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
Nov 5, 2025 • 21min
The Blunders of Our Governments
Maria Ann Philip, an intern at the Takshashila Institution, joins Vanshika Saraf to dissect the intriguing themes of governmental blunders in policy-making. They explore why even well-intentioned governments make avoidable mistakes, examining the UK ID card scheme and comparing it to India's Aadhaar initiative. The conversation dives into the importance of intentions versus implementation, and highlights the significant blunders in the NHS digitalization. Their insightful discussion reveals systemic issues that lead to policy failures across democracies.
Nov 4, 2025 • 22min
Teaching The Teachers
In this episode, Leah and Astha discuss the state of teacher training in government schools: what’s working, what isn’t, and how policy can do better. From the promise of DIETs to new models like mentorship programs and digital learning platforms, the discussion unpacks how thoughtful reform could transform the classroom experience for millions of children.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
Nov 3, 2025 • 36min
NISAR- New Era of Earth Observation Begins
Swathi Kalyani, a research analyst at the Takshashila Institution, delves into the groundbreaking NISAR satellite mission launched by NASA and ISRO. She highlights how this innovative technology enhances Earth observation by providing detailed insights into climate change, vegetation shifts, and geological activity. Swathi discusses the mission's implications for urban planning and disaster preparedness, as well as India's growing role in space leadership. NISAR is framed as a powerful symbol of global collaboration and commitment to better understanding our planet.
Oct 31, 2025 • 29min
The Future of Food- Of Functional Foods and Smart Proteins
In this engaging discussion, Shambhavi Naik, a research fellow and chairperson of Takshashila's Health and Life Sciences Policy Program, explores the future of food through the lens of smart proteins. She defines smart proteins and explains how they can improve nutrition and respond to climate challenges. Shambhavi highlights the need for regulatory clarity and the importance of messaging around lab-grown foods. With insights on India's unique opportunities in this field, she envisions a future where diverse nutrients lead to greater food security.
Oct 30, 2025 • 32min
Understanding the Brahmaputra, Through the Eyes of Sanjoy Hazarika
The Brahamaputra is one of the world’s longest and widest rivers, running through Tibet, Bangladesh and India, with a total area of 5,80,000 Sq.km and a total length of 2,900 km. What are the unique challenges that emerge due to the river’s transnational existence? What are some of the pressing environmental and developmental concerns related to the river and what could nimble policymaking look like for such a dynamic landscape? To answer all this and more, renowned author, journalist, and human rights advocate Sanjoy Hazarka, joins Kripa Koshy, Staff Programme Manager, to discuss pressing contemporary issues related to the vast Brahmaputra river, exploring themes covered in his recently released book, River Traveller: Journeys on the Brahmaputra from Tibet to the Bay of Bengal.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
Oct 29, 2025 • 25min
Uniforms and Power: America’s Democratic Test
In this episode of All Things Policy, Abhishek Kadiyala is in conversation with Brigadier Anil Raman (Retd.) to discuss emerging signs of democratic backsliding in the United States. The Second Trump administration’s approach to the top military brass, their legally contested deployments of National Guard and ICE become an important symptom of this backsliding. President Trump’s close ally and Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth’s recent address to military leaders at Quantico, followed by the dismissal and resignation of several senior officials, has underscored tensions between the White House and the military establishment. Simultaneously, the deployment of National Guard troops to curb crime in key Democrat-run cities has been criticised as a politically motivated use of presidential authority. The administration has also expanded the mandate of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency—through increased funding, manpower, and widened operational targets—to advance its hardline immigration agenda. Together, these developments point to a broader erosion of institutional autonomy and deepening concerns over democratic backsliding in the United States.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
Oct 28, 2025 • 39min
Grid Penalty or Green Killer?
Join Srinivasan Iyengar and Arindam Goswami in this episode of All Things Policy, where the discussion focuses on India’s electricity sector. Around the world, electricity demand is rising sharply due to post-COVID economic recovery, greater electrification of transport (EVs), the growing share of renewables, and the expansion of data centres. As a rapidly industrialising developing nation, how is India positioned to meet this surge in demand? What adjustments are needed to ensure that the power sector "powers" India’s progress?And for this, we need to decode the complex world of India's energy transition. In this episode, we’ll be diving into a controversy that's costing renewable energy developers millions - and potentially slowing down India's ambitious clean energy targets. DSM penalties, or Deviation Settlement Mechanism charges, were designed to maintain grid stability. But they've become a lightning rod of debate in the renewables sector. Are these penalties fair accountability measures, or are they unfairly punishing wind and solar developers for doing something fundamentally different from coal plants? With billions of rupees at stake and India's renewable energy target hanging in the balance, this isn't just a technical debate - it's about the future of India's energy landscape. Today we're asking: Is the grid penalising the very energy sources it needs most?Our guest for today, Srinivasan Iyengar, is the CTO for the Energy and Resources Industry in Asia at a major multinational technology company. He completed his PhD in Computer Science from University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His research focused on Distributed Systems, Cyber-physical Systems, Cloud and Edge Computing, and Smart Cities and Energy.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
Oct 27, 2025 • 23min
Unraveling the Pakistan-Taliban Ties
October 2025 saw among the deadliest clashes across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021. In this episode of All Things Policy, Aishwaria Sonavane and Shobhankita Reddy declutter what triggered these clashes and what all this means for India. 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
Oct 24, 2025 • 26min
Innovation-Driven Economic Growth
In this episode of All Things Policy, Swathi Kalyani and Shobhankita Reddy, Research analysts at the Takshashila Institution, discuss about the 2025 Nobel Prize awarded in the field of Economics. They delve into the winners' (Joel Mokyr, Phillipe Aghion, Peter Howitt) work, their research, the relevance of their studies in today's economic sphere, criticisms surrounding these studies, and possible takeaways for India's economic development.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
Oct 23, 2025 • 42min
India’s Patent Surge and Innovation
Join Mihir Mahajan, Arindam Goswami, and Shreya Ramkrishnan in this episode of All Things Policy, as they unpack India’s evolving patent ecosystem, from the rise in patent filings by Indian universities to the question of patent quality. They explore how research translates into patents, the pace of innovation, and what these trends mean for India’s broader research and development landscape.Read Mihir and Arindam’s Op-ed: “A surge in patent applications doesn’t mean India has suddenly turned innovative” - tinyurl.com/4y5bru4aAll 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
