The State of Rajasthan recently passed a law on social security for platform-based gig workers. Under the law, a 1-2 percent welfare cess will be levied on the value of every online transaction and the amounts will go into a welfare fund to be used for the benefit of gig workers. In this episode, Anupam Manur & Shrikrishna Upadhyaya discuss the drawbacks of the Rajasthan model of social security for gig workers. They dwell on the nature of gig jobs in India, problems with socialising social security in the form of a single fund, the responsibility of the state to offer universal social security to all its citizens, and alternative ways of securing social security for the gig workers. Readings: Indian gig workers ought to get a well-crafted social security net | Mint Don’t rush to mimic Rajasthan gig workers law Compensation for Accident Victims Isn’t a ‘Favour’ – and the State Must Be More Accountable

Every country advances its foreign policy objectives through public diplomacy initiatives via its embassies and consulates. Australia is no different. Through various economic, creative & cultural initiatives, Australia advocates their goals in India in their interactions with governments, businesses, societies, and individuals. In this episode, Carl Jaison speaks to Sarah Kirlew, Australia’s Consul General in Chennai about Australia’s various public diplomacy efforts in India, how it links to its larger foreign policy agenda, and the impact of grant programs like the Direct Aid Program

In this episode of All Things Policy, Anushka Saxena and Amit Kumar discuss China's muted response to the coup launched by Wagner Group Chied Yevgeny Prighozin against Russian President Vladimir Putin. They also throw some light on China's Private Security Company architecture and their operations abroad, as well as China's interactions with the international legal framework pertaining to such PMSCs.

Kingshuk Saha and Dr. Nithiyanandam Yogeswaran, Professor at the Takshashila Institution, discuss the upcoming mega dam China is planning to build on Yarlung Tsang Po at Medog County.

As cyberspace grows, cyber crimes have also increased in number and variety. In this episode of Police Chowki, Shrikrishna Upadhyaya quizzes Javeed Ahmad (ex-IPS & ex-DGP of Uttar Pradesh) and Dr. Aravind Chaturvedi (IPS & SP, Vigilance, Uttar Pradesh) on how to classify cyber crimes, aspects of cyber security, how should individuals and organisations protect themselves in the cyber world, and the police organisational structure and investigative methods in solving cyber crime. They also reflect on how cyber crimes are not merely a law & order matters, but a reflection of more significant socioeconomic reasons, in the context of the emergence of cybercrime hubs like Jamtara, Alwar, Nuh, and others.

In this episode of All Things Policy, Sowmya Nandan speaks to Devashish Dhar, author of India’s Bling Spot: Understanding and Managing Our Cities. Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.in/Indias-Blind-Spot-Understanding-Managing/dp/9354895204

Can India try to increase its presence in manufacturing because it will give us jobs today? Or should it try and increase market share in the growing services sector? Against the backdrop of Make in India and growing conversations around a China+1 strategy, Anupriya Mohta and Sridhar Krishna question if manufacturing presents an opportunity today? Readings: The world is in the grip of a manufacturing delusion, The Economist Global manufacturing scorecard: How the US compares to 18 other nations, Brookings Institution WEF Future of Jobs report 2023, WEF Global decline in manufacturing, Statsta Like it or not, future of Indian economy will have to be built on services, not manufacturing, The Print Why India’s economy needs a manufacturing push, India Today A Silver Lining That Could Turn into Gold, Raghuram Rajan

The news of accidents and natural disasters inevitably includes announcements of ex gratia compensation to victims from the state. Megha Kajale and Mihir Mahajan looked into the data to determine how the State treats accident victims. They find arbitrariness, inconsistency, and inadequacy to be the norm. Reading: Compensation for Accident Victims Isn’t a ‘Favour’ – and the State Must Be More Accountable

The news of accidents and natural disasters inevitably includes announcements of ex gratia compensation to victims from the state. Megha Kajale and Mihir Mahajan looked into the data to determine how the State treats accident victims. They find arbitrariness, inconsistency, and inadequacy to be the norm. Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/ You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featured Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with your folks!

Intelligence is important for efficient and effective police work. In a conversation with Shrikrishna Upadhyaya on Police Chowki, Javeed Ahmad explores the critical role of police informants, the importance of technological tools in intelligence, the need for protecting whistleblowers and witnesses, and the ever-present question of balancing operational secrecy with accountability.