In this episode of The Crux, we explore life on the LoC, beyond headlines and policy, through the eyes of a soldier.

Join us as we speak with Lt Col (Retd) Mayur Ambastha, who served in the Indian Army for decades, including counter-insurgency roles in Jammu & Kashmir and a UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan.

Tune in to hear his insights on what it takes to serve at the border, the mental and physical strain, family separations, troop preparedness during escalations like Operation Sindoor. We also explore the transition from combat to civilian life, and what support veterans need to find purpose beyond the uniform.

#IndiaPakistan #LoC #OperationSindoor #IndianArmy #Veterans #MentalHealth #BorderSecurity #DefenceForces #UNPeacekeeping #MilitaryFamilies #Kashmir #Leadership


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00:00:00 – Intro
00:02:59 – Facing the enemy: A soldier’s perspective
00:06:46 – Activation mode: How the army mobilizes
00:08:20 – What military training actually involves
00:11:54 – Practicing for War
00:14:12 – Mental conditioning & the ghatak course
00:19:58 – Technology in training & real combat
00:23:27 – Women in Uniform: Equal training, equal stakes
00:25:38 – Suicide & burnout in the forces
00:31:43 – Family strain: Preparing for the worst
00:37:11 – The UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan
00:42:08 – Transitioning from uniform to civilian life
00:48:41 – Veteran hiring & corporate India’s blind spot
00:51:44 – The Crux (takeaways)

_______

#IndiaPakistan #OperationSindoor #LoC #IndianArmy #BorderConflict #CounterInsurgency #MilitaryLife #SoldiersStory #VeteranVoices #DefenseAnalysis #NationalSecurity #ArmyFamilies #MentalHealthInUniform

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In this episode of The Crux, we examine the fallout from Operation Sindoor: India’s precision missile strike on terror camps across Pakistan and PoK.

Join us as we speak with Bipindra NC, a veteran defence journalist with three decades of experience covering strategic affairs, defence, and geopolitics. 

Tune in as we discuss how India-Pakistan relations have evolved over the past decade, India’s current options, Pakistan’s likely retaliation, and the road ahead — both on the battlefield and at the negotiation table.

#IndiaPakistan #OperationSindoor #IndiaStrikesBack #StrategicAffairs #Geopolitics #Defence #IndianArmy #Terrorism #IndusWaterTreaty #Pakistan #IndiaNews #Diplomacy #NCBipindra #TheCruxPodcast

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00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:31 - A measured response or escalation?
00:03:09 - Evolution of India’s counter-terror strategy from Uri to Sindoor
00:04:39 - Kashmir, intelligence, and internal security
00:10:45 - Modi’s doctrine and strategic messaging
00:17:26 - Are these strikes a message or a deterrent?
00:22:47 - How did India manage the post-strike narrative?
00:26:26 - Indus waters: Strategy, infrastructure, and silent preparation
00:33:24 - Trade and economic pressure
00:35:07 - What China and Turkey’s reactions signal
00:38:26 - Are we heading toward war?
00:44:04 - Elections, political capital, and public response 
00:47:32 - Key takeaways

______

#NCBipindra #GeopoliticsPodcast #StrategicAffairs #IndiaDefence 
#SouthAsiaSecurity #CounterTerrorism #MilitaryStrategy 
#ForeignPolicyAnalysis #TheCruxPodcast


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There is an alarming outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in Pune. Over 140 cases reported have put serious questions before everyone about water contamination, public health safety, and preparedness in India.

Join us on this episode of The Crux as we speak to Dr. Shahid Jameel, a leading virologist, in the process of helping break down the science behind GBS, its symptoms, potential causes, and the way forward. How is this outbreak different? What are the lessons for India's healthcare system?

Tune in to hear his insights about the origins of the outbreak, and how to prevent future crises. 

Is this a wake-up call for India's public health system?

—

00:00:00 – Intro
00:00:58 – What is GBS?
00:03:33 – Insights into the Pune outbreak
00:07:46 – Water purification practices
00:10:49 – GBS in Peru
00:14:15 – Early symptoms 
00:18:02 – At-risk populations
00:19:55 – Are we medically prepared?
00:23:03 – Screening and diagnosis 
00:24:21 – Preventing future outbreaks
00:25:28 – Key takeaways

—

#gbs #guillainbarresyndrome  #punehealthcare  #publichealth  #neurology  #virology  #medicalawareness  #watercontamination  #Indiahealth  #TheCruxPodcast

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In this episode of The Crux, we explore the rise of DeepSeek AI and what it means for the future of artificial intelligence.

China has entered the AI race in a big way, and DeepSeek is being compared to OpenAI’s GPT models. With AI shaping industries, economies, and geopolitics, what does this new player mean for the future?

Join us as we speak to Shubhmay Potdar, a Data Science expert with over a decade of experience in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and AI-driven analytics.

Are we at a major turning point in AI development? Tune in to find out.

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#DeepSeek #AIRevolution #OpenAI #Meta #ArtificialIntelligence #TechDisruption #MachineLearning #BigTech #FutureOfAI #DeepLearning #AIethics #AIIndustry

Trump is back in the Oval Office, and the discussion on its effects on India are already underway. From reshaping trade to shifting immigration policies, this new era brings challenges and opportunities for Indian businesses and talent.

In this episode of ‘The Crux’, we’re joined by Khair Ull Nissa Sheikh, Principal Advisor at the World Trade Centre India Services Council, to explore how these changes are set to redefine India’s role in global trade, innovation, and the startup ecosystem. Khair highlights India’s potential to emerge as one of the top two global economies by 2030, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for growth and leadership.
Can India navigate these challenges to become a global leader? Tune in to find out.

Timestamps:

0:00- Introduction
1:27- China vs India’s trade relationship with US
6:00- The impact on Indian sectors
7:06- H1B visa
9:36- Tech collaboration 
11:15- Clean energy and its great potential 
13:17- FDI inflow
16:17- Diversification of export markets
24:10- India-US bilateral relation 
26:22- Key takeaways

#TrumpPresidency #IndiaUSRelations #GlobalTrade #ImmigrationPolicies #EconomicImpact #StartupEcosystem 

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As winter looms, millions across North India enter a recurring nightmare: toxic air that makes every breath a challenge. But this isn’t just a North Indian crisis—cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bengaluru are increasingly feeling the chokehold too.

Join us in this episode of ‘The Crux’ as we speak to Dr. R. Subramanian, Sector Head of Air Quality at Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). With a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University and unmatched expertise in research, Dr. Subramanian shares insights into the health impacts, policy measures, and potential solutions to India’s air pollution crisis.

Can India find a way to clear the air? Tune in to find out.

Timestamps:

00:00- Introduction
1:52- The issue with bad air
7:20- Is policy implementation missing across governments?
11:52- Building the right infrastructure
20:12- How are other metro cities catching up with Delhi’s pollution?
25:50- PM 10 vs PM 2.5; is NCAP effective?
29:13- Cost of life
33:00- Tech advancements and CSTEP’s initiative to mitigate air pollution
39:06- Lessons from other global cities
44:50- The Crux takeaways 

#Airpollutioncontrol #IndiaAirQuality #EnvironmentalCrisis #TheCrux #CSTEP #HealthImpacts #PolicySolution #UrbanAirQuality

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In this episode of 'The Crux', we explore the state of work culture in India. With the recent death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, the people are questioning corporates on their toxic work culture. 

Join us as we speak to Aadesh Goyal, an experienced leader with around four decades of experience in HR and leadership positions. He has worked as the Global CHRO for TATA Communications and he is the board director of Spire.AI and was on the advisory board of the World Forum for Ethics in Business, Belgium.

Tune in to hear his insights on flexible work environments, the gig economy, effective employee retention through feedback systems and much more!

Can we improve working conditions across industries?

---

00:00 -  Introductions
02:05 - How are organisations balancing profit and employee health?
09:22 - Is the hybrid model working?
15:02 - Good HR practices
18:38 - Are HRs listening to their employees?
21:26 - How to meet GenZ expectations and retain workers?
25:17 - Quite quitting
30:01 - Balancing productivity and mental health 
34:45 - Leveraging AI 
38:32 - How to deal with a high pressure work environment?
43:05 - The Crux (takeaways)

---

#workculture #india #toxicworkculture #corporateresponsibility #flexiblework #hrleadership #hr #employeeretention #corporateindia #businesseconomy #leadershipinsights #employeeengagement #hrstrategies #corporateculture #workplaceflexibility #workenvironment #ey #annasebastian

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In this episode of 'The Crux', we dive into the Mpox scare. Should we be concerned?

Join us as we speak to Dr. Shahid Jameel, an experienced virologist who was the Group Leader of Virology at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for over 25 years, where his research focused on the Hepatitis E virus (HEV) and HIV.

Listen to his insights on if India should take more precautions, restarting vaccination drives, the role of global warming in amplifying diseases and much more!

Can Mpox become the next COVID-19 pandemic?

---
00:00 - Introductions
01:55 - What is Mpox?
4:30 - Is Mpox the next pandemic?
12:05 - Should vaccination drives be restarted?
18:43 - The responsibility of the first-world to intervene in third-world endemics
22:20 - How global warming is giving rise to more viral zoonotic diseases
24:36 - How to prevent pandemics? Learnings from Covid-19
28:53 - The situation in India
31:33 - Can private sector help?
33:38 - Prevention is key
37:18 - Is India prepared?
41:30 - The Crux (takeaways)
---
⁠#mpox #mpoxscare #virology #virus #pandemic #endemic #health #vaccination #india #outbrake #climatechange #covid #covid19
----

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In our very first episode of 'The Crux', we dive into the pressing concern of women's safety and freedom in India.

Join us as we speak to Talish Ray, a lawyer and a passionate advocate for women's rights. We also have with us Rahul Ram, a singer who questions cultural norms through his music and actively participates in grassroots movements across India.

Hear their insights on how women unintentionally take part in a patriarchal society, the restrictions women face since they are children and the cultural and social norms that are pushed upon them.

Should rape be given the death penalty? What else can the law do to ensure swift justice?

Is India a country where women are free?


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