In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal takes a hard look at the state of India’s deep tech ecosystem. While the world races ahead with AI, semiconductors, and frontier science, India is at a crossroads: will we be creators of technology, or just consumers?

Mukesh argues that true deep tech is only possible when rooted in deep science, a culture of research, curiosity, and discovery. He unpacks why India risks being left behind if we don’t invest in science the way the US, Europe, and China have, and what it will take for India to build original IP, Nobel-worthy science, and globally competitive deep tech companies.

He explores:

• Why India’s dependence on foreign tech poses a strategic risk.

• The looming threats to IT services and startup ecosystems.

• How India can move from “Make in India” to “Discover in India, Invent in India, then Make in India.”

• Lessons from history: how breakthroughs in physics, AI, and the internet all started with curiosity-driven science.

• What it will take for India to aspire to Nobel Prizes, original IP, and world-class innovation.

This is not just about technology, it's about India’s future. If you care about Viksit Bharat, scientific ambition, and the next wave of innovation, this video is a must-watch.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Rana Adhikari, experimental physicist at Caltech and leading voice in gravitational-wave research. From doubting Einstein as a student to helping build the LIGO detectors that confirmed his theories, Rana has been honoured with the Breakthrough Prize, Gruber Prize, and the New Horizons in Physics Prize.

They dive into:

• What gravitational waves really are, and how LIGO measures distortions smaller than an atom.

• The story behind LIGO’s breakthrough detections which is now catching 2–3 black hole mergers every week.

• Why LIGO-India, now approved and funded, could be the world’s most precise detector and even test Einstein’s theory of relativity itself.

• The cutting-edge role of quantum entanglement and AI in pushing measurement beyond classical limits.

• Building a thriving science ecosystem in India focused on mentorship, risk-taking, and the path to future Nobel Prizes.

Rana also shares his personal journey from tinkering as an auto mechanic in Florida, to becoming one of the world’s foremost experimental physicists, and now working closely with India to bring world-class science infrastructure to life.

If you’re curious about black holes, the true nature of reality, or India’s chance to lead in fundamental science, this conversation is a must-watch.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Raghuram Rajan (Former RBI Governor) on India’s economic crossroads, tariff wars, shifting geopolitics, AI disruption, and the urgent need for jobs and human capital investment.

They discuss:

• India’s position between the U.S. and China.

• The real impact of tariffs on trade, GDP, and livelihoods.

• Why 7.8% GDP growth isn’t the full story.

• The jobs crisis and AI’s disruption of tech roles.

• Building human capital: world-class universities, R&D, and upskilling.

• Strategic autonomy in AI and reducing vulnerabilities.

• Dr. Rajan’s message to India’s youth on ambition, learning, and opportunity.

If you want to understand the choices shaping India’s economic future, this is a must-watch conversation.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Sharad Sharma, one of the key minds behind Aadhaar and UPI. Sharad shares why he left a successful corporate career to focus on nation building, and how India can avoid becoming a trade colony of China or a tech colony of the US by doubling down on deep tech and research-driven innovation.

They discuss:

- The origins of India Stack and Digital Public Infrastructure.

- How UPI really scaled and the lessons for entrepreneurs.

- Why India must build a strong R&D and product innovation ecosystem.

- The urgent need for new research institutions, mid-career researchers, and long-term thinking.

- How India can carve its own path in AI through health, education, and data-driven use cases.

If you want to understand India’s deep-tech playbook and the roadmap to Viksit Bharat, this is a must-watch conversation.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). India’s biggest push yet to fund science, research, and deep tech.

Shiv explains why India needs to build its own technologies instead of only buying them, and how ANRF will unlock ₹50,000 crore in research grants and ₹1 lakh crore in patient capital to power innovation.

They talk about:

- How research moves from a basic idea to real products.- Why India spends less on R&D than other nations and how that can change.

- How startups, industry, and researchers can work with ANRF.

- The big focus areas: AI, medical tech, EVs, quantum, biotech, energy, and more.

Shiv also shares his own journey from researcher to industry leader with 75+ patents, and now stepping into government to shape India’s research future.

If you’re curious about India’s innovation story and where the next big breakthroughs will come from, this conversation is a must-watch.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist at Axis Bank, to unpack the chaos behind Trump’s tariff wars and what it means for the global order.

They explore why these moves aren’t just about trade, but about four bigger objectives. Covering various topics from stagnant U.S. wages and life expectancy gaps to America’s renewed manufacturing drive for national security, this episode talks about the forces influencing today’s shifting geopolitical landscape.

They discuss whether tariffs can deliver on revenue goals, the risks of a trade war, and how a “might is right” continues to dominate global economics. Neelkanth dives into why a dollar devaluation may be inevitable, what history teaches us, and why China as a near-equal opposer changes the game.

Whether you’re an investor, policy enthusiast, or curious about the future of money, power, and global stability, this episode offers a lens into the economic strategies that could rewrite the world order.

In this episode of Sparx, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Tejasvi Surya, one of India’s youngest Members of Parliament for an unfiltered conversation on leadership, purpose, and building a stronger nation. From his early days as a student activist to becoming a Member of Parliament at 28, Tejasvi shares the defining moments, risks, and unwavering convictions that shaped his journey.

They dive deep into themes of taking initiative without waiting for permission, the power of youth in nation-building and lessons from icons like Swami Vivekananda on mental strength, physical fitness, and resilience. Tejasvi reveals how a grassroots campaign over coffee shop meetings grew into a statewide movement, why consistency beats intensity in every pursuit, and how a 14-day solo trip to Bhutan helped him rediscover his purpose.

The conversation also spans fitness, governance reforms, Bengaluru’s urban challenges, the future of public transport, and the disruptive force of AI along with a bold vision for Viksit Bharat 2047. 

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal dives deep into something that we do all the time - breathing - one of the most integral part of our lives. He explores all the different styles of breathing and shares actionable steps to master breathing.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Naresh Krishnaswamy, CEO of Cult and longtime business partner, to explore the future of fitness, health, and AI-powered transformation in India.

They reflect on Cult’s near-death experiences, why crisis builds culture, and how fitness in India remains massively under-penetrated. Naresh shares behind-the-scenes stories on the explosive popularity of dance workouts, building India’s largest gym network, and why your job should help you lose kilos, not gain them.

Mukesh and Naresh dive into how AI will redefine fitness with intelligent coaches, meeting copilots, productized employee wellness, and data-backed decisions across operations. They also unpack why the biggest disruption may come from outside the industry, including GLP-1 drugs and corporate giants entering the space.

Whether you're a founder, leader, builder, or simply someone who cares about health and performance, this episode will change how you think about fitness, technology, and culture at scale.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Shamik Sharma, SVP Product at Atlassian and former Head of Technology at Myntra, to explore how AI is radically transforming software development, programming, and enterprise workflows.

They unpack how natural language is becoming the new code, how tools like Lovable are reshaping developer productivity, and why the future of software engineering may not need traditional programmers at all.

Shamik shares bold ideas on the rise of vibe coding, why SaaS as we know it is dying, and the untapped potential of multi-agent collaboration, AI-powered IT services, and humanoid robots in the next decade. Mukesh and Shamik also dive into India’s opportunity in this AI wave and what students, engineers, and entrepreneurs must learn now to stay ahead.

Whether you're a founder, developer, product leader, or just AI-curious, this conversation will change how you think about technology, work, and learning in the age of AI.