All Things Policy

OpenAI released GPT-4o, which included art generation, particularly Studio Ghibli-style anime recreation of users’ pictures. This update took the internet by storm, and social media platforms were flooded with people recreating their images in Studio Ghibli-style. Parallely, conversations around the integrity of art/artwork, copyright, intellectual property rights, and protecting the livelihood of...

Recently, a Dallas-based biotech company, Colossal Biosciences, announced that it has been able to resurrect a species of wolf that went extinct around 12,500 years ago. It claims these dire wolves are the “world’s first successfully de-extincted animals.” What does this mean for science, ecosystems, and society? In this conversation with Sarthak Pradhan, Shambhavi Naik shares her insights on the...

The recent talks between Russia and the US discussed reviving a maritime security arrangement in the Black Sea. This has been widely touted as a step in the right direction towards ceasing hostilities between Russian and Ukraine. In this episode of All Things Policy, Adya Madhavan and Anushka Saxena explore whether this is really the case, and discuss the promises and shortcomings of the potential...

On 24 March 2024, The Atlantic's editor published a story that broke the internet. He revealed being accidentally added to a Signal chat group called 'Houthi PC small group' in which the who's who of senior US national security leadership discussed striking the Houthis in Yemen. After the White House tried to downplay the issue, The Atlantic published another story, this time revea...

Dr. Walter C. Ladwig III, senior lecturer at King’s College London, sits down with Vanshika Saraf and Tanmay Kumarr Baid to unpack the surprising findings of his latest research on India’s legislative behavior in the realm of foreign security. Drawing on a unique dataset of over 10,000 parliamentary questions from 2004 to 2019, Dr. Ladwig challenges the notion that Indian MPs are disengaged from d...

The last few years have been defined by an increased contestation between the US and China that increasingly spills into technological domains such as AI, semiconductors or even space. In addition to this tech warfare, developing countries are concerned about the security of their supply chains — especially in the chips and telecom sectors. Given both supply chain warfare and security concerns, ho...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Yamini J Kumar, in conversation with Mr. Javeed Ahmad, talks about how technology is reshaping law enforcement and policing in India. From AI-based surveillance to cybercrime laws, we discuss both the opportunities and the challenges that come with tech-driven policing. Our guest, Mr. Javeed Ahmed, a seasoned IPS officer, shares insights on tools being used, p...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Malathi Renati chats with Cmdr Rajesh Rajagopalan , the first CEO of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), as he shares insightful experiences from his pioneering role. From heartwarming stories of government-led efforts to support and uplift athletes to reflections on public-private partnerships (PPP) and his current work as CEO of the Dani Sports Foundati...

Satellite internet is rewriting the rules of connectivity. In this episode of All Things Policy, Ashwin Prasad and Sowmya Prabhakar, COO at the Takshashila Institution, unpack the rise of Cloud Nomads and how beaming broadband from space will shift digital behaviours, challenge governance frameworks, and spark geopolitical issues. Monopolies in the sky? Check. Satellite insurance (yes, it’s a thin...

When mainstream media turns a blind eye—or worse, reinforces exploitative power structures—protest movements turn to alternative channels to make their voices heard. From underground pamphlets and newsletters in colonial India to encrypted WhatsApp groups and digital zines in contemporary resistance movements, subversive media has long played a critical role in mobilising dissent. In this episode...

China's tech innovation has excelled despite a heavy-handed state crackdown on the private sector. Disruptors like Deepseek have emerged, and policy signals from the recent private tech entrepreneurs' symposium and the National People's Congress seem to finally ease on businesses, promising only to "guide them on national priorities." In this video episode of 'All Things...

China has emerged as one of the world's leading developers of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). This is reflected in China's exports of UCAVs, especially across West Asia and Central Africa. In this episode of All Things Policy, Shobhankita Reddy sits down with Adya Madhavan, researcher with the Takshashila Institution, to discuss Adya's latest research work examining the factor...

From France to Canada, headlines across the world are reporting consumer boycotts as a way for citizens to express their dissatisfaction with global economic policies. In France, for example, a widely cited poll in mainstream French media reported that 6 out of 10 French consumers supported a movement to reject American brands and products made in the US in response to the US' trade tariffs an...

Wildfires are increasing in intensity and frequency—but do we know their extent? In this episode of All Things Policy, Swathi Kalyani and Keerthishree dissect India's wildfire hotspots, the shifting patterns of wildfires, and the challenges that come with them. We also look at California's catastrophic January 2025 wildfire to discuss what makes California so susceptible and if India is at...

In this episode, Shobhankita (Research Analyst, Takshashila), Kripa and Suman (Programme Managers, Takshashila) discuss the dwindling number of movies with themes around dissent. They examine a timeline of Hindi films from the 50s onwards to analyse the reasons for this change and its implications for society. The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve d...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Bharath Reddy and Rijesh Panicker discuss their upcoming report on AI governance. Stay tuned till the end for their predictions on the future of AI governance! 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 offers a broad and...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Maya Patra and Swathi Kalyani discuss Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Mauritius, analysing India’s strategic engagement in the Indian Ocean. The conversation contrasts India’s developmental approach—rooted in historical ties and security cooperation—with China’s large-scale infrastructure investments and economic influence. They explore how Mauritius ser...

Startups are integral to the Indian growth story. From grocery delivery app Zepto to HR software Darwinbox, we frequently come across news of Indian startups raising millions of dollars from venture capital (VC) funds. But why are startups, including deep tech ones, funded by a specific class of investors called 'VC'? Why are the stock market and the traditional banks not playing this role...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Anupam Manur, Shikha Tomar, and Anisree Suresh delve into the intricacies of India-US trade relations amidst reciprocal tariff threats from the US. They explore India's strategic options and propose that a bilateral treaty, coupled with the opening up of key sectors, would be a mutually beneficial arrangement for both India and the US. The PGP is a compreh...

Is Donald Trump truly remaking American foreign policy? How might his actions impact great power politics? In this episode of All Things Policy, Manoj Kewalramani and Aditya Ramanathan take a hard look at India's choices in an uncertain world. 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....

In this episode of All Things Policy, Adya Madhavan is in conversation with Malik Moin Abbas about identity in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. Moin delves into the historical narratives that were perpetuated and the many factors that led to a change. The 2024 protests in the region in particular, were a pivotal movement and saw many groups coming together and reclaiming a sense of collective identi...

Community networks that function as media platforms—such as community radio, grassroots journalism, and digital collectives—are empowering people to take control of the narratives that shape their lives. From Sangam Radio in Telangana to Khabar Lahariya’s fearless rural journalism, these community-driven platforms are redefining civic engagement and governance at the grassroots level**. In this ep...

In this episode of All Things Policy, Vaidehi Vaidya (Founder and MD - Women In Sports India) shares with Malathi Renati the toolkit her organization is developing to gather data-driven insights aimed at identifying and addressing barriers to women's leadership in sports. They also discuss the economic aspects and the role of society in effecting meaningful change.  The PGP is a comprehensive...

In this episode of All Things Policy , Wini Fred Gurung and Sourav Mannaraprayil explore a critical question: Is AI quietly killing our curiosity and critical thinking or simply making us more efficient? As AI tools like ChatGPT become ubiquitous in education, work, and creative fields, the duo examines how this growing reliance on instant answers and automation might weaken our cognitive abilitie...

The Indian Meteorological Department recently issued heatwave alerts for districts in Karnataka and Kerala. In this episode, Swathi Kalyani and Dr. Y. Nithiyanandam, part of the Geospatial Programme at the Takshashila Institution, explore the definition of heatwaves, its impact across sectors and communities, how cities are adapting to rising heat and what more needs to be done. The PGP is a compr...