena how China's local government fin...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Avinash Shet is joined by Aakash Kumar to trace the evolution of India’s science and technology ecosystem. The episode explores how India’s scientific foundations were laid post-independence under Nehru’s vision of state-led development, discusses the enduring legacy of colonialism, and assesses today’s challenges, including low R&D spending and the deep t...

In this episode, Dr Y. Nithiyanandam , Professor at the Takshashila Institution, engages in an insightful discussion with Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla (Retd) on the themes explored in his recent book, "Maritime Power and China’s Grand Strategy" . Together, they examine China’s growing maritime ambitions—from its naval expansion and the “String of Pearls” to grey zone tactics and the Be...

Trump's tariffs have been the talk of the geoeconomics town for the past few weeks. Most recently, he announced a 90 day pause on his own tariffs. What does this pause mean for the world and India? Are there any opportunities that India can catch onto amidst all the confusion that surrounds this tariff regime?  Tannmay Kumarr Baid sits down with Anupam Manur and Anisree Suresh to discuss Trump...

Fifty years ago, a modest satellite named Aryabhata marked India's bold entry into space. In this episode of All Things Policy, ShreeKeerthi, Research Analyst and Prof. Dr. Y Nithiyanadam of the Geospatial Programme at Takshashila Institution, trace Aryabhata's journey from its creation in Bangalore to its launch from the Soviet Union during the geopolitics of the 1970s. They examine the s...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Ashwin Prasad and Aishwaria Sonavane discuss satellite internet. We live in a hyper-connected world, and satellite internet mega constellations are the next leap. Thousands of Low-Earth Orbit satellites are working together to beam internet globally, representing a massive infrastructure and space tech innovation. This technology holds immense potential for mi...