The Morning Brief

As trust in domestic examinations falters, interest in studying medicine abroad is gaining momentum. In the wake of NEET-UG 2024’s credibility crisis marked by paper leak allegations, grace marks controversies, and a perplexing spike in perfect scores many Indian medical aspirants are rethinking their future. In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Neil Ghai speaks with Akshay Chaturvedi, CEO of Leverage Edu, and Ankur Bharti, Executive Director at Grant Thornton Bharat, to unpack this shifting dynamic. From Russia and Ukraine’s aggressive recruitment drives to the Supreme Court’s insistence on NEET qualification for even overseas MBBS seats, we explore the ripple effects on young dreamers caught in the crossfire. The discussion spans digital platforms influencing student decisions, the appeal of shorter and cost-effective specialization paths, and the emotional toll of navigating a shaken admissions system.
Is this growing exodus a practical pivot or a desperate detour? And can war-torn or economically strained nations truly offer safe academic havens? Stay tuned as we trace the contours of a new medical migration and ask When the road to a white coat at home narrows, where do India’s future doctors turn next?

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Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

You can follow Neil Ghai on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

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India once seen as a tea stronghold is emerging as a dynamic market for premium coffee. One brand leveraging this pivot is Costa Coffee. The British coffee house has a strange business arrangement in India. Owned by Coke, its outlets are operated by Pepsi’s biggest Indian bottler. Nevertheless and unfazed by growing competition from premium coffee names like Blue Tokai and Tim Hortons, Costa counts India as one of its top markets and wants to expand its footprint of 200 outlets in the near future.

In this episode, Philippe Schaillee, Global CEO at Costa Coffee, talks to host Ratna Bhushan about how the legacy brand is blending tradition with the agility of a startup to win over a new generation of coffee enthusiasts. From Gen Z’s growing appetite for cold brews and flavored options to navigating post-COVID inflation without compromising on quality, Philippe breaks down Costa’s business strategy for a market that is really waking up and smelling the coffee. He sheds light on the company’s city-focused growth strategy, the role of local partnerships, and what sets Costa apart in a fiercely competitive, youth-driven market.

Stay tuned in as we explore What makes a coffee experience aspirational today? Can global brands win by going hyper-local? And is India the future powerhouse of the global coffee revolution?

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You can follow Ratna Bhushan on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles.

You can follow Philippe Schaillee on his Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read his Newspaper Articles. 

If you like this episode, check out more Corner Office Conversations from the podcast: Adar Poonawalla, Sandip Patel, The Mega Listing Of Vishal Retail, Antonoaldo Neves, Rajesh Jejurikar, Srikanth Velamakanni, and more!

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In this special edition of The Morning Brief, hosts Anirban Chowdhury and Dia Rekhi chat with three of the world’s most dynamic content creators, Mark Rober (a former NASA engineer turned YouTube star), Mayo Japan (a Hindi-speaking Japanese creator bridging Indian and Japanese cultures), and Brandon B (a VFX expert and viral storyteller). From viral Halloween costumes to high-budget STEM experiments, and from short-form content to cultural crossovers, the episode explores the evolution of YouTube content creation. The guests share insights on AI’s disruptive potential, monetization beyond ad revenue, the rise of YouTube on TV, and why authenticity and passion remain at the heart of their work.

You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & Twitter

You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As global tensions intensify from tariffs to terror the question arises: Are India-China relations quietly warming beneath the surface? Despite diplomatic frost after the Galwan clash, trade tells a different story. In 2023, bilateral trade reached a staggering $136.2 billion, with China remaining one of India’s top partners. From telecom to pharma, Chinese components power critical sectors of the Indian economy. China has even begun sending positive signals issuing over 85,000 visas to Indians in just four months and allowing Indian leadership in Chinese firms’ local operations. So, is this economic interdependence a path to reconciliation or just strategic convenience? Even as New Delhi curbs Chinese apps and investments, the flow of goods and even visas continues. Host Anirban Chaudhury talks to Wendong Zhang, Professor and Economist at Cornell University; Ashok Kantha, India’s former ambassador to China; and ET’s Dipanjan Roy Choudhury about why, as China faces a bruising tariff war with the US, India may be more economically indispensable than it appears. Is this economic pragmatism a sign of strategic recalibration?

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Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India’s move to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance marks a watershed moment with far-reaching consequences is the starkest example of weaponizing the natural resource in recent times. The IWT, critical to both countries and a lifestream for Pakistan, has survived 6 decades of hostilities and 4 armed conflics. But it has been marked with disputes and disagreements. The Pahalgam attacks was the last straw that made India take the extreme step of keeping it in abeyance. In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with leading experts Anubhuti Vishnoi, Senior Editor,at The Economic Times and Pranab Dhal Samanta, Executive Editor (Politics),at The Economic Times to unpack the legal, political, and strategic dimensions of this bold decision.

What does holding the treaty "in abeyance" truly mean under international law? Could this signal a shift in India’s approach to critical resource diplomacy? And as energy security takes center stage, will Jammu & Kashmir finally unlock its vast hydroelectric potential?
Moreover, could India’s stance on the IWT set a powerful precedent for future water-sharing agreements across the region—and challenge the established global norms?

Stay tuned as we explore the high stakes, hidden challenges, and historic opportunities emerging from this unfolding story.

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Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.


You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

You can follow Pranab Dhal Samanta on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

You can follow Anubhuti Vishnoi on her social media: Twitter and Linkedin

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India has responded to the terror attacks in Pahalgam that claimed at least 25 lives of innocent tourists. A quick probe has been followed by a 5 point onslaught that strikes at an age-old water sharing agreement, infiltration,  visas and diplomatic representation. Is a war imminent? Host Anirban Chowdhury is joined by ET’s defence expert Manu Pubby and diplomatic editor Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury for an in-depth breakdown of the ongoing investigation, India’s counter strike and what lies ahead.

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Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

You can follow Manu Pubby on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin or Stories

You can follow Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin or Stories 

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once an idyllic, tourist-friendly destination nicknamed “mini Switzerland,” Baisaran Valley is now the site of a devastating and unprecedented terrorist attack, which has claimed 26 lives yet. As scenes of gunshots and helpless victims reverberate and replay through news channels and the internet, host Nidhi Sharma asks Hakeem Irfan Rashid, ET's Kashmir expert, to explain the whys, hows and what next. He discusses the calculated nature of the attack, the shocking targeting of civilians, and the larger implications for Kashmir’s image of normalcy post-Article 370, the absence of security infrastructure in remote regions, and the fear now gripping the valley, especially with the tourist season just setting in. With cancellations pouring in and shutdowns across towns, this attack may cast a long shadow over the region’s recovery.

You can follow Hakeem Irfan Rashid on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin or Stories

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

You can follow our host Nidhi Sharma on her social media: Twitter & Linkedin

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn,  Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.

Credits: NDTV Profit, Republic World, India Today

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion three words that seem anything but controversial. Yet today, DEI stands at the heart of a global debate. With the Trump administration actively rolling back DEI initiatives across U.S. federal agencies, the question arises: what ripple effects might this have internationally, especially in India? Has DEI truly taken root in Indian workplaces, or does it remain largely confined to multinational tech companies? Are traditional Indian businesses beginning to embrace it? And what does this mean for organizations that specialize in promoting DEI? Host Dia Rekhi is joined by Dr. Ishani Roy, Founder & CEO Serein and Munira Loliwala, Vice President Business Strategy & Growth, TeamLease Digital to unpack the global backlash, examine the current landscape of DEI in India, and explore its true impact on business outcomes. With insights from a DEI strategist and a recruitment expert, we get a front-row view into how diversity is shaping India Inc.

Credits: NewsX Live, GORM, MSNBC, Forbes Breaking News.

Check out Dia’s other interesting episodes like: Move Aside Tech Bros!, Will Musk’s Starlink Finally Come to India?, The Economics of Terror, Devious Genius: The “Digital Arrests” Scam Pt 1 & Pt 2, India's CCTV Crackdown, and more!

You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & Twitter

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As global trade faces one of its most uncertain chapters yet, India and the U.S. are negotiating what could become a defining economic agreement of the decade: a bilateral trade deal aimed at scaling their trade volume to $500 billion by 2030, a fourfold increase from its value in 2024. 

But behind the diplomatic handshakes lie tough negotiations and clashing economic priorities.In this episode, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with Bipin Sapra, Tax Partner and global trade expert at EY India, to break down what’s really at stake as both nations attempt to find common ground.
At a time when Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs have rattled global markets, India and the U.S. have quietly signed the first terms of reference for this ambitious agreement.

So, which sectors stand to gain or lose? Could this be a strategic disruptor to China’s dominance in global trade? And what does it mean for India’s role in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework?

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What if the very reason Indian students choose the U.S. for higher education suddenly disappeared? No, it’s not the allure of Silicon Valley or Ivy League labels we’re talking about OPT: Optional Practical Training. For years, it’s been the launchpad for STEM grads to gain real U.S. work experience after their degree. But that pathway is now under serious threat. In this episode, host Neil Ghai and Prachi Verma are joined by Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder of Collegify, and Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits, to unpack a new bill in the U.S. Congress that could abolish the OPT program altogether. With Indian students accounting for more than 40% of all OPT approvals last year, this isn’t just a policy shift, it's a potential game-ender. So, what’s driving this move? What’s at stake? And how might it reshape the future for Indian students eyeing the U.S.?

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Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

You can follow Neil Ghai on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin or Stories

You can follow Indrajit Hazra on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin or Stories 

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.