All Things Policy

Get ready for an insightful journey with Dr Y Nithiyanandam and Shreya Ramakrishnan as they dive into the future of road travel with a focus on India's new Satellite-based toll collection system, set to launch in March 2024. This engaging podcast uncovers the effectiveness of this innovative system compared to the existing FASTag, addressing its technical challenges, limitations, and the necessary behavioural changes for smoother navigation. It also explores the hurdles of current toll systems, the importance of efficient grievance redressal, and the readiness of Indian roads for autonomous vehicles. The role of geospatial technology in enhancing mobility and supporting autonomous cars is also a key highlight. Tune in now for a comprehensive discussion and check out the accompanying opinion piece for insights on commuter rights during toll malfunctions. Don't miss this thought-provoking episode!

The world's largest democracy is going to the polls this year. As much as a logistical challenge it will be given the sheer size, it will also be a test for the Indian media. Will the media be fair? Will it be able to remain neutral amidst the audio-visual assault? What about fake news and misinformation? What about ideological balance? All of these questions and more, in a discussion between  Sachin Kalbag and his guest Pradyuman Maheshwari. Do check out Takshashila’s public policy courses: https://school.takshashila.org.in/courses We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/ You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featured Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with your folksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode. Manoj Kewalramani and Shambhavi Naik discuss the ongoing property crisis in China, the developing story of the Evergrande decline and the measures taken by the Chinese government to stem the impact of this crisis.

Lant Pritchett has described India as "flailing state", one where the limbs are not in sync with the head and the outcomes sought are not delivered. Sridhar Krishna talks to Bharat Reddy on how AI can be used to bridge the gap in state capacity and help Indians get the goods and services they desire from the government. Readings: Why does the Indian state both fail and succeed? By Devesh Kapur Is India a flailing state? By Lant Pritchett Breaking the Mould by Raghuraman Rajan and Rohit Lamba

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has released regulations on studying the Party's history. It outlines the key objectives and principles embedded in the newly introduced regulations, emphasising the need for regular, long-term study of the Party’s history. Comprising six chapters and 34 articles, the document outlines general principles, leadership structures, responsibilities, content, and methods for the study of the Party's history. In this episode of All Things Policy, Rakshith Shetty quizzes Manoj Kewalramaani on the History Learning Regulations by the Party. Manoj also talks about the key objectives of the regulation and, on a broader scale, explains why history and historical narratives matter to the Party.

Recently, the Karnataka government fixed uniform kilometre-based fares for all types of cabs plying in the state. In this light, Saurabh Todi speaks to Anupam Manur, Assistant Professor, Takshashila Institution, on the consequences of this policy.

The 2024 Munich Security Conference has recently concluded on February 18, and key discussions surrounded both traditional and non-traditional security issues such as China's military capabilities, the Russia-Ukraine war, leaps in technology, and climate change. In this episode of All Things Policy, Anushka Saxena quizzes Manoj Kewalramani on the important insights from the Conference, and what they say about Europe's vision for its own role in the contemporary global order. Manoj also discusses China's role at the Conference, highlighting key aspects of Wang Yi's statements, especially during his bilateral meetings with representatives from the US, UK and Ukraine.

Music has played a complimentary role in all our lives. In this tuneful episode, Malathi Renati has a chat with Lakshmy Iyer, a music exponent in carnatic classical, veena and musical whistling. They talk about the importance of music education from primary to higher education and touch upon its resonating impact across a wide spectrum of areas from learning difficulties and therapy to neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and post trauma care.

In this episode of All Things Policy, Anushka Saxena interviews Kerry Brown, professor of China studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College, London, on the nature and drivers of Chinese Foreign Policy under Xi Jinping. Professor Brown shares keen insights on everything – from how Xi's supposed "all-powerful" authority manifests itself in policymaking, to the fundamental factors underpinning US-China and EU-China relations in the past few years. He also answers in brief the million-dollar question – "Why does the Taiwan issue matter?" Tune in for a deep dive into the making of Chinese foreign policy in the contemporary world order, and do keep an eye out for Prof. Brown's upcoming book, "Why Taiwan Matters: A Short History of a Small Island that will Dictate our Future".

Article 23 of India's constitution allows the union government to mandate conscription to secure the nation’s interest and public well-being. There are various social as well as political arguments on why we should or should not enforce such conscription, but what would either option mean for India's contemporary security approach? Should the military focus on officers' quantity or quality, or on technological advancements instead? Tune in with Ananya Desai as she speaks to Aditya Ramanathan about the possibility of mandatory conscription in India's present context.