All Things Policy
Takshashila Institution
Ever wondered how automation will change the world? Maybe you puzzle over what India could do to ease traffic congestion, or how China's aircraft carriers will transform Indian Ocean geopolitics? All Things Policy, a daily podcast brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, brings you all the answers. Every weekday, our researchers break down complex economic and geopolitical ideas through the lens of current events. For everyone from the busy executive to the curious student, All Things Policy is all you'll need to understand the world (and appreciate your breakfast) better.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 27, 2026 • 43min
The Iran Brief: The Saga of Iranian Nuclear Programme
For decades, the Iranian nuclear programme has caused consternation in Western capitals. Despite US and Israeli efforts involving negotiations, cyber and aerial bombing over the years, Iran has managed to get to a stage where it has about 440 kgs of 60 per cent enriched uranium. In this episode of All Things Policy special series on Iran, tech geopolitics researcher Lokendra Sharma sits down with military historian Aditya Ramanathan and military tech researcher Adya Madhavan to discuss the past, present and future of the Iranian nuclear programme. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Mar 26, 2026 • 43min
Technology in Welfare: Ground Realities
Digital technology is often seen as a fix for inefficiency and corruption in government welfare programmes—but does it actually deliver on that promise?In this episode, Vanita Leah Falcao discusses her research on the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), with Suman Joshi and Ameya Naik explaining how technology-mediated systems are reshaping service delivery on the ground. Through the lens of “digitalwashing,” the discussion reveals how claims of transparency and efficiency can mask new forms of exclusion, administrative burden, and opacity.Read more: https://aisel.aisnet.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=itdAll Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Mar 25, 2026 • 45min
On Norms, Habits, And Incentives
Think about the last time you were in a crowded metro station. Did you consciously decide what to do, or did you simply follow what everyone else was doing?Public policy often assumes people are rational actors. But behaviour is shaped by something far more human: norms that tell us what others expect, habits that run on autopilot, and incentives that reward or punish us.In this episode, Arindam Goswami and Shreya Ramakrishnan unpack how these three forces interact to shape everyday behaviour, from queueing and traffic to littering and public transport. Drawing on behavioural science and real-world examples, they explore why rules alone often fail, especially in low-trust environments like India, and what it takes to design policies that actually workAll Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Mar 24, 2026 • 26min
The Iran Brief: War and MAGA fissures
As the projectile war continues to rage on in West Asia, engulfing multiple Gulf states in addition to Israel, the US and Iran, fissures are developing in Trump's base (Make America Great Again or MAGA in short). Joseph Kent, a US counterterrorism official, has resigned, citing the ongoing war. Kent has joined a vocal section of the MAGA base that continues to criticise the US involvement in the war.In this episode of All Things Policy, tech geopolitics researcher Lokendra Sharma is joined by Abhishek Kadiyala from the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme to discuss how the Iran war is playing out domestically in the US.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Mar 23, 2026 • 35min
The Iran Brief: Theory of Victory and Global Energy Anxieties
In this episode of The Iran Brief by All Things Policy, we take a closer look at how the West Asian conflict is evolving as it enters its fourth week and why its consequences are now being felt far beyond the battlefield. The Takshashila team breaks down the growing energy anxieties triggered by attacks on critical oil and gas infrastructure and the disruption around the Strait of Hormuz. We try to answer some questions: What does this mean for global energy markets, and how vulnerable is India’s economic security in the face of a prolonged crisis in the Gulf? We also turn to the military and political dimensions of the war to discuss Iran’s theory of victory and the effectiveness of its current air defence and strike capabilities. What do Israel’s targeted killings of key Iranian leaders mean for the future of diplomacy?All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Mar 20, 2026 • 25min
The Iran Brief: China’s Stakes and Strategies
Anushka Saxena, Staff Research Analyst at the Takshashila Institution focused on China and West Asia, breaks down Beijing’s stakes. She outlines China’s economic ties in the region. She maps the strategic tightrope between supporting Iran and protecting Gulf investments. She explores possible covert arms links, diplomatic levers, and steps to safeguard Chinese nationals and commerce.
Mar 18, 2026 • 39min
Urban Heat: A Society, Market, and Government Perspective
In this episode, Sowmya Prabhakar is in conversation with Dr Y Nithiyanandam to vent about the heat. We will examine it through the lens of Society, Markets, and Government to determine possible solutions.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Mar 17, 2026 • 24min
Invisible Data Workers Powering Machine Learning Models
AI systems depend on vast amounts of labelled data, produced by “data workers” who tag images, categorise text, and review content so machine-learning models can function accurately and safely. While the data-annotation market is rapidly expanding, the labour behind it often remains invisible. Much of this work uses BPO firms in countries like India, where workers - frequently women - are recruited with promises of flexible work-from-home jobs. In reality, many face vague contracts and limited legal or mental-health protections. As AI scales globally, this raises urgent questions about the ethical sustainability of data annotation and who should be responsible for safeguarding the workers who power it. Join Kripa Koshy in conversation with Bharath Reddy and Suman Joshi as they unpack all this and more in this episode.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Mar 16, 2026 • 25min
Behind the Scenes of Conflict Mediation
In this episode of All Things Policy, Pakistan researcher Aishwaria Sonavane speaks with peace mediation expert Ameya Kilara. Drawing on her experience facilitating dialogues between India and Pakistan, as well as in Syria, Kilara discusses what the day-to-day work of mediation actually looks like beyond the negotiating table. The conversation explores how mediators operate in low-trust environments between stakeholders and the patterns they often notice in peace efforts that policymakers sometimes overlook. The episode also reflects on whether the idea of a “peace process” still holds in today’s geopolitical climate, and how social media and domestic political pressures are reshaping the possibilities for conflict resolution.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Mar 14, 2026 • 26min
Can India Solve the LPG Crisis?
In this episode of All Things Policy, Bhumika Sevkani and Anisree Suresh unpack India’s LPG supply challenges amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia. They examine how geopolitical disruptions affect India’s cooking fuel supply, assess the government’s interventions in managing LPG demand and supply, and discuss both the immediate responses and long-term solutions to strengthen India’s household energy security.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
