Dr Shamika Ravi is a Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and a Secretary to the Government of India. Her research focuses on development economics, with a special emphasis on finance, healthcare, urbanisation, gender equality, welfare, and poverty.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr Shamika Ravi discusses how the West Asia crisis impacts India's economy. She responds to critics who argue that India's growth story is over and shares her views on foreign direct investment, India's position in the artificial intelligence race, the falling rupee, rising inflation, and the country's economic outlook in 2026.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:48 – India's Economic Future

04:29 – Foreign Direct Investment

07:11 – India's Approach to AI

11:09 – Indians' Purchasing Power

15:13 – Nuclear Reactors

17:28 – COVID-Like Crisis Coming?

19:56 – Advice for Investors

22:09 – India's Economic Growth

25:16 – Freebies and Welfare Politics

29:24 – Rural vs. Urban Consumption

30:52 – Economic Reforms

40:43 – PM's Advice Against Buying Gold

44:43 – World Abandoning Free Market?

48:43 – Market Privatisation in India

50:26 – Market Solutions for New-Age Problems

56:20 – India's Demographic Dividend

1:06:03 – Demographic Change in India

1:10:06 – Women's Reservation

1:18:24 – PM Modi's Economic Vision for 2047

Indrani Bagchi is the CEO of Ananta Centre, a platform for dialogue, leadership and public policy. She has spent many years covering India's Ministry of External Affairs and is known for explaining global events from an Indian perspective.

Prof. C. Raja Mohan is one of India's leading experts on foreign policy, national security and international relations. He has taught at major universities and has advised the Indian government on strategic and security issues.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash and Ishaan Prakash, the guests discuss where India's foreign policy is headed. They talk about the West Asia crisis, the Trump–Munir relationship, and how India should respond to China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean. They also discuss India's ties with the United States and China, as well as the Great Nicobar Project and India's long-term strategic challenges.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:23 – Marco Rubio’s India Visit

07:02 – India–US Trade Deal

10:41 – Trump–Xi Summit

15:15 – Trump’s Second-Term Doctrine

18:31 – India–US Relations

29:08 – Trump–Munir Lunch

33:33 – India’s Geopolitical Challenge

37:45 – How Energy, Tech & Trade Shape Geopolitics

45:38 – India’s Supply Chain Crisis

55:22 – India’s Economic Challenge

1:00:31 – Why India Needs Private Players in Defence

1:07:58 – West Asia’s New Alliances

1:18:23 – The Great Nicobar Project

1:28:20 – Tata–ASML Deal

In the latest edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Kuldeep Mishra, better known as Sardar, the Executive Editor of The Lallantop; Asif Khan, fondly known as Khancha, the Executive Editor of India Today Group Digital; and Kamlesh Singh, or Tau, a senior journalist and columnist. Together, the trio host Teen Taal, one of India’s most popular Hindi podcasts.

From hostel tales and small-town stories to politics and friendship, the guests explain why sometimes the most meaningful conversations come from what they call “therapeutic bullsh*t.” Don’t miss this “most useless podcast ever.”

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

04:06 – Melodi Trend

05:48 – How Teen Taal Team Met

09:26 – School Life: Then vs Now

17:46 – Political Ideologies

26:38 – Teen Taal's Show Format

28:37 – How Teen Taal Started

33:33 – The Lallantop & Teen Taal

37:57 – How Kamlesh Tau Entered Journalism

43:58 – Truck Wali Shayari

47:06 – Kamlesh Tau's Childhood Stories

49:08 – Original Idea Behind Teen Taal

56:51 – Photography: Then vs Smartphone Era

1:03:47 – Teachers & Schooling

1:18:22 – Story Behind Teen Taal Characters

1:26:08 – Journalism: Then vs Now

1:32:17 – Weird Food Combinations

1:36:16 – Culture & Tradition of Eating Paan

1:43:18 – Urbanisation

1:55:02 – India's Stray Dog Issue

2:08:38 – India's Urban-Rural Divide

2:11:40 – Two-Wheelers in India

2:17:35 – NEET Paper Leak

2:27:18 – Aditi Rao Hydari's Cannes Look

2:34:51 – Incentives for Having More Children

2:39:40 – Migration Within India

2:58:36 – Criticism of Teen Taal

Major SPS Oberoi (Retd.) served as an Artillery Officer in the Indian Army for 11 years. He is currently a UPSC mentor and Academic Director at Ekam IAS Academy, Hyderabad.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Major SPS Oberoi (Retd.) shares his journey from serving in the Army to becoming a UPSC mentor. He challenges the popular belief that the UPSC is the toughest exam in India and explains the obsession surrounding it. He also discusses the issue of dowry, often associated with civil servants, and the social prestige attached to government jobs.

He speaks candidly about discipline, success, AI, coaching industry, and the mental health challenges faced by UPSC aspirants.

00:00 – Introduction

01:08 – Childhood And Education

04:24 – Army Officer To UPSC Mentor

08:16 – UPSC Preparation Journey

12:48 – Can AI Guide UPSC Students?

16:20 – Ideal Study Time For UPSC Preparation

18:23 – UPSC Study Materials

21:33 – Digital Detox For Students

23:53 – AI In Administration Work

31:16 – Male vs Female Intelligence

36:46 – Presence of Mind & Quick Reactions

38:50 – Obsession With UPSC Preparation

40:27 – Parental Pressure In Education

45:25 – Scholastic Assessment Test

48:01 – Career Options For Youth

52:03 – Violence Against Children

53:56 – Sikhism And Marriage Rules

56:49 – Dowry In India

1:00:16 – Why Civil Servants Become Corrupt

1:06:50 – Views On Reservation

1:09:31 – UPSC Craze In Bihar And U.P

1:13:48 – Financial Independence For Graduates

1:15:56 – Army Life Vs Civilian Life

1:19:20 – Golden Rule For Study

1:25:29 – Importance Of Language In UPSC

1:30:43 – Learning From Students

From Tejas fighter jets and the AMCA programme to drones and missile systems. India is pushing aggressively towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Can India truly become “Aatmanirbhar” in defence? Or is complete self-reliance impossible in a world dependent on global supply chains? What role will private companies play in India’s growing drone ecosystem?

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Sanjeev Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of Defence Production. A 1993-batch IAS officer with a background in electronics engineering, communication technology, and financial management, he is leading India’s push towards indigenous defence manufacturing and technology modernisation.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:05 – Lessons from West Asia Crisis

05:05 – India’s Drone Production Capacity

05:52 – India’s Missile Production Capacity

08:49 – India’s Ammunition Manufacturing Capacity

14:27 – India’s Defence Exports

17:20 – India’s Atmanirbhar Defence Capabilities

19:45 – Success of ‘Make in India’ in Defence

24:52 – India’s Defence Imports

27:59 – Chinese Components & Data Security Risks

29:02 – Use of AI in Modern Warfare

29:52 – India’s Indigenous Fighter Jet Programme

35:24 – Tejas Jet Delivery Status

38:25 – India’s BrahMos Missile Programme

39:35 – India’s Competitors in Defence Exports

42:02 – India’s AMCA Project

44:09 – Defence Firms Investing in R&D

49:09 – Defence Talent and Innovation in India

56:56 – India–Russia Defence Partnership

1:02:04 – S-400 and Operation Sindoor

In this edition of ANI Podcast, Smita Prakash speaks to India’s first female Dastango, Fouzia Dastango, about Urdu, theatre, storytelling, women in traditional art spaces, and her journey of keeping the 16th-century art of Dastangoi alive in modern India.

She explains why people should not have any problem with her reciting the Ramayana and Mahabharata in Urdu, and how the art of storytelling must evolve with the current generation.

00:00 - Introduction

01:04 - What is Dastangoi?

03:08 - Kathavachak vs Dastango

04:37 - Real Identity of Urdu

05:32 - Ramayana & Mahabharata in Urdu

09:14 - Fouzia Dastango’s Story

15:05 - Feminist Elements in Stories

22:53 - Choosing Stories Based on Audience

28:47 - Classical vs Folk Art

33:14 - Inspiration Behind Performance

37:05 - Gen Z Connect with Dastangoi

42:03 - Hardest Emotion to Portray

46:46 - Cultural Home of Dastangoi

51:48 - Advice for Younger Generation

Geetam Tiwari is an Emeritus Professor at the Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. She has over 25 years of experience in transportation planning, road safety, and urban mobility. Her work focuses on safer roads, better footpaths, bicycle infrastructure, and protecting pedestrians.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she talks about why Indian cities face traffic chaos, unsafe roads, and poor pedestrian facilities. She also discusses what India needs to do to build safer, smarter, and more efficient transport systems.

00:00 – Introduction

02:21 – Rising Road Deaths

08:13 – International Driving Tests

10:03 – Road Safety Rules

11:49 – School Bus Safety

13:38 – Highways & Expressways Design Flaws

17:03 – Audible Road Markers

21:12 – Why Indians Ignore Road Signs

22:05 – Facilities on Expressways & Highways

23:53 – Expressways & Highways for Two-Wheelers

25:41 – Importance of Service Roads

29:07 – Wrong-Side Driving

31:26 – Pedestrians & Cyclists

37:45 – Public Spaces Accessibility

39:13 – Reality of Vendors on Indian Roads

41:38 – Why Foot Overbridges & Underpasses Fail

46:31 – The Pothole Problem

49:58 – Corruption in Road Construction

53:11 – Municipal Corporations and Dug-Up Roads

55:02 – Labourers at Road Construction Sites

58:18 – Road Reality Check Segment

1:04:49 – Building Proper Bicycle Paths

Dr Arvind Gupta is Director of the Vivekananda International Foundation and a former Deputy National Security Advisor of India.

Ambassador Veena Sikri is a former Indian diplomat who served as High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Malaysia, with decades of experience in foreign policy.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the discussion focuses on how the global power structure is changing and whether institutions like NATO, the Quad, the United Nations, BRICS, and the G20 still remain relevant in today’s world.

The episode also explores India’s foreign policy approach, including strategic autonomy, multi-alignment and the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, as well as Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role and its impact on South Asia.

00:00 – Introduction

02:04 – NATO Crisis

07:15 – Decline of Post-Cold War Order

13:34 – Gulf Countries’ Security Alliances

18:25 – Germany and Japan’s Defence Reset

21:48 – Future of US-China G2

27:09 – Global Sea Route Security

30:47 – India’s Balancing Act in West Asia

35:25 – Pakistan as Mediator Between the US and Iran

39:34 – Can SAARC Be Revived?

43:36 – India, Pakistan & Narrative War

52:47 – India-Bangladesh Ties

55:44 – India’s Strategic Role in BRICS

1:02:13 – ‘Vishwamitra’ Doctrine Under PM Modi

1:05:08 – India’s Geopolitical Challenges

1:09:08 – Regionalisation & Global Power Shifts

The much-awaited episode of The ‘Real’ Samosa Caucus – Edition 8.0 is here, packed with raw, uncensored, and no-holds-barred conversations.

Joining the panel are:

Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORF

Tehseen Poonawalla, TV personality and political analyst

Anand Ranganathan, author and scientist

Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

This episode discusses the recently conducted Assembly polls in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam; the Iran war; the Trump phenomenon; Pakistan’s stature after the war.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:59 – Story of Anga, Banga & Kalinga

03:14 – Cold-Pressed Oils & ‘Adult-Rated’ Banter

06:17 – Fall of Mamata Banerjee’s Regime

14:48 – Fragmentation of Communities

19:30 – Nashik TCS Case

21:24 – Impact of SIR in Bengal

26:01 – BJP Started Mirroring the Left?

29:48 – Indo-Bangladesh Border Fencing

35:01 – Japanese & Bengali Food Connection

39:31 – Vijay Benefitted From Annamalai’s Groundwork?

50:40 – Politics of Fielding Controversial Candidates

54:29 – Raghav Chadha’s BJP Entry

59:46 – Rajnath Singh’s Comment on Terrorism

1:01:41 – Indian Muslims’ Support for Iran

1:11:02 – US Deputy Secretary’s Remarks on Trade Deal

1:30:39 – Left-Liberal Ecosystem Debate

1:53:29 – ‘Maach Bhaat’ Politics in Bengal

1:59:07 – The Fall of INDIA Bloc ‘Titans’

2:04:27 – Anand’s Parents’ Love Story

2:11:24 – Importance of Punctuality & Time Management

2:16:08 – Veg vs Non-Veg Discussion

2:32:42 – Who Will Be Next Keralam CM?

2:40:39 – India’s Economic Challenges Amid West Asia War

2:46:20 – Why India Needs Big Reforms

In this live session of the ANI Podcast, the guests discuss the lessons India has drawn from the Iran war and the learnings from Operation Sindoor as it completes one year. The conversation explores military readiness, evolving threats, and the role of technology and strategy in shaping India’s defence posture.

Participants

Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, ORF

Tilak Devasher, Author; Former Member, National Security Advisory Board

Moderators

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor & Deputy CEO, ANI

Naveen Kapoor, National Bureau Chief, ANI

*Timestamps*

00:00 - Introduction

00:34 - Lessons from Operation Sindoor

13:46 - Pakistan’s Close Ties with the USA

25:48 - How Pakistan Handles the Media

31:26 - What Changed in Pak After Op Sindoor?

35:56 - Dhurandar Operations in Pakistan

42:35 - India’s Strategic Autonomy

48:45 - How Pakistanis View Indians

1:00:28 - India’s Reaction to Global Conflicts

1:09:09 - India’s Defence Strategy

1:20:10 - India’s Border Security